The Revolutionary Evolution of Super Mario 64
Introduction: For the past few days, I have replayed the game Super Mario 64 on my Nintendo Switch. At the time when this game came out in 1996, it was revolutionary for Mario games because of its new 3D format. Given that the game is turning 28 this year in 2024, I decided it is a good time to dissect this game through my own observations. This will be done through my personal opinions under certain categories that feel relevant. I personally have been a long fan of Nintendo Mario games, and looking back on a game I fondly remember playing as a kid, I believe will be quite refreshing.
Game Title: Super Mario 64 Publisher: Nintendo
Year: 1996 ESRB Rating: E for everyone
Platforms: The Nintendo 64 (Original 1996) Genre: 3D Platformer
The iQue Player (Chinese port 1996 1997 2003)
Wii and Wii U (Virtual Console 2015)
Nintendo DS (Remake 2004)
Nintendo Switch (Included with Super Mario 3D All-Stars 2020)
Side Note: I am writing about this game because I really want to appreciate it as much as I appreciated the Nintendo DS version from my childhood. After I got the game on my Nintendo Switch, I was disappointed to discover all the differences between the two versions, especially since I can't play as Yoshi, who is my favorite Mario character. I haven't touched the game for the past few years since it came out in 2020. I hope after playing it more thoroughly and writing about it here, I can see how great this game is.
Fun Factor: Let's begin with how fun the game is. The base game is pretty much the same across all versions, so I knew I was going to enjoy the game in some way. The platforms can be difficult at times which makes beating each level all the more rewarding. Figuring out secret levels, moves, and even a secret star bunny, made the game feel refreshing and fun. The only boring side of it is how tedious some levels can be. However, if you are a pro at platformers, I doubt you would feel such a way. Overall I didn't feel bored in any way, but this is not the same as feeling frustrated with some aspects of the game.
Learning Curve: I had forgotten how frustrating learning all the controls can be. Despite playing for nearly a whole day, I still struggled at times with certain moves. In the beginning, it is easy to understand and the learning curve isn't that bad, but when more difficult levels come into play, that's a different story. Also, the game isn't always a figure-it-out-yourself kind of game. I hope you enjoy a lot of reading at random times about how certain controls work. These tidbits of information can be scattered amongst nearly the whole game in the form of readable signs. If you ignore the signs telling you how to play, it makes it a lot more difficult. This may be a more personal opinion, but I am more of a show-don't-tell kind of person. Reading signs everywhere isn't my preference for games.
Graphics: Under today's standards, there wouldn't be anything to talk about as far as graphics go, however, when this game came out it was revolutionary. All other Mario games before it were only in 2D, this 3D Mario game was the first of its kind. So compared to other 3D games, it blended right in. It was a first for the Mario series, but not the first 3D game overall. This is simply what all other games of its kind looked like at the time. The creators did their best with what they were given and it truly shows that they cared for each and every one of their games. If blocky, pixilated, soulless characters can steal the hearts of many, it only proves how great this game was.
Audio: Audio is a complicated topic. Before writing this, I researched how others feel about it. Since some areas in the game, like outside the castle, have no music, it can seem unsettling to some. I usually focus on gameplay, so I didn't notice this until someone else mentioned it. The community is split between finding the audio nostalgic or eerie. I rather like the sound design; it's iconic of its time, and I can identify every noise in the game. There's a variety of sound effects, and the music perfectly sets each level. Many sounds were creatively sourced, like the baby penguin's steps sounding like a car horn. From Bowser's sinister music to the iconic Bob-omb level tune, I find it unforgettable. However, the sound design can be annoyingly repetitive at times, such as when the baby penguin won't stop yelling as you return it to its mother.
Controls: The controls adapted well to the new 3D format, and the creators did a great job with what they had. However, no game has made me want to bash my head through a wall more. Characters sometimes fall off platforms as if everything is made of ice, and certain controls can be janky and unreliable. While it was challenging to create effective controls for this format, the frustration is a lot to handle, especially at harder levels. The camera controls are the most aggravating, often seeming like the game doesn't want you to see what you're doing. Despite this, the variety of moves is impressive, and discovering new jumps is exciting. Figuring out the controls can be fun, but their reliability is a significant downside.
Story: The story is a standard Mario game story. Princess Peach is taken by Bowser and we play as Mario to defeat him. The new aspect of this story is collecting stars to unlock levels and doors. Which does make the game feel different and exciting. Trying to collect every star is difficult but addictive. Other than being repetitive like every other Mario game, I would say the story is very simple to understand for engagement, and the addictive nature of each level makes you always want to play more.
