Item of the Week #3

Dark Seraphim · 12-05-2009, 03:41 PM

Metal Cap

(I have found there are really no good pictures, if any pictures at all, of the actual "Metal Cap", so I had to post the "Green ! Box" instead to represent this item)

First Appearance: Super Mario 64 (N64, 1996)
Latest Appearance: Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii, 2008)

The Metal Cap was one of the strongest items in Super Mario 64, and one of Mario's strongest upgrades below total invincibility from the Power Star in the Mario franchise.

In its first appearance the Metal Cap boasted many abilities on par with the Super Star, including invulnerability, instant death to any enemies touched my Mario, ability to sink underwater, and no longer needing to breath underwater. The only two things that could in fact kill Mario was fall damage, and falling off the stage itself. In Super Mario DS, instead of Mario, Wario was the user of the Metal Cap (albeit through another item called the Power Flower), and a few more abilities of the Metal Form were seen, being able to walk on Lava and Frozen Water without damage (although if Wario sinks below the top of either one he will instantly die regardless).

After Super Mario 64 we never actually see the literal "Metal Cap" again, however Metal Mario does go on to remain Mario's strongest form, taking the metal sheen many times when Mario is required to be a boss or secret unlock, as in Super Smash Bros., Mario Golf 64, and Dr. Mario 64, and was used in part of his strongest move in Mario Strikers Charged Football.

More recently, the Metal Cap (now known as the Metal Box) is a special item in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, allowing any character to wear it, gaining many of the same abilities Mario himself held in Super Mario 64, although much heavier and not quite as invulnerable to damage.

One last thing I'll make note of is the special music that plays in Super Mario 64 whenever you used the Metal Cap. Not only was it the only item in the game to have its own song (the Wing Cap and Vanishing Cap both shared the same music), but the song itself was very well done and really accented being made of metal well (see below if you want to take a listen!):

Click to view video.

Item of the Week #1: Hammer
Item of the week #2: Boo Mushroom

Luigiman7 · 12-05-2009, 05:01 PM

The best music in SM64.

**Valigarmander** · 12-05-2009, 08:03 PM

Weegee said it.

Metal Mario · 12-05-2009, 08:45 PM

It's a catchy tune, but I wouldn't call it the best, especially considering how chock-full of wonderful music Super Mario 64 is. Among my favorites are the beautiful underwater theme from Jolly Roger Bay and Dire Dire Docks, and the epic ballad from the Bowser stages (happily reused in Super Mario Galaxy).

Luigiman7 · 12-05-2009, 08:50 PM

Dark Seraphim · 12-05-2009, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metal Mario

It's a catchy tune, but I wouldn't call it the best, especially considering how chock-full of wonderful music Super Mario 64 is. Among my favorites are the beautiful underwater theme from Jolly Roger Bay and Dire Dire Docks, and the epic ballad from the Bowser stages (happily reused in Super Mario Galaxy).

He is right, the game was filled with great and catchy music. I didn't really register the water stages though, as they were really some of my least favorite stages, most stages let you explore non-stop and take your time, the underwater stages you were always under a timer so it wasn't nearly as much fun.

Galaxy had some incredible music! Best song in the game had to be the VS. Bowser music when you're actually fighting Bowser, it was so epic! Hey Metal Mario, do you know what that song was called, or can you post a link to it? I honestly have no idea what they called it.

Metal Mario · 12-05-2009, 09:08 PM

Click to view video.

Dark Seraphim · 12-05-2009, 09:26 PM

Thanks Metal Mario!

The Mario franchise had some incredible music in general, and some really epic songs like that one.

Metal Mario's theme was really cool for its time, highlighted bu the fact, as I said earlier, it had its own original music, while the other two items just shared a track. Its weird though we've never seen the Metal Cap (or likewise) as a power-up in another platforming game, even though the franchise has more or less established Metal Mario to be one of his strongest forms.

