Super Mario 64: How to use the Wing Cap and Fly!

If you've recently picked up the Super Mario 3D All-Stars pack for the Nintendo Switch, then you are likely making your way through the collection. You aren't alone, this pack has sold like crazy, so there's a whole new generation of people getting a chance to play some really classic and milestone making games. However, you might have noticed that while a lot of people are in nostalgia overload, you might be struggling a bit with difficulty or figuring out how to do things in the game. The older generation of games featured a lot less hand holding, which makes them more difficult to navigate. Well, if you are struggling, we're here to help you figure out how to get your wings!

How to unlock the Wing Cap

To use the Wing Cap in Super Mario 64, you will need to first collect a total of 10 stars. Go through the various levels in the early stages of the game and collect them. Once you have your stars, go to the entrance of Peach's Castle in front of the stairs. There will now be a light shining down on the sun carpet. Run to the center of that rug and then look up towards the sky and at the light! This will transport you to the Wing Cap course. Fly to the tower you see directly below you and look for the big red switch. Stomp on that switch and you will now have unlocked the the Wing Cap!

You will notice that after you've stomped on the switch that the empty block near you will fill up with a red block and an exclamation mark on it. This is what you will need to hit to get access to the Wing Cap in the various levels in the game. You can't use the cap unless you hit one of these boxes. Once you do hit one, you will be able to fly around with the Wing Cap for a total of 30 seconds.

Once you have the Wing Cap equipped, you will then need to do three consecutive jumps to take off into the air! You can then fly around the level, and likely find some stars that you didn't have access to before. There's a whole lot of secret things to discover in Super Mario 64, so be sure to check out every nook and cranny.

If you're struggling to stay in the air while flying, try plunging downward and pulling back up to get additional height. This will gain you some speed and allow you to continue to fly around the map.

If you are struggling to follow along with this guide, be sure to check out the following video from NintendoCade Gaming on YouTube who will walk you through the process step-by-step!