Super Mario 64: Difference between revisions

|release='''Nintendo 64:'''<br>{{flag list|Japan|June 23, 1996<ref>{{cite|url=https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-nintendo-64-and-super-mario-64-turn-25-years-old-today/|title=The Nintendo 64 and Super Mario 64 Turn 25 Years Old Today|date=June 23, 2021|author=Scullon, Chris|accessdate=December 18, 2024|website=Video Games Chronicle|publisher=Gamer Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726223151/https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-nintendo-64-and-super-mario-64-turn-25-years-old-today/|archive-date=July 26, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>|USA|September 29, 1996<ref>{{cite|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/09/nintendo-64-20th-anniversary/|title=Nintendo 64 Came Out 20 Years Ago. Here's How a Teenaged Me Reviewed It|date=September 29, 2016|accessdate=December 18, 2024|website=Wired|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929205936/https://www.wired.com/2016/09/nintendo-64-20th-anniversary/|archive-date=September 29, 2016|author=Kohler, Chris|url-access=subscription}}</ref>|Europe|March 1, 1997<ref>{{Cite|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-03-01-the-nintendo-64-turns-20-in-europe|title=The Nintendo 64 Turns 20 in Europe|author=Yin-Poole, Wesley|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303011805/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-03-01-the-nintendo-64-turns-20-in-europe|date=March 1, 2017|archive-date=March 3, 2017|accessdate=December 18, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>|Australia|March 1, 1997<ref>{{Cite|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/games/n64/super_mario_64|title=Super Mario 64 (N64)|website=Nintendo Life|date=October 4, 2021 |publisher=NLife Media|accessdate=December 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707184905/https://www.nintendolife.com/games/n64/super_mario_64|archive-date=July 7, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>|Japan|July 18, 1997 (''Shindō Pak Taiō Version'')<ref>{{Cite|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nsmj/index.html|title=スーパーマリオ64|trans-title=Super Mario 64|accessdate=December 18, 2024|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970128181817/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nsmj/index.html|archive-date=January 28, 1997|url-status=live|quote=スーパーマリオ64 振動パック対応バージョン 1997年7月18日発売|trans-quote=Super Mario 64 Vibration Pack Compatible Version: Released July 18, 1997}}</ref>|China|November 18, 2003 ({{wp|iQue Player}})<ref>{{cite|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051225021132if_/http://www.ique.com/news/game_news_031118.htm|url=http://www.ique.com/news/game_news_031118.htm|title=iQue PLAYER优惠套装上海试卖，五款精品游戏同步发售！|trans-title=iQue Player Discount Set Trial Sale in Shanghai, Five High-quality Games Released Simultaneously!|language=Chinese|accessdate=December 18, 2024|archive-date=December 25, 2005|publisher=iQue}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|url=https://www.avclub.com/meet-the-ique-player-a-nintendo-console-that-was-only-1798244884|title=Meet the iQue Player, a Nintendo Console That Was Only Available in China|author=Blevins, Joe|date=March 4, 2016|accessdate=December 18, 2024|website=The A.V. Club|publisher=G/O Media|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711174800/https://www.avclub.com/meet-the-ique-player-a-nintendo-console-that-was-only-1798244884|archive-date=July 11, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>}} '''[[Player's Choice]]:''' <br>{{flag list|USA|January 26, 1998<ref>{{cite|title=''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' issue 104|page=28|date=March 1998|accessdate=November 19, 2024}}</ref>}} '''Virtual Console (Wii):'''<br>{{flag list|USA|November 19, 2006|Japan|December 2, 2006|Australia|December 7, 2006|Europe|December 8, 2006}} '''Virtual Console (Wii U):'''<br>{{flag list|USA|April 1, 2015|Europe|April 1, 2015<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMWGe657t8g Nintendo Direct Presentation - 01.04.2015]. Posted to YouTube by Nintendo of Europe on April 1, 2015. Retrieved April 1, 2015.</ref>|Australia|April 2, 2015|South Africa|April 2, 2015<ref>https://www.nintendo.com/en-za/Games/Nintendo-64/Super-Mario-64-269745.html</ref>|Japan|April 8, 2015<ref>[http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wiiu/software/vc/nabj/index.html?_ga=1.126163213.1818326145.1407870473 Super Mario 64 for Wii U Virtual Console on the Nintendo of Japan website]. Retrieved April 1, 2015.</ref>}} '''Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online:'''<br>{{flag list|USA|October 25, 2021<ref>Nintendo (September 23, 2021). [https://youtu.be/dG9fAtmYdlM?t=1260 Nintendo Direct - 9.23.2021]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved September 24, 2021.</ref>|Japan|October 26, 2021<ref>Nintendo 公式チャンネル (September 24, 2021). [https://youtu.be/MegZz4gKSPk?t=1142 Nintendo Direct 2021.9.24]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved September 24, 2021.</ref>|Europe|October 26, 2021<ref>@NintendoEurope (September 23, 2021). [https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/1441166363037364229?s=20 "''Play a growing library of Nintendo 64 and SEGA Mega Drive games anytime, anywhere with #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack, a new membership launching in late October.''"] ''Twitter''. Retrieved September 24, 2021.</ref>|Australia|October 26, 2021<ref>@NintendoAUNZ (September 24, 2021). [https://twitter.com/NintendoAUNZ/status/1441167178850390018?s=20 "''Play a growing library of Nintendo 64 and SEGA Mega Drive games anytime, anywhere with #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack, a new membership launching in late October.''"] ''Twitter''. Retrieved September 24, 2021.</ref>|HK|October 26, 2021<ref>[https://www.nintendo.com.hk/topics/article/a_211015_02.html 《集合啦！動物森友會》將於11月5日發布免費更新（Ver.2.0），以及發售付費新增內容《集合啦！動物森友會 快樂家樂園》。] ''Nintendo HK''. Retrieved October 16, 2021.</ref>|South Korea|October 26, 2021<ref>[https://www.nintendo.co.kr/news/view.php?no=Q0tKRlVXa25aZkFlY2RCaENKYWZOZz09 「Nintendo Switch Online」을 더욱 즐겁게! 「Nintendo Switch Online + 추가 팩」이 10월 26일(화)부터 시작!] ''Nintendo Korea''. Retrieved October 16, 2021.</ref>}}

