Cap Switches are considerably different between Super Mario 64 and Super Mario 64 DS. In the original, there are three Cap Switches, and they are a ! Switch, as indicated by a white "!" on the front. In Super Mario 64 DS, there is only one Cap Switch, and it has a white "?" on the front, indicating that it is a ? Switch. A Cap Switch can be activated by Ground Pounding it, and in doing so, every Cap Block associated with it becomes usable.
Each of the Cap Switches are color-coded, and activating a Cap Switch permanently solidifies every Cap Block of the same color, making it possible to obtain the cap inside of one. This functionality was carried over from Super Mario World, in which activating a Switch Palace's ! Switch solidifies every Dotted-Line Block of the same color into ! Blocks.
The first Cap Switch, the Wing Cap Switch, is located on a lower tower structure in the Tower of the Wing Cap. Activating the Wing Cap Switch solidifies every red Cap Block, allowing Mario to use the Wing Cap contained within. The second Cap Switch, the Metal Cap Switch, is found in the Cavern of the Metal Cap, on a platform at the leftmost end. By activating the Metal Cap Switch, all green ! Blocks solidify, allowing Mario to use a Metal Cap within one. The third and final Cap Switch, the Vanish Cap Switch, is located at the end of Vanish Cap Under the Moat, and activating it solidifies every blue Cap Block, allowing Mario to collect a Vanish Cap inside of one.
Super Mario 64 DS[]
The only returning Cap Switch is the one from the Tower of the Wing Cap, with the location itself being renamed to ? Switch, after the Switch itself. Activating the ? Switch instead has the effect of activating every ? Block, which can be used by any of the playable characters, including Mario, Yoshi, Luigi, or Wario.
Slip Slidin' Away • Lil' Penguin Lost • Big Penguin Race • Frosty Slide for 8 Red Coins • Snowman's Lost His Head • Wall Kicks Will Work (N64)/Mario's Super Wall Kick (DS) • Switch Star of Cool, Cool Mountain (DS)
Big Boo's Haunt
Go on a Ghost Hunt • Ride Big Boo's Merry Go Round • Secret of the Haunted Books • Seek the 8 Red Coins • Big Boo's Balcony • Eye to Eye in the Secret Room • Switch Star of the Basement
Hazy Maze Cave
Swimming Beast in the Cavern • Elevate for 8 Red Coins • Metal-Head Mario Can Move! (N64)/Metal-Head Wario Can Move (DS) • Navigating the Toxic Maze • A-Maze-Ing Emergency Exit • Watch for Rolling Rocks • Underground Switch Star
In the Talons of the Big Bird • Shining Atop the Pyramid • Inside the Ancient Pyramid • Stand Tall On the Four Pillars • Free Flying For 8 Red Coins (5th Star, N64) (7th Star, DS) • Tox Box Switch Star (DS) • Pyramid Puzzle
Snowman's Big Head • Chill with the Bully • In the Deep Freeze (N64) • Yoshi's Ice Sculpture (DS) • Whirl from the Freezing Pond • Shell Shreddin' for Red Coins (N64) • Snowman's Silver Star (DS) • Into the Igloo • Red Coins in the House (DS)
Wet-Dry World
Shocking Arrow Lifts! • Top o' the Town • Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (N64)/5 Secrets in the Shallows and Sky (DS) • Express Elevator--Hurry Up! • Go to Town for Red Coins (N64)/Go to Town for the Red Coins (DS) • Quick Race Through Downtown! • Soaked Silver Stars (DS)
Tall, Tall Mountain
Scale the Mountain • Mystery of the Monkey Cage • Scary 'Shrooms, Red Coins • Mysterious Mountainside • Breathtaking View from Bridge (Star 5, N64)/Breathtaking View from the Bridge (Star 7, DS) • Blast to the Lonely Mushroom (Star 6, N64) (Star 5, DS) • 5 Secrets of the Mountain
Roll into the Cage (N64) • Luigi in the Cage (DS) • The Pit and the Pendulums (N64) • The Pendulum Switch Star (DS) • Get a Hand • Stomp on the Thwomp •Timed Jumps on Moving Bars • Stop Time for Red Coins • Tick Tock Silver Stars
Rainbow Ride
Cruiser Crossing the Rainbow • The Big House in the Sky • Coins Amassed in a Maze • Swingin' in the Breeze • Tricky Triangles! • Somewhere over the Rainbow • Switch Star of the Manor
