"For some fun, challenging entertainment, Super Mario 64 is the one to play."

Platform: N64

Genre: Platformer

Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Nintendo

ESRB: E (Everyone)

Released: 1996

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Super Mario 64

People that know anything about games probably know something about Mario, that diminutive plumber that takes on the forces of darkness in such a cartoony way that no one, except Goombas, could ever be offended. Super Mario 64 is one of those games that helped send gaming in new directions. 3D environments were something new that North American designers were toying with when Mario 64 dropped onto their heads. Its style has been emulated ever since.

The Mario mythos began with Donkey Kong and Mario 64 continues the legacy. Mario 64 was the flagship title for the Nintendo 64 and for very good reason.  The gameplay dynamics are multi-level. The novice player won’t get too frustrated and hardcore gamers will find more than enough challenge. The plot of the game is the standard "save Princess Toadstool from Bowser". The game takes place in Toadstool’s castle, with locked doors, secret passages, magical paintings, and mini-games all over. The point of each level is to capture stars that Bowser and his minions have stolen. Collect enough stars from a level and you can open doors which lead to other areas of the castle. As each level starts, a one line description helps to point the player in the direction of the next star. Players can finish the game without getting all the stars. 

Controlling Mario is easy. Using the analog stick gives complete control. Methods of attack are punching/kicking and jumping. There are several different jump methods which need to be mastered if you’re going to get all the stars. Mario can also swim, duck, run, tip-toe, crawl, slide, climb trees, and fire himself out of a cannon. Most of the moves are 3D renditions of moves from previous games. The complicating factor to control is the camera view. Most times the camera rests directly behind Mario, but occasionally, if Mario is running at an angle along a ledge and the camera angle shifts, Mario will fall off a cliff. This can be especially frustrating on Bowser’s levels in which upward travel is necessary. The camera can also be rotated around Mario so that a situation can be sized up. Also helpful is the first person static view. There are also a few things that can be interacted with. Toad can be found in a number of locations, offering advice or stars. There are also information signs that provide clues and describe how to execute moves.

Most of the enemies and objects will be instantly recognizable. Many of the characters that were in the previous games show up in Mario 64. (Heck, even Yoshi makes a cameo) The environments are varied, from desert to arctic to underwater to cavernous. Mario will even find himself inside a clock. Several stages are themed on levels found in previous Mario games, such as Big Island in Mario 3. They all look great! There is some pop-up effect, with objects suddenly appearing on the horizon but for the most part the game area in enclosed enough that pop-up is minimal. There is a good balance between wide open and closed in areas.

The graphics and sound fit well into the Mario tradition. Everything is cartoony, and the theme is maintained throughout. The music is hum-worthy.

Power-ups closely follow the formula found in Super Mario World on the Super Nintendo. There are three power-up items: metal (invincibility), flight, and phase (so you can walk through specific walls). Each power-up comes in the form of caps that Mario can wear. On each level in the early going there are outlines of boxes which become solid when the specific power-ups are activated. Activating a power-up and returning to an earlier level can give the player access to previously inaccessible areas. The power-ups aren’t necessary to complete the game but they are lots of fun, especially the flight cap.

For some fun, challenging entertainment, Super Mario 64 is the one to play.

- Omni