What Were Your First Feelings/Impressions of Super Mario 64?

[Nz17]

Remember back in the day when you first played Mario 64 on the Nintendo 64? How did you feel about the experience? Was it wonderment? Disappointment? Awe at the possibilities of gaming in the future? The power of 64-bit?

For those of you who didn't play it back when it was new: When did you first play it? How did you feel about it then? For the "DS generation" of Mario 64 players, did the game strike you as something special even so many years after its initial release?

[SpaceHarrier]

Mario 64 was the reason I bought a Nintendo 64. It's the only Nintendo console I picked up on launch day. I'd been pouring over screenshots in Gamefan magazine for months, mind you. I was all aboard the hype train.. and it was worth every penny. Mario 64 was so amazing that it made nearly everything else I played after it seem derivative or lacking. I'd played plenty of polygonal games before on Playstation, but Mario 64 was the first one where I felt like I was really moving around in a 3D space, no, existing in a 3D space, and with a great degree of freedom and acrobatic ability. Running around, outside the castle, chasing birds, climbing trees, and swimming in the little pond, just watching Mario's idle animations... I was having fun before I'd even started the game proper. Oh, let's not forget about stretching Mario's face on the title screen!

Ultimately, I ended selling my N64 and the 14 games I'd gotten over it's lifespan. It was depressing that nothing could top Mario 64, except maybe Zelda, but Ocarina of Time (and many others on the 64) hurt my eyes to the degree that I simply couldn't play it anymore without discomfort. Darn blurry graphics.

Years later I've come to regret selling my N64, mostly because I miss Mario 64.

[Jorpho]

To be honest I can't remember being particularly blown away by it. I mean, yes, it was new and interesting and it was with some eagerness that I wanted to give it a whirl, but I don't recall it as seeming like a great leap ahead in terms of fun. Maybe it was because those first couple of levels are a bit on the bland side.

[treismac]

I remember being impressed by Mario 64, thinking, "Mario's really in an explorable world now, and that's pretty damn cool." With that said, I also recall wondering if this whole 3D environment was going to be the norm like I had already seen on Wolfenstein 3D and Doom. Any love I had for Mario 64 was eventually transformed into resentment because I was really disappointed in the 64's library and the direction games took afterwards, feeling that Mario 64 sent video games off into this new stale direction.

[Zama]

When I saw the game at the Toys R Us store as a little kid with my cousins, my eyes opened nice and wide and the first thoughts that came to my mind was "It's 3D!!! Mario is in 3D!!!" :bday: During that time, I remembered there were paper slips being lined up on the walls for the video game section with artwork and pictures of what the games would look like. I recalled checking out the demo with my cousins playing through the game a bit, and then going by the SNES and Sega Genesis section afterwards. Those were the days :)

[WCP]

The very first time I layed eyes on Mario 64, was actually the first time I really used the internet for the first time. I had read in various gaming magazines that the very first images of Nintendo 64 games ( I think then known as Ultra 64 games ), would be shown at the Famicom Space World '95 show in Japan. In one of the magazines that I had, it said that if you visited their website, on a specific day in late November (1995), they would have the very first pictures of the Nintendo 64 games. I didn't own a computer at the time, but really wanted to see what the first real 64 bit games looked like.

In my city, we had a store called "Incredible Universe". It was this huge audio/video/computers/appliances place that I don't think exists anymore. We have a Fry's now where the Incredible Universe used to be located. They had tons of computers set up that were online that you could use for brief periods of time. The idea was that you would buy a computer, but I knew that I could go there and use their computers for like 20 minutes and see the first images of the new Nintendo games.

I remember seeing images of what would later become Super Mario 64. I think they also had pictures of a very early Zelda OOT . They might have had pictures of Wave Race or Pilotwings or something else, I can't remember.

Anyways, I was totally blown away by the pictures that I saw. I couldn't even print the pictures out. I could simply see them at that store, and then try to remember them in my mind, lol. The things we take for granted today... Eventually of course all the gaming magazines had the pictures a few months later, but I had already seen those images, and was pretty blown away by it.


My first hands on experience with Mario 64 was very interesting as well. I was actually lucky enough to attend the 1996 e3 show in Los Angeles. I stood maybe a mere 10 feet away from Miyamoto, as he was taking a local Los Angeles elementary class through the Nintendo booth, and showing them Mario 64 and the other N64 games. I was standing very close to Dave Halverson and Kid Fan (don't know the dude's real name). We all had to wait for this elementary class to go through the tour, before we could take the tour, but none of us were really bothered by it. We could see the joy in Miyamoto's face as he was showing all the children his latest masterpiece.

When I got my hands on the actual controller, and took Mario and jumped him up into the tree, and then jumped up out of the tree, and then jumped into the water, I was simply dumfounded by what I was experiencing. This was May 1996, and at that time, only a super high-end computer with a 3Dfx card could even hope to produce the kind of visuals I was seeing. It was like seeing a Mario cartoon come to life, and be totally controllable. It was a surreal experience, and one of those gaming memories that I will always cherish. Unfortunately, now-a-days, being that blown away by a brand new game is a pretty rare event. It just doesn't happen like it used to. Maybe Oculus Rift or something will provide a breakthrough experience that will really grab me, but things just seemed more special back then.

diminishing returns I guess...

[Kevincal]

summer 1996 walked into toys r us and some guy was playing it on a kiosk. I was blown away, it was and still is awesome. way ahead of its time. graphics blew the water out of any ps1 game. infact. Mario 64 has better graphics than anything ever released on ps1 or Saturn, ever. and infact, its probably a better game than any game on ps1 or Saturn. and I don't think even dreamcast has a game as good as Mario 64. not to mention how kickass the 2nd and 3rd n64 games were, pilotwings 64 and waverace 64. waverace was a real stunner how incredible that game was. still an awesome racing game. way better than bluestorm on gamecube.

oh and btw summer 96 I preordered n64 and got it on launch day. with Mario 64 of course. rented pilotwings. bought waverace 64 day it launched. I wasn't expecting anything from that game and was blown away how great it was.