Characters: The characters are the same as always. You play as Mario, the hero ready to save the princess. Princess Peach is the standard damsel in distress, and Bowser is the typical villain. They leave Mario more simple so that everyone can embody themselves as the main character. A cute addition I noticed is Mario falling asleep and talking about spaghetti if you leave the game idle, which is adorable. 
The game offers little backstory, and you navigate the levels mostly alone, except for a few side characters like the helpful pink Bob-ombs with their cannons. I was disappointed you can't play as Yoshi in this version, as he's my favorite character. He can fly for a bit and is a cool green dinosaur. At least I think he is a dinosaur. However, Mario is as always the hero of the day.
Level Design: The level design in this 3D realm is amazing, showcasing the creators' creativity. The levels are well-made and unique, but the wonky controls can make some platforms challenging. Each level's mechanics are varied, keeping gameplay fresh and exciting. Finding secret spaces and courses, whether intentionally or by accident, is rewarding and fun. Puzzle levels make you feel clever, and difficult platforming levels make you feel skilled. The randomness of the levels is both exciting and disorienting, making you question if they belong to the same game. The creators address this with a creative, Alice in Wonderland-inspired painting mechanic. Levels feature puzzles, platforms, bosses, enemies, or randomness, with a learning curve that gets steeper. For instance, you enter each course by jumping into a painting in the castle. In the Wet-Dry World course, you can only get to certain areas by raising the water level. However, no matter what I did I couldn't raise the water to the highest level. Apparently, the only way to achieve the highest water level is by jumping really high into the painting. This mechanic is not used at any other time in the game. It took me way too long to figure that out. The level design is very creative but can also be quite convoluted.
Recommendation: I would definitely recommend this game to others. It was practically my most favorite game from my childhood. The nostalgia is palpable. Although today people might be put off by the graphics, this game is a true classic and that should shine through anyone's initial negative thoughts. If you want to curl up with a simple yet addictive game after a long day, then this game is perfect for you. I know, because that's exactly what it is to me. So matter what happens in life, I'll always have Mario to save the day.
Controls: The controls, similar to the learning curve, are very easy to understand and learn quickly. However, the constant reminders of how to play and which buttons to use, even in later levels, can be quite annoying. In a more pessimistic opinion, it feels as though the game sometimes thinks we cannot play the game we've already been playing for hours. Certain new mechanics freshen up the old style of gameplay, such as the introduction of badges. As you beat levels, you can collect badges, and when equipped, you have access to different moves. Personally, the parachute cap badge is the one I use most. Some badges, however, feel redundant, but I suppose that depends on the type of player you are. As usual with most Nintendo games, the controls are on par with the times. There are little to no wonky controls or glitches, and the drift problem seems to be going away as well. I suspect that certain software updates are how that problem is being solved in the first place.
Changes: Yes, there are quite a few changes I would add to the game. First off, the Bowser levels should not be this easy. That one level where you jump over a conveyor belt to press a button to stop the Bowser machine took me two seconds to finish. Second, what happened to the variation in boss levels? The Koopalings would have been a wonderful addition to this game, giving the boss fights much more variation and excitement and potentially adding a challenge. I am not sure how most others feel about this game, but it was way too easy for me and got boring quickly because of it. I still haven't finished the game, not because it's difficult, but because it feels unfulfilling. The game is fun and going in a great artistic direction, but the actual gameplay challenge could use some work. Third, this is completely my opinion: I really don't like the talking flowers. The first time I heard one talk, I thought I was hearing things. Generally, there isn't much talking in Mario games, so this really caught me off guard. I understand they are supposed to be fun, supportive, and whimsical, but to me, they are just creepy. It might be because they all sound the same. When you give something that many speaking roles and that much sentience, you should give it more variation. It feels like flower clones are going to secretly take over my game. I don't truly know why I don't like them; they are just really uncanny to me for them to be in a Mario game.
Recommendation: I would recommend this game to those who might just be starting out with platformers. It is definitely a great starter game for this genre. I would also recommend this game to any die-hard Nintendo fans; despite my criticisms, it still is a fabulous Mario game added to the long line of Mario 2D platformers. The only downside is the challenge aspect, but other than that, this is a solid game. It may not be my favorite, but it is definitely worth trying out to see if you like it. It’s fun, delightful, and overall a great addition to the Mario lineup of games.
