Honestly, if you grew up with a Nintendo 64, the music of Bob-omb Battlefield is probably hardcoded into your DNA. It’s the first real world you step into in Super Mario 64, and for many of us, it was the first time we realized 3D gaming was going to change everything. But then you get to that one mission. You know the one. Free flying for 8 red coins sounds like a blast on paper, but in practice? It’s often the moment where players realize that 1996 camera controls were, well, a bit of a nightmare.
It’s the seventh mission in the course. It’s also one of the few stars that forces you to master the Wing Cap, a power-up that feels amazing when it works and like a lead brick when it doesn't.
Why this star is actually harder than it looks
Most people think they can just hop into the cannon and wing it. Literally. But there is a specific physics engine at play here that makes the Wing Cap tricky. Unlike modern Mario games where flight is relatively stabilized, Super Mario 64 uses a momentum-based system. If you lose your speed, you stall. If you stall while trying to collect those high-altitude coins, you’re looking at a long walk back up the mountain.
The coins aren't just floating around randomly. They are arranged in four distinct circles in the sky. To get the star, you have to hit the center of these formations while maintaining enough lift to reach the next one. It’s a test of precision. You’re not just flying; you’re managing a very primitive flight simulator.
Finding the Wing Cap first
You can't even attempt free flying for 8 red coins if you haven't unlocked the Red Blocks. This is a common point of frustration for new players or those doing a speedrun practice. You have to collect 10 Power Stars first. Once you do, a giant beam of light shines down in the castle lobby. You look up (using the C-up button), and suddenly you're transported to the Wing Mario Over the Rainbow stage. Hit that big red switch. Now, and only now, do the translucent red boxes in Bob-omb Battlefield become solid.
Without that switch, the mission is impossible. You’ll just be staring at a bunch of coins you can't reach.
The Cannon Strategy
Speedrunners like Cheese or Pannenkoek2012 have optimized this to a science, but for the average person, the cannon is your best friend. There’s a specific cannon located near the dark pits where the Water Bombs fall. Talk to the pink Bob-omb Buddy first—he’s the one who opens the hatches.
If you don't talk to him, the cannon stays locked.
Once you’re in, you need to aim. Most players aim too low. You want to aim high enough so that when you shoot out, you have enough vertical clearance to glide through the first ring of coins. When Mario shoots out, don't touch the joystick immediately. Let the momentum carry you. Then, gently pull back on the stick to soar.
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Breaking down the coin locations
There are four rings. Each ring has two red coins.
The first ring is right in front of the cannon's natural arc. It’s the "gimme" of the group. If you miss these, just ground pound and start over. It’s faster than trying to fly back up. The second and third rings are slightly higher and to the sides. This is where most people lose their speed. If you try to turn too sharply, Mario loses velocity and starts that slow, pathetic descent toward the bridge.
The fourth ring is often the dealbreaker. It's positioned over the floating island.
A lot of players get seven coins and then realize they’ve dropped too much altitude to get the eighth. If that happens, try to land on the floating island. There is a Wing Cap box there too. You can refresh your timer and take off again using the cannon on the island, which is way easier than starting from the ground.
Technical quirks of the 64 version vs. 3D All-Stars
If you're playing this on the original N64 hardware, you’re dealing with a lower frame rate. This actually makes the flight feel a bit "heavier." On the Super Mario 64 DS version, this mission is fundamentally different because you have to use Luigi, Mario, or Wario’s specific flight mechanics, and the touch screen controls (or D-pad) change the turn radius significantly.
In the Super Mario 3D All-Stars version on Switch, the resolution is higher, which actually helps you see the red coins from a distance. On an old CRT TV, those red pixels can blend into the green of the mountain if you aren't careful.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't hold forward: New players often think holding forward on the stick makes you go faster. It doesn't. It makes you dive. To stay in the air, you need to oscillate. Dive a little to gain speed, then pull back to gain height.
- Forgetting the Bob-omb Buddy: It’s soul-crushing to climb all the way up only to find the cannon closed. Check the map. Talk to the pink guy.
- The Wing Cap Timer: The cap doesn't last forever. The music changes when it's about to run out. If you hear that tempo speed up, find a red box fast.
The Floating Island Shortcut
There’s a trick that makes free flying for 8 red coins much less stressful. Instead of trying to get all eight in one flight, aim for the floating island after getting four. Land there. Take a breath. Hit the red box on the island to reset your Wing Cap timer. Then, use the cannon on the island to get the remaining coins.
This cannon has a much better vantage point for the higher rings. It’s the "safe" way to do it if you aren't trying to set a world record.
Why this mission matters for completionists
You can't get the 120-star ending without it. It’s a gatekeeper star. It’s also one of the best ways to practice the flight controls before you head into later levels like Shifting Sand Land or the final Bowser stage, where flying becomes a survival skill rather than just a coin-collecting exercise.
It teaches you the "feel" of the game. Super Mario 64 is a game about movement. It’s not about the destination; it’s about the arc of the jump. The flight in Bob-omb Battlefield is the purest expression of that. It’s frustrating, sure, but when you finally nail that last coin and the star appears on the floating island, it’s one of the most satisfying "clink" sounds in gaming history.
To master this mission today, start by unlocking the Wing Cap in the castle lobby. Head to Bob-omb Battlefield and immediately locate the pink Bob-omb Buddy near the bridge to open the cannons. Use the cannon located in the meadow area to launch yourself toward the first ring of coins. If you lose momentum, land on the floating island to grab a fresh Wing Cap and use the secondary cannon to finish the collection. Always remember to pull back on the joystick to gain lift, rather than holding forward.