[Ozzy_98]

"Crap, another 3D game"
It wasn't for another year that Tekken 3 started making like games with 3D in them. I was so sick of blocky crap like Virtua Fighter taking up space in MY arcade (Not mine like I owned it, but I sure owned all the games in said arcade).

[Greg2600]

I wasn't all that enamored with it initially, I was more interested in Mario Kart 64, Goldeneye, other N64 games. Eventually I had time to play it, and went all the way through the game in a week. Terrific game!

[buzz_n64]

Super Mario 64 was a game-changer in my opinion. My favorite series was finally in 3D, and it set the standard for 3D. I disliked the blocky 3D that Saturn and Playstation offered. I was in middle school when the N64 came out, and I feel like I was going through a transition period just like Super Mario 64 and the Nintendo 64. I couldn't get a Nintendo 64 until about 2 or 3 years later, but I went to the stores like Montgomery Ward to play it every chance I could. I was obsessed with the game. All other games were inferior to me at the time.

[homerhomer]

When SM64 came out I was very interested in seeing what Nintendo was doing. I have to admit, I was pretty much only playing PC games and Loving the PlayStation. I was sold on CD audio and the large amount of data a CD could hold. At the time, cart games where expensive because of ram prices, so Nintendo introducing a new cart based console seemed silly.

Reading stuff like "Nintendo is only in making kids games" and other banter like that. It seemed like Mario 64 was only proving what I earlier read. Anyway, I went over to the local Toys R us and checked it out. While not blown away, I can remember being impressed with the game. But it did seem to leave that "kiddie" impression at the time so I just didn't really bother with it. One thing that I can admit though. I was waiting for a Mario clone to come out on the PS1, it didn't really happen. Looking back I can say that Mario 64 is one hell of a game but at the time I wasn't really impressed.

Over the years it seems that my tastes have returned to Nintendo again. Funny how things work.

- BTW my roommates bought a N64 and Mario 64 back in 1996 and they were stuck to the TV for a least a year. Then they bought 007 and they completely disappeared.

[nickerous]

I did not like it then and still do not like it. Also, the 3d marios are the only ones I have never finished. I did like Sunshine and the Galaxy games more than 64. I dont know what it was, but I just never liked 64.

[Leo_A]

First impressions were amazement when I watched a Nintendo 64 promotional VHS that Nintendo sent me a couple of months before the system launched, but I never actually played it when it was new.

Fast forward to early 2000 when I borrowed a copy just after finishing Ocarina of Time on my new Nintendo 64 that I had just gotten a few months earlier. The camera and the graphics seemed primitive after Ocarina and after 30 minutes or so, I was left unimpressed and decided not to buy it for $30 or whatever it was still going for new at retail despite having been a launch title back in 1996.

Then a few years later, GameStop started clearancing this stuff out and I picked up a copy along with dozens of other games for the system. Played it with a friend that summer that was familiar with it, switching off after each death or star that we earned, and I fell in love with the game.

Since then, I bet I've fully finished it a dozen times between the N64 original, the Wii Virtual Console download, and the DS conversion of it. It has become one of my favorite games.

[The Adventurer]

Definitely wonderment back in the summer of 1997. The freedom, and the sense of adventure and exploration... And 3D was a real novelty back then. Definitely pushed all the right buttons to keep me playing to 120 stars.


It retrospect, the game does sort of set a few trends that I ended up not caring for in Mario games for a long time. Life bars, temporary power-ups, levels with multiple objectives... etc... it took until Super Mario 3D Land to really give me the 3D Mario experience I REALLY wanted.

But back then? Definitely one of the more important game of my teens. And honestly a landmark game for games in general. It set the bar for 3D platformers that is still the standard today.

[JSoup]

I was one of 10 people in my 6th grade class to get an N64 for Christmas that year, so I recall being rather popular (kids, right?). For the game itself, I remember being wow'd at the graphics and gameplay freedom. Still one of my favorite games.

[PizzaKat]

Saw it at a kiosk in a store I frequented. Thought it was really cool, but it didn't make me want a N64 really bad like Super Mario World did for the SNES. At that point my parents were not going to buy me a console and I was losing interest in them. Only did playing Resident Evil 2 a few years later for the first time really got my attention. I tried playing it but for some reason I get bored easily . I'll definitely try again because of this thread.

[Gameguy]

I saw and played it at various store kiosks back when it came out, I never got into it. I didn't like the look of the 3D graphics back then and I didn't like the way it controlled, and the controller itself just felt too big for my kid sized hands. I was more interested in the Genesis and Gameboy Pocket at the time.

[8-Bit Archeology]

I had just completed Stimpys Invention and Sonic 2. With some friends when an old friend showed up with his n64, Mario 64 and clay fighter. First we played Mario and I was more intimidated by what was happening to video games. I didnt think I could handle the 3D aspect. Having to look up in a game felt wrong. Plus the controllers where crap imo. I still hate those controllers. The game looked and sounded great, but I had more fun watching than playing.

Clayfighter just pissed me off. I hated how it wasnt Mortal Kombat. Granted I was a kid and Sub-Zero was my hero.

[Nz17]

Oh, let's not forget about stretching Mario's face on the title screen!

Ah yes, on the game over and title screens. IT IS THE THING OF NIGHTMARES! Seriously, the mood is like a horror flick, especially on the GAME OVER screen because of its red coloring, as you can pull his face into disjointed, nightmarishly disfigured mockeries of man. It's like the anchor points for the facial manipulations were chosen to give scary dreams to children. These are Clive Barker-esque things like HIS IRISES AND PUPILS existing OUTSIDE HIS EYES, and instead on HIS FOREHEAD! You can pull his lip into a gruesome configuration that just should not be! It is both awe-inspiring and horrific.

...And when the mood strikes, hilarious.

