Why Super Mario 64 Was Such An Innovative Game

Name: Super Mario 64
Genre: Digital, Platform Game
Rating: K-A
Original Creator: Shigeru Miyamoto
Publisher: Nintendo

Super Mario 64 is a 3D platformer game originally created for the launch of the Nintendo 64 as one of the flagship titles for the console. This was the first true 3D game created--by that I mean a game that freely allowed the player to move in any direction with the full 360 degrees of movement. This game has left a lasting impact on the world of 3D game development by the implementation of a free movable camera and the analog stick, which allowed the player to control Mario .

The Mechanics

Since this game was in a 3D world there had to be a new way of moving and viewing the character; hence the development of the analog stick and a free moving camera. The incorporation of the analog stick allowed players to control the full range of newly available motions found in a 3D world, without it the game would not have been nearly as enjoyable. Take this for an example: if a player were attempting to control Mario with one of the old controllers like a D-Pad then they would only be able to move Mario in one direction at a set speed, but with an analog stick players can instantly change the direction they are going in and control the speed they are going at all times. Not only does this allow for new gameplay that could never have been experienced on prior systems, but it also allows the player to be completely in control at all times to such a degree that the player's skill plays a much larger role in this game. In other platformers players never had to deal with a third dimension, they either had to worry about what was above, beneath, in front of and behind their player or some other combination. Notice that the player never has more than four sides that have to be worried about at one time and generally not all four side are in constant danger. In Super Mario 64 however the player has to keep track of what is in front, behind, to the left, to the right, above and below them at all times otherwise they won't be able to play the game successfully. In order to keep better track of all of these sides there had to be new technology developed to help the player see the 3D world more effectively so for the first time the idea of a static camera that only looked at the player from one direction would make the game far more difficult. To remedy this situation the idea of a camera that moved freely to follow the player was introduced or if the player didn't like the way that worked they could simply control it themselves.

The Story and Setting

Super Mario 64 is set in Princess Peach's Castle, which consists of three floors, a basement, a moat, and a courtyard. The area outside the castle is an introductory area in where the player is first introduced to the controls and that the game is actually being filmed by lakitu who controls the in game camera. As soon as the castle is entered Mario finds out that the 120 Power Stars had been hidden in the paintings in the castle. Many of the castle's paintings are portals to other worlds, in which Bowser has hidden the stars and now Mario has to go in search of the stars to release Peach.

The Game Play

The game play centers around Mario going and working his way through the levels with his new abilities to get the star at the end of each course. Each course is an enclosed world within a painting in which the player is free to wander in all directions and explore the area without time limits. The worlds within the paintings are filled with enemies that attack Mario as well as friendly creatures that provide assistance, offer information, or ask him a favor or to do a task for them, such as the pink Bob-ombs or the mother penguin in one of the snow levels. The mother penguin asks that you find her child and in return sh gives you a star. The Bob-omb will open up cannons around the level to let you get to new areas. Mario gathers stars in each course and many of them only appear after completing certain tasks. The stars often have to be acquired in order, and how to do so is often hinted at by the name of the course. The ways to get the stars can be as difficult as fighting a boss or as simple as gathering coins but also include solving puzzles or getting to a certain part of the stage. The more stars that are collected, the more areas of the castle that become available after each time they beat Bowser. There are also many hidden mini-courses and other secrets in the game, such as the hidden slide area where Mario tries to slide down a ramp within a certain period of time or the area or where the wing cap is first introduced where Mario first learns how to fly. But while Mario is in this new environment he also needs new abilities available to him to help him navigate this area as well as battle enemies such as the wall jump and his new ability to preform a back flip or how each consecutive time he jumps he gets significantly higher.