You’re standing on that floating island in Whomp’s Fortress. You see it. There’s a suspicious-looking corner on a stone tower, just sitting there. You’ve probably tried triple jumping into it or maybe even ground pounding the floor nearby because, honestly, the game doesn't give you a whole lot to go on. Blast away the wall in Mario 64 is one of those stars that feels like a playground rumor until you actually figure out the trick. It's not a puzzle about logic. It’s a puzzle about physics and finding a very specific hidden cannon.
Back in 1996, we didn't have easy access to 4K YouTube walkthroughs. We had magazines and older siblings who lied to us about Luigi being in the game. If you were stuck on this star, you were really stuck. The name of the mission is the only hint you get, and even that is kinda vague. Which wall? Blast away with what?
The answer is a cannon, but it’s tucked away in a spot that most players run right past.
Finding the Secret Cannon in Whomp's Fortress
Before you can do anything, you need to find the Bob-omb Buddy. In Super Mario 64, cannons aren't just open for business. You have to talk to the pink Bob-ombs to get them to open the hatch. In Whomp’s Fortress, this guy is hiding.
Go past the sleeping Piranha Plants. You'll see a narrow ledge with a moving plank that tries to sweep you off into the abyss. Don't fall. Once you cross that, look for the shallow water area near the wall. The Pink Bob-omb is just hanging out there, waiting for someone to notice him. Talk to him, and he’ll open the stone hatches for the cannons on the map.
Now, the real work begins. You have to backtrack a bit. The cannon you need isn't near the top of the fortress where the boss was; it’s located near the start of the climb, right by the area with the shifting wall blocks that try to push you off the edge.
How to Actually Blast Away the Wall
Here is where it gets tricky. You jump into the cannon. The camera shifts to that classic first-person crosshair view. You’re looking at a giant stone structure. If you aim for the top, you’re just going to fly into the sky and probably lose a life. If you aim too low, you’ll smack into the side and fall.
You are looking for two specific pillars. They are part of the wall surrounding the top area of the fortress. To blast away the wall in Mario 64, you need to aim your cannon directly at the corner of the right-hand pillar.
When I say "corner," I mean you actually have to hit it. Most people try to fly over the wall. No. You want to collide with it. Mario needs to physically slam his body into the stone. If you hit the right spot, the stone texture will shatter. It’s a satisfying crunch. The wall breaks apart, revealing a hidden Power Star tucked inside the masonry.
Common Mistakes That Waste Your Time
- Aiming too high: You’ll overshoot the fortress entirely and end up in the water or dead.
- Hitting the center: If you hit the flat part of the wall, Mario just gets a headache and falls down. You must hit the edge of the protruding corner.
- Forgetting the Bob-omb: You can't just wish the cannon open. If the hatch is closed, you’re just standing on a stone circle like a lost plumber.
The physics in Mario 64 are famously "slippery." Sometimes you think you’ve hit the spot, but the game decides you were an inch off, and you slide down the wall. It’s annoying. It’s classic Nintendo.
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Why This Star is a Masterclass in 90s Design
Nintendo EAD, led by Shigeru Miyamoto, wanted to teach players how to use 3D space. Most of the stars in the first few worlds—Bob-omb Battlefield and Whomp's Fortress—are tutorials in disguise. This star teaches you that the environment is destructible. It’s a concept that seems basic now, but in 1996, the idea that a solid piece of the level geometry could be broken by the player's movement was mind-blowing.
Think about the technical limitations. The Nintendo 64 only had 4MB of RAM (without the Expansion Pak). Every polygon counted. Having a wall that could "break" meant the developers had to swap out the model in real-time.
The DS Version Changes Everything
If you are playing Super Mario 64 DS, things are slightly different. You have more characters. You have Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario.
While the core mechanic of using the cannon remains the same, the way you interact with the world changes based on who you are. Honestly, playing as Wario makes everything feel more "heavy," but for this specific star, the cannon trajectory remains your biggest hurdle. The DS version also adds a map on the bottom screen, which makes finding the Bob-omb Buddy significantly less of a headache than it was on the original hardware.
Speedrunning Tactics for Whomp's Fortress
Speedrunners don't have time for cannons. If you watch a 70-star or 120-star run, you won't see them talking to the pink Bob-omb. Instead, they use "wall kicks" and precise movement to bypass the intended mechanics.
However, for the blast away the wall in Mario 64 star, even high-level runners often use a specific "clip" or a very fast cannon shot because the star is physically trapped inside the wall. You can't just grab it through the stone without breaking it or using a glitch to phase through the collision. Most casual players should just stick to the cannon. It’s safer. It’s how the game was meant to be played.
Actionable Tips for Your Next Playthrough
- Look for the seams: In the original N64 version, the part of the wall that breaks actually looks slightly different if you squint. The texture doesn't perfectly align with the rest of the tower.
- Adjust for distance: The cannonball (Mario) travels in a slight arc. Aim just a tiny bit above the corner you want to hit.
- Use the camera: Before jumping in the cannon, use the C-buttons to look at the tower. Identify the corner that looks "stuck on" to the main building. That’s your target.
- Don't panic if you miss: There is a warp near the start of the level. If you fall down to the bottom after a missed shot, look for the pole or the teleport point to get back up quickly without climbing the whole mountain again.
Once the wall shatters, the star stays there. You don't have to break the wall and catch the star in one go. You can break it, fall down, climb back up the normal way, and simply walk into the little alcove you just created. It’s one of the most rewarding "Aha!" moments in the entire game.
To finish this mission efficiently, head straight for the Pink Bob-omb near the sliding wooden plank first thing. Once the cannon is active, bypass the climbing sections by using the warp hidden in the alcove near the start of the level. Line up your shot with the edge of the protruding wall, and don't be afraid to take a few hits—the health heart near the start of the stage can patch Mario up if your aim is off.