Cavern of the Metal Cap (Green Switch)
 Two Red Coins are located next to the green Exclamation Switch. Two Red Coins are located in the small opening on the other side of the rock
 bridge. Four Red Coins are located underwater around the pillar that the Green Exclamation Switch. In order to reach these coins, you must be
 Metal Mario. After you collect all eight Red Coins, the Star will appear underwater next to
  the pillar that the Green Exclamation Switch is on. In order to reach the Star, you must be Metal Mario.

 Vanish Cap Under the Moat (Blue Switch)
 Four Red Coins are located on the small platforms that extend off the metal wall near the entrance of the course. You can either slide down to them
 or Crawl to them. Unlike most steep-angled walls Mario can Crawl anywhere on the metal wall. Two Red Coins are located on the second
 unstable wooden platform that is on the way to the blue Exclamation Switch. Move back-and-forth on the  platform until you can reach both coins.
 One Red Coin is located on the last pair of rotating platforms. Carefully jump into the coin when working your way up to the blue Exclamation
 Switch. One Red Coin is next to the Blue Exclamation Block. After you collect all eight Red Coins, the Star will appear inside a wire net cage next
 to the blue Exclamation Switch. To reach the Star, jump into the blue Exclamation Block and obtain the Vanish Cap, then walk through the wire net
 and collect the Star.

 Tower of Wing Cap (Red Switch)
 Follow the trail of Yellow Coins to collect all eight of the Red Coins. After you collect all eight Red Coins, the Star will appear on top of the center
 tower.

Bowser in the Dark World

           One is suspended in mid-air to the right of where you begin the course. To obtain the coin, you will need to follow the path forward to
           the purple Exclamation Switch, then jump on the switch to create some wooden crates under the Red Coin. Quickly return to the
           entrance of the course and collect the Red Coin before the wooden crates disappear.
           One is suspended in mid-air to the right of the first flame thrower. To obtain the coin, jump on the Purple Exclamation Switch, then
           walk on the wooden crate and collect the Red Coin.
           One is located next to the crystal on the path with the electric spheres.
           One is located behind the concrete block with the moving yellow platform.
           One is located next to the four moving platforms.
           One is located on the octagon-shaped platform.
           One is located on the ledge next to the two unstable wooden platforms.
           One is located on top of the stone structure above the two wooden platforms.
           The Star will appear behind the green pipe at the end of the course.
 

 Bowser in the Fire Sea

           One is located above the wire net near the entrance of the course. From where you begin this course, ride the wire net cage to the end
           of the lava path, then continue past the sinking platforms until you reach the Bully. Follow the wire net path to the left until you reach
           the Red Coin.
           One is located on the first unstable stone platform. There's no trick to obtaining this Red Coin. You'll see it as soon as you reach the
           two unstable stone platforms that spin around.
           One is located inside the cage next to the elevator lift. Just after the two unstable stone platforms, there is a pole that you can climb to
           reach a small enclosed cage with an elevator lift. The Red Coin is in the upper corner of the cage.
           One is located below the elevator lift that takes you up the wire net shaft. Just after the two unstable stone platforms, there is a
           elevator lift that will take you up to the second level of the course. If you walk onto the elevator left, then immediately walk off of it,
           you will see the Red Coin. Jump to the coin to obtain it.
           One is located on the octagon-shaped platform with the Bully on it. After riding the elevator lift up to the second level, follow that path
           to the first incline, then go to the right and walk up the yellow path with the traction pads on it. Once at the top of the octagon-shaped
           platform, avoid the Bully and collect the Red Coin.
           One is located on the path above the two Bullies. On the second level of this course, there's a group of platforms that slowly rises up,
           then sinks down like an accordion. The Red Coin is located on the third platform, but you will have to wait for the platform to rise to
           its highest position before you can grab it.
           One is located next to the flame thrower on the lava covered path. Just after you pass the accordion-like platforms, you'll reach a lava
           area that has six convex-shaped platforms that temporarily sink under the lava. When it's safe, run in front of the second flame thrower
           to obtain the Red Coin.
           One is located above the pole at the end of the course. There's no trick to finding this Red Coin. Just before you reach the end of the
           course, the coin will be suspended in the air above the very last pole. Jump onto the pole, then wait for it to move you up to the coin.
           The Star will appear on top of the brick structure near the end of the course.
           To reach the Star, return to the second pole near the beginning of the brick structure, then use the Wall-Jump technique to reach the
           upper area.

