Super Mario 64 DS | The Best Worst Version - Scott The Woz
Summary
TLDRIn this nostalgic review, the speaker reflects on the impact of 'Super Mario 64 DS', a groundbreaking title that brought the expansive 3D world of 'Super Mario 64' to the portable Nintendo DS. They discuss the game's revolutionary features, such as unrestricted movement and immersive gameplay, which were awe-inspiring for its time. Despite the lack of an analog stick on the DS and the resulting control issues, the game offered a portable Mario experience that fans had longed for. The review also touches on the added multiplayer mode and the inclusion of new characters like Luigi and Wario, which, while not necessary, added a new dimension to the game. The speaker concludes that while 'Super Mario 64 DS' isn't perfect and isn't the definitive version, it's a cool alternative take on a classic that was impressive for its time.
Takeaways
- 🕹️ The script discusses the revolutionary impact of 'Super Mario 64' on the gaming industry, highlighting its expansive 3D worlds and unrestricted movement.
- 🎮 'Super Mario 64 DS' is praised for bringing the groundbreaking experience of the original game to a portable Nintendo DS console.
- 📦 The original release of 'Super Mario 64' had a significant influence on the speaker's childhood, instilling a sense of wonder and exploration.
- 🛠️ 'Super Mario 64 DS' introduced new features such as a run button and touch screen controls, which were not present in the original game.
- 🎨 The DS version boasts updated character models and graphics that look sharp and modern, even by today's standards.
- 👎 One of the major criticisms of 'Super Mario 64 DS' is the lack of an analog stick on the DS, leading to less precise control compared to the original.
- 🧩 The game added 30 extra stars and multiple playable characters, which some consider as the definitive features but are criticized for being unnecessary and forced.
- 🎲 'Super Mario 64 DS' includes mini-games that utilize the DS's touch screen in creative ways, offering a variety of fun distractions from the main game.
- 👾 The versus mode in 'Super Mario 64 DS' is described as broken and not enjoyable, with a lack of depth and engaging gameplay.
- 🔄 Despite the changes and additions, the core gameplay and magic of 'Super Mario 64' remain intact in the DS version, making it a cool alternative take on the original.
- 🚀 The speaker reflects on the impressive technical achievement of 'Super Mario 64 DS', especially considering it was released for a handheld console in 2004.
Q & A
What was the significance of Super Mario 64 in the gaming industry?
-Super Mario 64 revolutionized gaming with its expansive 3D worlds and 360° of unrestricted movement, being an accomplishment unlike anything seen before at the time of its launch on the Nintendo 64 console.
How did Super Mario 64 DS differ from the original Super Mario 64?
-Super Mario 64 DS brought the revolutionary 3D game to a handheld console, the Nintendo DS, with some new twists such as additional playable characters, new power-ups, and a multiplayer mode.
What were some of the technical and graphical advancements showcased in Super Mario 64 DS?
-Super Mario 64 DS featured high-quality 3D models that were on par with console-level graphics, and it was playable on a cartridge, demonstrating a significant technical leap for handheld gaming at the time.
What was the initial reaction to the announcement of Super Mario 64 on the Nintendo DS?
-The initial reaction was one of awe and disbelief, as it was seen as a groundbreaking achievement to bring a game of such graphical and technical prowess to a handheld device.
What are some of the control issues faced in Super Mario 64 DS?
-Super Mario 64 DS faced control issues due to the lack of an analog stick on the Nintendo DS, which made precise movement and camera control more challenging compared to the original game on the Nintendo 64.
How does the multiplayer aspect of Super Mario 64 DS differ from the original game?
-The multiplayer aspect in Super Mario 64 DS was a new addition, allowing players to engage in battles in familiar locations, which was a feature that was not present in the original Super Mario 64.
What are some of the new features added to Super Mario 64 DS that were not in the original game?
-New features in Super Mario 64 DS include the ability to play as different characters like Luigi and Wario, new power-ups such as the Super Mushroom, and additional Power Stars to collect.
How does the presentation of Super Mario 64 DS compare to the original in terms of graphics and character design?
-Super Mario 64 DS has more modern designs for the characters, making them look more natural and detailed compared to the original, while still maintaining the spirit of the original game's design.
What is the general consensus on the additional content added to Super Mario 64 DS?
-The additional content in Super Mario 64 DS, while appreciated for its novelty, is often seen as unnecessary and not as engaging as the original game's content, with many of the new features feeling forced or gimmicky.
What are some of the mini-games included in Super Mario 64 DS, and how do they utilize the Nintendo DS's touch screen?
-Super Mario 64 DS includes a variety of mini-games such as Mario Slot, Memory Match, and Coincentration that showcase the DS's touch screen capabilities, offering simple and fun gameplay experiences.
Outlines
🕹️ Nostalgia and Innovation in Super Mario 64 DS
The speaker reminisces about the revolutionary impact of Super Mario 64, which introduced expansive 3D worlds and unrestricted movement at the launch of the Nintendo 64 console. They express awe at the game's technical and graphical leap being ported to the Nintendo DS, a handheld device. The discussion highlights the magic of both the original game and the DS version, which brought the game's wonder to a portable format. However, the speaker also acknowledges the flaws of Super Mario 64 DS, especially when viewed outside its historical context. They share personal anecdotes from 2004, describing the sense of freedom and imagination the game inspired, and how it felt like exploring a vast new world.
