I had a
dream last night. During the dream I went and purchased a used Nintendo 64
game console and a copy of Super Mario 64. Before wrapping up my order, the
guy behind the counter asked, "Would you like your order to go?"
That was
strange. I had never been asked that before, but nodded yes just for the heck
of it.
He then
moved the Nintendo 64 aside and handed me a shiny new Nintendo DS.
Real-time
cut scenes and dual screens, Super Mario 64 DS is a landmark game. Not only
is it the first true 3D platformer released for a mobile console, but it’s
also the first time Nintendo has unofficially re-made a classic game.
By all
accounts this is the same game you played eight years ago. At least that’s
what they want you to think. They know you’ll buy it anyway. The secret
that’s locked inside this massive game is too exciting to keep.
In a
shocking twist of events, the game starts off with Mario’s dinosaur friend,
Yoshi. Not as a statue like in the original or as a ride-on toy like in Mario
Sunshine. This time Yoshi is fully playable as an individual character. All
of Yoshi’s attributes are here. Jump high, kick your feet to float, and
swallow enemies to create egg projectiles.
It wasn’t
long before I began to wonder where this game was going. The first few worlds
looked the same, although some of the tasks were different. Has Nintendo
really changed the game this much? Or are these tasks something new for us to
enjoy, while the old tasks will have to be completed later?
Before I got
my answer, I came across a red cap with a large M on it. Now who could that
belong to? All Yoshi had to do was pick it up to find out. He immediately
turned into his plumber friend and now had all of Mario’s abilities, including
the famous wall kick.
Get hit and
Yoshi transform back into his original form. Mario’s hat will remain in the
area for a few seconds, but after that it’ll disappear.
This was
cool, this was fun, but it wasn’t quite what I wanted. Little did I know that
what I wanted was hidden behind four doors…
Once the "M"
key was found, I ran back to the castle and unlocked one of the doors,
revealing the most super-ific mascot of them all: Mario. Mario is the second
of four playable characters – the others are Wario and Luigi. The
significance that each of these characters has will remain a secret.
Mario 64 had
the advantage of being one of the first games to utilize Nintendo 64’s
ingenious thumbstick. It allowed for unprecedented control over your
character. Like many players, I’d spend a lot of time running around,
flipping and jumping without a care in the world. It was that kind of
playability that made Mario 64 the most beloved Mario game.
That’s the
one thing that has been lost in the DS conversion. The Nintendo DS was
designed without a thumbstick. It has a D-pad, but it’s not analog either.
To run, you hold a button down just like you did in the old days.
This is not
easy to swallow at first. I never thought the day would come when Nintendo
would take us back a few decades by releasing a new console without some type
of analog controller. Clearly I was wrong.
You won’t
get used to using the D-pad. You’ll become comfortable with it, but you’ll
never be used to it. The levels with tiny platforms (like Bowser’s castles)
are a nightmare to navigate. I can’t back-flip, walk lightly or hop around in
with the same precision that I had on Nintendo 64.
It wasn’t
easy, but I eventually had to come to terms with this flaw and get over it.
Being disappointed by the hardware is one thing, but I can’t let a good game
go to waste because the controls are not Nintendo 64-perfect.
Everything
else that you love about Mario 64 remains intact. The brilliant level design,
clever star placement, the outrageous Bowser battles – every memorable moments
will be had again as you explore this rare and highly cherished adventure.
As you can
see, Mario has piled up on spaghetti and
meatballs since his last adventure.
Mario’s
three friends control really well for characters that were added as an
afterthought. Early reports indicated that each character would control the
same as Mario, but that isn’t the case. Wario, Yoshi and Luigi have the same
traits that were introduced in previous Nintendo classics. You already know
Yoshi’s story. What you don’t know is that Luigi controls exactly the same
way that he controls in Super Mario Bros. 2. The difference is that now he’s
in a 3D environment. Wario’s mechanics have been brought over from his
GameCube saga.
From afar,
Mario 64 DS is a console-perfect conversion. Up close it’s hard to notice the
differences unless you’re a mushroom-loving nut like I am. I noticed that the
grass is slightly darker on the DS than it is on Nintendo 64. I noticed that
some of the backgrounds are pixelated; on Nintendo 64 they were anti-aliased
and looked very smooth. I also noticed that the water isn’t quite as
spectacular, nor is the picture frame ripple effect as impressive as it is on
Nintendo 64.
These tiny,
miniscule, who-would-even-bother-to-think-twice-about-them changes are things
you probably won’t notice. Whether you do or you don’t, rest assured that
they do not affect the gameplay in any way. The levels are just as big as
they were in the original. Level changes were only made to adapt to the new
characters and star collection rules. There were also a few changes that made
collecting certain stars easier. I regret this change and would have
protested it had I been a QA (Quality Assurance) manager. Despite the number
of adults who own a Game Boy Advance, it is most popular with the younger
crowd. Perhaps Nintendo feels the DS will be the same way.
Subtle
differences are visible everywhere you look, but there are some big changes,
including a couple of new stages (not to be confused with worlds, these
"stages" are fun but will not take you long to beat).
The touch
screen mini-games are a mixed bag, but Mario Party fans will love ’em. The
one I keep going back for is the slingshot, where you use the stylus to launch
cannonballs at the falling enemies.
This game is
too good to pass up. Super Mario 64 DS is the number-one reason to buy a
Nintendo DS. Need two reasons? Get Spider-Man 2. Need three? Take a look
at the list of games that are about to be released.
Truthfully
though, you don’t have to look at any of that. Mario 64 had the power to hook
us in 1996. Its powers are just as strong in 2004.
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Gameplay: 8.9
Two words: new
content! Forget about having a few extra coins to snatch here and there.
Those days are long gone. Mario 64 DS is a new take on Nintendo 64’s biggest
seller. Starting as Yoshi (and only Yoshi) is shocking enough. Seeing him
transform into Mario after picking up a red cap was also surprising. To
discover that there are in fact four different playable characters – each with
different strengths, each needed to complete specific missions – was very
exciting.
None of that
could compare to the joy I felt when I discovered the game’s first new stage.
Nintendo has never before made a re-make with this much additional content.
Graphics: 9.3
The best-looking
game ever to hit the small screen. This is just the tip of the iceberg – next
Christmas we’ll see jaw-dropping games on the DS. Mario 64 DS may look like a
game we played eight years, but I am still in awe of the effects. I’ve been
waiting for this day for a long time, the day when the console gaming
experience could had anywhere at any time. Mario 64 DS is the perfect game to
demonstrate what is now possible.
Sound: 9.8
WOW! Crystal
clear stereo sound and music quality that’s on par with Nintendo 64. This
soundtrack features the best Mario music yet, combining tracks from Mario 64
and even Mario Sunshine. The water world tracks are amazing. It’s a grand
culmination of Mario’s evolution. You hear his past in it, but you also hear
something much deeper, something that can stand along the epic soundtracks of
all the "epic" video games being released these days.
Difficulty: Easy/Medium
Eight years ago
it took a lot of work to get each and every star. Today, with years of
experience behind us, it doesn’t seem so difficult.
Concept: 8
Multiplayer: 8
Slapstick
multiplayer for four, but only one player has to have the game card! Nintendo
calls this feature "download play," and they say you can look forward to more
extensive download play features in the future.
Overall: 8.9
Super Mario 64 DS
could have been titled Mario 64 Plus. Plus new characters. Plus new stages.
Plus new mini-games. Plus touch screen controls. Plus new music, not to
mention incredible sound quality that blows Game Boy Advance out of the water.
