Super Mario 64

*Super Mario 64* is a 3D-platforming action-adventure game created by Nintendo and released in 1996 (1997 for other countries). It was released in Japan and North America "as a launch title for the [Nintendo 64]." "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," according to the MarioWiki, and has sold over 11 million copies globally.

## Plot

The following text is taken from the *Super Mario 64* instruction booklet. The following colors have been given to distinguish who is speaking; Mario (red), Princess Peach (pink), Toad (blue), and Bowser (orange). Black is narration.

"Mario, please come to the castle. I've baked a cake for you. Yours truly, Princess Toadstool."

"Wow, an invitation from Peach! I'll head out right away. I hope she can wait for me!"

Mario is so excited to receive the invitation from the Princess, who lives in the Mushroom Castle, that he quickly dresses in his best and leaves right away.

"Hmmm, something's not quite right here... It's so quiet..."

Shaking off his uneasy premonition, Mario steps into the silent castle, where he is greeted by the gruff words,

"No one's home! Now scram! Bwa, ha, ha."

The sound seems to come from everywhere.

"Who's there?! I've heard that voice somewhere before..."

Mario begins searching all over the castle. Most of the doors are locked, but finding one open, he peeks inside. Hanging on the wall is the largest painting he has ever seen, and from behind the painting comes the strangest sound that he has ever heard...

"I think I hear someone calling. What secrets does this painting hold?"

Without a second thought, Mario jumps at the painting. As he is drawn into it, another world opens before his very eyes.

And so begins the grandest of all adventures!

Once inside the painting, Mario finds himself in the midst of battling Bob-ombs. According to the Bob-omb Buddies, someone...or something...has suddenly attacked the castle and stolen the "Power Stars". These stars protect the castle; with the stars in his control, the beast plans to take over the Mushroom Castle.

To help him accomplish this, he plans to convert the residents of the painting world into monsters as well. If nothing is done, all those monsters will soon begin to overflow from inside the painting.

"A plan this maniacal, this cunning...this must be the work of Bowser!"

Princess Toadstool and Toad are missing, too. Bowser must have taken them and sealed them inside the painting. Unless Mario recovers the Power Stars immediately, the inhabitants of this world will become Bowser's army.

"Well, Bowser's not going to get away with it, not as long as I'm around!"

Stolen Power Stars are hidden throughout the painting world. Use your wisdom and strength to recover the Power Stars and restore peace to the Mushroom Castle.

"Mario! You are the only one we can count on."

## Trivia

* This article is the 64th article on the Spaghetti Wiki.
* Despite its name, *Super Mario 64* is a 32-bit game.
* In 1997, a Rumble Pak-compatible version of *Super Mario 64* was released in Japan, titled *Super Mario 64: Shindō Pak Taiō.*
* In 1999, *Super Mario 64 2*, alternatively known as *Super Mario 64 II* or *Super Mario 128* was planned to be released on the Nintendo 64DD. However, it was cancelled as the Nintendo 64DD proved to be a commercial failure.
	+ This could also be related to a cancelled Nintendo 64DD port of *Super Mario 64* titled *Super Mario 64 Disk Ban*.
* In 2004, the game was remade for the Nintendo DS as *Super Mario 64 DS*. This version of the game includes new characters, including Wario, Luigi, and Yoshi.
* On September 18, 2020, *Super Mario 64*, alongside *Super Mario Sunshine* and *Super Mario Galaxy*, were ported to the Nintendo Switch under the title *Super Mario 3D All-Stars*. The game was created to celebrate the 35th anniversary of *Super Mario Bros.*
	+ The *Super Mario 64: Shindō Pak Taiō* version of *Super Mario 64* was used in *Super Mario 3D All-Stars*.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Super Mario Wiki. "*Super Mario 64*." https://www.mariowiki.com/Super\_Mario\_64
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Fandom. MarioWiki. "*Super Mario 64*." https://mario.fandom.com/wiki/Super\_Mario\_64
3. ↑ Nintendo. *Super Mario 64.* instruction booklet, pg. 4-5.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Super Mario Wiki. "*Super Mario 64 2*." https://www.mariowiki.com/Super\_Mario\_64\_2
5. ↑ Super Mario Wiki. "*Super Mario 3D All-Stars*." https://www.mariowiki.com/Super\_Mario\_3D\_All-Stars
6. ↑ YouTube. Nintendo Wire. September 13, 2020. "Super Mario 3D All-Stars May Include Some Changes to Mario 64 | Shindou Version Confirmed?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWWZ0eIXv-Q