Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64

Ah yes, Super Mario 64. This game dropped back in '96 and turned the gaming scene upside down. Mario’s on a mission to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser? Tell me about it! You’re not just running from point A to B… well, not that much; you’re exploring sprawling worlds in 3D environments. Each room leads to various worlds filled with stars, the game’s collectibles, and you’ve gotta collect them to unlock more of the castle and fight Bowser.

Mario’s moveset is smooth, allowing you to pull off everything from backflips to wall jumps. The levels are diverse, there’s something for everyone! From the serene Bob-omb Battlefield to the eerie atmosphere of Big Boo's Haunt, each stage has its own vibe and challenge, like Jolly Roger Bay, where you’re dodging that creepy eel-thing. And let’s not forget the soundtrack, the tunes are catchy as hell! And the freedom to explore is refreshing; you can tackle levels in your own style.

Once you finish the main story, there’s still plenty to do. You can hunt down all stars, tackle those tricky red coins, or just mess around in the castle. It’s the kind of game that keeps giving, like a never-ending party. Super Mario 64 is like the Mew of 3D platformers, it set the bars! You can see its DNA in so many games today like Astro Bot.

Nintendo DS

A remake landed on the Nintendo DS in 2004, bringing back that nostalgic magic but with several twist! You can now play with Luigi, Wario and Yoshi. You can collect more stars, you have better graphics, new worlds, new bosses and new minigames (which were later recycled in New Super Mario Bros.).

However, the community became divided over this remake. Old-school fans say the controls didn’t translate perfectly to the DS, as the lack of a joystick made them rely on the D-pad, which wasn’t as precise as the original’s analog stick, but with the 3DS' C-pad that problem is partially solved. Plus, the camera system is worse than the original game.

If you ask me, Super Mario 64 DS is a good remake, added content and playable characters makes the game more expansive and fun.

Download

If you're ready to jump into a painting to collect stars, initiate your download by activating the Remote Install from your trusty 3DS! Once your activation sequence is complete, the game will join your HOME Menu.

For the DS remake, hit that download button below to grab the .RAR file. Once it’s ready, simply extract the contents straight to the root of your SD card. After that, install the .CIA on your 3DS, and you'll be all set to embark on your next course!

DS remake

Original game