🎮 The Evolution and Discovery of Super Mario 64 DS
The paragraph delves into the speaker's initial disappointment at the lack of a portable version of Super Mario 64, contrasting it with the later surprise and excitement upon discovering Super Mario 64 DS. It discusses the evolution of handheld gaming and the Nintendo DS's role in blurring the lines between home console and portable gaming. The speaker shares their experience of first learning about the DS in 2004, the unveiling of the handheld at E3, and the game's eventual release. They also touch on the DS's marketing focus on casual games and how Super Mario 64 DS exceeded their expectations, providing a portable version of a beloved game that they could play anywhere.
👎 Flaws and Features of Super Mario 64 DS
The speaker critiques the marketing and presentation of Super Mario 64 DS, particularly the box art and DS logo, which they feel do not adequately convey the game's identity. They also discuss the game's transition from a multiplayer-focused reveal to a single-player experience with additional multiplayer elements. The paragraph includes a personal anecdote about the speaker's delayed discovery of the game and their subsequent enthusiasm upon finally acquiring it. The speaker reflects on the game's graphics, controls, and gameplay changes, expressing mixed feelings about the alterations made for the DS version.
📱 Control Issues and Visual Upgrades in Super Mario 64 DS
The speaker focuses on the control scheme of Super Mario 64 DS, highlighting the absence of an analog stick and the resulting impact on gameplay precision and fluidity. They discuss alternative control methods, such as the touchscreen, and their limitations. The paragraph also addresses the visual improvements in the DS version, comparing character designs and environments to the original game. The speaker shares their thoughts on the game's music and the overall charm of the original versus the updated look of the DS version.
🌟 Additional Content and Playable Characters in Super Mario 64 DS
The paragraph discusses the additional content in Super Mario 64 DS, including new Power Stars, playable characters, and multiplayer modes. The speaker critically examines the value of these additions, arguing that while they provide more content, they do not necessarily enhance the core gameplay experience. They detail the process of unlocking new characters and the unique abilities each character brings to the game, while also expressing frustration at the forced use of multiple characters to obtain all the stars.
🎲 Mini-Games and Multiplayer Modes in Super Mario 64 DS
The speaker explores the mini-games and multiplayer modes included in Super Mario 64 DS. They praise the innovative use of the DS's touchscreen in the mini-games, which offer a variety of gameplay styles and the potential for high scores. However, they also criticize the versus mode for its limited stages and broken gameplay mechanics, which result in a frustrating and repetitive experience.
🚀 The Impressive Portability of Super Mario 64 DS
The speaker reflects on the overall experience of playing Super Mario 64 DS, acknowledging its imperfections but also its impressive achievements. They discuss the game's status as a cool alternative take on the original, rather than the definitive version. The paragraph concludes with a personal account of the enjoyment derived from the game, despite its flaws, and the speaker's continued appreciation for its innovative portability and the addition of extra content.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Super Mario 64
💡Nintendo DS
💡3D Graphics
💡Portability
💡Remake
💡Controls
💡Multiplayer
💡Power Stars
💡Touchscreen
💡Casual Gamers
💡Definitive Release
Highlights
Super Mario 64 revolutionized gaming with its expansive 3D worlds and unrestricted movement.
Super Mario 64 DS brought the groundbreaking game to the Nintendo DS, allowing play on-the-go.
The DS version was initially marketed as a multiplayer battle game, highlighting a shift in focus from the original's single-player experience.
Super Mario 64 DS included a full single-player campaign with new twists based on the original game.
The Nintendo DS launch positioned it as a handheld powerhouse, capable of 3D visuals and gameplay.
The DS's lack of an analog stick presented control challenges when adapting Super Mario 64's 3D gameplay.
Super Mario 64 DS introduced new playable characters, each with unique abilities and control schemes.
The game incorporated the DS's touch screen for movement, offering an alternative to the D-pad controls.
30 new Power Stars were added in Super Mario 64 DS, but many were considered insubstantial and unnecessary.
New levels and areas, such as Sunshine Isles, were created for the DS version, referencing other Mario games.
Super Mario 64 DS featured a versus mode, but it was criticized for being limited and broken.
The game included mini-games that showcased the DS's touch screen capabilities in inventive ways.
Despite changes and additions, Super Mario 64 DS maintained the charm and wonder of the original game.
The DS version was seen as a cool alternative take on Super Mario 64, rather than a definitive version.
Mario 64 DS was impressive for its time, offering a full console game experience on a handheld device.
The game's adaptability to the DS, despite its flaws, demonstrated the potential of handheld gaming.
