Super Mario 64 DS/Characters

The biggest change in Super Mario 64 DS is the addition of three new characters alongside Mario: Luigi, Wario, and Yoshi. Not only do all four characters has different special abilities and power ups, but certain characters are mandatory for some star missions.

When beginning the game, you will start as Yoshi as Mario, Luigi, and Wario were captured and locked away in Peach's room. You need to find the corresponding keys to unlock their characters. Once you do, you can switch between characters by entering the room they were locked inside. To switch to Yoshi, you must have the character enter the room they were locked in.

Mario
Mario is the hapless hero of the group and controls almost identically to himself in Super Mario 64. His speed, power, and jumping ability are average across the board.

Mario is the only character that can gain two power ups from red switch blocks: a Power Flower and a feather. His Power Flower ability makes him inflate himself into a balloon. Pressing will help him float upward while pressing  will immediately deflate Mario to normal. The feather gives Mario the Wing Cap, which gives him the ability to fly. Mario can take off the ground by doing a triple jump or shooting himself out of a cannon. His flight controls are inverted, meaning will make him go down and vice versa.
 * Power Up

Wall kicking is pressing against a wall in mid-air and jumping off it to propel yourself away from the wall. Run towards a wall and press to leap into the air, then press  once more as Mario reaches the wall to jump off of it in the opposite direction. With two walls close together, Mario can climb to the top with successive wall kicks.
 * Wall Kick

Luigi
The second banana to Mario, Luigi can jump the highest of the four, but has less attack power than Mario and Wario.

Luigi gains the ability to turn invisible with the Power Flower. It will allow him to walk through certain types of walls and enemies will go right through him.
 * Power Up

All characters can perform the backwards somersault by holding down to crouch and pressing  to jump backwards. Luigi's backwards somersault is not only the highest, but he also slowly descends with a spin jump. It's useful for traversing over large gaps.
 * Backwards Somersault

Holding while running toward a body of water will allow Luigi to dash across the surface for a few seconds. Landing from a jump or stopping will make Luigi drop into the water.
 * Water Run

Holding while jumping allows Luigi to kick his legs for a little extra distance. He can only do this during a single or double jump.
 * Scuttle

Wario
Mario's greedy antithesis was invited to Peach's Castle as well. His power and weight are amazing, but his jumps are short and his speed is pitiful.

Wario's body gets coated with metal by the Power Flower. He can run into some enemies and take no damage from their attacks. His extra weight allows him to walk underwater and resist high winds and currents.
 * Power Up

Wario is the only character strong enough to break black-colored bricks as well as certain formidable objects. His strength also lets him punch and throw enemies the farthest as well as ground pound pegs in one move instead of three.
 * Extra Strength

Yoshi
This cute, green dinosaur is Mario's childhood company and the first character you control. His jumps are impressive, but he cannot punch enemies or pick up objects.

Yoshi's mouth fills up with heat thanks to the Power Flower. Pressing will make him exhale flames. His fire breath will melt most enemies as well as some forms of ice.
 * Power Up

Instead of punching, the button makes Yoshi shoot out his tongue. If an enemy is caught by his tongue, he'll retract it to his mouth. Pressing again will spit the enemy out while pressing  swallows the enemy, causing Yoshi to lay an egg that will follow him. To throw the egg at a target, press. Yoshi can also swallow fire and spit it out, but he can only hold one flame at a time. Not all enemies can be converted to eggs or even swallowed.
 * Swallow Enemies

Holding while jumping gives Yoshi more air time with a flutter jump. It not only lasts longer than Luigi's scuttle, but also gives him a little extra height. He can only perform this while single or double jumping.
 * Flutter Jump