''Super Mario 64'' takes place within the walls of the [[Peach's Castle|Mushroom Castle]] in the [[Mushroom Kingdom]]. It is the first ''[[Super Mario (series)|Super Mario]]'' game to explicitly include the Mushroom Kingdom as a location since ''[[Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels]]''. The game's [[level]]s, called "courses," are accessed through [[painting]]s hung on the walls, but some are more cryptically hidden or require the player to accomplish a task in the castle before becoming accessible. Unlike previous games, the courses are not naturally occurring places. They are "painting worlds" that Bowser has corrupted and modified to his liking using the stolen [[Power Star]]s. He has turned some of the inhabitants into [[Bowser's Minions|monsters]],<ref>{{cite|quote=Bowser has stolen the castle's Stars, and he's using their power to create his own world in the paintings and walls.|author=[[Toad (species)|Toad]]|title=''[[Super Mario 64]]'' by [[Nintendo EAD]]|format=North American localization|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of America]]|date=1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite|quote=Bowser is trying to make a land of monsters inside the walls and the paintings by using the Power Star. Take back the star!|author=[[Toad (species)|Toad]]|title=''[[Super Mario 64]]'' by [[Nintendo EAD]]|format=Japanese localization|archive=https://www.reddit.com/r/translator/comments/15mk306/japanese_english_what_does_this_super_mario_64/|archiver=a translation by u/AlexLuis on Reddit|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo Co., Ltd.]]|date=1996}}</ref> and there apparently is concern that his creations will escape the boundaries of the paintings and enter the [[Earth|real world]].<ref>{{cite|quote=絵の世界のボム兵の話ではこうだ。「突然あらわれた怪物たちが、お城を守るちからの素、パワースターを大量に奪い取り、ピーチ姫やキノコ城の住人たちもこちらの世界に連れ去った。そして絵の世界の住人も怪物にしたてあげ、本当の世界に送りこんで、マリオたちの国を支配しようとしている」。|author=[[Nintendo|Nintendo Co., Ltd.]]|title=STORY|language=ja|publisher=Super Mario 64 Official Site|date=1996|url=www.nintendo.co.jp/n01/n64/software/nus_p_nsmj/index.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite|quote=To help him accomplish this, [Bowser] plans to convert the residents of the painting world into monsters as well. If nothing is done, all those monsters will soon begin to overflow from inside the painting.|author=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of America]]|title="Story" in ''Super Mario 64 Instruction Booklet''|url=https://m1.nintendo.net/docvc/NUS/USA/NSME/NSME_E.pdf|format=pdf|location=Redmond|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=1996|page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite|quote=Bowser stole the Power Stars that protected the castle and hid them away in magical painting worlds. These worlds look like paintings from the outside, but inside, they are real, three-dimensional places, filled with mysteries and all sorts of characters, both good and bad.... One school of thought believes that Bowser will turn Peach and her entourage into a sort of zombie army, then let them loose on our world. A competing theory suggests that Bowser will simply extend his painting worlds so that they encompass all of reality.|author=Pelland, Scott, and Dan Owsen|title="The Story of Super Mario 64" in ''The Super Mario 64 Player's Guide''|location=Redmond|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of America]]|date=1996|page=5}}</ref> Some [[:File:SM64 globe artwork.png|paratextual material]] and [[Throwback Galaxy|subsequent titles]] present the courses introduced in this game as visitable places outside the paintings.

