Thread:Metal Mario875/@comment-32286613-20170703143840/@comment-26374068-20170703172543

Of course Mario is inconsistent... but not once was it actually full-on stated that the Star Spirits grant wishes. And yes, they did say they needed the Star Rod to grant wishes.

Here.

They said they grant people's wishes... but the narrator only said the Star Rod does so, and they said they do so with the Star Rod. Everyone is up in arms throughout the whole story because, without the Star Rod, Bowser grants wishes. The Star Spirits do not.

Furthermore, it's stated that, without the Star Rod, Star Kids cannot raise up into the sky to help others.