PK FIRE! · 12-05-2009, 10:13 PM

The Metal Mario theme makes me think of the invinciblity star music. While we're talking about Mario music with staying power the first one to pop to my mind is the overworld theme from SMB, next would be the Hammer Bros, theme.

As for why the Metal Cap hasn't returned it could be that it was thought to be too powerfull. Or it could simpaly have fallen through the cracks like the majority of items in the Mario games. I think the ones that recurre the most are the basic powerups/items of SMB the Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, Invinciblity Star, and the 1-Up mushroom.

- You stupid dog.

Dark Seraphim · 12-05-2009, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PK FIRE!

As for why the Metal Cap hasn't returned it could be that it was thought to be too powerfull. Or it could simpaly have fallen through the cracks like the majority of items in the Mario games. I think the ones that recurre the most are the basic powerups/items of SMB the Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, Invinciblity Star, and the 1-Up mushroom.

True, but as I said earlier, although the Metal Cap fell off the radar, Metal Mario has not, he's still featured in a lot of games, usually as Mario's ultimate form.

Metal Mario · 12-05-2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PK FIRE!

While we're talking about Mario music with staying power the first one to pop to my mind is the overworld theme from SMB

I wouldn't mind if Nintendo let that theme and the traditional underworld theme sit the next few games out. They're good themes, but they suffer from serious overexposure. It's like how some radio stations play a great song over and over and over again until they've beaten it to death and made you sick of it.

Dark Seraphim · 12-06-2009, 01:02 AM

^ What I'd like is in the next big platformer, Super Mario Galaxy 2, instead of just making up more new suits they give us some of the old items. Boo Mushroom, Hammer Bros. Suit, Tanooki Suit, etc.

PK FIRE! · 12-06-2009, 01:09 AM

While it would be nice to see some of the lesser used items return I'm sure that people would whine about how Nintendo was being lazy by just reusing older powerups then creating new ones. Then you have to think about how to adopt the older powerups to a 3D setting as what worked on the NES/SNES wouldn't exactly work for the Wii.

- You stupid dog.

MeowMan · 12-06-2009, 02:26 PM

It would be good for old powerups that were used in 1 to 3 games to be used again, but I would still want more powerups.

Dark Seraphim · 12-06-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeowMan

It would be good for old powerups that were used in 1 to 3 games to be used again, but I would still want more powerups.

Maybe they could have an Admixture system once with old items just for kicks. Where you can have a handful of old item, and could also combine then into new items.

Metal Cap + Tanooki Suit = ?
Frog Suit + Boo Mushroom = ?
Ice Flower + Power Cape = ?

MeowMan · 12-06-2009, 03:16 PM

Tanooki Suit+Frog Suit=WHAT THE HECK IS THAT THING!?!

**Valigarmander** · 12-06-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dark Seraphim

Ice Flower + Power Cape = ?

RAIN FROZEN HELL FROM ABOVE!!!

MeowMan · 12-06-2009, 04:15 PM

Err... Yeah..

Dark Seraphim · 12-06-2009, 04:59 PM

Metal Cap + Power Cape = Seismic Slams from the air for HUGE Bowser like shockwaves.

MeowMan · 12-06-2009, 05:05 PM

Fire Flower+Penguin Suit(NSMBW)=Penguin that breaths fire!

12-05-2009, 08:50 PM	#5
Luigiman7 ~)´◡｀(~ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: representin da bronx yo Gender: Posts: 17,304 Thanks: 1,099 Thanked 992 Times in 698 Posts Blog Entries: 8	^ __________________ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ＷＯＮ’Ｔ　ＹＯＵ　ＢＥＣＯＭＥ　Ａ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬ？

12-05-2009, 05:01 PM	#2
Luigiman7 ~)´◡｀(~ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: representin da bronx yo Gender: Posts: 17,304 Thanks: 1,099 Thanked 992 Times in 698 Posts Blog Entries: 8	The best music in SM64. __________________ ／人◕ ‿‿ ◕人＼ＷＯＮ’Ｔ　ＹＯＵ　ＢＥＣＯＭＥ　Ａ　ＭＡＧＩＣＡＬ　ＧＩＲＬ？

12-05-2009, 08:03 PM	#3
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,222 Thanks: 1,611 Thanked 5,553 Times in 2,499 Posts Blog Entries: 18	Weegee said it. __________________

12-05-2009, 08:45 PM	#4
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	It's a catchy tune, but I wouldn't call it the best, especially considering how chock-full of wonderful music Super Mario 64 is. Among my favorites are the beautiful underwater theme from Jolly Roger Bay and Dire Dire Docks, and the epic ballad from the Bowser stages (happily reused in Super Mario Galaxy).

