Super Mario 64
Description official descriptions
Mario is invited to Peach's castle, but when he arrives Peach is nowhere to be seen. He soon learns from Toad that Bowser has once again kidnapped her. The Koopa King has also put a spell on her castle, imprisoning her subjects. So it is up to Mario to break the spell and rescue Peach.
Super Mario 64 is the first Mario game done entirely with 3D graphics. The core gameplay is similar to previous platform installments, focusing on jumping, avoiding obstacles, and defeating enemies. Levels can be explored without time limits. Stars must be collected in order to unlock new areas, eventually gaining access to various parts of Bowser's castle. Defeating Bowser on each floor procures keys necessary to unlock big doors and enter other floors, which contain more areas.
Mario has more moves at his disposal in this installment. Besides running and jumping, he can now walk, crouch, crawl, climb, and punch enemies. Double and triple jumps, long jumps, wall jumps, and backflips can be executed as well. Swimming underwater now depletes Mario's oxygen level. Items must be picked up and carried in some instances in order to solve puzzles.
Power-ups include the Wing Cap, which allows Mario to fly; the Metal Cap, which protects him from damage (including environmental hazards such as poisonous gas); and the Vanish Cap, which makes Mario ethereal, allowing him to walk through certain obstacles (such as wire mesh). Mario can also enter cannons and be shot from them; combining this with the flying ability grants access to high areas.
Spellings
- スーパーマリオ64 - Japanese spelling
- 神游马力欧 - iQue-Player Simplified Chinese spelling
- 超级马里奥64 - Chinese spelling (simplified)
- 슈퍼마리오 64 - Korean spelling
Groups +
Screenshots
Promos
Credits (Nintendo 64 version)
46 People (43 developers, 3 thanks) · View all
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Mario Face Programmer | |
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Sound Composer | |
Sound Effects | |
Sound Programmer | |
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Additional Graphics | |
Technical Support | |
[ full credits ] |
Reviews
Critics
Average score: 94% (based on 53 ratings)
Players
Average score: 4.1 out of 5 (based on 338 ratings with 13 reviews)
Mario's first 3D adventure is great fun
The Good
I like the creativity of the worlds and enemies within the game. You get to see how many classic Mario enemies for the first time in 3D, including,Goombas,Koopas, and even Bowser. In the levels you don't have to get the stars in any order, you can choose which one you wanna get first. Charles Martinet's voice brings life into the character of Mario, even if it is just a few sound clips that are played when he's jumping or hurt.
The Bad
Sometimes if you go into the water, it can be a challenge to jump out and get back to land. Besides that there's not much else wrong with the game, other than sometimes the camera isn't in a convenient position.
The Bottom Line
Super Mario 64 is Mario's first 3D game for Nintendo 64 and it's a lot of fun. There are a lot of levels to explore and secrets to find. It's a great game for any Mario fan to play.
Nintendo 64 · by Kiara Cunningham (13) · 2015
Every ardent gaming boy in the 90s grew up with this classic!
The Good
It's Super Mario in 3D and as open-ended as gaming can be. IT brought the character into the modern era of polygonal gaming adventures. It came right off the success of Tomb Raider and Resident Evil in 1996 and soon became the best-selling game of the fifth generation: selling 11.62 million copies, beating the Playstation's best-sellers Gran Turismo (10.85 million) and Final Fantasy VII (9.72 million). The game's still impressive on a technical level: here was an open-world game where no loading screens were present jumping from painting to painting, world to world, and still Mario's an absolute blast to control.
The Bad
The speed of the PAL version of the game can mess up the timing of certain 'glitches' in the game which is a little annoying for speed-running purposes. Oh: and of course the camera is still a bit clunky, even for the standards of the time, but it doesn't cripple the experience of the platforming.
The Bottom Line
I'd call this game Super Mario's Greatest Leap: they took a 2D side-scrolling character and made him a seamlessly playable character on a then-brand-new 3D system. Super Mario 64 is a slice of the gaming pie you must try out as soon as possible.
