Super Mario 64 was one of the first video games released for the Nintendo 64 and was the console's flagshipkiller application. It debuted in Japan on June 23, 1996 and in the U.S. on September 29, 1996. As the first 3D game in the Mario franchise, Super Mario 64 defined the 3D platformer, much as the franchise's original game, Super Mario Bros., defined the 2D sidescrolling platformer. In leaping from 2D to 3D, Super Mario 64 replaced the linear obstacle courses of traditional platform games with vast worlds where the objective is to collect special items — in this case stars — which are awarded for exploration or successfully carrying out tasks. While doing so, it managed nonetheless to preserve the feel of earlier Mario games, including many game play elements and characters from them. It is considered by many to be one of the greatest games of all time.
Game play
Super Mario 64's game play is notable for accurately translating the earlier 2D Mario gameplay into a 3D world. The game was designed with the earlier Mario titles' signature jumping maneuvers, power-up blocks, level themes (such as lava, desert, and so on), enemies, and other characters in mind. Few other games are considered to have successfully brought a series of 2D games into full 3D while maintaining their signature feel, and Super Mario 64 is often counted among games such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Sonic Adventure, and Metroid Prime as having achieved this.
Shigeru Miyamoto actually developed most of the concepts for Super Mario 64 during the era of the SNES, which may help to explain why the game exhibited the characteristics of 2D platforming so well. Miyamoto was actually considering making the game an SNES game, but was driven to develop it for the Nintendo 64 due to the earlier system's technical limitations.1
As in the earlier Mario titles for the Famicom/NES and Super Famicom/SNES, Mario has to save Princess Peach Toadstool from Bowser. To do this, Mario is forced to find power stars scattered throughout Peach's castle, of which there are 120; however, only 70 are needed to get access to the final stage.
For each of the 15 main levels, seven stars can be obtained, one of which requires gathering at least 100 coins. Additionally, the several secret levels and areas in the castle provide 15 of the game's total 120 stars, and are called the "Castle Secret Stars." Most courses are accessed via a painting that Mario must jump into from the castle overworld. Some paintings have unique quirks, such as sections of the painting that have different effects on the level when jumped into. The secret courses are largely found by jumping into out-of-the-way paintings, looking at different areas of the castle, or falling into holes.
Each course is a small, enclosed world of its own. The player is free to wander around and discover the environment, and he or she may go in all directions within the boundaries of the world. The worlds are filled with enemies that will attack Mario as well as friendly creatures that will give him information, help Mario, or ask him for a favor.
File:N64 Super Mario 64.jpgThe first course, Bob-omb Battlefield, is a grassland that will seem familiar to Mario veterans.
In order to gather the stars, Mario must find and pass various challenges in each stage. The challenges themselves vary; generally, Mario needs to defeat one or more opponents, overcome one or more obstacles, race an opponent by running or sliding faster than it, or accomplish tasks such as finding a baby penguin for its mother or opening treasure chests in the right order. Each course also contains a star that can be acquired by collecting all eight of its red coins.
Particular attention was paid to jumping, as this was Mario's signature move in earlier games. Mario has a variety of special jumps that can be executed by combining a regular jump with other actions, including the extra high double and triple jumps (jumping two and three times in a row, respectively), the long jump (pressing the 'crouch' (Z) button while running and then jumping), and the somersault (jumping from a couching position). Additionally, there are various maneuvers that Mario can perform with jumps, such as the wall jump (jumping from one wall to another in rapid succession to reach otherwise too high areas). The Wing Cap (see below) allows Mario to fly, but it begins with a triple jump (or a launch out of a cannon).
Additionally, Mario has a number of physical attacks other than jumping. The standard attack is executed by pressing the B button and causes Mario to punch. If this action is used while jumping, Mario executes a kick jump. When pressing B while running, Mario will lunge forward. When pressing the Z button while in the air, he will pound the ground, hitting any enemy below him. Mario can also pick up items and carry them around, which is required to solve some puzzles and acquire certain stars. When in water, Mario can either swim on the water's surface or dive into its depths. While diving, Mario needs to watch his breath and return to the surface regularly, or he will lose a life.
There are three different types of transformation blocks dispersed throughout the game that Mario can hit:
The Red Block yields the Wing Cap, which enables Mario to fly.
The Green Block grants the Metal Cap. This turns Mario to metal, which makes him impervious to wind and currents and allows him to sink to the sea bottom without needing to breathe.
The Blue Block outputs the Vanish Cap, which causes Mario to become invisible and enables him to walk through some obstacles, such as wire mesh.
At the beginning of Super Mario 64, Mario is in a grassy area in front of Princess Toadstool's castle. Inside the castle, individual courses can be accessed, usually through paintings that Mario can leap into. It is in these courses that the player acquires the stars that are necessary to progress through the game.
