Cap Switch
Vanish Cap Switch
The Vanish Cap Switch
First appearance Super Mario 64 (1996)
Latest appearance Super Mario 3D All-Stars (2020)
“You've found all of the Cap Switches, haven't you? Red, green, and blue?”
Narration, Super Mario 64

Cap Switches are switches that appear in Super Mario 64. They are dome-shaped and color-coded, much like the switches found in the Switch Palaces in Super Mario World. When activated, Cap Switches solidify Cap Blocks of the same color, allowing Mario to break them open to receive the corresponding cap ability. The Wing Cap Switch is found on the Tower of the Wing Cap, the Metal Cap Switch is found in the Cavern of the Metal Cap, and the Vanish Cap Switch is found in Vanish Cap Under the Moat.

In Super Mario 64 DS, due to the cap items getting overhauled as a result of the playable characters and the main power-ups being replaced by the Power Flower, the Cap Switches were changed as well. As the Power Flower's effect depends on the current playable character, the number of switches was reduced from three to one, and it is equivalent to the red Wing Cap Switch. Instead of a ! Switch, it is now a ? Switch, and it is simply referred to as such.

A yellow variant of the Cap Switch was originally going to appear in Super Mario 64 but went unused. Remnants in Super Mario 64 DS also suggest that the green and blue switches were planned for Super Mario 64 DS but were deleted.

GalleryEdit

Names in other languagesEdit

Cap SwitchEdit

Language Name Meaning
Japanese アイテムスイッチ
Aitemu Suicchi
ビックリスイッチ[1]
Bikkuri Suicchi
Item Switch

! Switch

Italian Interruttore Cappello[2]
Interruttore "!"[3]
Hat Switch
"!" Switch

Wing Cap SwitchEdit

Language Name Meaning
Japanese 『はねのぼうし』のスイッチ
"Hane no Bōshi" no Suicchi
はねのスイッチ
Hane no Suicchi
はねスイッチ
Hane Suicchi
あかいスイッチ
Akai Suicchi
ハテナスイッチ
Hatena Suicchi

"Wing Cap" Switch (Super Mario 64)

Wing Switch (Super Mario 64)

Wing Switch (Super Mario 64)

Red Switch (Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS)

? Switch (Super Mario 64 DS)

Italian Interruttore rosso[4]
Red switch

Metal Cap SwitchEdit

Language Name Meaning
Japanese 『メタルのぼうし』のスイッチ
"Metaru no Bōshi" no Suicchi
メタルのスイッチ
Metaru no Suicchi
メタルスイッチ
Metaru Suicchi
みどりのスイッチ
Midori no Suicchi

"Metal Cap" Switch

Metal Switch

Metal Switch

Green Switch

Italian Interruttore verde[5]
Green switch

Vanish Cap SwitchEdit

Language Name Meaning
Japanese 『とうめいのぼうし』のスイッチ
"Tōmei no Bōshi" no Suicchi
とうめいスイッチ
Tōmei Suicchi
あおいスイッチ
Aoi Suicchi
"Vanish Cap" Switch

Vanish Switch

Blue Switch

Italian Interruttore blu[6]
Blue switch

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ Shogakukan. 2015. Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook, Super Mario 64 section, page 92.
  2. ^ Super Mario 64 European manual, pag. 38
  3. ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia, pag. 92
  4. ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia, pag. 91
  5. ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia, pag. 91
  6. ^ Super Mario Bros. Enciclopedia, pag. 91