Transcripts
hey y Scott here I want to play Super
Mario 64 on the go but there's got to be
an easier
way Super Mario 64 is the game okay it
revolutionized gaming with its expansive
3D worlds it's 360° of pure unrestricted
movement the fact this was all at the
launch of a console and it was and still
is good Mario 64 could be considered
Gaming's magnum opus an accomplishment
unlike anything seen before I'm not sure
if we'll ever see anything like this
ever
again guess what Super Mario 64
DS yeah it's Super Mario for the
Nintendo 64 for the Nintendo DS okay
sure here's beans for your mouth for
your floor but what this is the game
that changed games forever this huge
Technical and graphical leap now on a
cartridge this small and playable
portably via Nintendo's latest handheld
at its launch wow tell me more
okay I love this game both versions to
be honest Mario 64 in above itself was
magical Mario 64 DS was magical in its
own special way this was jaw-dropping
because it was unlike anything we've
ever seen before and this was
jaw-dropping because it was that same
game but playable anywhere on a Nintendo
handheld when all we expected from
Nintendo handhelds at the time
was not this unfortunately once that
context is removed from Mario 64 DS it
becomes much more difficult to ignore
many of the issues present yes Super
Mario 64 DS isn't perfect but hey nobody
is look at me for example Super Mario 64
DS isn't perfect I say wrong [ __ ] all
the time but what's really up with this
game well it all started back in
2004 it all started back in 1996 and 8
years between brand new release and
remake concept of time is weird I mean
back then Mario 64 felt a hell of a lot
older than 8 years old whereas now time
flies so fast yes day was 8 years ago
well what exactly was Super Mario 64 to
me in the year 2004 so my cousins would
bring their Nintendo 64s over to the
grandparents house and I recall watching
them play it there while just being in
awe this game captures your imagination
from the second you see it like wow this
is like a whole ass planet we can
explore here that feels like he can do
anything go anywhere in this game felt
like every little element here was meant
to really play into that sense of wonder
you have as a child I mean from the
moment you boot it up
hello what can I do to that nose I can
mess around with Mario's face on the
title screen for hours here the castle
grounds oh my god I've never felt so
free in a video game than I did here
nowadays it's obviously a fairly small
environment but back then this opening
area felt like it could have been the
whole ass game moving around with full
360° movement jumping about with pure
precision letting your imagination go
wild like you're actually playing
outside as a kid but now no need to
leave the house yep Mario 64 is pretty
great especially when you actually play
it yeah enter the castle jump into a
painting and we have one of over a dozen
worlds to explore and complete missions
and to get power Stars 120 in total to
be exact definitely more than enough to
keep you invested for a very long time
and that's just the core experience
Mario 64 can be enjoyed in so so many
different ways I mean it's one of the
most popular games to speedrun there's
so many secrets and urban legends that
kept players on their toes for decades
many quirks have inspired players to
come up with self-imposed challenges to
conquer like the green demon challenge
the collecting all the red coins before
the oneup mushroom catches up to you and
that's all on top of the game being just
flat out fun to control like this was
one of the best sandbox experiences
which was how I primarily enjoyed the
game back then
because this way you can't tell me I'm
playing it wrong at this point probably
around 2002 2003 I hadn't really seen a
game like this especially Mario games I
mean I was used to Super Mario World on
my Game Boy Advance you show me this and
I go thank God this steak was looking
awfully lonely without a witch to burn
at this was unbelievable this was What
all video games should be like and from
that moment forward while I still
enjoyed my GBA and the games I had for
it
I did always yearn for an experience
like this on the go and know I'd give my
hopes up thinking that was possible it's
see a magazine ad for a console game
that says hey this game is also on Game
Boy Advance and like can you really
blame a six-year-old for thinking that
meant this exact game as it's shown here
was going to run on as Game Boy
apparently you can over time I accepted
the fact that Home console games looked
like this and handheld games looked like
this which was fine by me the simpler
Graphics were easier to see with my
tears on the screen but in 2004 Nintendo
was determined to prove me wrong as at
their E3 press conference that year they
fully unveiled their new handheld the
Nintendo DS and alongside it game
showcasing its graphical potential this
was the kind of stuff you only saw on
the consoles but now here's Metro prime
a first-person shooter in full 3d
running on a portable system here's
Super Mario
64 my reaction C must have been through
the
roof I didn't watch E3 that year in fact
I didn't know this game existed for a
good long while I wasn't paying
attention to gaming media at the time
but if I
was Boy Super Mario
64 by four or times four I don't know
that's what it was called upon reveal
but I haven't found Nintendo officially
saying the title out loud so I don't
know how to say it to be fair who knows
maybe the same can be said about the
original maybe this is actually
pronounced to Lenny but this work title
really highlights the focus on
multiplayer here I got this old Nintendo
press kit for me through 2004 and their
description of Mario 64 by4 exclusively
discusses it as basically a multiplayer
battle game and nowhere does it detail
anything other than duking it out in
familiar locations this was what
Nintendo wanted to push a feature most
people forgot was in the final game a
lot changed from revealed to release
within the span of 6 months we got a
name change to Super Mario 64 DS
confirmation would be a launch title for
the handheld in November of that year
plus details of a full single player
campaign heavily based on the original
game but now with some new twists
finally some
changes it's in my left hand now Super
Mario 64 DS ended up launching on
November 21st 2004 in the US ensuring
the DS had the herbs and six other games
funel with the original run of DS