The castle has several floors, and the courses that Mario can enter typically become more difficult as he gains access to new floors. Keys to the new floors can be acquired from finishing Bowser courses (see below), which are accessible only after collecting certain numbers of total stars. Collecting 70 stars enables Mario to enter the third and last Bowser course and finish the game, but if the player collects all 120 available stars, the ending will be slightly different and Mario will be able to meet with Yoshi, a dinosaur character from past Mario games, who can be found on the castle's roof. Yoshi gives Mario 100 lives, upgrades his triple jump, and encourages him to continue playing.
Bob-omb Battlefield, the first course in the game, is a bright grassland, following the tradition of earlier Mario games. Here, Mario meets the friendly pink "Bob-omb Buddies," who are at war with the black Bob-ombs. The black Bob-ombs are led by King Bob-omb, who waits at the summit of a mountain as a boss character, guarding the first star in the game. In this course, Mario also meets a Chain Chomp and races Koopa the Quick, a Koopa Troopa with sprinting skills.
Whomp's Fortress is a fortress floating in the sky. Here, Mario encounters Piranha plants and the classic enemy Thwomp as well as their larger, walking Whomp variations. One of the stars requires Mario to grab the talons of an owl, ride it into the air, and drop off onto a platform high above the fortress.
Jolly Roger Bay is an underwater course, centered around a sunken pirate ship and the treasure within and about it.
Cool, Cool Mountain is the first of two snow-themed courses in the game and features some penguins in need and various snowy enemies. Additionally, there is a penguin that will race Mario down a slide for a star. After collecting all 120 stars, Mario is able to race a tougher version of this penguin, though he does not receive anything for his efforts.
Big Boo's Haunt is a haunted house that features various Boos and other frightening enemies. Among the many haunted things in the house, there is a piano that grows teeth and attacks Mario if he gets too close and a library whose books hurl themselves at him. There is also a haunted carousel that offers a star if Mario can discover its secret. Big Boo's Haunt is the only course not accessed from within the castle; its entrance can be found by defeating a ghost in a courtyard behind the castle. File:N64 Super Mario 64 shifting sand land.jpgShifting Sand Land is somewhat reminiscent of Super Mario Bros. 3's Desert Land.
Hazy Maze Cave is a maze that is the home of a friendly sea monster and the entrance to Cavern of the Metal Cap. It is based on the dungeons from earlier 2D Mario games and features music by Koji Kondo similar to the dungeon music in the original Super Mario Bros. The course obtains its name from the poisonous gas that fills part of the mine area. Monty Moles are plentiful in this level.
Lethal Lava Land is partly played on platforms above a sea of lava and includes a volcano that Mario can enter.
Shifting Sand Land is a desert that is the home of a labyrinthine pyramid as well as a cap-stealing vulture and the fearsome Eyerok. It is quite similar to the Desert Land in Super Mario Bros. 3. One of the courses that lacks a painting entrance, this level is accessed through a fake wall in the castle basement.
Dire, Dire Docks is another underwater course. This one involves two main areas separated by a tunnel and a submarine that belongs to Bowser.
Snowman's Land is the second of two snow-themed courses. This world is centered around a giant (but inanimate) snowman. It is notable for being accessed through what appears to be a mirror.
Wet-Dry World is a course where Mario can raise and lower the water level to better accomplish his goals and gain stars. It also features an abandoned town area. Wet-Dry World is notable in that the water level is influenced by the height at which Mario enters the painting.
Tall Tall Mountain takes place on an extremely steep mountain. It plays host to a cap-stealing monkey called Ukiki as well as many precariously placed mushroom platforms that are similar to those from Super Mario Bros.File:N64 Super Mario 64 lethal lava land.jpgLethal Lava Land features that old Mario standby, the rotating fire bar.
Tiny-Huge Island can be played either as a small Mario in a world where everything is larger than normal, or as a large Mario in a world where everything is smaller than normal. Its two differently sized paintings allow Mario to start the course either way, and warp pipes within the level allow him to switch. It also features a rematch with Koopa the Quick and an angry boss Wiggler.
Tick Tock Clock takes place inside a gigantic clock, where Mario must navigate between moving parts such as pendulums and gears. The speed of the platforms in this stage are affected by the positions of the hands of the clock when Mario jumps into it.
Rainbow Ride takes place in the sky, with various platforms and floating buildings that can be reached by riding a magic carpet that moves along a predetermined path.
In addition, there are three Bowser courses. By beating each, Mario can unlock an additional area of the castle. Also, each one has eight red coins to collect for a star.
Bowser in the Dark World — Mario must traverse a floating path riddled with obstacles. Bowser is fought for the first time after reaching the end of the course; upon defeat, Mario gains access to the basement.
Bowser in the Fire Sea — by journeying through this floating, fiery stage, Mario is able to fight Bowser for the second time. Once defeated, Mario is able to access the upper floor and tower.
Bowser in the Sky — the road to Mario and Bowser's third and final confrontation is composed of floating and spinning blocks riddled with troublesome enemies. Once Bowser is defeated this time, the story of the game has been completed.
Mario celebrates after collecting a star in Dire, Dire Docks.
