Super Mario 64 (N64)

Info About Super Mario 64 (N64)

I still remember the thrill of popping Super Mario 64 into my N64 for the first time. Right away, you’re greeted by Peach’s letter and that iconic “Yahoo!” as Mario jumps off the ledge and into the castle’s grand hall. It felt like a new frontier—Mario’s world had suddenly expanded in ways we’d only dreamed about back in the days of side-scrolling. Just holding the controller and seeing Mario walk, run, and bound up stairs felt revolutionary.

What really hooked me was the freedom to explore. Those first few missions in Bob-omb Battlefield or Whomp’s Fortress were all about testing the camera, finding secret paths, and wondering what weird creature or tricky platform lay around the corner. Sure, sometimes you’d tumble off a cliff or get stuck behind a pillar, but that trial-and-error felt like part of the magic. Unlocking each painting to dive into a different realm of Mario’s universe was like choosing your own adventure.

The challenge balanced perfectly between accessible fun and satisfying difficulty. Chasing after those Power Stars meant mastering unique mechanics: sneak around a giant penguin, break bricks with a flip jump, or lure Boos into the right position. And let’s not forget the adrenaline rush when you finally locked eyes with Bowser and hurled him around by his own tail. It’s wild to think how many speedrunners have gone on to perfect those moves decades later.

Even now, Super Mario 64 stands as a landmark for 3D platformers. Its influence is everywhere, from how modern games handle cameras to how open-world design encourages exploration. Booting it up today still brings that giddy nostalgic buzz—right down to the janky camera quirks that somehow feel endearing instead of frustrating. It’s not just a game; it’s a reminder of the pure joy of discovery.