Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 (スーパーマリオ64, Sūpā Mario Rokujūyon), commonly abbreviated as SM64, is a game for the Nintendo 64. It was released as a launch title for the console in 1996 in Japan and North America and in 1997 for the rest of the world. On July 18, 1997, a Rumble Pak-compatible re-release of the game, titled Super Mario 64: Shindō Pak Taiō, was released in Japan. This is the first 3D installment of the Super Mario series, let alone the Mario franchise in general.
At the time, it received widespread critical acclaim and has been often said to have defined its genre by being one of the first well-made games of its type. The game has since received a remake on the Nintendo DS in the form of Super Mario 64 DS. There was also going to be a sequel made, called Super Mario 128, but it was canceled. The Super Mario 64: Shindō Pak Taiō re-release is the version included in Super Mario 3D All-Stars for the Nintendo Switch, though with upscaled graphics and a redrawn HUD. At 11.89 million copies, Super Mario 64 is the best-selling Nintendo 64 game.
==Story==
Princess Peach sends Mario to come to her castle to have a cake. When Mario arrives, he meets the Lakitu Bros., who are filming Mario. They go inside the castle and hear a familiar voice telling him to get out of the castle. Toad informs him that Bowser has kidnapped the princess again and is holding everyone hostage inside the castle walls.
He has also stolen the Power Stars and give them to his minions who are hiding in paintings spread all over the castle. Mario hops in the magical paintings and retrieves the Power Stars in order to defeat Bowser and save the Princess.
During the journey, Mario makes his way to more areas of the castle. When he finds out he has enough stars, he goes into Bowser's final level. Once he makes his way through the long course, Mario sees Bowser and the two battle. When Mario defeats Bowser, he gives up and hands him a Giant Power Star, before he explodes. Mario grabs the star, and has been given the Wing Cap and flies away back to the castle.
As Mario's Wing Cap disappears, he uses the Giant Power Star to make Princess Peach appear. Peach wakes up and thanks Mario, by kissing him, and the cake she had promised before.
==Gameplay==
The aim of the game is to collect enough Power Stars to progress to new, previously inaccessible areas of the castle. The primary goal is to collect enough to reach the final battle and save Princess Peach from Bowser. Each level, or "course", holds six stars, plus one for collecting one hundred coins, which are obtained by completing a certain mission. The only clue to what this may be is in the star's title, which is often cryptic. Aspects of each course vary with each star; beyond this, the player is given free rein in exploring each world. Upon starting for the first time, Mario begins outside of the Mushroom Castle, a multi-floor hub mostly devoid of enemies and obstacles. Inside the castle are multiple rooms with paintings and other surfaces concealing portals to the game's various courses. There is a total of 120 Power Stars in the game, though only 70 need to be collected in order to complete the game. The Power Stars are split between the fifteen main courses, nine secret courses that are smaller and usually contain only one or two Stars, and various secrets inside the Mushroom Castle. Only a limited portion of the castle is explorable at first, but as Mario collects more Stars, he is able to open more rooms and unlock Bowser levels. Defeating Bowser in his first two levels opens the castle's basement and top floor, respectively.
Super Mario 64 introduced several abilities to the series, allowing Mario to crawl, Ground Pound, punch and kick, backflip, sideflip, wall-kick, long-jump, and slide, amongst others. These moves give the player greater freedom than in past games as regards ways that Mario can be controlled, introducing the idea of there being a number of alternative routes to arrive at any one place. These are additionally used to perform actions such as pressing down switches as well as harming enemies or reaching high or distant places. The game's use of the Nintendo 64 Controller's Analog Stick is another first for the Mario franchise and allows the player to move Mario at different speeds by controlling the stick. This allows Mario to walk slowly, which, as opposed to running, does not awaken sleeping enemies.
Caps are another aspect introduced to the gameplay in Super Mario 64, giving Mario the ability to fly, walk underwater or walk through certain barriers. They are turned on in short bursts and made available when activated with the switch associated with each one.
