A Midnight Flight

A Midnight Flight is an anomalous level not present in most copies of Super Mario 64, and has received little documentation. Across all documentation, it has appeared as a victory lap of sorts for when the player has completed the game or collected all available stars and unlockables. The level looks exactly like outside of Princess Peach's Castle, only that the level takes place under a night sky, many of the textures have been tinted blue, and the castle cannot be entered. This level is primarily built around the Wing Cap. The level is also extended in comparison to the hubworld version, sporting access to the Castle Courtyard and extended greenery beyond where the map would normally end.

Details on the level have been collected from many sources, and appear to be relatively consistent among reporters. The level has not been reported as a full course, and instead either a secret sub-area or a hub world, with night & sky-themed levels such as the Starry-Night Skies, Lunar Landscape, Sky Seas, etc.

Mission
This level has only been reported to contain one mission, which is the same as the name of the level. "A Midnight Flight". There is no star associated with this Mission, however, meaning the player can only leave the course through pausing the game and returning to the Castle manually.

A sign is situated where the level normally ends, and what it says varies between copies. A message from one copy is listed below;

"Thank you for your time with Super Mario 64. At Nintendo we strive to make memorable games for our players, and we hope you had fun.

Sometimes it's good to take a break, though!

-The Mario 64 Team"

The level contains a series of rings that differ in color across copies, but are usually vibrant colors. Mario must pass through these rings with the Wing Cap in order to find a sign on a cloud on top of the castle.

Level Geography / Accessing the Level
In order to access A Midnight Flight, the AI must think you are ready for the level. Some also say that it must be night-time, though this is inconsistent. What determines the player's readiness is unknown, however it has generally been attributed to 100% completion in some capacity. If it thinks you are sufficiently ready, a special Toad, often a unique color like yellow, will appear in front of the Castle. When interacted with, the Toad will give you the option to enter the level. It's dialogue varies, and one report has been transcribed below;

"Mario, would you like to take a midnight fly around the castle? Head into the door!"

The level starts on the Castle Roof, where you would usually find Yoshi. There is a Wing Cap Box near your spawn point. The level's geometry is almost exactly like Peach's Castle, however there is a cloud platform on top of the castle and there are many rings throughout the level (see section 2). The level is also extended, seemingly to allow for more area to fly in.

Players report a positive emotional aura whilst flying with the Wing Cap in this level.

The AI's Choice
Every user who has documented this level describes their play-style as "slow and thorough", taking their time in levels to explore every nook and cranny for coins, secret stars, and other hidden items.

This level appears to be meant for those who like to take their time when playing Mario 64, and would be happy to take just a few minutes to take a fly around Peach's Castle with the Wing Cap. The level also occasionally appears in copies that have notable difficulty changes; in Harder copies, it will appear as a reward/break towards the end of the game, and in easier copies is reworked to serve as a tutorial for using the Wing Cap, for lesser experienced players who may be struggling with it's controls.