 Bowser in the Sky

           One is located above the box near the entrance of the course. From where you begin this course, go forward until you reach a large
           box. Push the box towards to entrance of the course, then jump up on the box and collect the coin.
           One is located near the Piranha Plant on the stone path. There's no trick to getting this Red Coin. It's located on the stone path that is
           just after the first spinning octagon-shaped platform. Be careful not to get toasted by the Piranha Plant.
           One is located on a tiny ledge underneath the unstable wooden platform. When you reach the unstable wooden platform, drop down
           to the lower level, then collect the Red Coin that is on the tiny ledge. The ledge is just barely hanging off the side of the lower level.
           One is located at the top of the light-blue/green traction path. There's no trick to obtaining this Red Coin. As soon as you reach the
           top of the large traction path with dots on it, you'll see the Red Coin. Jump up and get it.
           One is located above the wooden platform near the red and white platform. Near the top of the course, you'll find a white and red
           platform with an arrow on it. If you jump on the platform, it will move you to the other side of the gap. As you move across the gap,
           you'll see the Red Coin above a wooden platform. When the moving platform is passing under the wooden platform, jump up and
           grab the Red Coin, then safely slide back onto the moving platform.
           One is located on the first spinning octagon-shaped platform. There's no trick to obtaining this Red Coin. As soon as you pass the red
           and white moving platform, you'll see the Red Coin on the center of spinning octagon-shaped platform. Walk to the center of the
           platform and collect the Red Coin.
           One is located above a pole between two moving platforms. There's no trick to obtaining this Red Coin. Just after passing the two
           spinning octagon-shaped platforms, you'll climb a pole up to a wire net. Once at the top of the net, follow the path to the two moving
           platforms, then jump on the pole that's between them. Climb to the top of the pole to collect the Red Coin.
           One is located underneath the stairs at the very end of the course. Once at the very top of the course, you'll have to climb some stairs
           to reach the pipe that takes you to Bowser. If you look under these stairs, you'll notice a platform. Jump on the platform, then walk
           under the stairs and collect the Red Coin.
           The Star will appear at the very end of the course.

The Princess's Secret Slide

           The first Star is found by making it down the slide.
           The second star is found by making it down the slide in under 21 seconds.

  The Secret Aquarium
 You can get a star by collecting 8 red coins. There are four Red Coins on the floor of the aquarium and four Red Coins floating near the top of the
 aquarium. After you collect all eight Red Coins, the Star will appear at the bottom center of the room.

 Wing Mario Over the Rainbow
 You can get a star by collecting 8 red coins. Seven of the Red Coins can be obtained by flying from cloud to cloud. One Red Coin can be obtained
 by shooting yourself out of a Cannon, then dropping down onto it. After obtaining all eight Red Coins, the Star will appear on the cloud where you
 began the course.

Toad
 Toad is standing around in the castle if you talk to him he will give you a star
 

           Toad near Course 6:
           This Toad is in the basement level of the Castle. He's standing next to entrance of Course 6, which is a pool of liquid metal.
           Toad near Course 12:
           This Toad is on the second floor of the Castle. He's standing underneath the stairwell near the small painting of the red and white
           mushrooms.
           Toad near Course 15:
           This Toad is on the third floor of the Castle. He's standing in the corner to the right of the giant clock.

 MIPS the Rabbit
 MIPS appears twice in the cellar during the game. It will give you a star if you catch and release him.

 Here is how to catch him:
 Try cornering MIPS in a dead-end, then walk towards it until he tries to run past you. As soon as he does, press the opposite direction on the
 Control Stick and then Dive towards him. If you're lucky, Mario will grab the MIPS. Once you have the MIPS in your possession, he will ask you
 to be released. If you select OK, you'll receive a Star.
 

           Catch MIPS the Yellow Rabbit (1st time):
           The Yellow Rabbit is located in the sewers underneath the Castle. Once you have at least 15 Stars, enter the sewers and you'll see
           MIPS.
           Catch MIPS the Yellow Rabbit (2nd time):
           After you collect at least 50 Stars, MIPS will reappear in the sewers underneath the Castle.

this is enuf laddie