This game employs an eight-sided health meter called the Power Meter, which is depleted when Mario makes contact with enemies or obstacles, and is replenished by collecting coins, running through Spinning Hearts, or submerging Mario in a body of water. Like the previous games, Super Mario 64 employs a life system, although as the game saves after most progression tasks, the effect of a Game Over is marginal.
==Characters==
===Main characters===
*Mario
*Toads
*Princess Peach
===Supporting===
*Lakitu Bros.
*Bob-omb Buddies
*Koopa the Quick
*Hoot the Owl
*Mother Penguin
*Tuxie
*Big Penguin
*Headless Snowman
*MIPS
*Dorrie
*Yoshi
===Enemies===
====New====
*Amps
*Bomps
*Bookends
*Bubs
*Bubbas
*Bullies
*Chuckyas
*Fire Spitters
*Fwoosh
*Grindels
*Heave-Hos
*Killer Chairs
*Klepto
*Kuromames
*Mad Pianos
*Moneybags
*Mr. Blizzards
*Mr. Is
*Scuttlebugs
*Skeeters
*Snufits
*Spindel
*Spindrifts
*Sushis
*Tox Boxes
*Tweesters
*Unagis
*Whomps
====Returning====
*Banzai Bills
*Banzai Bill Blaster
*Beach Koopas
*Big Steelies
*Bob-ombs
*Boos
*Chain Chomp
*Grand Goombas
*Goombas
*Koopa Troopas
*Lakitus
*Micro Goombas
*Monty Moles
*Piranha Plants
*Podoboos
*Pokeys
*Spinys
*Swoopers
*Thwomps
*Ukikis
*Venus Fire Traps
===Mini-Bosses===
*Big Mr. I
*Big Bully
*Chill Bully
===Bosses===
*King Bob-omb
*Whomp King
*Bowser
*Big Boo
*Eyerok
*Wiggler
==Courses==
===Main courses===
*Bob-omb Battlefield
*Whomp's Fortress
*Jolly Roger Bay
*Cool, Cool Mountain
*Big Boo's Haunt
*Hazy Maze Cave
**Cavern of the Metal Cap
*Lethal Lava Land
*Shifting Sand Land
*Dire, Dire Docks
*Snowman's Land
*Wet Dry World
*Tall, Tall Mountain
*Tiny-Huge Island
*Tick Tock Clock
*Rainbow Ride
==Power-ups==
*Wing Cap
*Metal Cap
*Vanish Cap
*Koopa Shell
*1-Up
== Regional differences ==
==Gallery==
==Reception==
Aggregate scores 	Aggregate scores
GameRankings 	96%
Metacritic 	94/100
Review scores 	Review scores
AllGame 	5/5 stars
Computer and Video Games 	5/5 stars
Electronic Gaming Monthly 	38/40
EP Daily 	10/10
Famitsu 	39/40Orland, Kyle (October 24, 2007). "Famitsu Gives Super Mario Galaxy 38/40". Engadget. Oath Inc. Archived from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
Game Informer 	9.75/10 (1996)"Super Mario 64 Review". Game Informer. No. 40. Grapevine: GameStop. August 1996.
9/10 (2007)
GameFan 	400/400
GamePro 	5/5
GameRevolution 	B+"Super Mario 64 – N64". GameRevolution. AtomicOnline. Archived from the original on October 27, 2006. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
GameSpot 	9.4/10 (N64)
8/10 (Wii)Gerstmann, Jeff (July 12, 2011). "Super Mario 64 Virtual Console Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 24, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
Hyper 	95%
IGN 	9.8/10
N64 Magazine 	96%
Next Generation 	5/5 stars
Nintendo Life 	10/10
Official Nintendo Magazine	95%
Total! 	100/100"Super Mario 64". Total!. No. 57. September 1996. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via archive.org.
Digitiser 	96%"Digitiser's Top Games of 1997". Digitiser. London: Teletext Ltd. January 13, 1998. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved October 19, 2021 – via superpage58.com.