handhelds was a demo for that Metroid
Prime game showcase at E3 and with these
two being the only games Nintendo
themselves published for the thing at
launch really paints a picture as to how
the DS was positioned back in its early
days it was that damn PSP man was coming
out just a month later in Japan and was
practically a Playstation 2 for your
pocket this was like a dream come true
at the time Home console games on the go
yeah in comparison the Nintendo DS could
do 3D but that wasn't its strong suit I
mean just look at the buttons we have
here if 3D was really a core part of the
DS experience why wouldn't we have an
analog
stick wait well I learned that this
game's existence well after these
formative years of the DS back when it
was pushed as a handheld Powerhouse
rather than a cookbook as a kid I wasn't
even aware that DS was a thing back in
2004 wasn't until 2006 with the Nintendo
DS light that I became fully trained on
the concept of dead skunk from this
point forward the handheld was far more
focused on casual simpler titles or at
least the marketing was and while I knew
it was capable of 3D
visuals 2008 I was on the school bus and
I noticed somebody playing a game that
looked just like that game my cousins
had I was dumbfounded Mario 64 portably
on my portable I never knew this existed
how I didn't even know it could exist
seeing this game in action was like a
dream come true so for the next few days
my mission was simple find that game I
looked up all the details I could
rounded up all my allowance money and
after just one weekend trip to Target I
was the proud owner of Super Mario 64 DS
and all these years later I still am
rarely did I ever play a game that lived
up to all my expectations as a kid but
Mario 64 DS was everything I could have
possibly wanted and then some I could
play Super Mario 64 wherever I wanted
countless car rides bathroom visits no
joke I played this at a funeral so take
my word for it I love Super Mario 64
DS well it's no wonder I never knew this
game existed considering the boxar looks
like it could be for any Mario game add
a soccer ball a basketball hoop a damn
chili like what about this screams Mario
64 yeah okay me on store show especially
as a kid this just looked like a game
called Super Mario DS the 64 was so
small it looked like a damn asterisk
speaking of which what's up with this
Microsoft Word art looking ass DS logo
here and why is it so big what if it was
like 2% smaller would it be the end of
the world oh just got stabbed that's all
much like the original title for the
game the box art leans heavily into the
multiplayer aspect of the package which
once again it's strange considering how
little the multiplayer ever even matters
to be fair though this was one of the
biggest omissions from the original game
alongside Luigi not being there either
with both being planned inclusions in
the scrapped followup Mario 642 so this
box art does show off a lot of big
things here like a zoom blur Jesus
Christ how fast are they going the mid
2000's badass Mario stank doesn't help
things remember the Mario art from this
era here look this pose right here a so
[ __ ] cool they lower the bill of his
cap hi his mouth more and it made a
world of difference Wahoo [ __ ]
wait why why is the manual like this
what is it to mimic the dual screens of
the DS they were trying so hard to
connect all of the unique features of
the DS experience with Mario 64 even if
it didn't make any damn sense like tap
into a new world one we don't tap much
in this game and two new world the
entire appeal of this game is that it is
new to be fair though we have so much
new content to play with here in
addition to the full Mario 64 rigma roll
if we looked at all the stuff added to
this version on its own we'd be talking
more content than most DS games released
in this time period had s too what are
we waiting for to find the Fatal flaw
with this game let's play Super Mario 64
DS found it
[Music]
what the hell is that as a kid anything
that differed from the original honestly
bugged the hell out of me even if it was
for the better of Flatout Superfluous
here's Yoshi instead of
Mario well we have Mario here as well
and can switch between the two but like
wow these 3D models look damn on point
even nowadays sure they're a little
pixelated but this honestly feels like
something you'd see on the gamecuber Wii
it's so high quality and you're telling
me I can fiddle around with their faces
like in the
[Music]
original this you guy is a liar yeah so
we can't play with Mario's 3D face
rather he turns into a 2d outline we can
mess around with plus draw our own
fixings as much as I love the original
let's be honest there's only so much you
could do here after this what was left
no it's not like the DS couldn't do this
there was a tech demo at e304 titled
Mario's face which was pretty much that
old Mario 64 title screen so I like to
think this was more of a creative
decision to shake things up and
truthfully it was for the best being
able to draw whatever and squash and
stretch it and spin it around and wiggle
about as a kid you knew I thought it was
the funniest thing ever to draw all
kinds of appendages here legs arms feet
all right let's fire up a new save file
oh my God the screen has water physics
wow you necessary Lord this is the full
ass opening to Mario 64 in the palm of
my hands it's all here exactly how I
remember
yeah to be fair this is what I remember
right from the get-go Mario 64 DS shows
its hand all right this is a remake yes
but I'd argue this is something I like
to call a You remake a remake that
doesn't give a damn they'll alter
whatever the hell they want to and for
the most part it's just to make you
uncomfortable all right we all know
Mario comes out of the pipe and the
camera swings around and we start
playing the game and Luigi and Wario
don't show up contrary to the original
game Wario and Luigi follow Mario to
Peach's castle after only Mario was
invited for cake okay wow look at that
I'm invited however a fair amount of
time passes while Yoshi's sleeping on
the roof of the castle which was where
he was at the end of the original Mario
64 and he's told by lacu it may be wise
to check in on the three and thus we
officially kick off Super Mario 64 DS
with Yoshi guess who was mad okay I
wasn't mad rather as a kid I was
definitely put off by the fact I
couldn't play as Mario in Mario 64
can barely play as Yoshi either what the
hell is this turns out we have a run
button in this game much like in 2D