[Bloodreign]

Didn't like it then, still don't care for it now. I had already jumped to the Sony side by that time, and there was no turning back. Eventually I got a Saturn and enjoy that alongside my PS1, but still do not own an N64 to this day. I own one N64 game (Castlevania 64) as it was given to me free by a friend in Europe.

[Atarileaf]

I saw it in stores but didn't play it until my nephew brought his n64 over one weekend. Didn't care for it at all. Looked great but I always disliked platformers in 2D and this thing was a nightmare for me to try to play. Liked Starfox 64 a little better but I was a PS1 guy in that generation.

[jonebone]

Complete and utter amazement.

I asked for a PS1 for Xmas that year... and had a strange feeling of disappointment mixed with intrigue when I opened an N64 with Mario under the tree. I thought they were sold out everywhere that year, so I knew my parents were planning ahead to snagged one.

Hooked it up in the living room that day and had a blast. Exploring the "overworld", shooting out of cannons, beating bosses, collecting red coins, racing penguins, etc. The gameplay was so varied and I really enjoyed it. Made sure to get all 120/120 stars before I called it quits.

Still one of my favorite Marios of all time, though Super Mario Galaxy 2 and the New Super Mario Wii versions are excellent games too.

[Nesmaster]

My very first impression, after walking into Zellers, as an 8 year old boy, and playing the game on the demo kiosk for about 30 seconds?

"This isn't so great, I think I will be happy with just my Super NES".

That very indifference soon faded after a short few minutes on Cool, Cool Mountain. I had an experience in my few minutes with that demo that have only been felt again by the likes of the newer GTA titles (SA, IV, V). Pure Magic.

Fast forward to Christmas. Somehow I survived until then without getting too hyped for the system. In fact I may have expressed interest in getting one, but I don't remember pressing the issue too much.

This was a magical Christmas. My sister had just come along early that year (born 5 days before my Birthday might I add) and yet I could sense a different energy in the family. I was no longer the baby of the family, and much of the focus was obviously on the new girl. The first grandchild that was female! And yet, the vibe this Christmas was unlike anything I remember from ones prior.

The gifts. Oh lord, that mountain of gifts! It was at that moment that it had struck me; Of course! There's another kid in the family now!

In the back of my mind I never expected to get the system. We weren't exactly financially stable, but never went without. So as we started clearing that mountain, and after I opened all of the ones marked with my name, no 64. Disappointed, sure, but not unexpected. Before the thought that I wouldn't be playing Mario 64 until possibly next Christmas could enter my mind, hey, what's this in the closet here?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFlcqWQVVuU

See this kid's reaction? I was so shocked at what I had unwrapped that I was speechless. As the smile started growing on my face, I was literally hit with a force that knocked me flat out on the floor. Euphoria so strong in that moment, that I hardly noticed the small box placed in my lap as I lay on the floor.

I come back down to earth, and find that in this box is the key to my most memorable Christmas. I was now the owner of an N64 and Super Mario 64!

I don't remember a single thing that happened that night other than I was playing Mario 64. I must have played until about 2 in the morning. I spent countless hours with the game for the remainder of Christmas vacation. I don't think I got 120 stars before heading back to school, but definitely the 70 needed to finish the game.

To this day, Mario 64 is one of my favorite games, and it gave me an experience I've never felt prior, and only a few times since. Perfection.

[Zthun]

I loved the game when I was younger but I remember getting really frustrated with the camera. I played the ds remake; I wasn't too impressed and the game wasn't as good as I remembered it. Camera problems coupled with an awful controller was frustrating. Still, the fact that we all loved the game shows the influence of Nintendo back then.

[Emperor Megas]

I really didn't like the game. I've never played it for more than a few minutes because I hated the look and the 3D environments. It wasn't a major disappointment or anything really though, because I didn't know anything about it prior to seeing it when it released. I just assumed that there would be a Mario game releasing for the system at launch. I was surprised that there wasn't one for the Gamecube.

I really didn't like most early 3D games. I thought that they were blocky and ugly looking, and I still don't like 3D platformers, or 3D fighters much at all. Games that offer a too much freedom and are too open ended tend to bore me. They seem less structured, and I don't feel like there's a sense of urgency or pacing like the type of games I grew up playing. There are lots of exceptions to this, but generally I felt that Mario64 killed a genre that I used to really love. I was for the best though, as video games have to evolve.

[XYXZYZ]

My first reaction to Virtua Fighter was "So this is 3D... The realistic movement is cool, but I do not like it." I knew that this was the future of video games. My first reaction to Super Mario 64 was "Yep, all video games will be like this. 2D is dead, and as I don't like 3D, video games will leave me behind."

I was pretty much right, that video games evolved into something that doesn't interest me for several reasons. But it's not so bad as there's plenty of classic gaming stuff to keep me very active in video games.

[Jorpho]

Definitely wonderment back in the summer of 1997. The freedom, and the sense of adventure and exploration... And 3D was a real novelty back then. Definitely pushed all the right buttons to keep me playing to 120 stars.

It retrospect, the game does sort of set a few trends that I ended up not caring for in Mario games for a long time. Life bars, temporary power-ups, levels with multiple objectives... etc... it took until Super Mario 3D Land to really give me the 3D Mario experience I REALLY wanted.Having finished 3D Land, I think I actually prefer 64. 3D Land just seems a bit limited and on-rails in comparison.

[YoshiM]

Super Mario 64 is what brought me back to console gaming. I shifted more to PC during that time as my computer was juuuuusssst fast enough to run the popular games. When I heard Mario speak for the first time (at least that I heard) and saw this sprawling world that was my playground, I was hooked. It was the first console I waited at the store to get on launch day.