Maximum 	5/5 stars
Super Mario 64 received enthusiastic pre-release reception. GamePro commented on the 1995 prototype's smoothness, and how the action "was a blast", despite the game being only fifty percent complete at the time.The Whizz (February 1996). Nihei, Wes; Crotty, Janice; Skaggs, Kathy; Strodder, Chris; et al. (eds.). "The Ultra 64: Power Packed". GamePro. No. 89. Needham: International Data Group. pp. 20–21. Retrieved October 26, 2021 – via archive.org. Ed Semrad of Electronic Gaming Monthly agreed, praising the new 3D animation of Mario characters shown in only 2D before.Semrad, Ed (February 1996). "Ultra 64 Unveiled" (PDF). Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 79. Sendai Publishing. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2021. Larry Marcus, a source analyst for Alex. Brown & Sons, recalls Super Mario 64 being the most anticipated game of E3 1996, remembering a field of teenagers "jostling for a test run".Goodfellow, Kris (June 3, 1996). "Mario Is Looking Better With Age". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved November 6, 2021.
Super Mario 64 received critical acclaim, with a score of 94 out of 100 from review aggregator Metacritic based on thirteen reviews,"Super Mario 64 for Nintendo 64 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on December 5, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2018. and a score of 96% from review aggregator GameRankings, which ranked it the eighteenth best video game of all time based on twenty-two reviews."Super Mario 64 for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
The design, variety of controls and use of 3D gameplay received praise from video game publications.Lucas, Victor. "Super Mario 64". EP Daily. EP Media, Ltd. Archived from the original on May 1, 2004. Retrieved June 2, 2021.Davies, Jonathan; Overton, Wil; Ashton, James; Weaver, Tim; Nicholson, Zy (April 1997). "Super Mario 64". N64 Magazine. No. 1. Bath. pp. 44–45. Retrieved June 2, 2021 – via archive.org.Radakovic, Nebojsa (June 6, 2004). "Super Mario 64 Review". GameRevolution. Evolve Media. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018. Maximum found its strongest points were the sense of freedom and its replayability, comparing it to Super Mario World and citing its similar gimmick of allowing access to new areas upon finding switches.Hodgson, David S.J.; Jevons, Daniel (June 1996). Leadbetter, Richard; Harrod, Gary; Harrod, Warren; et al. (eds.). "Maximum Reviews: Super Mario 64". Maximum. No. 7. London: EMAP. pp. 116–117. Retrieved January 17, 2022 – via archive.org. One of GameFan's four reviewers, E. Storm, cited the water levels as "overjoy[ing]" and showed how Super Mario 64 delved into an "entirely new realm of gaming".Takuhi; Evil Lights; Orion; E. Storm (September 1996). Halverson, Dave; et al. (eds.). "Viewpoint". GameFan. Vol. 4, no. 9. Metropolis Media. p. 22. Retrieved June 2, 2021 – via archive.org. Official Nintendo Magazine called it "beautiful in both looks and design".Street, Tim (December 1997). Clays, Simon; Simmons, Jason; McComb, David; French, Jason; et al. (eds.). "Top Ten Buys for Xmas". Official Nintendo Magazine. London: EMAP. p. 6. Retrieved December 31, 2021 – via archive.org. Doug Perry of IGN agreed that it transitioned the series to 3D perfectly.Perry, Doug (September 25, 1996). "Super Mario 64 Review". IGN. Ziff Davis, LLC. Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2018. Electronic Gaming Monthly discussed the levels in their initial review, praising them for their size and challenge,Smith, Shawn; Hsu, Dan; Boyer, Crispin; Sushi-X (September 1996). Semrad, Ed; et al. (eds.). "Super Mario 64". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 86. Lombard: Ziff Davis, LLC. p. 24. Retrieved March 10, 2022 – via archive.org. and later ranked it the fourth best console game of all time, arguing that it had breached the entire genre of 3D gaming while working virtually flawlessly.Williams, Ken; Boyer, Crispin; Smith, Shawn; Hsu, Dan; Ricciardi, John; et al., eds. (November 1997). "100 Best Games of All Time". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 100. Lombard: Ziff Davis, LLC. pp. 155–156. Retrieved February 16, 2022 – via archive.org.[c]
