Ztar
Dark Stars (previously known as Ztars, and then Shadow Stars) are black counterparts to stars found exclusively within the Mario Party series. Instead of granting the player a star, it takes away one in the player's possession. In Mario Party, the Shadow Star, back then known as Ztar, is the Bowser Bogus item for Mario's Rainbow Castle. Along with losing a star, the player will also lose 40 coins. Mario Party 4 features a Ztar hosting the volleyball game in Thwomp's Backroom Ball.
Ztars were renamed as Shadow Stars during the events of Mario Party 6. In Clockwork Castle, if Bowser encounters a player, he will give the player a Shadow Star if the player has one or more stars. This will cause the player to lose all of his or her stars and if there are no stars present, Bowser will take away all of the player's coins instead. Shadow Stars also make a minor cameo in the comparison quiz section of Speak Up. During the events of Mario Party DS, Shadow Stars occasionally appear in Hidden Blocks. If a player is unfortunate enough to get one, he or she will lose a star.
In Mario Party 7, Shadow Stars are once again renamed. Now called Dark Stars, these appear in two places. In Grand Canal, one of the ? Spaces, the player must choose a chest after the chests are randomized by a Blooper. One of the chests holds a Dark Star. If the player chooses this chest, he/she must take it. In Neon Heights, at Bowser Time, Bowser sometimes puts a Dark Star in one of the chests. If the player pays Koopa Kid for this chest, they will be forced to take the Dark Star inside.
Trivia
- A black star also appears in Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars when the special attack Dark Star is used.
