Super Mario 64 DS Review

Super Mario 64 DS
a review by Shade

You all might think that this game is just like the original. Well, I hate to say this, but you are wrong. Many things have changed in this game, new characters, new skills, etc. Mario takes another epic journey in the Mushroom Kingdom, and this review will tell you whether it is worth staying by Mario's side all the way through.

Retro Moment: What is Super Mario 64?


Super Mario 64 box art.

Originally released on the N64, Super Mario 64 was a hit. Nintendo hit all of the right buttons and took the N64's abilities to the extreme. Great graphics for it's time, great sounds, great level design, what more could a gamer ask for? Not much. And that's a very brief description.

Well, let's get this review started, shall we?

Graphics


Graphics comparison. DS version is on the left, N64 version is on the right.

Graphics is probably one of the strong points of the game. As you can see from this screenshot, the graphics have greatly improved since N64 times. Crisp images, nearly the best the DS has seen. I was surprised when I first played this game, I couldn't believe it. The graphics have been updated impressively since the N64 version of this game was released.

The levels were so detailed, and I can't complain about it because it seems like the DS was pushed to the limit for this game. Colors were great, everything seemed so life-like. And the thing that really got me, Bowser actually looks ike Bowser in this game. Enemies were detailed... I was blown away.

Graphics - 9.5/10 - Great. Truly impressive.

Gameplay


Gameplay of each character in Super Mario 64 DS.

This was one thing that I was impressed with as well. Instead of having Mario as the star, Wario, Yoshi, and Luigi jump into the action as well. They appear to have different skills and that means that certain tasks can only be completed by certain characters. Some will have an easier time than others. You get the point.

The amount of puzzles and levels make the game worth playing. I was impressed with what I saw. A situation that could be another star or an epic fail, times where you must do tasks in a certain order, etc. If you like simple puzzles, great levels, and things related, this game is definitely for you. Not to mention the new Minigames that have been added. Catch bunnies along your quest to unlock minigames. Trust me, they are addicting.

Gameplay - 8.5/10 - Some minor flaws, but overall, outstanding.

Music/Sounds

The sounds were fine. Not the best feature of the game, but they surprised me. Some of the sounds were a tad... not so great, but they were acceptable. Music was classic, it brought back memories. Music was overall alright. Some of the music was a little fuzzy. One thing I personally liked was the surround sound mode. Oooh, makes the music suit the mood and occasionally pulls you into the game environment.

Music - 8/10 - Brought back some memories. I liked it.
Sounds - 7/10 - I give it a "meh" rating because they could use improvement, but they were still great.

Replay Value

Here's the main thing: Once you beat the game, you will be coming back for more. You may not have collected all of the stars, maybe you haven't gotten all of the minigames yet, maybe you just want to break a high score on a level. Super Mario 64 DS always has you coming back for more. Something has to be done, and you will want to accomplish those tasks.

Replay Value - 8/10 - Minor repetitive feeling, still has you coming back even after you beat the game.

Multiplayer


Multiplayer video.

Surprisingly, Super Mario 64 DS features multiplayer. Players must run around a specified course as Yoshi and try to collect as many stars as they can within the time limit. Sounds fun, right? Only with other people close by. No wi-fi, not even the option to play against CPU's. Lacking, but it barely passes in my opinion. Still fun with others, though.

Multiplayer - 6/10 - Needs Wi-Fi and ability to play against CPU opponents.

Bottom Line

Overall, Super Mario 64 DS is much better than it's N64 cousin. Things have been mixed around and thrown together to create a beautiful game. Overall, I would say...

9/10

I love this game and I still play it to this day. It's a fun game. Nothing much else to say, I believe I stressed this enough throughout the review.

Pros
- New features, such as minigames, characters, levels, etc.
- Impressive graphics/gameplay
- Moderate Replay Value

Cons
- Multiplayer is a bit lacking (can't face a CPU)