Mario now why is that the original game
didn't have a run button you could just
tilt the stick more or less depending on
how fast you wanted to go well ever see
a satanic cross ah yeah let's talk about
one of 64 DS's biggest flaws the lack of
one big ass flaw sure this analog stick
wasn't the greatest but it was an analog
stick damn it and for a game designed
entirely around an analog stick oh it
comes in handy Super Mario 64 was made
for this stick and this stick was made
for Super Mario
64 but who gives a [ __ ] the Nintendo DS
doesn't have an analog stick so what are
you going to do when you want to put
Super Mario 64 on
it stop now I'm not going to act like
you could never ever play a 3D game like
this with a standard dpad but what I
will act like is a damn baby about it at
first you think oh this isn't so bad
it's controlling fine enough I'm able to
do what I need to sure it's not as
precise as I'd prefer but
umh turning is so damn sluggish now it's
like they had to overcompensate with
more animation between directions since
there's only eight now compared to a
holy
I am constantly getting into situations
where I need to reorient myself because
if I didn't reorient myself I fall off a
cliff and then if I do reorient
myself listen this works saying I can't
possibly play like this is an
exaggeration but I can't blame people
for thinking that way a Mario 64 DS
playthrough starts out all right
considering most of the levels are
pretty large and open but then you see
something like this and like what do you
want me to do here now if the d-pad is
isn't precise enough for you we have
multiple other control options like
using the touchcreen to obtain full 360°
movement this is even [ __ ] worse just
feels wrong man super unnatural more so
than a typical virtual analog stick you
see on touch screens because here you
have no restriction on where to touch so
I always end up butting against the edge
of the display and needing to reorient
myself every single time there's just no
tactility here which is why
Nintendo offered the thumb strap this
was bundled with early DS units and
while it looked like a wrist strap Lo
behold [ __ ] this thing this was
Nintendo's official solution to the DS's
lack of an analog stick this is my
solution to headlight seems to be so
many people that genuinely believe if
you play Mario 64 DS on a 3DS all
problems are solved look you get your
analog stick now happy buddy if I play a
game program for a d-pad with a an
analog stick that doesn't magically give
it analog control it's definitely more
comfortable here but it doesn't fix the
core issue the way your character moves
in 3D space stupid now when I was a kid
this didn't bother me all too much yeah
I knew it was worse to be honest using a
run button was more jarring to me than
anything but the fact I was playing
Mario 64 portably overshadowed any
issues at play
here this game well where the controls
falter the visuals are better yeah this
is tricky I think much of the reason 64
DS looks better in many areas is due to
its use of more modern designs for these
characters that isn't Bowser that's
bubonic the official Mario 64 artwork
seen via the packaging and manual holds
up decently well but then you look at
Mario in game he's a dork DS everything
looks far more natural all while keeping
the spirit of 64 alive and Sly
impressive Mario looks a little dead
inside now but aren't we all the
environments themselves look nearly
identical to me the trees are even still
completely flat the music for the most
part is ripped directly from the
original it's so damn faithful but
updated in all the right ways this is
like Mario 64 plus minus yes Mario may
not have the me eyes anymore yeah you
know but when the resolution is this low
does it even matter yes the characters
all look better Le I was told when
played on an actual DS the low
resolution is far for the course on that
handhel you expect it to look like this
playing this somewhere normal Mario 64
can be played honestly I'll take the
original yeah it looks outdated but I
think it's more Charming than DS in many
ways Mario looks dumb as hell here but
he's oozing pure wonder and joy with his
every movement it's like he's a puppy he
feels the need to give World Peace a
shout out when collecting a star then
Mario 64 DS he just doesn't give a damn
not sure which is overall better they
both have significant Pros and cons I
don't dislike either but acting like
this is fine as it is I don't think
that's true but acting like this fixes
it I mean that's a damn sin okay so we
have significantly worse controls in
every way visuals that are I don't know
what about the core gamep play I mean 30
extra Stars four playable characters the
multiplayer mode I see so many people
consider this version of Mario 64 to be
the definitive release and the added
content is a big reason for that but
what does Scott think Scott thinks I
think nobody thinks this should be thk
so starting the game off with Yoshi we
can't enter the castle just like that we
have to Traverse a brand new addition to
Peach's castle grounds to obtain a key
this hedge
maze wow the first hour or so here Yoshi
is our only option which I mean listen
listen to this Yoshi has his Yoshi's
Island move set but now in 3D he can
flutter jump gobble up enemies spit them
out or turn him into throwable EGS you
can swallow fire and become a damn
flamethrower but who the hell cares all
these moves are great but most of them
never feel like they matter at all the
game wasn't designed with egg throwing
mechanics in mind it's cool that it's
here but that's the only reason it's
here the flutter jump is a great
addition though especially with the wors
controls oh that might be why Yoshi is
your starter character character to get
you used to [ __ ] but see Yoshi does
have a few downsides for one he can't
punch his attack it's assault but it's
not attack so when we get to the boss
here it's been changed to reflect
Yoshi's abilities which yeah I'd say
this is better I guess I mean both are
pretty unremarkable but this is more
interesting sure though I think the
original sort of foreshadowed the Bowser
boss fights by having you pick King bomb
up so at the end of the day this isn't
that meaningful of a change it's a
change due to a change due to a change
other than that the first bit of this
game it's Mario 64 the structure the
flow it's all the same but hey now we
have a full-blown map on the bottom
screen that's a good addition even get