Computer and Video Games editor Paul Davies praised the 3D environment, and said that it enhanced the interaction, and described the control scheme as intuitive and versatile.Davies, Paul (September 1996). Guise, Tom; Smith, Jaime; Newson, Mike; Lomas, Ed; et al. (eds.). "Super Mario 64". Computer and Video Games. No. 178. London: EMAP. p. 78. Retrieved June 2, 2021 – via archive.org. Total! hailed the gameplay as being so imaginative and having such variety that their reviewers were still "hooked" after one month.Weaver, Tim (September 1996). Atkins, Sean; Day, Christian (eds.). "Super Mario 64". Total!. No. 57. Bath. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via archive.org. Writing for AllGame, Jonti Davies commented on the diversity of the gameplay and the abundance of activities found in each course.Davies, Jonti. "Super Mario 64 – Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2021. Nintendo Life's Corbie Dillard agreed, calling the variety the game's "greatest genius".Dillard, Corbie (November 20, 2006). "Super Mario 64 (N64) Review". Nintendo Life. NLife Media. Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2021. Writing for GameRevolution, Nebojsa Radakovic described Super Mario 64 as one of the few "true" 3D platform games. N64 Magazine likened it to an enormous playground which was a pleasure to experiment in, but opined that the exploration element was slightly brought down by how many hints and tips there were. Victor Lucas of EP Daily agreed, praising the freedom, but suggesting players "skip all the sign posts".
Super Mario 64 also received praise for its graphics. GameSpot praised the graphics for being "clean yet simple" and not detracting from the details of the game world."Super Mario 64 Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. December 1, 1996. Archived from the original on February 15, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018. GamePro particularly praised the combination of unprecedented technical performance and art design, calling it "the most visually impressive game of all time".Scary Larry (October 1996). Nihei, Wes; Skaggs, Kathy; Strodder, Chris; Neves, Lawrence; et al. (eds.). "ProReview: Super Mario 64". GamePro. No. 87. Needham: International Data Group. pp. 74–75. Retrieved February 17, 2022 – via archive.org. Paul Davies described the graphics as "so amazing to see, you find yourself stopping to admire [them]". Jonti Davies called the visuals phenomenal, and the frame rate respectable.Davies, Jonti. "Super Mario 64 – Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved January 25, 2021. Doug Perry found the graphics simple but magnificent, a sentiment shared by Next Generation.West, Neil; Perry, Douglas; Charla, Chris; Lundrigan, Jeff; Wang, Eugene; et al., eds. (September 1996). "King of the Hill". Next Generation Magazine. Vol. 2, no. 21. New York City: Imagine Media. p. 147. Retrieved November 24, 2021 – via archive.org. Hyper reviewer Nino Alegeropoulos called it the best-looking console game to date and opined that its high resolution and frame rate for the time made it look "infinitely better than a cartoon".Alegeropoulos, Nino (March 1997). Toose, Dan; Soropos, George; Wildgoose, David (eds.). "Super Mario 64". Hyper. No. 41. Strawberry Hills: Nextmedia. pp. 44–47. Retrieved June 2, 2021 – via archive.org. Total! said that the graphics' lack of pixellation and jagged edges made it look like they were from a "top of the range graphics workstation".Weaver, Tim (September 1996). Atkins, Sean; Day, Christian (eds.). "Super Mario 64". Total!. No. 57. Bath. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via archive.org.
