Mario's big leap to 3D gaming is a must-own for any true Mario fan.
Simply put, Super Mario 64 is one of the greatest and most influential games of all time. It didn't just meet the expectations of the more optimistic Mario fans; it exceeded them. For many Mario fans, Super Mario 64 isn't just their favorite game in the series, it's their favorite game period. Now, while SM64 might not be my absolute favorite Mario platformer (*coughGalaxy2*), I can certainly see these fans' point of view. Super Mario 64's tight controls, innovation, excellent sound, once great graphics, and multiple detailed worlds all came together to set the standards for every 3D game that proceeded it for years.
In a story that effectively shocked no one, Bowser has once again kidnapped Princess Peach. He has taken over her castle and used the power of the stars there to create worlds within the castle walls. Then, he trapped the residents of the castle within these worlds. It is up to Mario to travel through these worlds, collect the stars, use their power to defeat Bowser, and save the princess. On paper, the story might seem bare-bones, but in reality...it is bare-bones. Mario games have never been about epic, engaging stories, but the fun and excitement are in the gameplay instead. Not all video games need a great plot, and Super Mario 64 is one of those games. The only real problem I have with the story and characters is WHERE'S LUIGI?! I mean, Luigi is my favorite video game character and also one of the most popular characters in the Mario series. When Nintendo dropped the two-player option, they just dropped Luigi all-together rather than giving him a different role. As one who has wasted his time vainly searching for the man in green, let me just tell you that Luigi is NOT in Super Mario 64, regardless of whatever rumors you read or hear. If you don't believe me, then just look at Luigi's character description in Super Smash Bros. Getting back on subject, though, I have no complaints about having a simple story in a video game.
Getting into the actual gameplay, the first noticeable thing is controlling Mario himself. Tight controls are a common feature in Mario games, and Super Mario 64 is no exception. Mario has a lot of moves this time around, including: walking, running, jumping, punching, kicking, grabbing, wall jumping, back-flips, crouching, swimming, and more. While some of the more advanced moves require some practice to properly execute, they are not unresponsive. When Mario performs an unwanted action, the mistake rarely, if ever, feels like the fault of the game itself. Unfortunately, the camera in Super Mario 64 is not as great as the controls, and is probably the game's biggest weakness. The players must constantly adjust the camera in order to get a good view. While this gets less and less irritating the more one advances in the game and improves his/her skills, it is still worth pointing out.
The really amazing thing about Super Mario 64 is that it manages to simultaneously create a fresh, new experience while also staying true to the original Mario formula established in Super Mario Bros. For example, SM64 contains power-ups, which is nothing new for Mario games. What IS new, however, is the way in which these power-ups are used. While previous Mario games had power-ups, like the famous Super Mushroom, that were purely optional, SM64's power-ups give Mario abilities that are actually required in order to complete certain missions. These new power-ups are far from the only significant innovations. In addition to Mario's aforementioned new moves, SM64 also introduced open-world themed gameplay (in contrast to the standard linear gameplay). Levels are no longer about going from left to right until the finish flag, but rather about exploring huge 3D areas and finding multiple ways to get a power star. But, like I said, Super Mario 64 stays true to its roots: jumping, coin-collecting, and battling enemies remain the core mechanic here. SM64 doesn't change the formula so much that it is unrecognizable (like giving Mario a gun or having some other pointless gimmick), but rather adds on without taking away.
The sound in Super Mario 64 is great. For starters, this is the first game to give Mario a voice, if I'm not mistaken. Mario's famous "Let's-a-go"s and "Whoo-hoo"s can all be found here. Secondly, the music does an excellent of job of pulling you into the game. Whether it's the peace of outside Peach's castle or the creepiness of a dark maze, the music will make it all seem more real. Some of the most memorable Mario tunes, such as "Koopa's Road" (stage music also used in the Mario Galaxy games), can be found here. Sadly, the graphics of the game have not aged as well. For their time and system, the graphics are actually great, but by today's standards they are honestly downright ugly. On the bright side, it doesn't take long to get used to them, for whatever reason. I guess it is because flashy graphics can't change gameplay.
Super Mario 64 has 15 different worlds, each with 7 stars to collect. Plus, there are 15 secret stars. So all-together, there are 120 stars to collect. While you only need 70 of these stars to defeat Bowser, it is highly likely that you'll want to collect the rest just for fun. Some of these stars are quite challenging, which should be a treat for Mario veterans. As one might expect, even collecting just the bare minimum of stars is a lengthy quest, creating long-lasting appeal.
CLOSING COMMENTS: As the most anticipated Nintendo 64 launch title, Super Mario 64 delivers and then some. It is possibly the greatest N64 game I have ever played (keep in mind that I never played the highly acclaimed Ocarina of Time). Don't worry if you don't own a Nintendo 64; this game is available on the Wii Virtual Console. If you want an excellent platformer that will last you a long time, using your Wii points to buy Super Mario 64 would be a wise decision.