The game is still fun to this day for me as Nintendo got the 3D platformer "right" from the get go. Good balance, approachable for anyone with some sort of coordination (my 4 year old can play it and actually get past levels) with difficulty ramping up as your progress but not so much so that it's frustrating. Later games of this new genre just didn't feel as tight as SM64 and, while fun, didn't quite measure up to Nintendo's 64 bit opus. The collect-a-thons got a bit old and other 3D Mario games felt very rehashed save for Sunshine which I never liked. It was the same blah feeling I got when I first played Super Mario World.

[badinsults]

Playing SM64 for the first time for me was like playing video games for the first time. I had never felt such a satisfying experience since the first time I played Super Mario Bros. I tried playing Super Mario Sunshine, but it just wasn't the same.

[Greg2600]

If I remember right, Miyamoto wasn't as involved with Sunshine as he should have been. Nintendo were in desperate straights after the Retro Studios debacle, and without Rare, that he was drafted to help save a multitude of games that had to be ready for launch. Sunshine was not polished, and some said it was too difficult a game for little kids.

[Leo_A]

In desperate straights after a debacle with Retro Studios? What is this in reference to?

And how would this development office in Texas ever manage to leave Nintendo in "desperate straights" no matter what it did? It has grown to be a valuable resource for Nintendo, but it's simply one small part of their 1st/2nd party development muscle even today.

And looking at Wikipedia, Nintendo's interest in Retro started in 2000 with Metroid Prime beginning development, was basically purchased by Nintendo in May of 2002, and released Metroid Prime which was one of the biggest hits on the GameCube just six months later. Didn't sound like a disastrous gestation period to me that took away a ton of resources from inside Nintendo to save.

[GamerTheGreek]

I wasnt a fan of Super Mario 64. The graphics didnt agree to me being a huge SNES fan. ( this reason is also why I never got into the N64 zelda titles either ). BUT I have now grown into liking the N64 mario games. Zelda still not so much but if I get a cheap copy I am willing to give it another go 15 years later.

[Greg2600]

In desperate straights after a debacle with Retro Studios? What is this in reference to?

And how would this development office in Texas ever manage to leave Nintendo in "desperate straights" no matter what it did? It has grown to be a valuable resource for Nintendo, but it's simply one small part of their 1st/2nd party development muscle even today.

And looking at Wikipedia, Nintendo's interest in Retro started in 2000 with Metroid Prime beginning development, was basically purchased by Nintendo in May of 2002, and released Metroid Prime which was one of the biggest hits on the GameCube just six months later. Didn't sound like a disastrous gestation period to me that took away a ton of resources from inside Nintendo to save.

After they were outbid for Rare, Nintendo needed to replace them. So they wound up going with Retro Studios, who were tasked with developing a number of games for the Gamecube launch. Nintendo became more and more concerned by their lack of progress. On further investigation, they found that the owner of the studio never came to work, and was always on vacation or with hookers. Embezzlement. Miyamoto had to fly in and right the ship as best he could, but it was a disaster. Nintendo eventually purchased the company outright quite cheaply.

[Dire 51]

My first reaction to Virtua Fighter was "So this is 3D... The realistic movement is cool, but I do not like it." I knew that this was the future of video games. My first reaction to Super Mario 64 was "Yep, all video games will be like this. 2D is dead, and as I don't like 3D, video games will leave me behind."

I was pretty much right, that video games evolved into something that doesn't interest me for several reasons. But it's not so bad as there's plenty of classic gaming stuff to keep me very active in video games.
That's almost exactly how I feel.

When I first played SM64 on an import N64 at a local game shop, I was impressed by how it looked, but not how it played. When a friend bought the console and game upon release, I tried it again and still didn't like how it played. I still don't.

[Steven]

First feeling? Awe and wonder. Back then I was 13, and it really brought on the feeling that 3D had now officially "taken over" the gaming industry. True confession: I never really played Mario 64 "real." My bro played it and I would watch here and there. When I had the chance to play it though, I spent it largely swimming in the pool outside the castle. LOL. It's one of those laughable "childhood" memories of mine. I was deeply fascinated with just swimming outside the castle. Weird but true.

Speaking of Mario 64, HappyConsoleGamer put out this tribute video about 2 months ago that is definitely a must watch for any M64 fan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zstl-KRgeK0

[jjones]

I got it free with my DS and I absolutely loathed it. Maybe the home console version was better but as someone who loves everything Mario I couldn't get into it at all. The controls sucked, the camera sucked, and I really didn't like the look at all. In fact the whole 3d thing just struck me as clunky and ugly.

I sold it to Amazon and bought something else.

[Kevincal]

Sunshine sucks compared to Mario 64 that's for sure. I mean gamecube games had great graphics obviously nicer than 64 but I mean, Mario 64, waverace and 1080 for instance are much better on 64 than gamecube. just the overall package.

[Arkanoid_Katamari]

It's strange, back then when a new system came out, it felt like the previous gen was just a million years in the past. When I first saw this game tho, I was already playing Playstation games, so it wasn't a huge shock, but I definately became immersed in it. It wasn't for years later that I actually played it, my little bro owned it and I watched him play it thru. Same story in fact with Ocarina of Time. The music from both those games still brings back tons of nostalgia tho for me, just sitting for hours watching my little bro play them. Then playing Crash Bandicoot and swearing that I had the better system lol

I'm like someone else, I was more interested in Goldeneye, Super Smash bros, and Mariokart 64. I have probably put more hours into playing Mariokart 64 then any other game. I just always found it soo addictive.

[Arkanoid_Katamari]

I had never played Super Mario World as a kid tho, I was a Genesis kid pumping hours into Sonic. But even then, I can remember hearing about the Playstation coming out, and how amazing it was, and suddenly Sonic was ancient history. And, really, it was a huuge step forward in gaming. in terms of one gen to the next. Even comparing Super Mario Kart to Mario Kart 64, it is a huuge leap.

[Edmond Dantes]

I've been thinking about how to put my thoughts into words. As a cynic and something of a Nintendo hater these days its tempting to say I hated Mario 64 from the get-go, but to be honest...

