Super Mario 64 might very well be the most influential 3D game of all time, and Super Mario 3D All-Stars has given audiences everywhere to experience one of gaming’s most important classics on Nintendo Switch. For as influential as Super Mario 64 is, however, it’s only because Super Mario World had more or less refined 2D Mario to perfection. There was nothing left for the plumber to do than to transcend dimensions.
It’s frankly remarkable how well Mario controls to this day. Shigeru Miyamoto famously experimented with Mario’s mechanics until the mere act of controlling him was fun– completely independent of any level design. It’s that level of genius which allows Super Mario 64 to thrive as a both a video game and work of art decades after its release.
For as stellar as Mario’s core controls are in Super Mario 64, his mechanics are only bolstered by the optional caps players can unlock. While it’s possible to get through the entire game without finding any of the three caps– though such a feat would admittedly prove difficult– they’re tied to some of the best Stars and platforming challenges in the game.
6 Wing Cap: How To Unlock
Super Mario 64’s use of Power Stars as a means of gatekeeping is an interesting one when considering how freeform Super Mario World was. Competent players could get to Bowser within minutes if they knew which stage secrets to trigger. Not so for Super Mario 64, which makes clear to the player they won’t be facing Bowser (for the first time) until they have at least 10 Stars.
Upon obtaining 10 Power Stars, not only will Mario be able to start Bowser in the Dark World, a ray of light will shine down in the castle’s main entrance. Look up at the ceiling where the ray of light is coming from and Mario will be transported to the Tower of the Wing Cap. While players can collect all 8 Red Coins to unlock a Power Star, Mario only needs to hit the Red switch on the central platform to unlock Wing Caps in other stages.
5 Wing Cap: What It Does
As the name might suggest, the Wing Cap allows Mario to take flight into the air, not unlike the Tanooki Suit or Cape from Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World respectively. That said, the Wing Cap is considerably more difficult to control than its predecessor Power Up and is tied to two of the hardest Power Stars in the game– the aforementioned Tower of the Wing Cap and the late-game Wing Mario Over the Rainbow.
By doing a triple jump over the ground, Mario will take flight into the air. From there, players will need to pick up speed by doing dives with Mario or keep momentum with a steady thumb on the analog. It’s possible to pull off some truly impressive feats with the Wing Cap, but doing so requires a mastery of the controls and an intimate understanding of Super Mario 64’s level design.
4 Metal Cap: How To Unlock
The Metal Cap is the only cap in the game which requires players to enter a level in order to trigger the cap stage. After gaining access to the Castle Basement, Mario can enter Hazy Maze Cave behind an unmarked Star Door. Unlike other worlds in the game, Hazy Maze Cave isn’t a painting but instead a discolored pool.
Once entering the stage: Mario needs to hook left, long jump over the gap & into the next room, follow the path’s edge while ignoring the door, long jump over to the hill, avoid the boulders while scaling the hill, and enter Dorrie’s Underground Lake. Ride Dorrie to the piece of land directly across from the entrance and enter the Cavern of the Metal Cap. Once inside, Mario will be equipped with the Metal Cap and the switch will be at the end of the waterway.
3 Metal Cap: What It Does
Triggering the switch inside the Cavern of the Metal Cap would be difficult with regular Mario as the water currents would push him away from the switch, but the Metal Cap turns Mario into Metal Mario. As Metal Mario, Mario is too heavy to be moved by wind, water, or most enemies.
Mario can also walk underwater with no issues (necessary in getting all Red Coins in the Cavern of the Metal Cap,) and can kill most enemies just by moving through them. Unlike the Wing Cap, however, there aren’t many late game challenges tied to the Metal Cap outside of a few water levels.
2 Vanish Cap: How To Unlock
Rather conveniently, both the Metal Cap and Vanish Cap can be unlocked as soon as Mario gains access to the Castle Basement. Near the door that leads to Hazy Maze Cave is another door that leads to a moat. Mario can drain this moat by ground pounding both pillars submerged in water.
Once the moat is drained, Mario can go outside and explore beneath the Castle’s bridge. By the castle waterfall will be a hole leading to the Vanish Cap Under the Moat. Unlike the Tower of the Wing Cap and Cavern of the Metal Cap, Vanish Cap Under the Moat requires skilled platforming to clear. Just getting to the switch requires well timed jumps and an understanding of Mario’s controls.
1 Vanish Cap: What It Does
The Vanish Cap turns Mario invisible, allowing him to not only phase through some enemies but walk through walls. The Vanish Cap is especially usually inside of Big Boo’s Haunt. Other than that, however, the Vanish Cap doesn’t get much use throughout the game. Its last major appearance is in Wet-Dry World, but it’s not tied to any difficult stars like the Wing Cap or even the Metal Cap.
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