Toad is everywhere in Princess Peach’s castle. You can't miss the guy. Honestly, if you grew up playing the Nintendo 64 in the late nineties, you probably remember him as that frantic mushroom-headed dude just hanging out in the hallways, begging you to save the Princess. But Toad Super Mario 64 isn't just a background character or a decorative asset. He’s a weirdly essential part of the game's mechanics that most kids back then completely overlooked until they hit a wall at 117 stars.
Think about the first time you stepped into that lobby. The music starts, the sun is shining through the stained glass, and there's a Toad standing right there by the stairs. You talk to him. He says something about Bowser's troops taking over. You move on. But that’s the trap. Most players treated Toad like a glorified signpost. In reality, he’s holding onto Power Stars that you literally cannot finish the game without.
The Mystery of the Missing Stars
People always ask how to get 120 stars. They scour the depths of Hazy Maze Cave. They try to find every hidden coin in Rainbow Ride. But then they’re stuck at 117. It’s frustrating. It's actually kind of funny because the answer is standing right in front of them, usually near a staircase or behind a pillar. There are specifically three Toads in the castle who give you a Star just for chatting with them.
The first one is near the entrance to Hazy Maze Cave in the basement. Then there’s one on the second floor, right near the entrance to Tall, Tall Mountain. Finally, there's the one on the top floor near the clock. Why did Shigeru Miyamoto and the team at Nintendo EAD decide to do this? It feels like a participation trophy, but it actually serves a vital purpose in teaching the player that the hub world—Peach’s Castle—is just as much a level as the ones inside the paintings. It breaks the "rules" of the game. Usually, you have to do work for a star. You jump, you climb, you fight a boss. With Toad, you just show up.
Not All Toads are Created Equal
It’s easy to think of Toad as a single person, but the game treats them like a species. Or maybe clones? It's never really explained. In the original 1996 release, they all look identical. They have the red spots and the little vest. However, their dialogue varies wildly depending on how many stars you have. If you talk to them early on, they’re terrified. They talk about being trapped in the walls. It's actually a bit dark when you think about it. Bowser literally imprisoned the castle staff inside the architecture of the building.
💡 You might also like: Why 2 Suit Spider Solitaire Green Felt Is the Sweet Spot for Serious Players
Wait, let's look at the technical side for a second. The way Toad Super Mario 64 was programmed is surprisingly efficient. In a game where memory was at a massive premium—remember, the N64 cartridges were tiny compared to modern storage—having static NPCs was a clever way to fill space without dragging down the frame rate. Unlike the enemies in Bob-omb Battlefield, Toads don't have complex AI routines. They don't chase you. They don't have hurt boxes. They are essentially interactive "actors" that trigger a text box and a specific animation sequence.
The L Is Real 2401 Myth
We can't talk about Toad without mentioning the Luigi rumors. For decades, players believed that if you ran around the fountain in the courtyard a certain number of times, or talked to the Toads in a specific order, you could unlock Mario's brother. The "L Is Real 2401" inscription on the statue was the Holy Grail of gaming myths.
Toad was often the centerpiece of these fake rumors. "Talk to the Toad in the basement 50 times, then go to the roof." We all tried it. We all failed. It wasn't until the 2020 Nintendo "Gigaleak" that we actually saw the source code and realized Luigi was planned for the game but was cut early in development. Toad was never the key to unlocking him. He was just a witness to our collective childhood insanity.
The DS Remake and the Color Revolution
When Super Mario 64 DS launched in 2004, everything changed. Suddenly, the Toads had personalities. Well, at least they had different colors. You had red Toads, green Toads, and blue Toads. This wasn't just a visual upgrade; it helped players distinguish which Toad they had already spoken to.
In the DS version, they also played a much bigger role in the gameplay loop. Since you could switch between Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and Wario, the Toads would react differently depending on who you were. Some would give you hints specific to Wario’s strength or Luigi’s high jump. It made the castle feel less like a prison and more like a bustling (if slightly panicked) workplace.
Why the Speedrunning Community Loves (and Hates) Toad
Speedrunning is where Toad Super Mario 64 becomes a technical nightmare or a savior. In a 120-star run, the "Toad Stars" are essentially "free" time. You don't have to platform for them. You just need to optimize your movement to reach them as fast as possible.
