Super Mario 64 DS Review - DS

Who would have thought the adage “everything old is new again” would be such a huge part of Nintendo’s handheld software strategy? The Game Boy Advance has seen a throng of 8-bit titles released under the “classic NES” banner, from Metroid to The Legend of Zelda, and every major Mario release through the ‘80s and early ‘90s has been polished and given an extra coat of varnish to appeal to both toadstool taskmasters and tenderfoots alike. Alas, the GBA could not handle what many consider the pinnacle of Mario’s career, the three-dimensional Super Mario 64. Enter a new, more powerful handheld: the Nintendo DS. Eight years after his groundbreaking Nintendo 64 debut, Mario is back with a few new surprises up his red sleeve.

Reinventing a Classic

So what is so Darned Special about the DS version, you ask? There are now a total of 150 stars, up from the original’s 120. The other big change is beginning the game as Yoshi instead of Mario, with players also able to unlock Wario and Luigi for some added fun. The core gameplay, look, and sound are otherwise the same. Mario still sounds like he’s saying “nit pickle” instead of “let’s a-go,” and all the levels from Super Mario 64 are here in their proper place and order from within Peach’s castle grounds. The 30 extra stars have been incorporated into the castle’s existing levels and floor plan for the most part, so you won’t be exploring new 3D realms on the same scale as Jolly Roger Bay or Cool, Cool Mountain.

Mario Minutiae

Since the new stars are woven into the threads of the main storyline, players might notice a switch plate on a course that, when activated, will cause a star to appear in a specific spot for a certain length of time. Other changes include hidden portals to areas that require you to locate and capture five silver stars in order to reveal the main yellow star. Smashing a layer of bricks in the castle’s courtyard, for example, or jumping into a painting might transport you into a special bonus level for a shot at another star. These are small-scale levels that take mere seconds to traverse, but they are fun diversions in a game filled with fun things to see and do.

New Choices

Though having new characters seems like a radical departure from Super Mario 64, it is more a slight twist on the familiar action than a complete transformation. Yoshi still possesses his trademark flutter jump (complete with the “harooomph” sound effect) and the ability to tongue-grab enemies, swallow, and spit them out. Yet the main courses haven’t changed to accommodate Yoshi, Wario, or Luigi’s talents, so it’s more about giving players more options instead of different challenges. Since Mario is often needed to perform some of a level’s objectives (Yoshi can’t pick up items, for example), caps will let you switch to the mustachioed mascot so you can finish the course.

Touch-and-Go Controls

The action is viewed on the top screen while the touch-screen is used primarily as an overhead map or as a means of control. Since Super Mario 64 was designed first and foremost to take advantage of the N64’s analog stick, it’s more than a little disappointing to have to use either a D-pad or a stylus for movement. While both will work (digital control offers a separate button for dashes), neither is precise as an analog stick. The overhead map is a useful feature, however, letting you know where the star is for a particular objective and also coming in handy during the “pick-up, spin, and fling” boss battles with Bowser.

Camera Calamities

Compounding the control issue are the scrolling stages, which are still as problematic from a camera angle standpoint as they were on the N64. These stages typically feature an angled side-scrolling perspective that doesn’t show as much information as you need to make precise jumps, especially when nearly every platform is suspended above a bottomless pit. Expect to hear Mario’s high-pitched “whoa” often in this game, with more “missed it by this much” control moments than in the entire Get Smart television series.

Minigames and More

Apart from the main adventure, Super Mario DS also offers a coin-collecting multiplayer mode and surprisingly addictive minigames, which show off the enormous potential of the dual screen system. One of the best is a takeoff on the arcade classic Missile Command, with the stylus used to fling projectiles from a giant slingshot. Other games include variants on memory, the shell game, pachinko, sliding puzzles, and much more. Eight games are available from the start, with more opening up for each character by catching rabbits hopping around the castle.

Lets-a Go!

Super Mario 64 may be an oldie, but it’s a golden oldie, and one that has some of the most interesting play mechanics and environments in the series to date. Though gameplay is really one big scavenger hunt though a diverse set of worlds, there are so many memorable moments, from racing down corkscrew slides to surfing lava on a koopa shell, that you can’t help but grin with giddy delight. Those grins will turn into grimaces a few times because of the control, but unless you have a cannoli for a canoodle, you won’t be disappointed with Super Mario 64 DS.