Wet-Dry World
Wet-Dry World is the eleventh course in Super Mario 64 and its remake Super Mario 64 DS. It is filled with water. The water level of the course is controlled by the Seven Crystal Taps, and the initial water level depends on the height from which Mario jumps into the course's painting, located on the second floor of Peach's Castle. Under Wet-Dry World is a "downtown" area. In Super Mario 64 this area contains a Metal Cap, a Vanish Cap, and the eight Red Coins, while in Super Mario 64 DS the caps are replaced with Power Flowers. Various enemies inside include Amps, Skeeters (one of which is depicted in the painting), Heave Hos, and a lone Chuckya. The background of this course somewhat resembles Rome.
This world was used in a Got Milk? commercial in the late 1990s. Mario, who is unable to jump onto a platform in the first area, breaks through the screen, through a series of events winds up in a refrigerator, drinks some milk, becomes super-sized, and starts walking on the top of the level. However, the level shown in the commercial differs from the one in-game in that the sky is bright blue instead of dark. One type of texture from this area (used for the unopenable doors in downtown) was reused in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Levels
The level titles and numbers correspond to Super Mario 64 unless otherwise noted.
Star 1: Shocking Arrow Lifts!
From the start of this mission, the player should turn around right and run to the end of the long, wooden platform. After stepping on the floor switch, wooden platforms will appear. The player must jump across the platforms and go to the top of a large stone pedestal. There is a Crystal Tap on it, which the player must hit to raise the water level. Then the player should see several mini elevators, like the one in the Red Coin area in Hazy Maze Cave. They lead to a Yellow Box which contains the Power Star. Mario must hit the box to break it and get the star.
There is another way to obtain this Power Star. The player can raise the water level to its maximum (with a Crystal Tap only) and then just hit the box while jumping out of the water.
- Names in Other Languages
Star 2: Top O' the Town
In this mission, Mario must go up a narrow walkway. This will take Mario to the top of a large structure. A red and tan colored block is found nearby that Mario can push to get up to a higher area. Then he should walk across a long wooden plank and cross the platforms while avoiding enemies. After crossing everything afterwards, the star is found in the yellow ! box right up ahead.
- Names in Other Languages
Star 3: Secrets in the Shallows and Sky
In this mission, Mario must activate five secrets by standing on or by manipulating certain objects. Once a secret is activated, a number will appear indicating how many Mario has collected (similar when collecting red coins). The first secret is located by the far left wall. Mario needs to push the red trimmed block out of the way to the left (facing the wall) and a number will appear. The second one is within a yellow block to the right of the first secret. Opening the block actives the secret. The next one will appear up one level by the Heave Ho once Mario pushes the red trimmed block further into the wall. Another one is located up another level front the previous one and is on top of the grate with the star inside. The final one is near the fourth platform. The star appears near the start the level above a Star Marker.
In Super Mario 64 DS, the title of the misson has been slightly changed to 5 Secrets in the Shallows and Sky.
Note: these can be collected in any order.
- Names in Other Languages
Star 4: Express Elevator--Hurry Up!
The player will start this mission by diving into the water and swimming towards the nearby gray path. Instead of going up the path, Mario should swim under it to hit the Crystal Tap to lower the water level to its lowest point. Then Mario must make his way to the top of the tower. To get there, he needs to run around the corner of the tower until he reaches a Heave Ho mechanism running around that can toss him up to the second level, where a second Heave Ho is found that can throw him up to the highest level. Once there, Mario must turn right and go up to the cage with the star in the center. Mario should then step on the red floor switch to make the red-brick steps move and then climb them to the top of the cage. Just past the edge of the cage is a wooden platform that will act as an elevator. It will move up and Mario must then hop off the elevator and fall down to the floor below, outrunning the elevator. He then needs to quickly run into the cage at the bottom. Once inside the cage, he'll wait for the elevator to reach the bottom and jump on top of it. The cage will carry Mario to the top, but still inside the cage, allowing him to reach the golden power star.
In Super Mario 64 DS, there is another way to get the Star using Luigi. The player must hit the ? Block on the highest level of the tower and somersault onto the platform above the Star while Luigi is still invisible. The player will pass through the platform and get the Star.
- Names in Other Languages
Star 5: Go to Town for Red Coins
The red coins for this level are located in the Down Town section of the level. The two ways to get to it is to enter this level by jumping as high as possible in the painting, so the water level is at its peak and swimming to the grate in the corner of the level. Mario can also use the cannon in the level and blast to the entrance. Once Mario swims into the city, he must control the water and find the coins. There are a few on top of high buildings inside crates, so Mario will have to wall jump up walls to break the box and get them. The rest are in breakable crates around the city, along with one that seems to be on top of a church steeple. Once all the coins are found, the star will appear under the small house that is between the high walls.
- Names in Other Languages
Star 6: Quick Race Through Downtown!
For this mission, Mario needs to return to the Downtown section of the level and make the water level to its lowest. There is a ! Switch located in the city behind a house. Activating it will temporarily create blocks inside the grate in the far corner. Mario will need a Vanish Cap to get inside the grate in the corner. The star is at the top, and Mario will need to reach it before the blocks disappear. An alternative to getting the star is to get through the fencing and Wall Jump or run into the lighter wall with the vanish cap to reach the star faster.
In the DS version, only Luigi can get this star since he is the only character who has the ability to turn invisible.
- Names in Other Languages
Star 7 (DS): Soaked Silver Stars
The Player must swim at a certain water level and collect all five Silver Stars. The last one's in a crate where the player will need to lower the water level and punch to get. If the player's using Yoshi, they will have to use a Super Mushroom to break it, because Yoshi cannot punch blocks. The rest are found in the middle of the water and easy to get.
- Names in Other Languages
Downtown
To get to the abandoned downtown, there are three ways. Mario can launch into a very tall mesh cage with the level's cannon or jump into it when the water level is at maximum high tide (entering the level from the highest point of the painting). As Luigi in Super Mario 64 DS, the Power Flower can be used to go through the cage at any water level.
Once within the cage, Mario must quickly swim through a tunnel with partially closed gates before he loses all his air reserve.
The town has one Power Star, and obtaining eight Red Coins can also reveal another Star. There are some enemies in Downtown as well, such as Skeeters and two Kuromames. The latter is removed in the DS remake. Other Items found here include green and blue ! Blocks. In the DS remake of the game, a lone Pink Bob-omb reveals where the eight Red Coins are located.
Downtown is a somewhat modern yet small town, having only five buildings (which Mario cannot get into), plant life, and even a "central park" with thin stone walls and a statue of a pyramid. Another landmark is the small "shrine" that stands in front of the park. It has an opening where the player can collect the Star after gathering all eight Red Coins.
Enemies
Statistics from Super Mario 64
- Total Number of coins: at least 152 (ca. 100 in main course, ca. 40 in downtown)
- Warps:
- In an inset corner of a structure on the ground, there's a warp that leads to the cannon. Water level needs to be as low as possible for this warp to be active.
Names in Other Languages
Trivia
- This course's beta name for the DS version (as seen in debug mode) is "Water City".
- The uptown Bob-omb Buddy is moved in the DS version from a high platform near the cannon to a platform near the Chuckya, possibly for convenience.
