Behind the Waterfall
- This article is about the place in Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. For the Power Moon in Super Mario Odyssey, see List of Power Moons in the Cascade Kingdom § Behind the Waterfall.
- "Metal Cavern" redirects here. For the Super Smash Bros. stage commonly referred to as "Metal Cavern", see Meta Crystal.
| Cavern of the Metal Cap Behind the Waterfall | |||||||||||
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 Screenshot from Super Mario 64 | |||||||||||
| How to unlock | Complete Bowser in the Dark World | ||||||||||
| Stars | Super Mario 64: Super Mario 64 DS: 
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| Music track | Hazy Maze Cave | ||||||||||
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The Cavern of the Metal Cap (called the Metal Cap Switch Course in the message that appears upon the player entering), or Metal Cap Cavern,[1] is a cave that contains the Metal Cap Switch in Super Mario 64. The entrance is located in Hazy Maze Cave, behind a set of double doors in the Underground Lake area. It is the only course to be accessed through another one. In order to reach the Cavern of the Metal Cap, the player must traverse to the underwater cavern in the Hazy Maze Cave. The player then has to get on top of Dorrie's head and then steer him over to the small patch of ground outside the double doors. Upon entering the double doors, the player has to go through a short hallway, at the end of which is another pool of liquid metal, much like the one that is used to enter the Hazy Maze Cave. Falling into the pool transports the player to the Cavern of the Metal Cap.
In Super Mario 64 DS, the area was retitled Behind the Waterfall, and the Cap Switch was removed. However, a second Power Star was added, and it can be reached only by Mario using a Power Flower to float towards it. Signs, however, continue to refer to the area as the Metal Cave or Metal Cavern, which is a holdover from Super Mario 64. This is now one of two courses to be accessed through another course, the other being Big Boo Battle in Big Boo's Haunt.
The music is the same as Hazy Maze Cave's but with both "Underground BGM" from Super Mario Bros. and the layer of chant simultaneously in the beat.
Layout[edit]
The cave is decorated with large glittering crystals and has a stream of water running through the middle. In the original game, upon entering the cave, Mario is automatically turned into Metal Mario and is therefore invulnerable to the stream's current. The water is moving very fast and can sweep Mario out the cave's one-way exit (which will lead him to the waterfall outside the Mushroom Castle) if he is not careful. Directly before the exit through the waterfall is a yellow block containing a 1-UP Mushroom as well, which can be obtained only if Mario gets a Metal Cap. The only enemies that appear are Snufits, as well as a Goomba in the DS version. The DS version also has a Bob-omb Buddy. If the player presses the Metal Cap Switch, all of the green blocks in the game will activate, granting access to the Metal Cap in later courses.
If the player gets swept out of the course, they will be carried by the waterfall to the pool west of the Castle Grounds' moat with no life lost. However, if they lose all health, they will instead respawn outside the pool leading to Hazy Maze Cave as if they had lost a life in that level.
Missions[edit]
There are two Power Stars to collect in this area, with one being exclusive to the DS version.
Grab 8 Red Coins[2][edit]
There are eight Red Coins to be collected in this course, and several of them are just below a huge waterfall leading into the river. The player can reach them by becoming Metal Mario (Metal Wario in the DS remake). However, the player can ground-pound on specific parts of the river to collect the Red Coins. Once every Red Coin is collected, the Power Star appears at the Star Marker underwater near the waterfall at the back end of the cavern, surrounded by a circle of Yellow Coins.
Balloon Mario (DS only)[edit]
By using Mario, the player must hit the red block by the waterfall to obtain a Power Flower. By floating upwards from that spot, they can find a Power Star above a triangular set of coins.
Enemies[edit]
Goomba (only in Super Mario 64 DS)
Gallery[edit]
The entrance to the Cavern of the Metal Cap in the Hazy Maze Cave in Super Mario 64
Mario in metallic form at the start
A Snifit approaches Mario.
