Super Mario 64 is a video game for the Nintendo 64. It debuted in Japan on June 23, 1996, in the U.S. on September 29, 1996 and in Europe on 1 March 1997. Along with PilotWings 64, it was made available as a launch game for the console. As the Nintendo 64's flagship killer game, it drove initial sales of the console, and has sold over six million copies in total.
Super Mario 64 was the first 3D game in the Mario series, and though it was not the first-ever 3D platformer, it revolutionized and defined the genre, much as Super Mario Bros. defined the 2D sidescrolling platformer. Indeed, Super Mario 64 was considered so revolutionary that it has become the benchmark for all later games in the genre.In leaping from two to three dimensions, Super Mario 64 replaced the linear obstacle courses of traditional platform games with vast worlds set up with multiple and diverse missions, with an emphasis on exploration. While doing so, it managed nonetheless to preserve the feel of earlier Mario games, including many of their gameplay elements and characters. It is widely acclaimed by critics and players alike as one of the greatest video games of all time. As in the earlier Mario titles for the NES and SNES, Mario has to save Princess Peach from Bowser. To do this, Mario must find Power Stars scattered throughout Princess Peach's Castle, of which there are 120. Collecting 70 stars allows Mario to fight Bowser for the final time, and finish the game, but a secret reward awaits players that collect all 120. The castle itself is merely a central hub; most stars are found in numerous courses which are accessed by jumping into paintings found in the castle. Mario can perform a large variety of actions. He can walk, run, crouch, crawl, swim, climb and jump at great heights or distances using the game controller's analog stick and buttons. As jumping was Mario's signature move in earlier games, particular attention was paid to this category of moves. In addition to regular jumping, there are multiple special jumps that can be executed by combining a regular jump with other actions, including the extra high double and triple jumps (jumping two and three times in a row, respectively), the long jump, and somersault. There are also special maneuvers, such as wall jumping, jumping from one wall to another in rapid succession to reach otherwise too high areas.
Additionally, Mario has a number of physical attacks other than jumping. Mario's standard attack is the punch, and attacking in the air becomes a kick jump. Attacking while running will cause Mario to lunge forward. Crouching while in the air will execute a power stomp (also called the ground pound). Crouching while running and then immediately attacking will execute a slide kick. Mario is able to pick up certain items and carry them around, an ability which is used to solve various puzzles. Mario can also swim underwater at various speeds. Mario's life slowly diminishes while underwater (representing how long he can hold his breath), and he must either collect coins to replenish it, or return to the surface so as not to drown.
Each course is an enclosed world of its own. The player is free to wander around and discover the environment, and may go in all directions within the boundaries of the world. The worlds are filled with enemies that attack Mario as well as friendly creatures that provide assistance or information, or ask him for a favor. In order to gather the stars, Mario must find and pass various challenges in each stage. The challenges themselves vary; generally, Mario needs to defeat a boss, overcome obstacles, race an opponent by running or sliding faster than it, or accomplish tasks such as finding a baby penguin for its mother or opening treasure chests in the right order.
Some elements appear in multiple levels:
Caps
Numerous stars throughout the courses can only be obtained by using one of three special caps. The first is the Wing Cap, which enables Mario to fly. The Metal Cap makes him immune to ordinary damage (including drowning and fire, but not falls) and allows him to withstand wind gusts and walk normally underwater. Finally, the Vanish Cap renders Mario partially immaterial, allowing him to walk through some obstacles such as wire mesh. The caps are obtained from cap blocks found around the courses, which must be activated from special cap courses before they can be used.
Slides and races
On several occasions, Mario must race an opponent or against the clock. This includes sprinting by foot against a Koopa Troopa named Koopa the Quick, and riding down long slides loaded with curves, jumps, and endless pits on all sides.
Bosses
Many courses contain a star guarded by a boss.
- King Bob-omb - Bob-omb Battlefield
- Whomp King - Whomp's Fortress
- Unagi the Eel - Jolly Roger Bay
- Big Boo - Big Boo's Haunt
- Big Bully - Lethal Lava Land
- Eyerok - Shifting Sand Land
- Chill Bully - Snowman's Land
Cannons
In some of the courses, Mario can unlock cannons by speaking to the pink Bob-omb Buddies that operate them. After Mario crawls down into a cannon, the player can aim anywhere in the sky and shoot Mario off to reach far-away places. Combined with the Wing Cap, cannons can be used to reach extremely high altitudes or fly across the most of a level quickly.
Coins
In each course, one star is obtained by gathering at least 100 coins. Another is obtained by collecting eight special red coins.
