Super Mario 64 DS is an exciting experience that should be played by every DS owner.
User Rating: 9.4 | Super Mario 64 DS DS
Remember when you got your Nintendo 64 at launch with Super Mario 64? The game was so revolutionary, changing the way we play games. I certainly didn’t have that chance, as I didn’t get a Nintendo 64 for a couple of years later. I didn’t even pick up the game for some odd reason. I had played it at a friend’s house, but never actually got too in-depth with it. Now with the Nintendo DS releasing, I had a chance to experience what others had years ago, and in a new way! Super Mario 64 DS is a port/remake, with lots of new features. The most compelling addition to this version is that you have a chance to play with three other characters instead of Mario. You can be swallowing enemies with Yoshi, jumping onto high cliffs with Luigi, or smashing hard boulders with Wario! Since there are multiple characters, the story differs from the original. Princess Peach has sent an invitation saying, “Please come to the castle. I’ve baked a cake for you.” Mario is accompanied by Luigi and Wario to enter the Mushroom Castle. Though, they don’t come out of the castle for quite some time, so Yoshi, who was quietly resting on top of the castle, decides to go check on them. Yoshi then discovers that Bowser has stolen the Power Stars guarding the castle and locked Princess Peach into the walls, while the rest of the crew have been captured into paintings! It’s up to Yoshi to rescue his team and save Princess Peach from the evil Bowser. The gameplay is quite different from the original Mario 64, as the DS does not have an analog stick. Some may think it’s not worth playing, but with some practice, you’ll eventually get use to the d-pad. Luckily there is three different control types, just incase you don’t like the d-pad and want to use the stylus or thumb-strap on the touch-screen. I certainly prefer the d-pad. The action buttons work well, though you might watch how you’re pressing, the buttons are small and can easily be touched if you have big hands. Other than the flaw of no analog stick, Super Mario 64 DS certainly feels great to control. Just like in the original, you’ll be jumping into paintings to get stars from different worlds. There are different kinds of missions in each world to receive your rewarded star. There are bosses included, but they’re easy to beat. One of the most exciting aspects of the game is the extra mini-games included. I would have to say they are the reason you’ll keep playing this game after you’ve completed adventure mode. The mini-games use the touch-screen and the dual-screens to its full advantage. Nintendo surely knows how to innovate the way we play games. One example of a mini-game is one of Wario’s, which has a slingshot on the bottom touch-screen with a boulder that you must touch and release with your stylus to launch onto the top-screen and hit the bob-ombs that are trying to get the flowers on the lower-screen. This mini-game alone will amaze you. The graphics are quite smoother than the original. Though, it still looks a little blocky. It’s not that big of a deal, as this is just a launch title. I’m sure the DS has bigger advantages that we’ll see in the near future. Character models look great, so does the environment. As in every Mario game, the sound is excellent. Not much to say, as it’s self-explanatory. Overall, this is a MUST have for a DS owner. Great launch title especially. This game has great replay value, as there are 30 more stars than the original, and the mini-games will keep you busy. If you loved the original for the N64, you should still pick this up, even if you want to play the mini-games alone! If haven’t played the original, then definitely get this game. You’ll be amazed on what you missed out.