Metal Mario activates the Metal Cap Switch.
Metal Mario looking for Red Coins underwater
Mario obtains a Star in the level.
Behind the Waterfall in Super Mario 64 DS
The entrance to Behind the Waterfall in the Hazy Maze Cave in Super Mario 64 DS
Names in other languages[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Note(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | メタルのスイッチのコース Metaru no Suitchi no Kōsu | Metal Switch Course | Super Mario 64, location | [3] |
| メタルスイッチの たき Metaru Suitchi no Taki | Waterfall of the Metal Switch | Super Mario 64, level | [4] | |
| たきのうらのひみつ Taki no Ura no Himitsu | Secret Behind the Waterfall | Super Mario 64 DS | [5] | |
| メタルのどうくつ Metaru no Dōkutsu | Metal Cave | location, sign | [6] | |
| Chinese (Simplified) | 金属帽的瀑布石洞 Jīnshǔ Mào de Pùbù Shídòng (Mandarin) Gāmsuhk Móu dīk Buhkbou Sehkduhng (Cantonese) | Waterfall Cavern of the Metal Cap | Super Mario 64 | [7] |
| 瀑布后面的秘密 Pùbù Hòumiàn de Mìmì (Mandarin) Buhkbou Hauhmihn dīk Beimaht (Cantonese) | Secret Behind the Waterfall | Super Mario 64 DS | [8] | |
| Chinese (Traditional) | 瀑布中的金屬開關掣 Pùbù Zhōng de Jīnshǔ Kāiguān Chè (Mandarin) Buhkbou Jūng dīk Gāmsuhk Hōigwāan Jai (Cantonese) | Press the Waterfall's Metal Switch | [9] | |
| French | Mine des Casquettes-Métal | Mine of Metal-Caps | Super Mario 64 | [10] |
| Derrière la Cascade | Behind the Waterfall | Super Mario 64 DS | [11] | |
| German | Grüner Schalterpalast | Green Switch Palace | Super Mario 64 | [12] |
| Hinter dem Wasserfall | Behind the Waterfall | Super Mario 64 DS | [13] | |
| Italian | La Grotta del Cappello di Metallo | The Cave of the Metal Cap | Super Mario 64 | [14] |
| Dietro la Cascata | Behind the Waterfall | Super Mario 64 DS | [15] | |
| Korean | 폭포뒤편의비밀 Pokpo Dwipyeon-ui Bimil | Secret Behind the Waterfall | [16] | |
| Spanish | Tras la Cascada | Behind the Waterfall | [17] |
References[edit]
- ^ Pelland, Scott and Dan Owsen (1996). Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 59.
- ^ Pelland, Scott and Dan Owsen (1996). Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Nintendo of America (American English). Page 82.
- ^ 【N64】スーパーマリオ64【エンディングまで】
- ^ 【N64】スーパーマリオ64【エンディングまで】
- ^ From the pause menu of the level in the Japanese version of Super Mario 64 DS
- ^ 【N64】スーパーマリオ64【エンディングまで】
- ^ [#345-2] Super Mario 64 (iQue Player)
- ^ From the pause menu of the level in iQue's localization of Super Mario 64 DS
- ^ The Official Mario 64 Chinese Strategy Guide
- ^ MARIO 64 - LES 120 ÉTOILES #1
- ^ From the pause menu of the level in the French localization of Super Mario 64 DS
- ^ From the pause menu of the level in the German localization of Super Mario 64
- ^ From the pause menu of the level in the German localization of Super Mario 64 DS
- ^ November 15, 2018. Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia. Magazzini Salani (Italian). ISBN 889367436X. Page 91.
- ^ From the pause menu of the level in the Italian localization of Super Mario 64 DS
- ^ From the pause menu of the level in the Korean localization of Super Mario 64 DS
- ^ SUPER MARIO 64 DS [ESPAÑOL] 100% | 150 ESTRELLAS | PARTE 4
