Super Mario 64

An Endless Expedition

My encounter with this version of the greatest game ever (so far) surprised me. To be honest, I thought I might be a little bored with it, considering that prior to the release of the U.S. SM64 I had been married to the Japanese version of the game for two months. The reality is, it doesn't truly matter how many stars you've collected, or how quickly you can finish this game; like a brilliant movie (or en extended honeymoon), it's just as much fun to explore the levels of Princess Toadstool's castle the second (or third) time through as it is the first.

The success of Mario64 is based around its complete freedom from linear based play. There are so many angles and ways that you can approach the numerous challenges that await you in this game, I doubt anyone could ever completely tire of it. Certainly, when people boot up a NES and rediscover Super Mario 3, a feeling of immediate boredom is not what flashes through. I suspect that years from now when you dust off your N64 and tip-toe back into this adventure, your appreciation for the craftsmanship of SM64 will not have waned one bit.

The Trouble With Translation

The second time through a game always leads to new discoveries. You aren't fettered as much by the goals or your own fears of the unknown dangers that await. True exploration can begin. My previous experience with Super Mario 64, led me to discover many things about the English translation of the game - most significantly was my utter distaste for most of the translation!

The beauty of playing Super Mario 64 in a language that you do not have any semblance of fluency in is the complete reliance you have to have on your own wits. In retrospect, now that I have played both versions, I would say that regardless of the fact that everything was new to me the first time through, I much preferred the lack of hints along the way.

The North American version of the game is ridiculous in this respect. Every secret is given up. At every turn a new sign pops up and lets you in on the successful strategy for finishing a level, perfecting a move or collecting a star. Even the names of the levels give away hints. I wouldn't have felt so cheated if I hadn't completed the game without assistance previously, but because I had, I really feel it necessary to let gamers know that reading all the signs will shorten the amount of time it will take for you to complete the game - and in my book, at least where Super Mario64 is concerned, this is most definitely not a good thing.

My advice? Skip all the sign posts - just run right by. You'll do fine without 'em. Do, however, take the time to talk with as many creatures as you can, because you'll find that these discussions are always brimming with helpful hints that are above and beyond the obvious.

A Talkative Fellow

There are slight modifications to the US game that weren't in the Japanese version but for the most part SM64 is exactly the same game in both languages. The new additions to the recently released US version are mostly new Mario vocalizations. There was extra space on the cart after the Japanese developers were finished with the game, so Nintendo decided to add new vocal Mario-isms.

This suited me just fine because one of the highlights the first time through was listening to our fearless plumber express himself. I really like the new "Bye-bye-a Bowser!" Mario yelps when he whips the big bad boss off of his floating platform.

Along with that, players of both versions of the game will find that the sound that Mario makes when he slams into a wall or the side of a structure is slightly different, as is his third yell on his patented triple jump-flip move. Also, at the front end of the game, the Start screen, Mario eggs you on to play by stating the obvious, "Press-a Start to play!"

These aural additions to the cartridge really help to develop the character of Mario. I suspect the actor that was called in to provide the voice for the character can feel pretty confident that future games will provide much work for him, not to mention the possibility of another animated series or a film starring our favorite cartoon athletic Italian laborer.

Just Eye Candy Or Videogames And The Art Of Physics?

There's a debate raging across the internet right now about the quality of the visuals in SM64 as compared to Sony's new mascot platformer, Crash Bandicoot. A lot of people have given their opinions on the subject; I'm going to state mine.

Super Mario 64 has the absolute best graphics of any console platform game ever made.

Yes, I love the look of Crash Bandicoot; I'm not blind. But the reality is, Mario's world is so much deeper and more complex than Crash's, there's really no contest. The environments in Crash Bandicoot all have to be viewed from a particular angle, the same way, every time through the game. In Mario 64, the game player can choose to play the game and view the different environments in almost any way imaginable.

I agree that some of the landscape in Mario has been kept simple. Primary colors and uncomplicated shapes abound. But the beauty of the visual presentation of Super Mario 64 can not be based on the first vantage point from which you come across things. Indeed, the next time you look at a particular object or creature in Super Mario 64, it might be from 500 meters in the air as you sail past wearing a winged cap!

If Crash Bandicoot's developers had allowed us to see their world in the same way, there would probably be little discussion about this, because the vibrant colors, the incredible shapes and the sublime textures that fill out that title all have a decidedly sharper, hipper look to them. But as they say in 30's gangster movies, "It just don't fit like dat."

That's why I can, without reservation, categorically pledge that my eyes have not yet seen a better looking platform adventure on a console system than Super Mario 64.

The Music. Yes, The Music

The second time through, the more repetitive music in the game does tend to grate a little more. There's no escaping or denying it. I still enjoy the Egyptian-theme of the Pyramid level and the jingle bells in the wintery levels. The atmospheric, mellow New Age-y tunes of the underwater exploratory levels are kind of cool as well. And the music that Mario first hears when he enters the castle from the front entrance is classic.

The Sounds Of Ceaseless Discovery

To be honest though, the best sounds occur when there is little or no music present. The location sensitive, panoramic waterfall sound is still amazing and the sheer peace and quiet of the court yard (pre-ghost house) is enough to make you want to roll out your picnic blanket.

The sound effects throughout Mario 64 more than make up for the quibbles that you'll have with the unmistakably non-CD music.

An Audio Analysis Of The Beast

There's no denying that the Nintendo 64 is a stupendous piece of hardware, and the games that are on the way for it are bound to be amazing, but there has been a definite compromise for visual flash over audio purity, despite what the hype on the box reads. Listen to the latest PlayStation or Saturn games and hear for yourself what cartridge based games are missing.

There's hope that the 64DD Bulky Drive add-on, with it's increased storage capabilities, will help ease the sound and music limitations that the N64 has exhibited. But it's all speculation until the end of November, when Nintendo will show off the peripheral at the Shoshinkai games show in Tokyo.

My bottom line on the music and sound effects that I've heard coming from the Nintendo 64 (in Mario 64 and the only other N64 game that we currently have in house, PilotWings 64), is that the games do have a slightly canned sound to them but nothing so horrific as to divert your attention away from the entire experience.

Of course, if you're the type who has been mortally offended by videogame music in the past, take a listen to what the N64 pumps out before investing all of your faith into it.

Back To THE Game

Super Mario 64's controls are incredible. The little analog stick on the new pad is a marvel. Thanks to the flexibility of the control, you'll be making Mario perform maneuvers that would make the US Olympic Gymnastics team blush.

Watching this little dude in action is a treat. I suspect there are groups of gamers out there right now who are making a game out of how interesting they can make observing the action be. Trying to solicit, "oohs", "ahhhs" and "nice move, man!" out of your friends, as they watch you play, has never been such an artful experience before.

The Wrap

You'd be needlessly disciplining yourself if you didn't take the time to at least try this extraordinary game. Around The Electric Playground it has quickly grown to become the standard by which almost all other games are measured.

Equal parts fun, challenging and addictive, Super Mario 64 will continue to generate praise and exultation as we enter into the holiday season. And then, as we begin another year of even more unbelievable gaming, SM64 will shuffle into its position as the beginning of a new epoch. I suspect that, once its time in the spotlight is through, Super Mario 64 will move in to occupy the same space in gamers' hearts that you'd find Super Mario Brothers 1, 2 & 3 and Super Mario World 1 & 2 in. Select company? Only the best.

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