The camera system received mixed reviews. Next Generation found that Super Mario 64 was less accessible than previous Mario games, frustrated by the camera's occasional erratic movements and lack of optimal angle. Nebojsa Radakovic and Doug Perry added that the camera was sometimes blocked by or went through objects. Electronic Gaming Monthly's Dan Hsu, Shawn Smith, and Crispin Boyer all removed half a point from their scores, claiming that the camera sometimes could not move to a wanted angle or rapidly shifted in an undesirable manner, a criticism that returned in Electronic Gaming Monthly's 100 Best Games of All Time list. Game Informer stated in their 2007 re-review by present-day standards the camera "would almost be considered broken".Preston, Cathy (July 2007). "Retro Review – Super Mario 64". Game Informer. No. 171. Grapevine: GameStop. p. 114. Nintendo Power also noted the learning curve of the shifting camera.Miller, Kent; Munson, Terry; et al. (September 1996). Tilden, Gail; Swan, Leslie; Pelland, Scott (eds.). "Now Playing – September 1996". Nintendo Power. No. 88. Redmond: Nintendo of America. pp. 96–97. Retrieved February 17, 2022 – via archive.org. In contrast, Corbie Dillard claimed that the camera did not have any problems, and that it succeeded at helping the player traverse complex environments. This sentiment was shared by Total!, claiming that there were very few occasions where the camera was at a suboptimal angle.Weaver, Tim (September 1996). Atkins, Sean; Day, Christian (eds.). "Super Mario 64". Total!. No. 57. Bath. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via archive.org. Paul Davies acknowledged that he was critical of the camera, saying that in some occasions it was difficult to position ideally, but ultimately dismissed it as "one hiccup" of a "revolutionary" game.
=== Awards ===
Super Mario 64 won numerous awards, including various "Game of the Year" honors by members of the gaming media, and in Nintendo's own best-selling Player's Choice selection. It has been placed high on "the greatest games of all time" lists by many reviewers, including IGN,"IGN Top 100 Games 2007 § 5: Super Mario 64". IGN. Ziff Davis, LLC. 2007. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved February 13, 2018."IGN's Top 100 Games of All Time: 10–1". IGN. Ziff Davis, LLC. 2003. Archived from the original on March 6, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2018."IGN's Top 100 Games: 10–1". IGN. 2005. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2018.Game Informer,Marchiafava, Jeff (January 2, 2017). "Check Out 25 Years of Game Informer's GOTY Awards". Game Informer. GameStop. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2022. Edge,"The 100 Best Games To Play Today: 5–1". Edge. Bath. March 9, 2009. Archived from the original on October 29, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2018. Official Nintendo Magazine,East, Tom (March 2, 2009). "100 Best Nintendo Games – Part 6". Official Nintendo Magazine. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved February 14, 2018.Electronic Gaming Monthly,and Nintendo Power.Thomason, Steve; Hoffman, Chris; et al. (February 2006). Tsuboike, Yoshio; Pelland, Scott; Stein, Jessica Joffe; et al. (eds.). "NP Top 200". Nintendo Power. No. 200. Redmond: Nintendo of America. pp. 58–66. Retrieved February 17, 2022 – via archive.org.Electronic Gaming Monthly awarded it a Gold award in its initial review,Bettenhausen, Shane, ed. (January 2004). "The Ultimate Reviews Archive". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 174. Lombard: Ziff Davis, LLC. p. 189. Retrieved November 24, 2021 – via archive.org.and it won Electronic Gaming Monthly's Game of the Year for both editors' pick and readers' pick, and Nintendo 64 Game of the Year, Adventure Game of the Year, and Best Graphics.Semrad, Ed; Williams, Ken; Boyer, Crispin; Smith, Shawn; Hsu, Dan; et al., eds. (March 1997). "The Best of '96". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 92. Lombard: Ziff Davis, LLC. pp. 82–91. Retrieved February 16, 2022 – via archive.org.At the 1997 Computer Game Developers Conference, it was given Spotlight Awards for Best Use of Innovative Technology, Best Console Game, and Best Game of 1996.Charia, Chris; Anderson, Diana; Baggatta, Patrick; Bagundrigan, Lucky; Russo, Tom; et al., eds. (July 1997). "Spotlight Award Winners". Next Generation. No. 31. New York City: Imagine Media. p. 21. Retrieved June 9, 2020 – via archive.org.Maximum gave it a "Maximum Game of the Month Award" before its international release, ranking it the greatest game the magazine had ever reviewed. Digitiser ranked it the best game of 1997, above Final Fantasy VII as runner-up.
