Super Mario 64 DS improves on all of the flaws the original game had.
Presentation - Like Super Mario 64, the story is mostly the same. There are a total of three save files to store for you and your friends. At the beginning of the game, Peach sends Mario a letter to enter the castle to share cake with him. This time, you start off the game as Yoshi who has to rescue Mario, Luigi, and Wario from the evil bosses after they disappeared in a castle. To rescue Mario, you need to collect at least eight stars and defeat a giant Goomba Boss in a Tree Top like level. Once you collect a key, you can access to a door to play as Mario.
To rescue Luigi, you need at least fourteen to sixteen stars. After that, you enter a haunted mansion and enter a maze after you access the flower power up and are able to access the second floor. Once you enter a room, you encounter Luigi and have to punch King Boo to be able to access the key to unlock him. I'm still not sure how many stars you need and what to do to unlock Wario yet.
There are a total of 150 (30 more than the original) stars to collect with seven stars on each level. At most doors, there are a certain number of stars you need to earn before accessing new areas. There are occasional hidden stars to collect especially the level where you enter a class portrait of Princess Peach. To earn this star, you must be able to slide down to a door without falling off. As time goes on, you have to defeat Bowser several times by first going through an obstacle course.
Unlike the original where Mario is the only playable character, you get to also play as Luigi, Yoshi, and even Wario. Luigi and Yoshi can jump higher than the others. Wario can punch heavy bricks and walk underwater while being metal. Mario can float and use his special wing cap to fly around temporary like the original.
You can also do a four player battle mode with your friends who and don't own Super Mario 64 DS. There is a mini-game mode where you can select mini-games from trampolines to Luigi's casino themed games.
Graphics - The graphics have improved immensely from the original. Back then Mario looked strange because they enlarged his whole entire body, head, and nose was way too big. This time Mario lost a lot of weight, and his head is finally normal size. Did Shigeru Miyamoto made Mario lose weight because he ate less pasta? LOL Anyways, the environments and characters look fantastic and colorful. The polygon count has increased, so everything looks sharp and less pixilated.
Sound - The music is exactly the same from the original Super Mario 64 with a few added tracks from Super Mario Sunshine on a tropical island where you collect five silver stars. However, Mario no longer says "So long Bowser" when he defeats him and instead says "Bye Bye". He still says "Mamma Mia" when he dies. When he sleeps, he no longer dreams about pasta and just snores instead. Luigi, Yoshi, and Wario have their own catchphrases and regular voices.
Game play - Although there is no analog stick on a Nintendo DS, the 3DS finally has analog stick movement for smoother, comfortable, and tight controls. I suggest playing Super Mario 64 DS on a 3DS if you want to finally experience comfortable and responsive controls on the go.
Lasting appeal - With updated graphics, lengthier single player mode than the original (collecting 150 stars), more playable characters, mini-games, and a single cartridge downloadable multiplayer, Super Mario 64 DS is an easy recommendation to buy for most DS/3DS. However, this game originally had slight control issues on a regular DS, but has been completely fixed when you play this game on the 3DS.
The good - improved graphics, extra characters, stars, single cartridge downloadable multiplayer mode to increase replay value, improved controls on the 3DS, and can also play while you get out of the house
Presentation - 10
Graphics - 10
Sound - 10
Game play- 10
Lasting appeal - 10
GameSpot Score 10 out of 10