I remember going into Wal-Mart and they had an N64 demo unit hooked up, running Mario 64. I was so hooked on the game that my grandmother almost left the store without me, and even called for me over the intercom (and I didn't hear it)... they had to come to the electronics section to get me. I knew in that moment I had to get an N64 for Christmas.

I was actually disappointed when I got the N64 and the game my parents got for me was... Wave Race 64. I wanted Mario! I played Wave Race for awhile but in my heart it was just holding me over until days later, I was able to afford Mario 64 with birthday money (incidentally, the reason they got Wave Race initially was because SM64 was sold out).

Once I got Mario, nothing else mattered. I remember even once going to a relative's house and wanting to leave immediately because my N64 wasn't there. The two days I was forced to stay there were sheer torture. I wanted my N64 dammit!

I also got a strategy guide at the same time... not the Nintendo Power one, a different one, but it was just as good.

I remember even after I beat the game and found all 120 stars, I was so addicted I had convinced myself there was a 121st star that was super-hidden and required an insane trick to reveal, so I would spend weeks searching for it. I never found it, of course...

I think I'll always have a soft spot for Mario 64 even though I wound up feeling ripped off by the N64 as a whole.

[Arkanoid_Katamari]

Hey Wave Race 64 is a great game. As for Nintendo now, say what u want about them, they're not #1 in terms of $$$'s, but they're the only ones left who've maintained their real identity 100%. The Nintendo identity has not dwindled an ounce in 30 years. It used to be that every competing system seemed to have their own distinct features, physically and thru the games. The SNES looks very different from the Genesis. N64 looks way different from the Playstation. They had character then.

I'm getting a Wii U, for sure.

[Edmond Dantes]

Hey Wave Race 64 is a great game.

It's currently my favorite N64 game. All I was saying was that back then, as a kid, I really wanted Mario and getting Wave Race instead was disappointing (tho years later I realized Wave Race was the better game).

To be fair none of the console making companies are that great anymore.

[thegamezmaster]

Got an N64 and Super Mario 64 was the first game I got on launch day. Loved it from the very start and still play to this day. The only thing that I didn't like is how Japan got a rerelease that supported the rumble pak but not in the USA. Would still like to have. Great game IMHO.

[Leo_A]

I don't think I'd of bought another copy of Super Mario 64 just for rumble (Although I've enjoyed playing it on my Everdrive), but I definitely would've done it for Wave Race 64.

With how little and unimportant the dialogue is (I bet you don't even bother reading any of it at this point) and how easy playing a Japanese cartridge is on a North American N64, you should just import it.

[Little Miss Gloom]

My first reaction playing Super Mario 64: OH MY GOD WHAT DO I D--WHAT--WHAT--HOW DO I--AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

My latest reaction playing Super Mario 64: OH MY GOD WHAT DO I D--WHAT--WHAT--HOW DO I--AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA


I'm not very good at Super Mario 64.

[Tanooki]

I knew of and about Super Mario 64 mostly as stills at that point from Nintendo Power and the limited online websites at the time which back in 1995/6 really didn't have video, and with me on dialup even if there was I wouldn't bother on that garbage. I first saw it going into the local toys r us in the day and came around the corner to see the big black kiosk with the big N on it and a game on. It was thankfully in demo mode, no one was around at that time and I jumped to it. I was just sheerly blown away knowing what the SNES had been capable of with the DKC high point, Street Fighter Alpha 2, and the other gems of that period. I had seen what the Saturn and PS1 was capable of with the very polygonal look mixed with very bland and harsh textures, some being as bad a bunch of little squares intermixing over triangles and it did nothing for me. The N64 even if Mario still was angular with the smooth visuals, no poor speckled texturing, annoyingly long load times and the rest was just great. The controls really were a surprise to me how smooth they were and I feared the camera would be the hellish nightmare people complained about with PC and other console games of the period and was really surprised how it didn't end up getting me killed or blocked from seeing stuff. It's still amazing how few, really actually sad how few games have ever got that right.

[jammajup]

I remember being impressed with the whole scale of the playing area, it just seemed so vast.I was also bowled over by the textures on the giant eel but the rest of the game seemed to lack any texture or detail at all, but this was the first N64 game I had seen and I was to later discover this was just a characteristic of the graphics engine on the system.

[tom]

I thought oh well another tried 3D game, seen it all before on PC (Alone in the Dark, 1992, Ultima Underworld, 1992), or PSX (Jumping Flash), and even Amiga (Hunter) and A8 (Lucasfilm games), so Mario 64 was old hat by then.
As I always mentioned, the fuzzy graphics on N64 were a real turn-off for me, that spoiled game play immensely.

[kupomogli]

Back then and now, I hated it. Mario 64 to me is one giant unenjoyable fetch quest. In order to progress through the game you had to repeatedly go into the same ridiculously small level and completely a different objective. Get to the top of the mountain, race to the top of the mountain, fight a boss at the top of the mountain, etc. Or the last stage. Ride the carpet to this star, maybe this one, or this one over here. You're doing essentially the exact same thing over and over again just to complete a level. Then there are the stars that you can pick up after collecting all the red coins, after collecting 100 coins, etc, but you can't just pick the star up because like all other stars, you'll be kicked out of the mission. You really have to determine whether it's worth picking up a star you come across because you might currently be in the final steps of your objective. So yeah. Small stages that you have to repeat over and over and over again.

I feel that Super Mario 3D Land is a good 3D Mario game. The off angle viewing is a major issue and the game itself is a bit easy aside from that, but it's still a good game. I saw that Jorpho mentioned that Super Mario 3D Land is on rails, but what is Super Mario Bros and Super Mario Bros 3? Or what about most platformers in general? Super Mario 3D Land is following the classic platformer trend of getting through a large line up of uniquely developed stages, 16 worlds when including the bonus worlds. The game feels that even with its flaws, I got my money's worth because of the varied designs of all the stages, where repeating the same stage over and over on Super Mario 64 really feels like artificial length. They developed a few stages then they pad out playtime by requiring you to repeat these stages again and again.