There are three Cap courses as well, where Mario can unlock the three respective Caps and gather eight red coins for a star in each. Prior to completing the Cap courses, the blocks which produce the corresponding caps appear ghosted and unusable in levels.
Tower of the Wing Cap — this stage will grant Mario access to the Wing Cap if he stomps on a red switch positioned in the center of the level. Mario can access this stage by looking directly at the ceiling in the first room of the castle while standing on the rug using the up C button.
Cavern of the Metal Cap — this area will unlock the Metal Cap once Mario stomps on a green switch, which is located upstream. It is accessed through the Hazy Maze Cave.
Vanish Cap Under the Moat — this course will unlock the Vanish Cap once Mario stomps on a blue switch located on a floating block. It is located outside, underneath the bridge to the castle.
Additionally, there are three secret courses:
The Princess' Secret Slide — Mario can pick up two stars here: one for getting to the bottom of the slide, and another for doing it in under 21.00 seconds.
The Secret Aquarium — collecting eight red coins in this underwater stage near Jolly Roger Bay will get Mario a star.
Wing Mario Over the Rainbow — considered by many to be one of the most challenging courses in the game, Mario has to collect eight red coins dispersed throughout the sky.
As the first 3D platformer, Super Mario 64 set many precedents for those to follow. Foremost among these is the use of a free camera. Unlike 2D games, 3D games must emulate a real perspective of characters and events. Super Mario 64 did this by imitating a video camera's view in its visuals. Indeed, the development team even personified the camera by giving Mario a cameraman in the form of a Lakitu. He is mostly an invisible observer; he is only seen at the beginning and end of the game and whenever the camera focuses on a mirror.
The game's camera was notorious for being wildly unpredictable, often becoming "stuck" behind walls or at odd angles. In its defense, it was the first implementation of a game camera, although poor camera behavior persists in mainstream 3D gaming to this day. The player was also unable to control the camera at most times during the game. Most modern consoles now have a second control stick devoted to this purpose.
The Nintendo 64's analogControl Stick allowed for more realistic and wide-ranging character movements than the digitalD-pads of previous video game consoles, and Super Mario 64 exploited this feature extensively. For example, Mario's rate of speed varies depending on the tilt of the control stick. The range and direction of many other movements can be controlled as well. The Bowser battles exhibit this by forcing the player to rotate the Control Stick in circles in order to swing Bowser into mines placed around the arenas.
Reception
File:Super mario64 02.jpgNot only did Super Mario 64 offer both revolutionary gameplay and graphics, but it also included a wide array of side quests.
Super Mario 64 is regarded by many as a milestone in gaming history; it has collected numerous awards, including various "Game of the Year" honors by members of the gaming media, as well as Nintendo's own bestseller Player's Choice selection. It is still generally considered to be one of the best games ever made. The following quote from Warren Spector, lead designer at Ion Storm Inc., is illustrative of this view:
"It's not possible to squeeze this much gameplay into a single game. Mario has, like, ten things he can do and yet there's never a moment where you feel constrained in any way. No game has done a better job of showing goals before they can be attained, allowing players to make a plan and execute on it. And the way the game allows players to explore the same spaces several times while revealing something new each time is a revelation. Any developer who wouldn't kill to have made this game is nuts."2
Additionally, soon after Super Mario 64's release, many gaming industry publications such as the now-defunct Next Generation Magazine compiled lists of the top games of all time. Super Mario 64 placed highly on many lists, including #1 on Next Generation's.
Rumors
File:L is Real 2041.pngMario swims next to the mysterious "L is Real 2041" texture, which many think actually reads "Eternal Star."
Because of Super Mario 64's great popularity, unsubstantiated rumors spread like wildfire after its release.
The most common rumor is that Luigi is an unlockable character in the game. This rumor was fueled by a texture on the pedestal of a statue in the castle courtyard near the entrance to Big Boo's Haunt that some think reads "L is Real 2041" (or alternately, 2401 or 2014) when magnified. Some have suggested that in the year 2041 Nintendo will unveil the secret, while others have wondered if collecting 2041 coins (in a Bowser stage, where Bowser's flames give off coins, is the only supposedly possible way to do this) would do the trick. Photoshopped pictures of Mario with a green tint were offered by many as claims of this rumor's truth, but so far, no one has been able to accomplish this feat in the game. Nintendo has consistently denied Luigi's playability, but has not commented pointedly on the meaning of "L is Real 2041." However, in one Nintendo Power April Fool's issue, the table of contents said that this cryptic phrase would be discussed on a page whose number that did not exist in the magazine.
Upon further examination, the text looks to many like it reads "Eternal Star," which would follow logically since the texture itself appears upon the pedestal of a star-shaped statue.
Luigi will in fact be playable in the upcoming Super Mario 64 DS, which will likely put to rest these rumors.
Sequels
Super Mario 64 was followed on the Nintendo GameCube by Super Mario Sunshine, which built on Super Mario 64's core gameplay by adding a water pump device and add-on nozzles for it, similar to the Caps.
