The title of this article is from the English Super Mario Bros. Encyclopedia, which reportedly sourced some names from fan wikis.
If a higher-priority source is found, then the article should be moved to the new title.

Polygon
The front cover of Mario Artist: Polygon Studio
Developers Nintendo R&D 1[1]
Nichimen Graphics
Publisher Nintendo
Platform Nintendo 64DD
Release date Japan August 31, 2000[2]
Genre Creative
Modes Single player, multiplayer
Format
Nintendo 64DD:
Magneto-optical drive
Input
Nintendo 64:
Serial code NUD-DMGJ-JPN

Mario Artist: Polygon Studio is the fourth and final game released in the Mario Artist series and overall Super Mario franchise on the Nintendo 64DD, released in Japan on August 31, 2000.[2] The game allows players to construct and render 3D polygons, then texture them, and paint them. The player can also assemble models from pre-made or player-made parts and use them to explore a 3D world called the Jikken World and find newer, more effective parts. Along with this, other minigames can be played.

Gameplay

Controls

In the editors
Action(s) Input(s)
Move cursor
Adjust blocks (when selected)
  /  
Select buttons and blocks
Advance page
  /  
Rotate or Zoom into a creation
Return page
  /  
Move cursor to exit button  
Undo  
Move the screen  
Act as the   button / Slow mouse movement by 50%1  

1 - Can be configured in the options menu

In Jikken World
Action(s) Input(s)
Turn, accelerate
Tilt (with appropriate Dōryoku Blocks)
  /  
Jump
Run (when holding)
fly, swim (with appropriate Dōryoku Blocks)
  /  
Switch between seven camera positions    
Switch between first and third person views  
Centers camera behind vehicle   /  
Pause   /  
Show stats  
Hide UI  

Modes

Mario Artist: Polygon Studio is primarily a 3D-modelling game, divided in two main modes: Kantanni tsukuru (かんたんにつくる, "Creating Easily") and Pro henomichi (プロへのみち, "Road to Pro"). Creating Easily is geared towards beginners, only allowing players to use pre-made blocks to create works. Road to Pro, conversely, allows players to model their own blocks in a simple 3D modeling program, in addition to the pre-made blocks. They are then able to use those block works in various minigames and side modes. Road to Pro is divided in three modes, of which the first one, Block Dome, is largely equivalent to the Creating Easily main mode.

Block Dome

 
A block creation in the Block Dome

The Block Dome (ブロックドーム, burokku dōmu) is a mode in Road to Pro. In it, players can create Block Sakuhin (ブロック作品, burokku sakuhin, "block creations") using pre-made blocks. Players are able to resize, rotate and move blocks in order to build creations. Block can be from one of five categories:

  • Parts Blocks (パーツブロック, pātsu burokku): Basic blocks that act as the body of the build.
  • Animation Blocks (アニメーションブロック, animēshon burokku) Animated blocks that move in certain ways.
  • Sound Blocks (ソウンドブロック, saundo burokku) Blocks that continuously emmit sounds.
  • ? Blocks (?ブロック, ? burokku") Bonus blocks that can be used as decoration on a creation. More are unlocked by finding them in Jikken World.
  • Dōryoku Blocks (どうりょくブロク, dōryoku burokku, "Power Blocks") Blocks that act as wheels or legs, allowing creations to move. More are unlocked by finding them in Jikken World.

From Block Dome, players are able to take their creations on two side modes: Chotto Kyūkei (ちょっときゅうけい, "Quick Break") and Jikken World (じっけんワールド, jikken warūdo, "Experimental World"). In Quick Break, players can play two minigames, Go Go Park and Sound Bomber.

Modeler Rocket

 
a 3D creation in the Modeler Rocket

In the Modeler Rocket (モデラーロケット, moderā roketto) mode, players are able of creating their own blocks, called 3D Sakuhin (3D 作品, "3D creations"), by utilizing a basic 3D modeling software capable of cutting, extruding, adding bevels and other functions. Players can select from various base meshes to start with, such as cubes, cyllinders, animals and houses, as well as other models such as Mario, Yoshi and Koopa Troopa from Super Mario 64.

The mode also features a number of tutorial videos showcasing different objects being modelled with the editor's features.

Stage UFO

Go Go Park

Go Go Park (ゴーゴーパーク, Gō Gō Pāku) is one of the two minigames found in the Block Dome. In it, the player must "wind up" their model (by pressing   or moving the mouse forward) and try to get them to stop as close to the edge of a cliff as possible without going over. The minigame features three stages of difficulty. The first stage takes place on a grassy plains and the layout is a straight line. The second stage takes place on a fiery lava landscape, with the layout now having an incline. The third stage takes place in a starry night landscape and its layout features a slope going up and down in the middle. After beating all three stages, they repeat in order.

