Super Mario 64 DS

"Mario and friends are updated brilliantly in this "port" of a classic."

Introduction

Like with the arrival of the Gameboy Advance, Nintendo's latest handheld console to grace the gaming market, the DS, provides an outlay of launch games that do not fail to impress. Among brand new titles, such as “Wario Ware: Touched!” and “Project Rub” lies the inevitable “Super Mario” Port. When this game first hit the shelves in 1996 on the Nintendo 64, it was an instant classic: with stunning sound and graphics and revolutionary control system, there was no simply no 3D platformer on the market that possessed the same element of freedom this game did. But can a nine year old game still hold strong on the modern-day market?

For all the reasons mentioned above and more, there are very few reason not to buy this game and even then reasons those are vastly outweighed but it's positive aspects, with nearly every feature that made it a classic back then being converted stunningly into a brand new game, but Nintendo didn't stop there – with a host of brand new features and game play modes not presented in the original, to call this game a port is an injustice.

Graphics – 9.5

The Graphics within SM64DS are something that haven't died with its age – they've in fact been improved vastly beyond the original predecessor, and provide a gaming experience that's not only endlessly enjoyable but a masterpiece in terms of presentation for the current handheld market. Almost every aspect of the adventure you'll see in this game has been visually improved, colours have been made more realistic beyond their previous appearances and Peach's Castle has undergone an entire interior (and exterior!) decorative redesign. Although the DS does not support texture filtering, the fact this game is being played on a small portable screen as opposed to a wide, TV screen increases clarity and sharpness and makes this drawback almost unnoticeable.

Sound - 10

There is no denial whatsoever that this is currently the best sounding game on the Nintendo DS. Every level possesses a quirky, upbeat theme tune that reflects the climate and mood of that level appropriately – and players of the original Nintendo 64 version will be transported back to when they played it all those years ago as soon as they hear the memorable theme tunes once more – alongside some new sounds up until now unheard on the original version! The stereo speakers of the Nintendo DS ensure such sounds are heard in tip-top condition – and the voice acting retains the “classic” feel the original possessed, with the three new characters not sounding an inch out of place aside the Italian plumber.

Controls – 8.5

This is the main aspect of SM64DS that acts as a drawback for many gamers who either did or did not play the original. One of the reason the original was loved so much, was that its 360 degree roam was accompanied by an analogue stick which provided ease of movement throughout the adventure. The Nintendo DS possesses no such analogue stick however, and so is less suited to such free roaming games from the opinions of many. I however did play the original and I retain the opinion this game has sound controls. I will be truthful – when first playing this game on the DS I was a little setback by the initial difficulty of movement, but after a little while of playing (not very long at all) I was running and performing stunts in such a way that matched the original. It will take most gamers some time to fully be confident and adapt to the control method employed in SM64DS – but once this has been overcome gamers will play it without thought. Two alternative control methods are included in the game – using either the stylus or thumb strap as you require, and if players do not favour the use of the D-pad these methods can be experimented with to suit their preference.
Although gamers are provided with direct control of the camera, this system could have been improved as players may still find themselves having to manually tweak the cameras position to a more favourable angle if it gets “stuck” behind a certain object, and when using the D-pad to rotate the camera the controls still acts to move the character which can result in falling off edges more frequently than if the camera was self sufficient. This is only a small, and overall easy to cope with problem in a game that is otherwise presented beautifully.

Gameplay – 9.5

The general gameplay of SM64DS has been vastly improved upon the original, and enhancements such as better graphical capabilities increase the overall experience. Players of the original title of the Nintendo 64 may find themselves gaining stars much more quickly than they had originally once they familiarise themselves with the environments, but the inclusion of 30 new stars will ensure that there's something for everyone – old and new to the game.
The most noticeable enhancement to this title is the inclusion of 3 new playable characters. Aside from Mario gamers now have the opportunity to take control of Yoshi, Luigi and Wario – all excelling in a specific quality and hence all suitable for obtaining stars where the others are incapable of doing so, for example: if a star requires the use of invisibility to get through a gate – then it is only Luigi who can obtain it as no other characters possess such a skill.
Aside the mentioned aspects stand other new inclusions for gamers to explore that were not present in the original. Mini-games that take full advantage of the Nintendo DS' touch screen capabilities are now unlockable as one proceeds through their adventure, and can be obtained through catching rabbits that roam the castle grounds. Anther new element included are the “Power Flower” boxes scattered among the castles levels, a different effect occurs upon each character when they open the box and the use of such boxes is required to reach elusive stars. The power flowers effect the characters in different ways: Mario becomes a ball of air making high obstacles previously elusive now easier to reach, Luigi turns invisible allowing for easy enemy evasion and entry into otherwise inaccessible places, Yoshi receives fire breath giving him the ability to toast any nearby enemies and Wario becomes metal increasing his strength and allowing players to walk underwater – each advantage of the power flower required at some point within the duration of the game to obtain the elusive Power Stars.

Replay Value – 9.5

This games' replay value is simply brilliant. The 30 new stars added ensure that players of the original will still have something to master, and the overall 150 Power Stars create an elusive goal for even the best gamers. Mini games add another degree of fun to the adventure, with 36 games in total, each can be attempted again and again to beat your own high score. Even when completed there are 3 save slots for die-hard fans to play through again, and single-cart multiplayer is a very worthwhile inclusion.

Final Comment

+ Great new features such as Mini Games, 30 new stars and 3 new characters!
+ Graphics are much more crisp and nicer to look at than the original.
+ Brilliant sound.
+ Great length.
+ Single cart multiplayer
- Controls can take some getting used to.
- The camera can sometimes prove a nuisance.

If you're picking up a Nintendo DS, this game is definitely for you – although I hate to cliché: this is a must have game for any DS owners and not to purchase it is criminal. Even if you haven't been a particular fan of Mario in the past, give this game a shot – it's by far the my most favoured title of the Nintendo DS launch line up and provides gamers with an outlook as to the future potential of this wonderful system.

Overall score out of 10 : 9.4 (Rounds to 9)

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/19/05