*edit*

The only stages I don't like on Super Mario 3D Land are the repeat stages where you're chased by ghost Mario. I find those are in there just to cheap out on a stage and cut development costs. Sort of like they cut development costs on Super Mario 64 by including seven stars in every stage instead of having seven unique stages.

[Jorpho]

Or the last stage. Ride the carpet to this star, maybe this one, or this one over here.The last stage I will readily admit was a little shabby.


Then there are the stars that you can pick up after collecting all the red coins, after collecting 100 coins, etc, but you can't just pick the star up because like all other stars, you'll be kicked out of the mission. You really have to determine whether it's worth picking up a star you come across because you might currently be in the final steps of your objective.You do not have to exit after you collect the star that appears after collecting 100 coins. Have you not played this game lately?


I saw that Jorpho mentioned that Super Mario 3D Land is on rails, but what is Super Mario Bros and Super Mario Bros 3? Or what about most platformers in general?They tend to have a lot more variety than Super Mario 3D Land.

[Greg2600]

Got an N64 and Super Mario 64 was the first game I got on launch day. Loved it from the very start and still play to this day. The only thing that I didn't like is how Japan got a rerelease that supported the rumble pak but not in the USA. Would still like to have. Great game IMHO.

Hang on, where have I been? There's a SM64 that supports rumble? Dah, too bad they're in Japanese.

[Tanooki]

They also got a Wave Race with rumble as well which seems far more appropriate for the tech since you're riding around and slapping down off of waves, jumps, and wakes the whole time.

Kupo does raise a good point. Mario games have taken a slide a bit since the SNES era, even the GBA->3DS stuff has jumped into it with small stages and overkill collection of junk forcing it too or some later stage is locked. I guess the whole instant gratification group kind of screwed us all into that since it's no longer good enough to beat a stage anymore, now you have to repeatedly beat it for stars and coins so you can progress which blows and it's all traced back to SM64.

[Darkwing]

I guess the whole instant gratification group kind of screwed us all into that since it's no longer good enough to beat a stage anymore, now you have to repeatedly beat it for stars and coins so you can progress which blows and it's all traced back to SM64.

You could trace it back even further to Super Mario World, in a way. 96 exits to complete the game; you needed (unless you knew what to do) to find the Switch Palaces in order to use those blocks to reach some of the exits and "progress."

[Tanooki]

Kind of, but they really were not required to enjoy the game to the general finish. Mario 64 and all the later games require like 60% of the stars/coins or so to be picked up from repeat visits and obscure(some) locations so you can be allowed just to knock the game off. SMW just rewarded you with Star Road if you found it and then the super secret area with those small clock pro stages too but it was all fluff for fun. Yeah it did put the 96, but even the non-Mario Yoshi's Island kind of started the trend of heckling people with shitty ranks (I loathe games with rank systems) throwing it in your face if you don't have 100% of all the 3 collectibles in each area in each world. THe way they are now I find little fun other than doing the motions on much of it. The 3D Land on 3DS was better than most, and Mario U was a total SMW throwback down to the physics for the most part so it's forgiven unlike the other 'new' SMB games which are stinky but even that one plays the coin abuse as the wiiu 3D world does it too with stars. It was a bad road to go down to create more game play time being forced instead of enjoyed as a choice.

[Jorpho]

This is extremely confusing. Are you saying SMW is a better game because you're allowed to skip the whole thing and reach the end credits without playing 90% of it?


The 3D Land on 3DS was better than most3D Land will not allow you to progress unless you collect a certain number of Star Coins. It is no worse than the Mario Galaxy games in that regard.


It was a bad road to go down to create more game play time being forced instead of enjoyed as a choice.Why the heck should you be "forced"? The Game Boy Advance version of SMW tracked your collection of Yoshi Coins in each level; are you saying this somehow makes it a worse game?

[Leo_A]

Dah, too bad they're in Japanese.

There are posts in this thread with more words than probably all of the dialogue in Super Mario 64 combined, so don't let that deter you. :)

The one thing it misses that actually is a bit of a loss is the titles of each star (Which is a helpful hint for what task you're supposed to do). But even that is of little consequence for the veteran Super Mario 64 player and easily circumvented by the novice.

[Tanooki]

I"m not sure where you're getting the skipping 90% of Mario World stuff from as I didn't say it.

I don't own the Mario Galaxy games anymore, I played them enough to get the stars to just play the stages and finish it as all the design around the repeat runs just stinks. I prefer actual one run stages, or at most a stage like Mario World with a secret exit that has an optional perk you can choose to do or not but won't affect the ending or really have something thrown back in your face.

I will say the yoshi coins made the game less fun for me, it basically would shame you not doing it with that being thrown in your face much like the numbers SNES Yoshi's Island started with, it's punishment for not being slow and overly thorough instead of just enjoying the stages and getting to the finish. They added those coins to all the SMB/W titles plopped on the GBA too, it was just a rank system thing that I found offensive as I hate rank systems as they suck the enjoyment out of the game to a point. The more 'forced' thing with portables was the star/coin stuff they popped into the new smb titles and the 3D newer stuff too. Nintendo in breaking away from a good fun standard platformer with little secrets here and there like SMB3 and 4(World) and turning it into a collectathon, repeat visit play, pay to access later parts of the game system is causing me to more and more dislike and not rush out to buy Mario games. Yeah it's a side track but the various changes into Zelda over time is having the same effect too with the re-tread walking of places too much, the crusty save system that loses some progress they finally dropped with skyward sword, crappy gimmick inputs to control (stylus or motion/m+), and their tearing it apart with sandbox gta open world type stuff I maybe finished with that too depending how that WiiU game shapes up next year.