But there’s a catch. Text boxes.
In speedrunning, text is the enemy. Every second spent mashing the A button to skip Toad’s dialogue is a second lost. Professional runners have the timing down to a science. They know exactly where to stand to trigger the dialogue at the earliest possible frame. They use "text skips" and specific movement patterns to shave off milliseconds. It’s a bizarre sight: Mario, a hero of legend, sprint-jumping into a tiny mushroom man at terminal velocity just to hear him say "Here, take this!"
The Philosophical Problem of Toad
Is Toad a coward? People debate this. He stands there while Bowser takes over the castle. He doesn't fight back. But honestly, look at him. He’s two feet tall. He doesn't have a fire flower. He doesn't have a cape. What he does have is information and resources. By holding onto those Stars, he’s essentially acting as a supply line for Mario. He’s the logistics guy. Without the Toads keeping those Stars safe, Mario would never have enough power to break the seal on the final Bowser door.
Common Misconceptions You Should Stop Believing
- Toad gives you a star every time you see him. Nope. Only three specific ones do. The rest are just there to tell you that the water level is rising or that you need to find a switch.
- You can kill Toad. You can't. You can dive at him, punch him, or slide into him, and he’ll just do a little hop or look startled. He’s invincible. Which makes you wonder why he’s so scared of Bowser in the first place.
- Toad is wearing a hat. This is the big one. For years, people argued if that mushroom was a hat or his head. In Super Mario Odyssey, we finally got some clarity, but in the N64 days, it was a legitimate mystery. The official word now? It’s his head. Yeah. Weird.
How to Handle Toad in Your Next Playthrough
If you’re dusting off your N64 or loading up the 3D All-Stars collection on Switch, don't ignore the little guys. It’s easy to rush into the paintings. We all want to get to Cool, Cool Mountain or Big Boo’s Haunt. But if you want that 100% completion badge, you need to be systematic about your castle exploration.
Step 1: The Basement Check
After you beat Bowser in the Dark World, head down to the basement. Don't go straight to the fire level. Look for the Toad near the Hazy Maze Cave entrance. He’s usually hanging out near the water. Talk to him. Get the star. Easy.
📖 Related: Why DanTDM Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal Still Matters
Step 2: The Second Floor Sprint
Once you’ve unlocked the upper floors, don't just run for the stairs. Check the corners. There’s a Toad standing right there, usually looking a bit lost near the entrance to the spiral staircase. That’s Star number two.
Step 3: The Final Ascent
Before you enter the final battle with Bowser, talk to the Toad near the entrance to Tick Tock Clock. He’s the last piece of the puzzle.
It’s almost poetic. The game starts with a Toad telling you the Princess is gone, and it ends with a Toad giving you the final boost of power you need to save her. It’s a full-circle moment that most people forget because they’re too focused on the boss fight.
Toad represents the "soul" of the castle. He’s the constant. While the worlds inside the paintings are chaotic and dangerous, Toad is always there, waiting in the hallway, reminding you why you’re doing this. He might be annoying to some, and his voice might be a bit high-pitched, but Toad Super Mario 64 is the unsung hero of the Mushroom Kingdom's first 3D outing.
Next time you see him, don't just run past. Stop. Talk. You might just find that last star you’ve been looking for since 1996.
Actionable Tips for Completionists
- Check your Star Menu frequently. If your count is ending in a weird number and you’ve cleared all the levels, the "Castle Secret Stars" are your likely culprit.
- Master the "Mashing" technique. To get through Toad's dialogue faster, alternate between the A and B buttons. It doesn't actually speed up the text more than holding the button, but it keeps your hands active for the platforming ahead.
- Pay attention to the hints. Some Toads actually give you legitimate clues on how to find hidden levels like the Wing Cap tower. If you're playing without a guide, they are your best friends.
- Don't forget the courtyard. While no Toads there give you stars, they provide context for the ghosts and the fountain that fueled a thousand internet rumors. It’s worth the trip for the nostalgia alone.
To get the most out of your run, try to collect the "Toad Stars" as soon as they become available. It prevents that dreaded "backtracking" phase at the end of the game where you're just wandering empty hallways looking for a single mushroom person. Keep it efficient, keep it fast, and keep your eyes peeled.