Unlike the levels of prior two-dimensional entries, the courses in this game are open-ended and largely do not funnel the player towards one goal. This was an intentional departure from the level design principals of prior games because the development team did not believe they could be replicated for a fun experience in a three-dimensional environment. Director and series creator [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] wanted ''Super Mario 64'' to be a game where players "create their own vision," a decision partially influenced by the technical difficulty of making a precise jump in a 3D environment.<ref name=taka>{{cite|author=64編集部, editors|title=『スーパーマリオ64 マリオ・ザ・テクニック―完全攻略への最短ルート編』|language=ja|location=Tokyo|publisher=Takarajimasha|date=1996|isbn=978-4-79-661121-3}} Cited in-text as Takarajimasha (1996).</ref><ref name=shmup>shmuplations (translator). "[https://shmuplations.com/mario64/ Super Mario 64 – 1996 Developer Interviews]" (English translations of Takarajimasha and Shogakukan, 1996). shmuplations.com. Published 2022. Accessed 22 Jun 2023.</ref><ref name=montreal/> This mindset manifested in levels where players were largely free to interact with the world in ways they wanted to, with larger platforms and sprawling spaces that encouraged exploration rather than carry out precise actions to reach a goal. The courses themselves were created using hakoniwa or "box garden" design principals.<ref name=shoga>{{cite|author=Editing staff|title=『スーパーマリオ64 (ワンダーライフスペシャル―任天堂公式ガイドブック)』|language=ja|location=Tokyo|publisher=[[Shogakukan]]|date=1996|isbn=978-4-09-102554-8}} Cited in-text as Shogakukan (1996).</ref><ref name=shmup/>

