Game Review: Super Mario 64

N64 / Wii / WiiU

Yes, its the ever-endearing classic!  Starring Mario his very first ever 3D rendered video game appearance!  Super Mario 64!  No only did this game introduce us to Mario in 3D, but it helped show us that 3D games were fun and here to stay.

Released in 1996, this game has become one of the most beloved Mario classics released to date.

Premise:

Join Mario in his first 3D platforming experience!  Jump, run, balance, swim, sneak, and gain powerups to overcome the platforming obstacles in your way.  Save the Princess Peach from the grasp of the Koopa King, Bowser!

Collect the power stars which Bowser has hidden in mysterious enchanted photos throughout the castle and use them to defeat Bowser himself!

Visuals:

Mario, why are you so lumpy?

Peach's castle

At the time of release, the visuals in Super Mario 64 would have been impressive and cutting-edge.  Now, the graphics are somewhat laughable.  You can see the sections of Mario's body split up into very awkward sections with absolutely no smoothing to make it believable.  Its like every part of his body is completely dis-attached from the rest of his body.

Flat textures for trees stand out as very odd.  The sprites will turn to face the player, and the trees look the same from every angle.

Despite these visual oddities, landscapes and areas in the castle are quite nicely rendered.  Most character models are also high enough quality to not be completely ugly, and some of them are reasonably appealing.  Textures are often very low detail, but Nintendo found a way to make them work.

Menus/Interface:

Good menus and interface.  All very clear and well laid out.

Controls:

Where Super Mario 64 really shines is in its complex yet simple to use controls.  You are able to execute all sorts of complex moves with ease by pressing a very simple and intuitive combination of buttons.  These moves include a long-jump, a high jump, and a mid-air dive among a few others.  After just a little, you will start feeling like a pro!

This being said, there are some very awkward underwater sequences (Surprised?).  These in general are tedious and quite horribly designed.  Mario is difficult to control in some of the very accuracy-demanding missions.

Gameplay:

Super Mario 64 is mainly a 3D platformer.  And a gosh darned good one at that.  Platforming is challenging yet fun and rewarding.  When you finish a tough challenge, you feels rewarded and accomplished.

It does include some puzzle elements as well.  Some of the puzzles are quite difficult I might add.  But the more difficult the puzzle, the more awesome it is when you figure it out.

Level Design:

The level design helps make Super Mario 64 the top notch game it is.  Ingenious controls with boring level design wouldn't mean much, but Super Mario 64 gives us interesting environmental challenges to test our skills to the fullest.  There are plenty of situations to use all of Mario's large variety of unique skills.

Summary:

Super Mario 64 is a beautifully controlling game with many appealing characters.  Unfortunately, the graphics are somewhat dated, yet after playing for a little bit, you completely forget about how lumpy and weird Mario looks, and you start to appreciate the game for the great masterpiece that it is.

Here we goooooooo!

Jump on, Mario!

Strongly suggested to anyone.

SCORE:  9.5/10