[frogofdeath]

Super Mario 64 is still one of my favorite games of all time, probably numero uno. My first impressions were how fun it was to run and jump and swim and punch and then combine all those moves into a long series of events. In fact, I find the controls superior to ALL other Mario games. The only downside I have for the game in today's gaming climate are the graphics - they have not aged well. I would be all over a remastered version with Galaxy graphics but original style moves and controls (no damn spinning...). But, I won't hold my breath.


I will say the yoshi coins made the game less fun for me, it basically would shame you not doing it with that being thrown in your face much like the numbers SNES Yoshi's Island started with, it's punishment for not being slow and overly thorough instead of just enjoying the stages and getting to the finish.
I don't completely disagree, as I never took the time to find the red or Yoshi coins, but couldn't this logic be applied to the earlier Mario Bros. games? If you took your time to explore each nook and cranny you were shamed by getting a low score (which is at it's most basic, a rating/ranking system).

[WCP]

They also got a Wave Race with rumble as well which seems far more appropriate for the tech since you're riding around and slapping down off of waves, jumps, and wakes the whole time.



Really ? Wow, Wave Race with rumble would be cool. If I had a N64 flash cart, could I play that Japanese rom on my USA N64 and the rumble would work ?

I need to get a N64 flash cart at some point... (still need to get my N64 rgb modded as well)

[Greg2600]

There are posts in this thread with more words than probably all of the dialogue in Super Mario 64 combined, so don't let that deter you. :)

The one thing it misses that actually is a bit of a loss is the titles of each star. But even that is of little consequence for the veteran Super Mario 64 player.

I don't care about the dialogue, but I don't know what to select in the menus.

[Tanooki]

=I don't completely disagree, as I never took the time to find the red or Yoshi coins, but couldn't this logic be applied to the earlier Mario Bros. games? If you took your time to explore each nook and cranny you were shamed by getting a low score (which is at it's most basic, a rating/ranking system).

Eh, I see your logic, but with those it was really about points and only about the points plus the finish. The low score could easily be dodged with point racking in various places by stocking up on lives in others. In #1 the shell on the stairs among others, and in SMB3 that early goomba chute in like 1-2 you can fill well over 99. Either you could skip a lot of the game and then just rack the shit out of the high score in spots just to cover your tracks.

[bb_hood]

I will say the yoshi coins made the game less fun for me, it basically would shame you not doing it with that being thrown in your face much like the numbers SNES Yoshi's Island started with, it's punishment for not being slow and overly thorough instead of just enjoying the stages and getting to the finish. They added those coins to all the SMB/W titles plopped on the GBA too, it was just a rank system thing that I found offensive as I hate rank systems as they suck the enjoyment out of the game to a point.

With Yoshi's Island for the snes, I guess you COULD look at the scoring system as punishment, but I dont see why. If you want to just run through the levels you can do that. Collecting all the stars/red coins/flowers does add an extra element of depth to the game, as well as adding extra challenge. Its more replay value if you want to score 100% in each level. They could just leave stuff like this out of the game, but I dont think that would make it better.

[frogofdeath]

Eh, I see your logic, but with those it was really about points and only about the points plus the finish. The low score could easily be dodged with point racking in various places by stocking up on lives in others. In #1 the shell on the stairs among others, and in SMB3 that early goomba chute in like 1-2 you can fill well over 99. Either you could skip a lot of the game and then just rack the shit out of the high score in spots just to cover your tracks.
Yeah. Especially since time doesn't give you that much of a score in Mario Bros. I think bb_hood's response is more solid than my initial fuzzy Mario logic so I shall piggyback off that: the coins/collectibles can add replay to those who want it, but don't hurt the game by being included.

[Tanooki]

I agree with both of you. I just pointed out Yoshi as where it kind of started. Mario 64 was when it really tipped over into collection or not finish the game mechanics. Some of them do restrict the quality of the ending or even something like the color of the main screen(doesn't bother me) by not doing it all. Technically even SMW as I recall did a change up with the full finish changing some enemies to another style. When it's something that doesn't affect the ending you receive, or it doesn't bar you from enjoying the stages of the game I find that totally cool. It is when you're forced to do it to see more of the game, when they lock down entire stages or worlds(new smb ds), or if it taunts you with a poor rating that's when I take issue with it and sadly that's all where the Mario games have gone.

Mario games now you must buy access to later stages with stars, some force you to have coins just to save (total bs on the handheld ones), and the whole stars over your save as a rank system is like a trifecta of annoyance to me. If when you're as you put it 'hurt for not doing it' versus just being something optional that's when things turn sour.

[Jorpho]

Technically even SMW as I recall did a change up with the full finish changing some enemies to another style.That only happened when you finished the Special World.


When it's something that doesn't affect the ending you receive, or it doesn't bar you from enjoying the stages of the game I find that totally cool.But the ending you receive doesn't bar you from enjoying the stages of the game, so why does it matter? I get the feeling that you take these things too personally.


It is when you're forced to do it to see more of the game, when they lock down entire stages or worlds(new smb ds)The only stages that are "locked down" in NSMB DS just require you to finish a few boss battles while tiny. There's no fancy collecting required. In fact, collecting Star Coins only lets you buy wallpapers, and eventually puts another star next to your save file.


Mario games now you must buy access to later stages with stars, some force you to have coins just to save (total bs on the handheld ones)There are no recent Mario games that have ever required you to have coins just to save, and certainly not on handhelds. The closest thing in that regard is SMW. (Donkey Kong Land required you to go through some trouble to save, but that was ages ago.)

[Berserker]

I was well back into PC gaming at that point, so I wasn't really blown away from a technology standpoint. I remember being skeptical about how well a platformer would translate into 3D. I was aware of the flaws, but overall I thought it was a really enjoyable space to mess around in, and ended up playing the shit out of it. It didn't come close to topping SMW for me, but it was still a lot of fun.

[Leo_A]

In fact, collecting Star Coins only lets you buy wallpapers, and eventually puts another star next to your save file.

They also open up paths by removing gates on the map screen, prompting you the option to save your game at the same time you open a gate. Otherwise, you're limited to only being able to save when the game prompts you to after castles, fortresses, and such.