{{footnote|main|B}}<ref name=montreal/><ref name=trinen>{{cite|author=[[Bill Trinen|Trinen, Bill]]|url=nintendotreehouse.tumblr.com/post/161799433482/whats-in-a-box|title=What's in a Box?|publisher=Nintendo Treehouse Log|date=14 Jun. 2017|accessdate=30 Jan. 2021}}</ref> A hakoniwa is a intricately-arranged miniature garden within an enclosed space, with layers of depth and detail that become apparent to an onlooker when carefully examined.<ref>{{cite|author=Dean, Andrew R.|url=najga.org/handbook/courtyard-garden/|title="Chapter 8: The Courtyard Garden" in ''Handbook, Part 1: Design & Craft''|format=digital|publisher=North American Japanese Garden Association, najga.org|date=10 Dec. 2010|accessdate=24 Jun. 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite|author=Nihon Gaiji Kyōkai, editors|title=''Contemporary Japan: A Review of Far Eastern Affairs''|location=Tokyo|publisher=Foreign Affairs Association of Japan|format=25|page=246|date=1957}}</ref><ref name=trinen/> Applying these principals allowed the development team to create complex levels that surprise players, another important tenet during development.<ref name=taka/><ref name=shmup/><ref name=montreal/> In {{wp|Western world|the West}}, where creating miniature gardens is not as culturally prevalent, these types of levels are most often likened to {{wp|Sandbox game|sandboxes}}.<ref name=trinen/>

*'''Normal Courses''',<ref name=n64site>{{cite|author=[[Nintendo of America]]|deadlink=y|date=1998|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/19980610064137/http://www.nintendo.com/n64/super_mario64/strategy.html|title=Super Mario 64 Strategy|publisher=Nintendo Official Site}}</ref> or '''main courses''',<ref name=booklet>{{cite|author=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of Europe]]|title=''Super Mario 64 Instruction Booklet''|location=Großostheim|publisher=Nintendo of Europe|date=1996|page=15}}</ref> contain six dedicated missions and an unlisted 100-[[coin]] mission. Some of the dedicated missions build off each other environmentally or narratively. (This means the events that transpire in the completion of one mission are reflected in the events of the subsequent mission.) However, some Power Stars can be encountered before the mission-dedicated one and can be collected, resulting in some instances where the Stars are obtained out of the intended "order." These courses are the most intricate levels in the game. Most include objects that can enable quick traversal between areas, such as cannons and [[Warp|Warp Points]]. Some courses include accessible subareas, such as the volcano in Lethal Lava Land and the pyramid in Shifting Sand Land. There are 15 Normal Courses in the game, and they are the only levels explicitly numbered and listed on the pause menu.

*'''Mini courses'''<ref name=booklet/><ref name=upchurch>{{cite|author=Upchurch, David, editor|title="Super Mario 64 The Essential Player's Guide" from ''Official UK Nintendo Magazine''|location=London|publisher=East Midland Allied Press|format=54|page=31|date=Mar. 1997}}</ref> are smaller and structured more like traditional obstacle courses that emphasize precise platforming. They lack dedicated missions to select, and most contain only one Power Star. Power Stars obtained in mini courses are counted together as "Secret Stars" on the pause menu. Mini courses can further be classified into three subtypes, as detailed below.

There are a number of courses in each section. At least four of them are Normal Courses, and at least two are mini courses. One of the mini courses is always a Bowser Course. Including the Mushroom Castle, there are 25 courses in the game. The chart below lists all of them. Each one is provided with a screenshot, a brief description, and a list of its missions. The order that the courses and missions are listed follows their organization in the ''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide.<ref>{{cite|author=Pelland, Scott and Dan Owsen|title=''The Super Mario 64 Player's Guide''|location=Redmond|publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of America]]|date=1996}}</ref> Only the names of the missions in Normal Courses are provided in-game. When available, the missions that lack in-game names, such as the 100-coin missions, are also derived from the ''Super Mario 64'' Player's Guide. Where no such name exists, the mission assumes the name of its course.

|{{icon|SM64-Star}} [[Toad (species)#Super Mario 64 / Super Mario 64 DS|Toad near Course 6]]<ref name=bonus>{{cite|author=[[Nintendo of America]]|deadlink=y|date=1998|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/19980610035413/http://www.nintendo.com/n64/super_mario64/bonuses.html|title=Bonus Stars - Super Mario 64 Strategy|publisher=Nintendo Official Site}}</ref>

|align=left|Missiles fired from the [[Bill Blaster|Blaster]] on Whomp's Fortress. A Bullet Bill swerves to hit Mario when he is in close proximity. Bullet Bills are destroyed only when they collide with obstructions.