Nintendo 64 · by John H. (52) · 2019
The Good
The first N64 game we ever bought! Great game. Our chubby plumber with the Italian accent is back and now in 3D! Mario has a lot of moves (he looks like a damn ninja) which look very smooth. A lot of different levels, every level different and original in it's own way.
The Bad
Every boss is Bowser! altough he gets harder to beat, it would be a lot cooler if the old Bowser gang got back in this game (mouser, birdo, maye even some koopa kids!), but sadly it was just Bowser. The graphics are a little bright, all the HAPPY COLOURS tend to hurt your eyes after a while. =)
The Bottom Line
A cool game, long, challenging and fun! A must have, and it's a bargain for the price it's sold now!
Nintendo 64 · by Robert Pragt (27) · 2001
Trivia
1001 Video Games
The N64 version of Super Mario 64 appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.
Cancelled sequel
There was going to be a sequel done, for either the N64 or 64DD, that would have Luigi as a playable character too, but it was never completed. It is possible that this game later became Luigi's Mansion.
Collecting all stars
After collecting every star in the castle, Bowser will say a different message upon his defeat in the sky. Also, a cannon opens outside the castle to launch you onto the roof for a surprise.
First N64 game
Super Mario 64 was the very first game for the N64.
"L is real 2041"
One of the biggest mysteries surrounding this game is that of an inscription on the star statue in the castle courtyard (near the entrance to World 5). The inscription reads, "L is Real 2041" or "Eternal Star". However, a sign in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time also says this when you look at it (but reads something else when you read it). This sign is located in the Dodongo Dungeon, near the Gorons' home. Whether this was a gag by Nintendo or if they just decided to recycle textures is unknown.
Awards
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EGM
- September 1996 (Issue 86) - Game of the Month
- March 1997 (Issue 92) - Game of the Year (All Systems) + N64 Game of the Year + Adventure Game of the Year + Best Graphics and also Game of the Year (All Systems) (Readers' Choice) + N64 Game of the Year (Readers' Choice) + Adventure Game of the Year + (Readers' Choice) + Best Graphics (Readers' Choice)
+November 1997 (Issue 100) - ranked #10 (Titles That Revolutionized Console Gaming)
- November 1997 (Issue 100) - ranked #2 (Readers' Top 10 Games of All Time)
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November 1997 (Issue 100) - ranked #4 (Best 100 Games of All Time)
+February 2006 - #6 out of 200 of the "Greatest Games of Their Time"
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Game Informer Magazine
- Issue 100, August 2001 - #12 in the Top 100 Games of All Time (poll)
- Issue 138 - October 2004 - one of the "Top 25 Most Influential Games of All Time"
- GameSpy
- 2001 – #11 Top Game of All Time
- Retro Gamer
- October 2004 (Issue #9) – #17 Best Game Of All Time (Readers' Vote)
- Issue 37 - #4 in the "Top 25 Platformers of All Time" (poll)
Information also contributed by Big John WV, Brolin Empey, PCGamer77 and Tiago Jacques.
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Related Sites +
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Nintendo: Mario 64 DS
Official US Super Mario 64 DS website -
OC ReMix Game Profile
Fan remixes of music from Super Mario 64. -
Wikipedia: Super Mario 64
Information about Super Mario 64 at Wikipedia
Identifiers +
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Chris Martin.
Wii U added by Michael Cassidy. Wii added by Guy Chapman. Nintendo Switch added by Kam1Kaz3NL77.
Additional contributors: Unicorn Lynx, Sciere, Alaka, Opipeuter, gamewarrior, the_penguin, Luchsen, Big John WV, DreinIX, Patrick Bregger, Thomas Thompson, Deleted, Rik Hideto, FatherJack, lightlands.
Game added March 29, 2001. Last modified April 13, 2024.