Year	Award publication 	Category 	Result	Ref.
1996	Maximum 	Game of the Month (June) 	Won 	
1996	Electronic Gaming Monthly 	Game of the Month (September) 	Won 	
1996	Electronic Gaming Monthly 	Gold Award 	Won 	
1996	Electronic Gaming Monthly 	Nintendo 64 Game of the Year 	Won 	
1996	Electronic Gaming Monthly 	Adventure Game of the Year 	Won 	
1996	Electronic Gaming Monthly 	Best Graphics 	Won 	
1996	Electronic Gaming Monthly 	Game of the Year 	Won 	
1996	Electronic Gaming Monthly 	Game of the Year 	Won 	
1996	Game Informer 	Game of the Year 	Won 	
1996	Spotlight Awards 	Game of the Year 	Won 	
1996	Spotlight Awards 	Game of the Year 	Won 	
1996	Spotlight Awards 	Best Use of Innovative Technology	Won 	
1996	Spotlight Awards 	Best Console Game 	Won 	
1997	Digitiser 	Game of the Year 	Won 	
1997	Computer and Video Games 	Game of the Year 	Won 	Lomas, Ed; Key, Steve; Huhtala, Alex (February 1998). Davies, Paul; Smallman, Adam; et al. (eds.). "1997 Golden Joysticks Awards: The Winners!". Computer and Video Games. No. 195. London: EMAP. p. 6. Retrieved February 18, 2022 – via archive.org.
1997	Golden Joystick Awards 	Game of the Year 	Won 	Lomas, Ed; Key, Steve; Huhtala, Alex (February 1998). Davies, Paul; Smallman, Adam; et al. (eds.). "1997 Golden Joysticks Awards: The Winners!". Computer and Video Games. No. 195. London: EMAP. p. 6. Retrieved February 18, 2022 – via archive.org.
1997	Golden Joystick Awards 	Game of the Year 	Won 	Lomas, Ed; Key, Steve; Huhtala, Alex (February 1998). Davies, Paul; Smallman, Adam; et al. (eds.). "1997 Golden Joysticks Awards: The Winners!". Computer and Video Games. No. 195. London: EMAP. p. 6. Retrieved February 18, 2022 – via archive.org.
1997	Golden Joystick Awards 	Best Looking Game 	Won 	Lomas, Ed; Key, Steve; Huhtala, Alex (February 1998). Davies, Paul; Smallman, Adam; et al. (eds.). "1997 Golden Joysticks Awards: The Winners!". Computer and Video Games. No. 195. London: EMAP. p. 6. Retrieved February 18, 2022 – via archive.org.
1997	Official Nintendo Magazine	Best Nintendo 64 Game 	Won 	Lomas, Ed; Key, Steve; Huhtala, Alex (February 1998). Davies, Paul; Smallman, Adam; et al. (eds.). "1997 Golden Joysticks Awards: The Winners!". Computer and Video Games. No. 195. London: EMAP. p. 6. Retrieved February 18, 2022 – via archive.org.
1998	ECCSELL Awards 	Gold Award 	Won 	"ECCSELL Awards Name Winners". GameSpot. ZDNet. February 12, 1999. Archived from the original on August 30, 1999. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
=== Fan Reception ===
WatchMojo ranked Super Mario 64 as the second best Super Mario game in their "Top 10 Mario Games of All Time" list countdown, right behind Super Mario Bros 3..Richardson, T. (2019, May 21). Top 10 Mario Games of All Time. WatchMojo. WatchMojo also ranked it as the seventh most hardest game in the series in their "10 HARDEST Super Mario Games" list countdown over on MojoPlays, and at the #2 spot in their "Every 3D Super Mario Game Ranked" video (right behind Super Mario Galaxy 2).Kline, A. (2023, Feb 5). The 10 HARDEST Super Mario Games. MojoPlays (WatchMojo).MojoPlays (WatchMojo). (2019). Every 3D Super Mario Game Ranked. YouTube. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
==Trivia==
*Contrary to popular belief, this game was technically NOT Charles Martinet's debut as Mario's voice actor - this instead happened in Mario's FUNdamentals. However, it is the first mainstream Mario game he voiced, and thus, is regarded as his effective debut in the role.
