Castle characters and course residents
Who helps, challenges or rewards Mario throughout the castle.
Spoiler notice: This guide discusses story progression or late-game content.
Original Nintendo 64 game with 120 Power Stars; not Super Mario 64 DS.
| Entry | Role or use |
|---|---|
| Princess Peach | The castle’s missing host |
| Toads | Castle hints and occasional stars |
| Lakitu | Camera operator |
| Bob-omb Buddies | Cannon access |
| Koopa the Quick | Race challenger |
| Mips | Basement rabbit |
| Yoshi | Late completion reward |
Princess Peach
The castle’s missing host. Her invitation begins the adventure. Progress is measured through Power Stars and Bowser gates, not by finding a separate quest marker for every course.
Toads
Castle hints and occasional stars. Talk to residents as new floors open. Some provide more than dialogue, so revisiting the castle between courses can be worthwhile.
Lakitu
Camera operator. The camera is part of platforming preparation. Adjust it before a narrow jump rather than correcting your view while already falling.
Bob-omb Buddies
Cannon access. The friendly pink characters operate course cannons. Their appearance distinguishes them from hostile Bob-ombs; talk before searching for another way to open a hatch.
Koopa the Quick
Race challenger. His races require reaching the goal efficiently. Practise the route first and learn which shortcuts the challenge accepts.
Mips
Basement rabbit. Catching him can reward stars at different progress milestones. Cornering him and anticipating his movement is more reliable than chasing directly from behind.
Yoshi
Late completion reward. His castle-roof appearance belongs to the 120-star reward sequence. He is not a freely playable character in the original N64 campaign; the DS remake differs.
This is a curated reference to important entries, not a complete database. Follow the edition note: later remakes may change availability, names or mechanics.