Each Star Door depicts a star on the front, and requires that Mario has a minimum number of Power Stars to open, with a red number of said requirement being depicted on the star. Once the requirement has been met, the character stands in front of the Star Door, holds out a Power Star that spins before dissipating into sparkles, and opens the door. This animation is only shown once per Star Door, as after it is unlocked, the character can enter the Star Door as if it were a regular Star Door.
A majority of Star Doors appear in the foyer of Peach's Castle. At first, the only accessible Star Door is the one leading into a room with the Bob-omb Battlefieldpainting as it does not have any Power Star requirement. Collecting one Power Star in said course then unlocks the way to Whomp's Fortress and The Princess's Secret Slide. Aside from the Star Door to Bob-omb Battlefield, there are also three others with no requirement, two of which are on the upper floor and one of which is on the basement floor. Unlike the Star Door of Bob-omb Battlefield, because these are not initially the only accessible areas within their respective floor, they have the same role as a regular door throughout, and their status of being Star Door is only because they have the same appearance as the Star Door of Bob-omb Battlefield.
There are larger Star Doors known as Big Star Doors, and most of them lead to one of the courses where Bowser is fought.
List of Star Doors[]
There are eight Star Doors in Super Mario 64, increased to ten in Super Mario 64 DS.
Slip Slidin' Away • Lil' Penguin Lost • Big Penguin Race • Frosty Slide for 8 Red Coins • Snowman's Lost His Head • Wall Kicks Will Work (N64)/Mario's Super Wall Kick (DS) • Switch Star of Cool, Cool Mountain (DS)
Big Boo's Haunt
Go on a Ghost Hunt • Ride Big Boo's Merry Go Round • Secret of the Haunted Books • Seek the 8 Red Coins • Big Boo's Balcony • Eye to Eye in the Secret Room • Switch Star of the Basement
Hazy Maze Cave
Swimming Beast in the Cavern • Elevate for 8 Red Coins • Metal-Head Mario Can Move! (N64)/Metal-Head Wario Can Move (DS) • Navigating the Toxic Maze • A-Maze-Ing Emergency Exit • Watch for Rolling Rocks • Underground Switch Star
In the Talons of the Big Bird • Shining Atop the Pyramid • Inside the Ancient Pyramid • Stand Tall On the Four Pillars • Free Flying For 8 Red Coins (5th Star, N64) (7th Star, DS) • Tox Box Switch Star (DS) • Pyramid Puzzle
Snowman's Big Head • Chill with the Bully • In the Deep Freeze (N64) • Yoshi's Ice Sculpture (DS) • Whirl from the Freezing Pond • Shell Shreddin' for Red Coins (N64) • Snowman's Silver Star (DS) • Into the Igloo • Red Coins in the House (DS)
Wet-Dry World
Shocking Arrow Lifts! • Top o' the Town • Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (N64)/5 Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (DS) • Express Elevator--Hurry Up! • Go to Town for Red Coins (N64)/Go to Town for the Red Coins (DS) • Quick Race Through Downtown! • Soaked Silver Stars (DS)
Tall, Tall Mountain
Scale the Mountain • Mystery of the Monkey Cage • Scary 'Shrooms, Red Coins • Mysterious Mountainside • Breathtaking View from Bridge (Star 5, N64)/Breathtaking View from the Bridge (Star 7, DS) • Blast to the Lonely Mushroom (Star 6, N64) (Star 5, DS) • 5 Secrets of the Mountain
Roll into the Cage (N64) • Luigi in the Cage (DS) • The Pit and the Pendulums (N64) • The Pendulum Switch Star (DS) • Get a Hand • Stomp on the Thwomp •Timed Jumps on Moving Bars • Stop Time for Red Coins • Tick Tock Silver Stars
Rainbow Ride
Cruiser Crossing the Rainbow • The Big House in the Sky • Coins Amassed in a Maze • Swingin' in the Breeze • Tricky Triangles! • Somewhere over the Rainbow • Switch Star of the Manor