to see where the Power Star is at which
might be a controversial addition some
may say well this takes the fun out of
finding the Star based on the title of
the mission to that I respond that
wasn't fun this doesn't ruin anything
I'll have the time the star isn't even
visible on the map because you need to
do something to make it appear this just
ensures you won't be aimlessly wandering
around as much you get the hint as to
what to do with the title and now you
know which direction to head in as well
but you still don't know which plane the
star is on and you still need to be
skilled enough to get to it this is a
great quality of life change that only
adds to the experience we also have
brand new Power Star missions included
oh boy five silver stars what do we do
here well collect the five silver
stars wow yeah those 30 bonus Stars they
boast on the back of the box here don't
expect much I'd say a third of them are
genuinely worthwhile whether they're
added to pre-existing levels or a part
of a handful of brand new ones but for
the most part this is what was added to
the game collecting five silver stars in
the level which makes the Power Star
appear which is functionally nearly
identical to the eight red coins
missions that were already a part of
Mario 64 then there are the new Star
switch Mission step on the button a
power star appears elsewhere get to it
before it disappears and that's pretty
much all the new stars in the game
they're new stars to complete but what
are they adding outside of that are
these missions bad no but they don't
make a difference whether they're here
or not this isn't really substantial new
content it's just more content for the
sake of more content and of all the
flaws with Mario 64 the fact it didn't
have 150 Stars wasn't one of them now
that doesn't make the concept of 30 new
stars not exciting but when over two
thirds of them are silver star or Star
switch based it's hard to give any of my
dams up for this well surely I can spare
some for the multiple playable
characters no my dams early on in the
game we're met with a predicament Koopa
the quick won't race a Yoshi he'll only
race a Mario you bigot we don't have
Mario unlocked yet but thankfully a
Mario hat is on the map so we go collect
it and here we go problem
solved and kink discovered Super Mario
64 DS has four playable characters and
while you have to unlock them one by one
you can quickly find and grab Mario
Luigi or Wario's cap in a level to play
as them if you find that the star you're
looking to NAB requires somebody
specific why do you want unlock the
actual characters then well if you get
hit you lose the cap and you have to go
get it again and more importantly I'm
making Yoshi noises as Wario man I don't
want to do that so thankfully by the
time we NAB our eighth power star we're
able to enter this brand new level to
rescue the real Mario so we can play as
him whenever we please listen it's cool
as hell to play a new Mario 64 level and
the fact that the boss fight here is the
Goomba King from Paper Mario on the N64
like what main series Mario games rarely
acknowledge the spin-offs and if they do
it's often times just in the form of
Easter eggs so this is awesome the level
itself can kicking rocks it's neat that
this is a new level but that's kind of
the only thing neat about it watch this
is the journey to the
boss it's a 90° angle at that point why
is this level here to begin with just
jump into the Mario painting and boom
boss fight sure you have two stars you
can get here but one is in eight red
coin star and the other is a switch star
it's like the bare minimum they could
have thrown in here once we get Mario we
can face off against Bowser for the
first time and God damn he's looking
good like holy [ __ ] that's the guy we
made fun of in high school good of
course this boss fight was originally
designed to show off the analog stick by
having a spin Bowser around 360° fre
sulfur
X I mean we can swap to the touchcreen
on the fly so it's not like this is lame
as hell it can now be lame as hell in
its own special way so we have Mario for
good now but what about the others how
do we get them well let's ask child
Scott he wouldn't know either way yeah I
never unlocked Luigi or Wario but could
you really blame me they aren't
necessary to complete the game I already
got my still with the c mechanic to
unlock Wario you need Luigi and to
unlock Luigi you need a damn master's
degree my Lord I got to this room with
Luigi's painting in it and I thought
yeah no
[ __ ] no yes sh what the hell am I
supposed to do here well Luigi is
actually trapped in Big Boo's haunt
where is he how do you get
him I never got Luigi as a kid and
knowing where he was this whole time my
grades make a lot more sense now to
unlock him we have to be big boo in this
room mimicking the design of a Nintendo
DS which is pretty damn cute I mean this
whole thing is neat taking elements from
games released after Mario 64 and
popping them in like Luigi's Mansion
here Paper Mario there oh this brand new
stage is based on Super Mario Sunshine
that's incredible and for example this
is what I deem incredible it's just
shallow water surrounding a couple of
mounds and there's only one star you get
here and it's just collecting silver
stars again listen I understand this as
a cheap way to add another mission to
pre-existing levels but as the sole
objective in a brand new course it's
just why why not Add a switch star why
not add eight red coins well it's
because Sunshine Isles was designed for
the versus mode and thus has no
potential for legitimate Power Star
missions just like this brand new secret
stage you get to through the courtyard
as a new Mario 64 course it's just a
bunch of [ __ ] all this nonsense
going on and for what one star obtained
by collecting five silver stars and
wouldn't you know bam multiplayer stage
these levels don't detract from the game
but they most definitely don't add to it
either yes it's cool to randomly come
across a new stage hidden in the
courtyard yes it's cool to see a Mario
Sunshine reference but like that's all
these have going for them thankfully the
level where we unlock Wario is far more
in depth then see we have to use Luigi
to turn invisible go through the mirror
here and jump into the Wario painting in
the reflection I never graduated but man
if the boss fights for the other
characters made some deep cut references
God only knows what we'll have to defeat
to unlock Wario Chief Chile well surely