The minigame serves as a predecessor to the minigame Chicken Race in WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!

Sound Bomber

Sound Bomber (サウンドボンバー, Saundo Bonbā) is the other minigame found in Block Dome. It is a simple predecessor to the WarioWare series' format, featuring various quick challenges the player must complete in quick succession by utilizing simple controls. The minigame has three levels of difficulty. After three mistakes, the minigame ends.

Jikken World

Jikken World (じっけんワールド, Jikken Wārudo, "Experimental World") is a side mode accessed from the Block Dome. In it, the player can control their creations and drive them around a series of worlds, finding Dōryoku Blocks and ? Blocks along the way. These blocks can then be added to the player's creations, allowing them to explore further. Spread around Jikken World are a series of hints written on slices of bread by the Baker, giving advice on how to control the vehicle, and secrets about the world itself.

Several aspects of the player's vehicle affect its performance in Jikken World. Each Dōryoku Block added on the vehicle, when touching the ground and rotated correctly, has different stats such as speed and traction on snow, sand and thorny terrain, as well as slopes. Leg blocks can additionally jump higher, and specific blocks have flying and swimming capabilities. Regular Part Blocks can weight the vehicle down, and if they are touching the ground, slow it down as well.

Objects

Photo Name Description
  Block(?) Unlocks a Dōryoku Block or a ? Block for the player to use on their vehicle
  Bread(?) Contains helpful messages
  Dash Panel
ダッシュのパネル
("Dash Panel")
Causes the player's vehicle to dash forward when touched
  Jump Panel
ジャンプのパネル
("Jump Panel")
Causes the player's vehicle to jump when touched
  • Blocks
  • Jump Panel
  • Speed Panel

Locations

Photo Name List of Available Blocks Total
  Hajime Terminal
はじめターミナル ("Starting Terminal")
- -
  Porigonesia
ポリゴネシア ("Polygonesia")
  • Elephant Foot
  • Bird Foot
  • Robot Foot
40

List of Blocks

Parts Blocks

Staff

Main article: List of Mario Artist: Polygon Studio staff

Mario Artist: Polygon Studio was directed by Hirofumi Matsuoka, who would go on to direct WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!, a game which follows the same format of quick microgames as the Sound Bomber minigame.

Gallery

Artwork

Screenshots

Miscellaneous

References to other games

 
The Baker brothers
Mario Paint
  • The Baby Face from this game can be seen floating in the background of the model creation menu, and makes its signature noise when clicked on.
  • As with all other Mario Artist titles, a dog's head serves as the "Undo" icon, a reference to Undodog.
  • When starting up the game, there is a chance that a scene of two figures doing aerobics will play, just like in this game. The Baker brothers leaving behind messages for the player in the Jikken World are eventually revealed to be these same two figures, and they can both be collected and used as blocks by the player.
Super Mario 64
  • Untextured versions of Mario, Yoshi and Koopa Troopa's models from this game can be loaded in the Polygon Editor.
  • A part called the Power Star can be found in the Jikken World mode, which makes all Power Block parts perform like their most superior counterparts.
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
  • An untextured version of Kirby's model from this game can be found in the Polygon Editor.

References in later games

WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgame$!
  • The concept of microgames originated from Polygon Studio's Sound Bomber mode. The introduction stage taking place inside a boombox is a direct reference to Sound Bomber. Additionally, all of the Sound Bomber microgames appear in this game, under different names and with different graphics and controls:

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese マリオアーティスト ポリゴン スタジオ[3]
Mario Ātisuto: Porigon Sutajio
Mario Artist: Polygon Studio

References

  1. ^ April 7, 2006. Kikizo dropped by at Nintendo's enigmatic global HQ to chat with the six-member "Wario Ware All-Star Team", headed by Metroid talent Yoshi Sakamoto.. Kikizo. Page 2. Retrieved October 11, 2025. (Archived April 11, 2006, 02:39:46 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  2. ^ a b Sakai, Kazuya (Ambit), et al. (October 19, 2015). 『スーパーマリオブラザーズ百科: 任天堂公式ガイドブック』(Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook). Tokyo: Shogakukan (Japanese). ISBN 978-4-09-106569-8. Page 244.
  3. ^ Box art

External links

Category:Games Category:Nintendo 64DD games Category:Japan-only games Category:2000 games Category:Mario Artist series de:Mario Artist: Polygon Studio it:Mario Artist: Polygon Studio