12-05-2009, 09:26 PM	#8
Dark Seraphim Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Gender: Posts: 431 Thanks: 4 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	Thanks Metal Mario! The Mario franchise had some incredible music in general, and some really epic songs like that one. Metal Mario's theme was really cool for its time, highlighted bu the fact, as I said earlier, it had its own original music, while the other two items just shared a track. Its weird though we've never seen the Metal Cap (or likewise) as a power-up in another platforming game, even though the franchise has more or less established Metal Mario to be one of his strongest forms.

12-05-2009, 10:13 PM	#9
PK FIRE! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: On the run. Gender: Posts: 9,544 Thanks: 175 Thanked 150 Times in 120 Posts	The Metal Mario theme makes me think of the invinciblity star music. While we're talking about Mario music with staying power the first one to pop to my mind is the overworld theme from SMB, next would be the Hammer Bros, theme. As for why the Metal Cap hasn't returned it could be that it was thought to be too powerfull. Or it could simpaly have fallen through the cracks like the majority of items in the Mario games. I think the ones that recurre the most are the basic powerups/items of SMB the Super Mushroom, Fire Flower, Invinciblity Star, and the 1-Up mushroom. - You stupid dog.

12-06-2009, 01:02 AM	#12
Dark Seraphim Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Gender: Posts: 431 Thanks: 4 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	^ What I'd like is in the next big platformer, Super Mario Galaxy 2, instead of just making up more new suits they give us some of the old items. Boo Mushroom, Hammer Bros. Suit, Tanooki Suit, etc.

12-06-2009, 01:09 AM	#13
PK FIRE! Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: On the run. Gender: Posts: 9,544 Thanks: 175 Thanked 150 Times in 120 Posts	While it would be nice to see some of the lesser used items return I'm sure that people would whine about how Nintendo was being lazy by just reusing older powerups then creating new ones. Then you have to think about how to adopt the older powerups to a 3D setting as what worked on the NES/SNES wouldn't exactly work for the Wii. - You stupid dog.

12-06-2009, 02:26 PM	#14
MeowMan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: If not here, Minecraft and/or with friends. Gender: Posts: 6,297 Thanks: 818 Thanked 202 Times in 127 Posts Blog Entries: 42	It would be good for old powerups that were used in 1 to 3 games to be used again, but I would still want more powerups.

12-06-2009, 03:16 PM	#16
MeowMan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: If not here, Minecraft and/or with friends. Gender: Posts: 6,297 Thanks: 818 Thanked 202 Times in 127 Posts Blog Entries: 42	Tanooki Suit+Frog Suit=WHAT THE HECK IS THAT THING!?!

12-06-2009, 04:15 PM	#18
MeowMan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: If not here, Minecraft and/or with friends. Gender: Posts: 6,297 Thanks: 818 Thanked 202 Times in 127 Posts Blog Entries: 42	Err... Yeah..

12-06-2009, 04:59 PM	#19
Dark Seraphim Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Gender: Posts: 431 Thanks: 4 Thanked 20 Times in 15 Posts	Metal Cap + Power Cape = Seismic Slams from the air for HUGE Bowser like shockwaves.

12-06-2009, 05:05 PM	#20
MeowMan Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: If not here, Minecraft and/or with friends. Gender: Posts: 6,297 Thanks: 818 Thanked 202 Times in 127 Posts Blog Entries: 42	Fire Flower+Penguin Suit(NSMBW)=Penguin that breaths fire!