this guy has ties to Wario maybe a
reference to Wario Weare Wario Land
what's he
from I'm experiencing history in the
making doesn't even matter because guess
what I wouldn't want to unlock Wario to
begin with now that we have all the
characters let's talk their rules here
all right after napping Mario Yoshi is
thrown to the Wayside you might need him
for a star or two here and there but
this is still a Mario Centric Adventure
just like the original the game has
always been designed around his move set
his jump his speed everything in Mario
64 revolved around plenty so introducing
new playable characters I mean it's not
necessary but it for sure can be cool
and for example this is what I deem cool
the four playable characters I mean I
can make it sound more annoying than it
really is Mario 64 Diaz has you play as
certain characters to get to certain
places to get certain Stars reasonable
enough problem is it feels so damn
forced and over complicated all just to
shoehorn in some Wario use in the
original game you see a block like this
it's going to give Mario a Wing Cap a
metal cap or a vanish cap so you can
then use their unique abilities to NAB a
specific start in that course in 64 DS
though they separated these power UPS
amongst the different characters via
these power flowers so only Wario can
use the metal power Luigi can use the
vanish on N64 I see the power up block
it'll give me exactly what I need on DS
if I'm playing as Luigi it'll always
give me Luigi's power which may not be
useful in that specific course so I have
to figure out who I need here okay well
it looks like I'll need the metal cap so
I need Wario I could exit the level to
go to this room and Peach's castle to
officially swap to him or I can just
pick up the Wario cap already here and
transform into Wario right quick easy
enough well let's make our way over
there it where is it oh it's on a
different level of terrain could be
above me could be below me who knows
well once we figure that out voila you
know why can't we just switch characters
like in Grand Theft Auto 5 or something
I find that Mario 64 DS really tries its
best to validate the new
characters they don't just taking stuff
Mario could do in the original game by
himself and stripping him of it just to
give Luigi something to do I don't think
that's egregious or anything it just
doesn't feel like these characters add
anything they had to make excuses to
give them Purpose with that being said
they do all control differently so their
addition does give the player more
Choice Mario is all around average Luigi
has a better jump Wario is the strongest
and Yoshi has the most unique abilities
well you can make the argument that you
might as well stick to Yoshi throughout
the whole game there is no Yoshi cap you
can swap to as the other characters if
you want to play as Yoshi you have to
manually swap to him and while entering
a course Yoshi is the only character
where you can select a cap to start the
stage off with you can also make the
argument that everything is going to be
okay I don't know the the fact you lose
the cap after getting hit you also take
more damage in this form and honest to
God the wrong character noises might be
the biggest problem I just stick to
regular Mario for the majority of the
playthrough the Wario is damn useless he
can punch these black bricks that were
added to the game and you need to do
that for some stars and secrets you can
use the metal cap but that's it there's
no other reason to play as him he's slow
as dirt jumps like dirt put a gun to my
head and tell me to play as Wario mean
Jesus Christ that's a gun d sure Luigi's
okay his main claim to fame is this
insane backflip I mean you can just pull
one of these out whenever and Skip
whatever platforming challenges in front
of you yeah that's a lot more compelling
than it just doesn't feel as useful as
it feels cheap but hey compared to his
ability to run on water for a bit that
isn't cheap also isn't useful at all
the backflip completely validates Luigi
here which is sad because it breaks the
damn game if it wasn't for the backflip
there'd be like no reason to use him but
because he has the backflip I hate his
ass he's a bastard and then Yoshi I mean
God bless him but he just has too many
downsides he's not strong enough to
break blocks can't attack normally can't
pick up things normally and his
abilities are more gimmicky than useful
for the most part the power up he gets
from the power flower is Spitting Fire
which can be obtained normally by just
swallowing fire you find in the level
and that'll usually be around an area
where you'll need to spit fire but the
power flower version allows you to spit
fire indefinitely for a limited
time so definitely Mario's power flower
ability is also unique and brand new to
this release balloon Mario ripped right
from Super Mario World hey I knew
something was missing from the original
Mario 64 is great and all but what if he
was bigger
[Music]
I'll give balloon Mario this it's way
more useful than the other powerups
these kind of just feel like you use
them cuz you have to here I mean we can
use it as a quick way to get to higher
Terrain in addition to using it cuz we
have to however this alongside
everything else brought to the table by
the new characters gives me the same
exact feeling I feel nothing are the new
characters bad additions to Mario 64 DS
no they're just unnecessary but they
felt the need to make them necessary
which just highlights how unnecessary
they truly are now I don't want to
understate how cool it is these
characters are here I mean Luigi's
finally in Mario 64 Wario's in a main
series Mario game Yoshi's his own
character not just some rable PowerUp
and they all have unique abilities their
own play style this is cool as hell the
problem is when it's forced down your
throat and they have to come up with all
these excuses to make you use each and
every one of them in a game entirely
designed around just Mario it's not cool
as hell I think it would have been far
better if they pulled the Super Mario
Brothers 2 or Super Mario 3D World where
all the characters had different
strengths and weaknesses and play Styles
but that was it it was down to who you
wanted to play as not who the game told
you to play as well damn look at all
these new additions also known as cons
that begs the question what else did
they add to the
game well some elements in the courses
have been altered from the original like
ticktock clock we've got a floor here
