Nintendo's iconic plumber steps into a whole new dimension with Super Mario 64, a launch title that not only heralds the Nintendo 64 era but defines it. Lead developer Shigeru Miyamoto had asked for more time to perfect this console's centerpiece, and once you see what his team has achieved as a result, you will instantly forgive this choice. It opens with Mario's unassuming arrival as Princess Toadstool's castle. He finds it mysteriously vacant and the power stars all swiped by the evil King Bowser and scattered across 15 sprawling worlds tucked behind enchanted paintings. Our plump hero must plunge straight into these 3-D environments, sort out a specific goal, best Bowser's belligerent baddies, and thereby acquire the coveted collectible. Prepare to be awe-struck by phenomenal graphics as the N64 presents lavish textures and extravagant animations.

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SM64's gameplay is everything the originals were and so much more. The brilliant analog control stick offers pinpoint controls, making even basic movements a joy. Mario's expanded move set, from wall kicks to triple jumps, feels tailor made for this bold new, three-dimensional frontier. Collect power stars through a combination of exploration, task completion, and searching hidden areas - all within gigantic levels that stretch upward into floating towers, expand into fiery caverns, and plunge into sunken ships. The castle acts as a hub world, itself offering secrets and branching paths as stars are stockpiled. Enjoy it all while a beautiful score accompanies the action. The only recognizable hurdle is the awkward camera control in tight areas, but practice turns this initial pain into a skill.

Printed in Issue #41, September 1996