Which isn't a huge problem I might add. Simply hop back to world 1 and in perhaps 90 seconds, you can clear an easy level and save your game freely.

[Tanooki]

New SMB DS required using those coins from the stages to save at the mid and end castle to each world or you'd be out your game. The only time that block was remove was after finishing the game, then you could save anytime you liked. You had to earn 5 coins to save.

My beef with the ending is, I sure do enjoy the stages, but I feel if I put the time in to finish the game I'm entitled to the real ending, not a stripped one. Extras should be extra for those who want to do more over just finishing the game as a bonus.

[kupomogli]

This is extremely confusing. Are you saying SMW is a better game because you're allowed to skip the whole thing and reach the end credits without playing 90% of it?

3D Land will not allow you to progress unless you collect a certain number of Star Coins. It is no worse than the Mario Galaxy games in that regard.

On Super Mario World, the only stages that had secret exits were the red colored ones and some of the ghost houses. All the yellow colored ones and the castles had a single exit. The red colored ones on Star Road gave you an extra percentage, but completing them had Mario walk back towards the star he's already been able to go to. Only one unlocked the bonus stages on star road. 74 unique stages, 24 of them with an extra exit.

Super Mario 64 has only 15 stages and the only reason there's any length to the game is because you're required to go through the stages again and again to get to the end. The stages themselves are also small, so going through them again you're usually just retracing your steps for the most part.

With Super Mario 3D Land, you don't have to go out of your way to collect most of the star coins and each one you collect require you restart the stage. As long as you pick up all the star coins you pass up while playing through the game, you should be able to atleast complete the regular game which consists of 48 unique stages. The extra world has 47 stages, although about a fourth of them are the same stages with ghost Mario. You're required to get enough star coins to play each world.

[Leo_A]

New SMB DS required using those coins from the stages to save at the mid and end castle to each world or you'd be out your game. The only time that block was remove was after finishing the game, then you could save anytime you liked. You had to earn 5 coins to save..

It was 5 coins?

I guess I could be wrong, the most I've done since playing through it has been revisiting a few levels on my completed save. It likely was 2006 or 2007 when I last spent a coin on my save file. It's probably the weakest of the 2D Mario platformers in my opinion where as many of them, I'm running through them every year or two. So I've had no desire to really revisit it.

But I'm 99% certain that no coins had to be spent at the castles to save, you only had to reach the end of the level. Besides buying backgrounds, the coins were spent to open up paths and doing so would give an opportunity to save your game without playing through a castle.

[Niku-Sama]

I hated it so I went to PlayStation that tone around. PSX had mega man any way

[Tanooki]

It has been a long while for me too, I was fairly certain you always had to pay to save, but yes if it wasnt at a castle the other purchases were for mushroom house access and each time you paid 5 to open up a signpost you got the right to save. I also agree the game wasnt much fun, also very short, especially if you cut out two whole worlds not micro mario dodging the bosses on those 2 stages. I think being that it was the first 2D mario since SMW1 it got a lot of hot press and a free pass on its problems. I even overlooked them for a time, but ended up disliking more than liking it in the end. New SMB on the whole has been one long trail of disappointment with wonky physics and generic stage design that almost felt like a bland cookie cutter platformer with mario stitched onto it, and only the WiiU launch title was like the stand out where they ditched most the bs and tried to mimic very well SMW.

[Jorpho]

They also open up paths by removing gates on the map screen, prompting you the option to save your game at the same time you open a gate. Otherwise, you're limited to only being able to save when the game prompts you to after castles, fortresses, and such.Acht, it's clearly been too long. :oops: I could have sworn there was some kind of quick-save, at least.


My beef with the ending is, I sure do enjoy the stages, but I feel if I put the time in to finish the game I'm entitled to the real ending, not a stripped one. Extras should be extra for those who want to do more over just finishing the game as a bonus.Why bother watching the ending at all if it bothers you so much?


Super Mario 64 has only 15 stages and the only reason there's any length to the game is because you're required to go through the stages again and again to get to the end. The stages themselves are also small, so going through them again you're usually just retracing your steps for the most part.Eh, I don't remember them seeming so small at the time. Plus the challenges are often (but not always) interesting and varied. But I guess that's just my opinion.


As long as you pick up all the star coins you pass up while playing through the game, you should be able to atleast complete the regular game which consists of 48 unique stages. The extra world has 47 stages, although about a fourth of them are the same stages with ghost Mario. You're required to get enough star coins to play each world.Maybe a fourth of them are the same stages with ghost Mario, but probably another half of them are just the same stages with relatively minor alterations.

[Leo_A]

I've argued over Super Mario 64 with kupomogli in the past and don't agree. But I at least understand some of his criticism although I think most any 3D platformer is as guilty or more so of many of his points.

But one area I don't is the worlds being tiny. Super Mario 64 gave me the complete opposite impression there.


I could have sworn there was some kind of quick-save, at least.

For some odd reason, they reserve that for after you see the ending (I think all five entries hide the quick save option until then).

At least it's there eventually. Not as useful as it could be, but it still comes in handy as you hunt down the last few secret exits and star coins after reaching the end.

[AceAerosmith]

I really didn't like the game. I've never played it for more than a few minutes because I hated the look and the 3D environments. It wasn't a major disappointment or anything really though, because I didn't know anything about it prior to seeing it when it released.

I really didn't like most early 3D games. I thought that they were blocky and ugly looking, and I still don't like 3D platformers, or 3D fighters much at all. Games that offer a too much freedom and are too open ended tend to bore me. They seem less structured, and I don't feel like there's a sense of urgency or pacing like the type of games I grew up playing. There are lots of exceptions to this, but generally I felt that Mario64 killed a genre that I used to really love. I was for the best though, as video games have to evolve.

This. Just running around collecting shit with no real plot advancement (Hey, I went from 11% complete to 13% complete. Yay.) is super fucking boring to me.