You're running around Whomp’s Fortress. You’ve got the red coins, you’ve bullied the big Whomp king, and you’ve even shot yourself into the wild blue yonder. But then you see that one star name in the menu: Super Mario 64 Blast Away the Wall. If you’re playing this for the first time—or even the fiftieth—it’s the kind of objective that feels like a prank. Where is the wall? Which wall? And how, exactly, am I supposed to "blast" it?
Honestly, it’s one of the most cryptic stars in the basement of the castle. It doesn't help that the N64’s camera system, bless its heart, loves to get stuck behind pillars just when you’re trying to aim a cannon.
Most players spend twenty minutes punch-kicking every brick surface in the level. That’s a mistake. You can’t break this wall with your fists. You need high explosives and a very specific set of coordinates.
The Mystery of the Crumbling Brick
Whomp’s Fortress is a vertical playground. It’s designed to make you look up, but this star requires you to look around the perimeter. The "wall" in question isn't part of the main tower or the floating islands. It’s actually located on the rotating bridge area, specifically the stone structure that connects the climbable path to the upper reaches of the course.
Here is the thing: there are actually two walls that look breakable. Only one holds the prize. If you stand on the spinning bridge and look toward the cannon, you’ll see two stone pillars/walls sticking out. One is closer to the start of the level, and one is tucked further back. You’re aiming for the one that looks slightly out of place, almost like a buttress for the fortress itself.
It’s easy to miss. Really easy.
If you try to jump at it, Mario just bonks and falls into the water (or the abyss, depending on your luck). The game expects you to use the cannon, which is tucked away near the start of the stage. But before you can even attempt Super Mario 64 Blast Away the Wall, you have to actually unlock the cannon. Talk to the pink Bob-omb Buddy. He’s hanging out near the beginning, right by the shallow water and the first few platforms. Once he opens that hatch, the real challenge begins.
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Aiming Is a Nightmare (and That's Okay)
Cannons in 1996 weren't exactly "precision instruments."
When you hop into the cannon to get the Super Mario 64 Blast Away the Wall star, you’re looking for a very specific target. You need to aim at the right-hand corner of the stone wall that juts out near the rotating bridge.
Don't aim for the middle.
If you hit the middle of the wall, Mario just faceplants and loses a wedge of health. You have to clip the corner. When you hit it just right, the stone texture literally shatters, revealing a hidden star tucked inside the masonry. It’s a weirdly satisfying animation, seeing those polygons disappear to reveal that golden glow.
I’ve seen people argue about the "intended" way to do this. Some speedrunners use precise movement to bypass the cannon entirely, but for 99% of us, the cannon is the only way. The trick is to line up the top of the cannon's reticle just slightly above the corner of the wall. Because Mario travels in an arc, if you aim directly at it, you’ll likely undershoot and end up at the bottom of the lake.
Why This Star Drives People Crazy
- The Vague Hint: "Blast Away the Wall" tells you the "how" but not the "where."
- The Perspective Warp: From the cannon, the wall looks much smaller than it actually is.
- The Damage Factor: Every time you miss, you take fall damage or have to trek back to the start.
- The Dual Walls: Blasting the wrong wall does absolutely nothing, leading many players to think they're doing the whole thing wrong.
Breaking Down the Physics of the Blast
Let's get technical for a second. Super Mario 64 uses a relatively simple collision check for this star. The wall is essentially an object with a "breakable" flag that only triggers when Mario’s hit-box intersects with it at a specific velocity—specifically, the velocity generated by a cannon shot.
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You can't use a Bob-omb to break it. You can't use a shell.
Interestingly, if you’re playing the DS version (Super Mario 64 DS), things are slightly different. You have more characters, but the logic remains the same. You still need that cannon. The touch-screen controls actually make aiming a bit easier, but the nostalgia of the N64 joystick—with all its loose, plastic-grinding glory—is the "authentic" way to feel the frustration.
There’s a certain "Eureka!" moment when the wall finally crumbles. It’s one of those rare instances in the game where the environment is truly destructible. Most of the castle is static. Seeing a piece of the architecture just vanish because you launched a middle-aged plumber at it? That's peak 90s game design.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most people aim too high. They think they need to clear the wall or land on top of it. Nope. You want to collide with the vertical face of it. Think of Mario as a wrecking ball, not a paratrooper.
Another big one: forgetting the Bob-omb Buddy. You’d be surprised how many people spend ten minutes looking for a cannon that hasn't even been unfolded yet. If the hatch is closed, you’re just standing on a gray circle like a tourist.
Also, watch out for the wind. Well, not actual wind physics—the game isn't that complex—but your own momentum. If you’ve been playing for a few hours, your thumb might be twitchy. One wrong flick of the analog stick and you’re firing Mario into the side of the mountain.
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Finding the Rhythm of Whomp’s Fortress
Whomp’s Fortress is actually the second course in the game, but Super Mario 64 Blast Away the Wall feels like a mid-game challenge. It teaches you that the world isn't as solid as it looks. It encourages exploration and, more importantly, it teaches you to use the cannon as a tool for destruction rather than just transportation.
If you’re struggling with the angle, try this:
Align the horizontal line of the crosshair with the very top edge of the wall. Then, move the vertical line so it’s just barely touching the right-side corner. Fire.
If you hit it, you'll hear that iconic shattering sound. If you don't, you'll hear Mario’s "Oof!" and likely a splash. Just keep at it.
The Aftermath of the Blast
Once the wall is gone, the star stays there. Even if you die or leave the level, that wall is permanently destroyed for that save file. You don't have to blast it again if you mess up the actual collection of the star. Just climb back up the normal way, walk across the rotating bridge, and jump into the little alcove you just created.
It’s your reward for being a human cannonball.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Run
To wrap this up and get you that star, follow this specific sequence. No fluff, just the steps:
- Locate the Pink Bob-omb: He's near the start, past the two sliding blue blocks. Talk to him to open the cannon cover.
- Navigate to the Cannon: Head back toward the start, drop down into the lower area where the water is, and hop into the stone hatch.
- Find the Target: Look toward the tower. You'll see two stone pillars sticking out from the side of the fortress. Target the one on the right (the one further away from the start).
- The Sight Picture: Aim your crosshairs so the intersection is on the top-right corner of that stone pillar.
- The Launch: Fire. If you miss, use the heart near the start or the spinning hearts to heal before trying again.
- The Collection: Once the wall shatters, don't try to shoot into the hole. Just climb the fortress normally, go to the rotating bridge, and hop into the newly opened gap to grab your Star.