In the mid-1990s, video games turned toward polygonal three-dimensional experiences in contrast with the sprite-based games of the previous console generations. Super Mario 64 was a seminal game that inspired countless others.
The storyline retains the simple story of previous Super Mario games where Bowser, King of the Koopa, kidnaps Princess Peach. However, there is a bit of a twist here, as Bowser used the power stars within the castle to imprison Peach and her servants inside the Mushroom Kingdom castle. Mario has to collect enough stars to open the three locked doors and defeat Bowser once again.
The game starts with Mario out in an open field outside of Peach's castle. This is the game that pulled the princess of the mushroom kingdom's two names together, as she's referred to as Princess Toadstool, Peach. Mario can run in three hundred and sixty-five directions. With the increase in movement also came an increase in moves. Mario can now slide, backflip, long jump, wall jump, ground pound, and front flip after jumping three times. If Mario has a wing cap, which is unlockable by hitting a red switch in a hidden level, Mario will begin flying after the third jump instead of flipping. Most of the classic powerups are not found in this game, however, the different caps with time-limited powers, which are unlocked through hidden levels, make up for it. There is the aforementioned wing cap, the metal cap that turns Mario into Metal Mario allowing him to walk underwater, and the vanish cap that turns Mario invisible.
To get inside the numbered doors, a specified number of stars must be collected. These are spread throughout the castle. There are one hundred twenty stars in total. Inside the doors are levels, which are represented as paintings Mario can jump into. There are also hidden levels, which are entered by jumping through windows, or by performing a specific task to get to them.
There are fifteen regular stages with six stars each, as well as a bonus star in each stage for obtaining one-hundred stars. To earn the stars, Mario must perform specific tasks mentioned under the star in the level selection screen. These tasks include things such as using the ground pound power to knock four wooden posts into the ground, racing characters to a point in the stage, and defeating bosses by picking them up and throwing them or jumping on their backs.
There are also three challenge doors that contain castle levels with a boss fight with Bowser, King of the Koopa, waiting at the top. Defeating Bowser here leads to Mario obtaining a key that he can use to unlock castle doors to ascend stairs up to areas he couldn't reach before.
Alongside the one hundred-five stage stars are fifteen hidden stars that can be obtained by entering hidden secret levels, chasing characters, or speaking to specific Toads out of the handful that remains inside the castle.
One of the best parts of any Super Mario game is the music, and Koji Kondo doesn't disappoint here. He makes full use of the increased number of electronic instruments available on the hardware of the Nintendo 64. There are some real gems here that will get stuck in your head forever, my personal favorite being the Slider song that plays when Mario slides down slippery slopes. I get that music in my head often, and it is the song that I immediately remember when I think about Super Mario 64.
Super Mario 64 is an absolute classic that deserves its place in the pantheon of great games. Because it is bright and cheerful with characters with proportions more like cartoons than actual people, the graphics have stood the test of time better than some of its contemporaries. It's still full of jagged edges and blurred textures like other games of its era, but the fantastic art design and level design makes up for it. Add in the fantastic memorable soundtrack, and it is a game that children and adults of any generation can enjoy. There is also an enhanced port for the Nintendo DS, but that version is so different, that it's worthy of a review all on its own.
The best official version of the game, in my opinion, is the enhanced emulated version of the game included in Super Mario 3D All-Stars. This version increases the resolution to high definition with some improved textures although it is still presented in a 4:3 format. It also uses the rumble version that was previously only available in Japan. This version fixes some of the bugs that speedrunners use to play the game quickly, so your opinion on the best version may vary based on your needs.
Final Verdict:
4½ out of 5
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