*Though false, the Gamers edition of the Guinness Book of World Records 2011 states that Super Mario Bros. was ported to the Nintendo 64, vaguely referencing Super Mario 64 being one of its sequels.
*This is the first Mario game to feature a method of invincibility other than a Starman.
**Although the Starman's music was retained for certain bonus stages, as well as when Mario possesses the Wing and Vanish Caps, or surfs on a Koopa Shell.
*This was the first Mario platformer to not feature Super Mushrooms and the first since Super Mario Bros. 2 to not feature Fire Flowers.
*Wrinkly Kong can sometimes be seen playing Super Mario 64 in her Save Cave in the Super Nintendo Entertainment System version of Donkey Kong Country 3: Dixie Kong's Double Trouble!, due to the "Behind the Castle Walls" music explaining it all.
*Super Mario 128 was supposed to be its sequel, but the game got cancelled and got repurposed for Pikmin, which technically makes Pikmin Super Mario 64’s "sequel".
*Pressing the A button on the "Press Start" screen that has Mario's face on it will cause a hand to appear, allowing the player to stretch Mario's ears, nose, cheeks, mouth, and the top of his head.
**Holding the R button will lock Mario's face in the stretched position.
*There are three grammar mistakes in the game:
**When Yoshi speaks to Mario at the end of the game, he says "Mario!!! It that really you???".
**When the player is one Star short of opening a Star Door, the game says, "You need 1 more stars".
**When trying to go through the Star Door on the third floor with less than 70 Stars, the game will say that you need 70 stars to unlock the door that leads to the endless stairs. However, the door will still open regardless of Stars.
*Boo's laugh is a high-pitched version of Bowser's laugh, most likely to save space.
*Tiny-Huge Island is a reference to Giant Land/Big Island from Super Mario Bros. 3.
*The song titled Bowser's Road from this game was remixed at certain parts in Super Smash Bros. Melee. This was later remixed for Super Mario Galaxy.
*Interestingly, when using both the Wing and Metal Cap at the same time, an unused texture of a metal wing for the Wing Cap will appear. But this is impossible in-game, as both power-ups are not featured in the same course.
*There is a glitch known to speed runners of Super Mario 64 as the "BLJ" or Backwards Long-jump, which when performed, causes the player to gain incredible speed. This is used to skip many parts of the game. This was patched in the Shindou version.
*This is one of the two 3D Mario games in the series to not feature Luigi; the other being Super Mario Sunshine.
**Despite this, there have been many rumors of Luigi being playable in the game. It was said that a player would have to run around the fountain 2401 times to unlock him, as fans believed that the translation on the fountain in the castle courtyard said, "L is real 2401", though these rumors was later proven false. This is very similar to when Waluigi was rumored to appear in the DS remake.
***More interestingly, Luigi was initially discussed for the game during the development period, but never went beyond discussion as the game was already proving to be quite a test on the N64's hardware just with Mario alone, so Luigi was cut.
****Luigi has actually been discovered in the code of Super Mario 64, but he is unfinished.
*Area 64 in Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga may be a reference to Super Mario 64 as well as Area 51 a real life US Military Base.
*Super Mario 64 is currently the only mainline 3D Super Mario game where Mario is the only playable character and doesn’t have any ally assistance.
**In Super Mario Sunshine, Mario gets assistance from F.L.U.D.D, in Super Mario 64 DS, Yoshi, Luigi, and Wario are also playable characters, in Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Galaxy 2, Mario gets assistance from Baby Luma, additionally Luigi is also a playable character, in Super Mario 3D Land, Luigi is also a playable character, in Super Mario 3D World, Luigi, Peach, Toad (and later Rosalina too) are playable characters, and in Super Mario Odyssey, Mario gets assistance from Cappy.
==References==
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Category:Super Mario series
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Category:3D Platforming games
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Category:Super Mario 3D All-Stars