Honestly, it’s still wild to think about how a piece of headwear completely reinvented the most iconic platforming series in history. When Super Mario Odyssey dropped back in 2017, the gaming world was already reeling from the open-air brilliance of Breath of the Wild. We were ready for a big Mario game, sure. But were we ready to stop jumping on Goombas and start literally becoming them? That’s the magic of Cappy from Mario Odyssey. He isn't just a gimmick or a floating companion like Navi or Tingle. He’s the physical manifestation of a design philosophy that says, "What if the player could do anything they see?"
If you look at the lore, Cappy is a Bonneter. He hails from the Cap Kingdom—specifically Bonneton—a place that looks like a Tim Burton fever dream mixed with a high-end hat boutique. He’s not actually a red "M" cap; he’s a ghostly, sentient hat-creature who just happens to take the form of Mario’s signature headgear after Bowser shreds the original one during the opening cinematic. It was a partnership born of necessity. Bowser kidnapped Tiara, Cappy’s sister, and Peach, Mario’s perpetual "damsel." But beyond the plot, Cappy is the literal engine of the game’s creativity.
The Capture Mechanic: Why Cappy from Mario Odyssey changed the rules
The core of the game is the "Capture" mechanic. In Japan, the marketing used the term Omoide, but basically, it’s possession. You throw Cappy, he lands on an enemy’s head, and suddenly you are a T-Rex. Or a Cheep Cheep. Or a literal slab of meat.
This wasn't just a power-up. In previous games, a Fire Flower gave you a projectile. A Tanooki Suit gave you a floaty jump. Cappy from Mario Odyssey gives you the entire move set of the world around you. This is a massive shift in game design. Instead of the developers building a level around Mario’s jump height, they built a world where you might need to be a Pokio to poke your way up a wall or a Gushen to spray water and fly through the air.
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There’s a specific kind of joy in seeing an enemy and wondering, "Can I be that?" Most of the time, the answer is yes. There are over 50 different captures in the game. Some are purely for traversal, like the Spark Pylons that let you zip through power lines. Others are for combat, like the Hammer Bros or the Sherm tanks. It makes the world feel like a giant toy box rather than a series of obstacles.
Mastering the hat throw and the hidden depth of movement
If you just play Odyssey casually, Cappy is a boomerang. You throw him, he hits a coin, he comes back. Simple.
But talk to any speedrunner or high-level player, and they’ll tell you Cappy is a platforming tool that rivals the triple jump. The "Cappy Jump"—where you throw the hat, dive onto it, bounce, and then throw it again—is the bread and butter of expert play. It allows Mario to clear gaps that look absolutely impossible. It’s a bit tricky to pull off at first because it requires specific timing with the Y and ZL buttons, but once it clicks, you feel like you’re breaking the game. You aren’t, though. Nintendo knew exactly what they were doing. They hid Power Moons in places that basically demand you master these hat-based maneuvers.
Think about the motion controls too. I know, I know—people have mixed feelings about wagging their Joy-Cons. But the homing throw and the upward flick actually add a layer of precision that's hard to get with just buttons. When you’re trying to hit a fast-moving target or a specific switch in the Luncheon Kingdom, that slight homing nudge from a flick of the wrist is a lifesaver.
The Bonneter lore you probably missed
Bonneters are weird. They live in these house-ships that look like top hats. They are pacifists, mostly. But their ability to transform into any headwear is what makes them so versatile. Cappy from Mario Odyssey is essentially a shapeshifter. This is why you can go to the Crazy Cap store and buy a samurai helmet, a chef’s hat, or a snorkel mask, and Cappy just... becomes it.
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It’s also worth noting that Cappy is a bit of a coward compared to Mario. Throughout the dialogue, he’s often the one expressing worry or commenting on how dangerous a boss looks. It creates a nice "odd couple" dynamic. Mario is the silent, fearless adventurer; Cappy is the nervous local guide who happens to be providing all the magical support.
Why some people actually dislike the Capture system
It’s not all sunshine and Power Moons. There’s a segment of the fanbase that feels Cappy from Mario Odyssey actually takes away from the "purity" of Mario.
The argument goes like this: Mario is the greatest platformer because of his movement. His run speed, his momentum, his backflip. When you capture a Goomba, you move slowly. When you capture a Moe-Eye, you’re basically walking in slow motion to see invisible platforms. Some critics feel that being forced to use these "slower" captures breaks the flow of the classic Mario experience.
It’s a fair point. If you love the tight, precision platforming of Super Mario Sunshine or Super Mario 64, spending ten minutes as a tropical wiggler might feel a bit tedious. However, the counter-argument is that Cappy adds variety. He turns the game into a puzzle-platformer. It’s no longer just about "Can I make this jump?" It’s about "What creature do I need to be to solve this room?"
The visual design of a ghost hat
From a technical standpoint, the design of Cappy is brilliant. He has those big, expressive eyes that appear on whatever Mario is wearing. This was a stroke of genius from the art team at Nintendo EPD. It provides a visual anchor. No matter how many different costumes or creatures you’re controlling, those two glowing eyes tell you, "This is still Mario. You’re still in control."
Even when he’s just sitting on Mario’s head, he’s animated. He blinks, he looks around, he reacts to the environment. It makes the "hat" feel like a living participant in the journey rather than just a piece of equipment.
Secrets and Easter Eggs
Did you know Cappy can be used to scan amiibo? Or that in the two-player mode, one person controls Mario while the other controls Cappy independently? The second player actually has a much easier time because Cappy can fly anywhere on the screen, kill enemies, and collect items without Mario moving an inch. It’s actually one of the best "co-op with a younger sibling" modes ever made because the Cappy player is basically invincible.
How to get the most out of Cappy right now
If you’re revisiting the game or picking it up for the first time, don't just use Cappy as a weapon. Use him as a scout. You can hold the throw button to keep him spinning in place, which acts as a temporary platform or a way to clear out large patches of "poison" goop.
Also, pay attention to the birds. If you see a glowing bird or a particular spot on the ground, throwing Cappy at it usually rewards you with a hidden heart or even a Moon. The game is dense with these interactions.
Actionable Steps for Mastering Cappy:
- Practice the Vault: Throw Cappy (Y), then immediately Jump (B) and Dive (Y + ZL). This is the foundation of high-level movement.
- Check the Captures List: Open your map and hit the button for the "Capture List." If you see silhouettes, you’ve missed a mechanic in that kingdom. Go find it.
- Use the Spin Throw: If you’re surrounded by enemies, rotate the left stick quickly and throw the hat. Cappy will circle Mario in a wide arc, clearing the area.
- Talk to the NPCs: Many Bonneters in the different kingdoms give you hints about how to use hat-based mechanics you might have overlooked, especially regarding the hat-and-seek mini-games.
The legacy of Cappy from Mario Odyssey is likely going to be how he redefined the "power-up." We’re moving away from simple stat boosts and toward systemic changes to how we interact with game worlds. Whether he returns in a sequel or remains a one-off partner, Cappy stands as one of the most inventive characters Nintendo has ever conceived. He took a 30-year-old formula and made it feel brand new by simply asking us to put a hat on it.
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Explore every corner of the kingdoms, because the real depth of Cappy isn't in his backstory—it's in the sheer number of ways he lets you break the world and put it back together again.