Super Mario 64 DS DSi and DS Lite

Released on 11/03/2005

• Super Mario 64 DS

  Scot checks out the miniaturisation of a gaming legend.

  Think back nine years to when you first got your hands on Super Mario 64. It was a technical marvel. One of the - if not the - greatest platform games ever created. Now, back then, did you ever imagine you'd be playing it on a handheld? Nearly a decade on, the game that was adorned with many coveted awards for its importance in the genre has arrived on the Nintendo DS, in extended and enhanced form. For most of you buying the console, this will be the desired accompanying game. There'll be no questions about that.

  one of the most influential games of all time

  Not that it doesn't deserve to be, of course. It remains one of the most influential games of all time, and if you're one of the few who hasn't experienced Super Mario 64 before, this is the way to do it. The addition of the new characters, new challenges and the wonderfully absorbing mini-games just improve the game further, taking it to a level of greatness very rarely seen in the genre today.

  The DS Difference...

  Controlling Super Mario 64 DS isn't as daunting as it may first appear, but it's certainly going to require a firm amount of patience and practice before you're handling the stylus with the same proficiency as the analogue stick it was originally created for. It's a worthy system once you get to grips with it, and above all, it's incredible fun. Even when the novelty of controlling your character with the touchpad wears off, you're still left with an instinctively simple alternative to an analogue stick.

  The biggest difference between the two versions of the game though is the addition of new playable characters. The game starts like it did on the N64 but instead of controlling Mario, you take control of his faithful prehistoric companion, Yoshi. This immediately introduces a new aspect to the game, even if the levels are identical to their console counterpart. Bosses and enemies must now be defeated in different ways, and certain stars can only be accessed with specific characters - which are progressively unlocked throughout the game - thanks to their unique powers and different attributes.

  Then there's also the issue of how it looks. Those of you who have fond memories of Super Mario 64 will love how it looks now, with the visuals sharpened and smoothened somewhat thanks to the console's smaller screen and impressive hardware. The audio is familiar, ported directly to the Nintendo 64, but once you hear it emitting from the DS speakers, you'll realise just how good it was back then and how well it's managed to hold up now.

  It's also massive, even more so than it was on the N64. Rather than simply port the existing game straight to the handheld, Nintendo have included another 30 stars to collect in addition to the 120 included beforehand, as well as a selection of thoroughly entertaining mini-games that, with a little more depth and selection, could have been marketed as a separate game themselves. In fact, many of them are so exceptionally thought out, you'll find yourself playing them just as much as the main feature itself.

  Review by: Scot Bennet
  Review Published: 12.04.05

  Published: 12/04/2005

• Super Mario headed for the 3DS

  It's obvious, but it's still good to hear: Nintendo's already working on a Super Mario game for the 3DS. Phew!

  The news came from Mario's daddy, Shigeru Miyamoto, speaking on Iwata Asks - thanks, Eurogamer. The legendary designer announced, "In the interests of adopting new technology for the Super Mario Bros. tradition, I am now making a new Super Mario Bros. game for the Nintendo 3DS system."

  He didn't offer any further details, but he did expand on a comment of Mario co-creator Takashi Tezuka's, suggesting that Mario must always be family friendly. "I think Tezuka-san is exactly right about making something that families can enjoy together," he said, "but I also think it's important to always use the most advanced technology for Mario in order to create something no one has ever seen before. Of course, it's important to make sure people still say things like "Falling down the holes is the most fun!" but something new is necessary for other aspects of the games, and it's those new elements that make a Super Mario Bros. game what it is."

  With no news of a date, this is one we're probably going to have to wait for - but it will be worth it.

• What has Mario got planned in 2012?

  2011 has been a fantastic year for gaming most recognisable face, Nintendo Mario, and 2012 looks set to be another. From platforming to kart racing, tennis, Olympic sports, role playing and party games, the portly yet agile plumber is clearly a highly versatile character who can do it all. Here, GAME takes a look back at a couple of the best Mario games from this year, in case you missed them, and looks ahead to some of 2012 undoubted highlights.

  3DS hasn exactly been lacking in quality games in its first year on the market, but the arrival of Super Mario Land 3D (3DS) in November and the launch of Mario Kart 7 earlier this month have really made the portable console a must own system. Mixing the best elements of older Mario games with new ideas and technology, the former is perhaps best described as a blend of the more straightforward, accessible 2D Super Mario Bros. games for Wii and DS and Wii more challenging 3D Super Mario Galaxy titles. Its magical worlds are essentially made up of left to right dashes through obstacle courses, which see players running, jumping, hovering and gliding to master the environments with the aim of reaching a flagpole at the end of each level. With simple, intuitive controls, it instantly accessible and there always a clear path to completing each stage, usually littered with coins to collect, question blocks to bump and enemies to stomp. But Mario can also wander around a little in the game 3D environments, and only explorers and the most skilled players will locate all of the secret areas, items and unlockables ingeniously hidden away in the expertly designed levels.

  Mario Kart 7 is another must-play title for newcomers and series veterans alike, mixing old and new to great effect too. It offers 16 new courses and 16 classic ones from older MK games for players to compete on, all based on environments and characters from Nintendo Mushroom Kingdom. The best showcase of the console's 3D screen yet, theye absolutely gorgeous to look at and just as well designed, featuring exciting new airborne and underwater sections to compliment the on-track action. With basic accelerate, brake, fire and jump buttons, the game easy enough that anyone can pick it up and play instantly, but itl take months of practice to master the multi-route tracks, learn all of the shortcuts and become an online karting king.

  Looking ahead to 2012, Mario will be joined by a host of Nintendo stablemates as well as characters from Square Enix popular Dragon Quest series in January release Boom Street (Wii). A Monopoly-style board game that challenges players to play the real estate and stock markets to win,here are 27 characters to choose from 13 from Mario games, 13 from Dragon Quest and your Mii and over 15 boards based on memorable areas from each series, with different shapes and layouts providing loads of replay value. Players race around the board trying to accumulate wealth and hit a target value while buying, selling and trading property to see who can be the first to cash out, and with both beginner and advanced settings, it could be the perfect game to get the family huddled round the telly on those cold winter nights.

  Mario Tennis (3DS) also looks set to be a smash hit next year. If previous games in the series are anything to go by, itl do its best to nail the balance between realism and zany, fast-paced tennis action starring all of your favourite Mushroom Kingdom characters, as well as a few surprise ones. Wee expecting a mixture of tactical tennis gameplay, special moves and plenty of mini-games that should make a great title for Mario and sports fans alike.

  Mario and friends, including Sega favourites like Sonic the Hedgehog, will keep things physical in Mario & Sonic At The London 2012 Olympics on the Nintendo 3DS, which launches in February 2012. Players will go for gold in over 50 Olympic events that make full use of the handheld different control methods, serving up a wide variety of ways to play. Competing for the top of the podium alone or in head-to-head games with friends, players will frantically slide the Circle Pad round and round to row, tilt the system to keep their balance on the beam, and blow into the microphone to keep breathing at the right time while swimming.

  Also in 2012, players will see the moustachioed, genre-hopping plumber embark on an exciting new role playing adventure in Paper Mario also on the Nintendo 3DS. It will feature frantic, turn-based battles set in a colourful and varied 3D world that takes in weapons, locations and items from Mario past and present,. It will also require clever strategic use of a range of ability-giving stickers, which can be used to carry out attacks on enemies or to fill in missing parts of the levels.
  

  Published: 21/12/2011

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