Wing Cap

The Wing Cap, or Winged Cap, is an item found in Super Mario 64. It is Mario's signature power-up in Super Mario 64, being shown on the game's box art and a majority of its merchandise. When wearing a Wing Cap, Mario becomes Wing Mario and gains the ability to fly and slow his falls (by holding ), like with the Super Leaf and Cape Feather from previous games. Mario can begin flying by performing a Triple Jump (which can be done in place in that form) or by getting shot from a cannon. The item can only be obtained from a red ! Block, which will become solid upon hitting the red ! Switch in the Tower of the Wing Cap course. The wings last for 60 seconds before wearing off.

While Wing Mario returns in Super Mario 64 DS, the Wing Cap does not, as it is replaced by a feather (referred to as Wings ) that only Mario can use, which can drop from red ? Blocks. The form does not slow down descent as effectively in this version, as Mario can now take fall damage even when slowly descending. It is not possible for Yoshi, Wario, or Luigi to acquire wings in the single-player mode of the game. However, the feathers are located in two of the game's multiplayer stages: Sunshine Isles and Battle Fort. They add wings to their cap regardless of who picks them up. In the case of Yoshi, he grows wings on his back.

Course locations
There is also a red ! Block (? Block in the remake) on the roof of Peach's Castle. When all 120 (N64) / 150 (DS) Power Stars are collected, the cannon on the castle grounds is unlocked, allowing players to easily access the roof.
 * Regular Courses
 * Bob-omb Battlefield
 * Lethal Lava Land
 * Shifting Sand Land
 * Snowman's Land (DS only)
 * Tall, Tall Mountain (DS only)
 * Secret Courses
 * Tower of the Wing Cap
 * Wing Mario Over the Rainbow

Media
The Wing Cap theme also plays when Mario rides on a Green Shell or becomes Vanish Mario. Also, in the Nintendo DS remake, a slower-paced version plays when Hoot is carrying Mario, and when Mario turns into Balloon Mario after obtaining a Power Flower.

This theme is a cover of the music heard when Baby Mario transforms into Superstar Mario, as well as the music heard in certain bonus rooms in Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, which in turn is a cover of the music that plays when Mario acquires a Super Star in the original Super Mario Bros., but with an added melody. The theme was reused in New Super Mario Bros. as the invincibility theme, and was later remixed for Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the equivalent Rainbow Star power-up.

Trivia

 * In the Wii U version of Rayman Legends, there is an exclusive Mario costume for Rayman. If Rayman flutters while wearing this outfit, wings appear on his cap, referencing the Wing Cap.
 * In both versions of Nintendo Monopoly, there is a Coin Block/Brick Block card that reads "Purchase a Wing Cap - Pay $50."
 * In a preview for Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, the gliding power-up was described as a winged cap rather than the Carrot, and the screenshot was blacked out. It is possible that the design was decided later in development, and it might have resembled the Wing Cap.