The release of the long-awaited Super Mario 3D All-Stars has finally come, with Super Mario 64 being part of the bundle. This title has mostly stayed to the same to its original 1996 release with the classic levels and gameplay being able to be enjoyed officially in HD.
Super Mario 64 introduced many series classics to the Super Mario franchise as a whole. One of these is one of Mario's powerups, the Vanish Cap. While this power-up hasn't been seen much outside of Mario 64, it is required to get some of the many stars found in the game.
The Vanish Cap makes Mario translucent upon picking it up. It additionally allows Mario to walk through enemies, metal fences, and special walls. However, like the Wing Cap, it must be unlocked before players can use it.
The Vanish Cap can be unlocked in the course "Vanish Cap Under the Moat". This is a secret course that players can get access to after draining the moat surrounding Peach's castle. In order to drain the moat, players will need to have access to the basement of the castle. The basement can be unlocked via a key received after players beat the course "Bowser in the Dark World".
In the basement, there is a wooden door that will lead to a small room with a pool of water inside. By swimming in the pool and following the arrows displayed, players will find themselves in a room with two pillars inside. Like with the post that the Chain Chomp in Bob-Omb Battlefield was attached to, players need to ground pound these pillars into the ground. This will drain the castle's moat.
Once the moat is drained, players can completely explore the pit left behind. By the waterfall, there will be a hole that players can go down that will lead to "Vanish Cap Under the Moat." Players will get instant access to the Vanish Cap upon starting the level with it being unlocked in the rest of the level after players hit a blue Switch near the star.
After this is all done, players can get a Vanish Cap from any blue blocks in other stages and courses in the game. The stages that have Vanish Caps from this point are:
- Big Boo's Haunt
- Dire, Dire Docks
- Snowman's Land
- Wet-Dry World
- Vanish Cap Under the Moat
The effect of the Vanish Cap will normally only last for 20 seconds so players will have to both think and act fast as they use it.
Super Mario 64 is now available as part of Super Mario 3D All-Stars, exclusively for the Nintendo Switch.
Source: Mario Wiki