Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 is a 3D platform adventure game for the Nintendo 64. It was first released in Japan on June 23, 1996; in the U.S. on September 29, 1996; and in Europe on March 1, 1997. This game was a release game, along with PilotWings 64, which helped drive initial sales of its console. To date, it has sold over six million copies.

Super Mario 64 was originally in development for the Super Famicom, or SNES outside of Japan, but was moved to the Nintendo 64 after limitations proved very hassling. Though it was not the first 3D platforming game, it revolutionized the genre, with many games soon following its formula using it as a sort of benchmark. It is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest games of all time.

A version of the game was released in Japan on July 18, 1997, that included Rumble Pak support.

Super Mario 64 had a remake for the Nintendo DS called Super Mario 64 DS. The remake had various differences from the original game. There was also a sequel planned called Super Mario 64 2.

Contrary to popular belief, this game was technically not the debut of Charles Martinet as Mario's voice (It actually debuted in Mario Teaches Typing), it was the first time most people heard it, and is thus regarded as its effective debut.

Storyline
Princess Toadstool sent a letter to Mario to come and have some cake with her in the castle. When he arrives, he finds one of the Lakitu Bros. who follows him around dangling a camera. Together, they go inside and hear a familiar voice telling them to get out of the castle. Toad informs them that Bowser has kidnapped the princess again and is holding everyone hostage inside the castle walls. He has also stolen the Power Stars and given them to his minions who are hiding in paintings. Mario hops in the magical paintings and retrieves the Power Stars in order to defeat Bowser and save the Princess.

Mario finally faces off against Bowser at the top of the castle, and throws him on to three bombs. A giant Power Star appears, and Mario snags it. He gets a wing cap and flies out of the castle, where Princess Peach appears with the power of the Stars.

Courses
Levels are laid out inside paintings in the castle, or sometimes the walls themselves. They can also be found in holes, gaps, oil pits, and inside a clock. Each world has 7 Power Stars within each, one of which is gained by finding 100 coins in the level. The Stars are found by performing "missions", fighting bosses, finishing races, and etc. Every course has boundaries to limit the player from going to far, either as a strict wall or an invisible boundary. If Mario hits either, he falls down (quite often to his death). Otherwise, Mario is free to roam the large expansive levels at his leisure.

Levels often feature pink Bob-ombs called Bob-omb Buddies. They open cannons littered around the levels for Mario to fly with. When the canon is open, Mario simply falls into the pit where it is, and it raises. The player targets the canon with a cross hair shot, and fires. This helps Mario reach high or far away areas. It is often a good idea to use the Wing Cap (see below) with canons.


 * 1) Bob-omb Battlefield
 * 2) Whomp's Fortress
 * 3) Jolly Roger Bay
 * 4) Cool, Cool Mountain
 * 5) Big Boo's Haunt
 * 6) Hazy Maze Cave
 * 7) Lethal Lava Land
 * 8) Shifting Sand Land
 * 9) Dire, Dire Docks
 * 10) Snowman's Land
 * 11) Wet-Dry World
 * 12) Tall Tall Mountain
 * 13) Tiny-Huge Island
 * 14) Tick-Tock Clock
 * 15) Rainbow Ride

Secret Courses
In addition to the main courses of the game and the Bowser Courses, there are also a few hidden courses that house several of the Castle's Secret Stars, as well as the three ! Switches.
 * The Princess's Secret Slide
 * The Secret Aquarium
 * Tower of the Wing Cap
 * Vanish Cap Under the Moat
 * Cavern of the Metal Cap
 * Winged Mario Over the Rainbow

Abilities
In addition to Mario's signature Jumping, a whole new host of abilities is given to the player as the game progresses. Mario can punch, kick, kick jump, hip drop (Yoshi and Wario could do this previously), triple jump, long jump, back slip, somersault, and perform the legendary wall kick (bouncing from wall to wall with timed jumps to reach higher areas). Also, the usual Super Mushroom and Fire Flower are absent in this game. Instead Mario gains the power to wear new hats, in the form of colored Caps.

The Caps are found inside special '!' blocks littered around the every level. Initially empty, they can be filled by finding '!' switches (similar to the Switch Palaces of Super Mario World). There are three colors to the caps, and each cap lets Mario perform different abilities. Some caps may be worn at the same time.


 * The Wing Cap (red) allows Mario to fly around if he triple jumps. This is useful for reaching high or far areas, and finding secrets in the sky. This cap is particularly useful if you find a cannon to jump out of.
 * The Vanish Cap (blue) make Mario invulnerable to attacks. He can also walk through some walls to reach new areas or find items such as Stars.
 * The Metal Cap (green) makes Mario metallic and heavy. This lets Mario defeat enemies by walking into them, avoid water currents, and walk under water.

Bosses
There are various mini bosses in some stages, but the primary boss is Bowser. He appears three times in three different levels. This is a list of the bosses in the game.


 * Big Bob-Omb – A giant Bob-Omb in Bob-omb Battlefield. He appears as the first star.
 * Whomp King – A giant Whomp on top of Whomp's Fortress. He appears as the first star, and after he is defeated there is a tower on top of the fortress.
 * Bowser in the Dark World – Bowser appears at the end of this level. You need to swing him by the tail and hurl him at bombs on the outside of his circular arena.
 * Big Bully – A giant Bully which appears twice in Lethal Lava Land. It tries on both occasions to knock Mario into the lava.
 * Eyerok – Two stone hands with eyes on their palms. They appear when you blast open the top of the Pyramid in Shifting Sand Land and ride the elevator inside.
 * Big Boo – A giant Boo which appears three times in Big Boo's Haunt. He initially appears once all the Boos in the mansion have been removed, again in the underground Merry Go Round, and lastly on the top balcony of the mansion.(possibly what inspired Boolossus.)
 * Bowser in the Fire Sea – Bowser appears at the end of the level. Game play is the same as the first Bowser, except now his jumps make the arena tilt, causing Mario to need to run up the arena to avoid falling off.
 * Chill Bully – A large blue Bully. He tries to ram Mario on to a lethally frozen pond in Snowman's Land.
 * Wiggler – A giant Wiggler which becomes angry when his home in Tiny-Huge Island gets flooded.
 * Bowser in the Sky – Bowser appears at the end of this level. He must be thrown into the bombs three times. Each time he falls off the arena, his jump back makes a piece of the arena fall off. After being hit twice, he stomps the ground and the entire arena begins collapsing until it becomes the shape of a star.

Trivia

 * There are many glitches in this game, that, when utilized, allow a player to complete the game in 16 minutes with 16 stars.
 * Mario's method of defeating Bowser in this game is identical to the one he used in The Great Mission to Save Princess Peach.