By Max Blackburn

Super Mario 64 is a game published by Nintendo in 1996 for the Nintendo 64 home game console. Although originally exclusive for the aforementioned console, modern emulators have made it playable on computers with optimizations, better video quality, and improved frame-rate. Super Mario 64 stars Mario – back at it again – saving Princess Peach from the evil Koopa King, Bowser. Though this time, it is different.

In 2D Mario titles, you have to reach a flag pole to finish levels. But in Mario 64, you have to find and collect a star in each level.  There are seven stars in each level, each of them can be obtained by completing certain objectives, i.e. defeating a boss enemy, doing parkour or collecting eight red coins.

There are also a handful of secret levels that have just one or two stars each, As well as three separate confrontations with Bowser himself. Yikes! Leading up to these fights is a difficult parkour course, which puts together everything learned in previous levels. Beating up the chaotic Koopa King rewards you with a key, which can be used to unlock different floors in the castle.

On the topic of collectibles, there are three different types of buttons hidden in secret levels. These buttons unlock caps that are used to make stars easier to get, or even needed to acquire them. The three caps are very versatile, and give Mario some interesting abilities. These caps are the wing cap; for flight, the vanish cap; for invisibility and phasing through grates and glass and the metal cap; for not taking damage and being anchored underwater. These caps can be very helpful in a handful of situations, and should be used when available.

The first level of the game is Bob-omb Battlefield. This level acts as a very solid beginning level, teaching the player the core mechanics of Super Mario 64. It has enemies, obstacles and even a wing cap block for later on. The beginning of the level puts you – as the game words it, “Smack in the middle of a battlefield.” The main part of the level is a grassland valley, with a mountain nearby. At the top of the mountain lies the Big Bob-omb-or King Bob-omb in Japan. Big Bob-omb guards a star; obtaining this star enables you to race Koopa the Quick. The six main stars have you doing all kinds of different activities. You even need the wing cap for one.

Today, Super Mario 64 has sold about twelve-million copies worldwide, Minus the ROMs that can be found online. Speaking of today, there is a huge speed running community (beating the game as fast as possible), and a huge ROM hacking community (changing ROMs of the game to make new levels, features or other cool things). Maybe, after reading this, you want to play this absolute blast from the past! Well are you in luck, because you can pick up a ROM of your own online. You can also find a good emulator with ease! I don’t know about you, but I think I might as well start up the game myself!

• Most images by me
• Bomb-omb Battlefield diagram from Ukikipedia