now well that's an improvement but
looking at the rest of the levels any
other changes aren't really upgrades as
much as they are well just changes is
this better I mean it's different most
alterations were made just for the sake
of the DS exclusive stuff like how king
bomb's boss fight was changed for Yoshi
or all the black bricks added to give
Wario purpose like none of this enhances
what was already there the vast majority
of new power Stars don't add anything of
worth the new LS are few and far between
and aren't even great to begin with
they're puny in size and Merit the super
mushroom has been added to the game oh
man what's next are they going to add
Mario to the game yeah a little strange
how this is a big addition to a Mario
game but it wasn't in'
64 cuz it didn't make sense there with
Mario having a health bar now and
powerups not working as they did in the
2D games the super mushroom set that one
out but it's back now
yeah between this and balloon Mario I'm
in heaven technically speaking this is
labeled as a regular old mushroom but in
reality this is the mega mushroom from
new Super Mario Brothers though that
released 2 years later it all started
here alongside my opinion on this
PowerUp who [ __ ] cares as a kid this
was so exciting to use like oh my God
I'm huge this is great I can live out my
wildest fantasy say what you want my
goals are reasonable but as I've grown
up every realized how much of a cheap
gimmick this is literally just destroy
the level
design okay the wall Jump's now improved
that's a great change alongside the
expansion from having to catch a rabbit
twice while in Peach's castle
to finally my problems with Mario 64
have been addressed all right so why
does this version have 56 years well all
you got for catching a rabbit in Mario
64 was a measly Power Star in Mario 64
DS you'll be catching more rabbits as
you progress through the game and what
do you get by kitchen said
[Music]
rabbits so this is what makes it the
definitive version in the new wck room
of the castle we have access to the mini
games here to showcase the capabilities
of the DS's touchcreen yeah every
complaint I had before this is a moot
point I me just look at this holy right
these are some of the most ingenious
uses of a touchcreen out there and this
was all in 2004 you know what was
happening that year
and they were able to develop these
games regardless you know what why
not loves me Mario slot Super Mario slot
lucky stars boom box psych out Memory
Match slot shot mushroom roulette memory
Master Toy Box Shuffle puzzle panel
puzzle Panic snowball slalom giant
snowball slalom Bingo ball hide and boo
seek bounce and pounce coin centration
intense coin centration like do launch
bounce and troun witch wiggler mix a mug
Paragon Paragon and on connect the
character shell smash Mario slides
trampoline time trampoline tear Shuffle
shell picture poker wanted bomb squad
sort and splode not all these are
winners many of them are just variations
of each other and or purely luck based
but at the same time as basic as the
loves me miname is there's such an
addictive charm to using the touchcreen
to interact with these creating
trampolines with the stylist was and
still feels pretty slick Luigi's casino
games awaken something in me that and
they're just all good clean simple fun I
don't know they just made this game the
perfect all-in-one package for a road
trip a full ass console game on the go
in addition to a handful of high score
based mini games that you can swap to
one if you get bored of the other or the
other other versus mode so what this is
like the big New Edition I mean it's
what they nearly named the game after
surely it can't be as bad
as the versus mode in Super Mario 64 DS
but it is it is as bad as the vers
versus mode in Super Mario 64 DS it is
the versus mode in Super Mario 64 DS
after all this is abysmal only four
stages small as hell one is the damn
slide which only lasts for like 15
seconds and then the rest of the match
is just in this small box at the end of
it and the entire mode itself is broken
it's all about just grabbing the power
star on the map when you get a power
star you're stuck doing this animation
which gives the other players ample time
to run up to you start attacking and
right when you get out of your animation
you get hit lose your star but then
another player will grab it so all you
got to do is run up to them and start
attacking when they're doing the
animation and then you'll get the start
back until the same thing happens to you
over and over and over until 's up I
love this game you think with all that
bitching that I'd hate this thing I mean
it's like everything they added every
change they made I have a problem with
well it's because everything new added
to Mario 64 DS while cool on the surface
the more I analyze them more problems
arise the more unnecessary it all feels
I don't think anything added to the core
Mario 64 experience really amounts to
much at all however the effort put into
this release is so damn apparent not
only do they throw in all this brand new
content they got it running on a damn
cookbook Mario 64 DS was one of the most
impressive games to me as a kid it still
is in many ways I mean this was the
perfect all-in-one package there was so
much here as a kid none of the problems
I brought up today really mattered all
that much to me and even these days yeah
I'm not lying a lot of these problems do
hamper my enjoyment of the game
but I don't really care none of them are
enough to ruin the game they just make
it hard for me to consider this the
definitive release this doesn't feel
like what Mario 64 was always meant to
be rather a really cool alternative take
on Mario 64 one that's so much cooler
when you consider it released on a
handheld in 2004 Mario 64 DS is not a
perfect remake I would not recommend
playing this over the original but I
want to tell you not to either this is
still Super Mario 64 and while this
version is more novelty than
necessary it's just so
cool I just wish I didn't have to use
the damn dpad I just the four playable
characters are so neat it's so cool that
they're here but like God damn I'm soing
sick of switching between them just to
get all the stars in the game oh my God
it's so cool they added 30 extra stars
to the game but like none of them
actually matter they're all pointless
it's just like what what the hell is the
point of this it's an endless
cycle a
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)
