GENRE
	Platformer
	DEVELOPER
	Nintendo
	PUBLISHER
	Nintendo
	LOCAL WIRELESS MULTI-PLAY
	Yes
	Wi-Fi/GLOBAL ONLINE MULTI-PLAY
	No
	MICROPHONE
	No
	BUY NOW AT

More than eight years later, we're finally given the power to hold one of the most influential video games in our hands. No longer is there a need for lousy cords, bulky cartridges, or pesky televisions. This is the here and this is the now. With the launch of the Nintendo DS comes Super Mario 64 DS, which is easily one of the best Mario platformers since its original debuted on the Nintendo 64 in September of 1996. While it doesn't offer the same revolutionary feeling as the original did, for obvious reasons, it still holds a significant weight as the best launch title for the Nintendo DS this week.

visuals

Featuring a completely reanimated world, smoother textures, and rebuilt character models, Super Mario 64 DS looks better than its predecessor by leaps and bounds. Mario and Yoshi look brilliant, filled with plenty of polygons to keep them looking happy. While exploring a fully three dimensional world isn't as thrilling as it was eight years ago, Nintendo has managed to use that to their advantage. This isn't just a port. You can think of it as a digitally remastered transfer. Everything here is filled with lively bright colors, bringing the world that much more life than the original. As the best-looking handheld title out there, Super Mario 64 DS is certainly a sign of things to come.

audio

This game utilizes the stereo sound on the Nintendo DS to full effect. The game sounds amazing in every respect. The sound effects are produced to crystal clarity, although most of it is simply recycled from other Mario titles. That really shouldn't surprise anyone and it's certainly not a bad thing. The ambient sound effects, however, is what makes Super Mario 64 DS shine. While you won't be dumbstruck when you start out exploring the outside of Peach's Castle, you certainly will be when you hear what's outside of it. Birds are singing from every direction and the water is flowing. The music is completely memorable and sounds absolutely terrific. After years of suffering through the quiet speakers on the Game Boy Advance, the Nintendo DS belts out the sound with magnificence.

gameplay

Super Mario 64 DS opens up much differently than its classic predecessor. Mario, Luigi, and Wario all arrive at Peach's Castle after being invited. After a brief scuttle, they disappear into the giant castle and aren't heard from for quite some time. It's up to Yoshi to rescue them, as well as the missing Princess Peach. Don't worry, though, as Yoshi is not only awesome, but he's also just as competent as Mario is in combat. With the ability to swallow, lay eggs and throw them, he's a powerhouse of lizard-horse-frog muscle. Jumping is practically the same as Mario, although he does have the ability to jump a little higher. After about an hour or less of gameplay, you'll be able to unlock the ability to play as Mario. Eventually, you'll also be able to unlock Luigi and Wario. All of these characters control the same, although Wario is a bit slow and can't jump as high. He is much stronger than the other three, however. Luigi jumps just as high as Yoshi and Mario is the only one with the agility required to jump off of walls.

The actual control mechanics are split up into three different modes: Standard, Touch, and Dual-Hand. In Standard Mode, you'll be able to control your character using either the D-Pad or the touch screen while using the other buttons for abilities. For those of you who are skeptical about controlling your character using the D-Pad, you have no need to worry. The control is just as responsive as the touch screen. In Touch Mode, you use the touch screen exclusively for movement. Finally, in Dual-Hand mode, you can use the touch screen in more significant ways to control your character as well as the camera. If you're left handed, the D-Pad turns into the buttons you need to press for the character abilities. To be honest, I've preferred using the Standard Mode with the D-Pad. The character is just as responsive and the touch screen feels a little off. If there are a bunch of enemies roaming around, the touch screen can sometimes get in the way of evading or defeating them. If I'm not using Standard Mode, I prefer Dual-Hand Mode over Touch Mode. Not because I'm left handed, but because it feels more comfortable than Touch. Each control method can be accessed by pressing the select button at any time during gameplay.

As mentioned earlier, there is a ton of extra content stuffed into this remastered version of the classic platformer. Starting off, there are 30 extra stars to collect. This may not seem like much, but expanding the number from 120 to 150 is definitely something to applaud. The gameplay is also affected, although not by much. The power flowers give different abilities to different characters. For example, Mario will blow into a balloon shape and float around to reach high places. Yoshi can breathe fire, which is certainly a very cool ability for the dinosaur-donkey thing. Wario gains the ability to turn into metal, much in the same way Mario did in the original. Speaking of which, Luigi turns invisible much like Mario did eight years ago as well. Also new to the game is the Rec Room, where you'll have the option to play eight available mini-games along with 28 unlockable mini-games as well. These are quick, simple and fun distractions from the overall Adventure and can be just as fun as the game itself. In fact, one of the main reasons to play through the adventure completely is to unlock each available mini-game. It's definitely worth your time in and of itself.

multiplayer

One of the more impressive aspects of the "revamped" version of the classic game is the multiplayer. While the option certainly wasn't developed to its fullest potential, it's still a much better feature than having no multiplayer whatsoever. The way it works is the player and three other nearby DS owners can download the game off of one copy of the game, otherwise known as a game card. After selecting one of three locations, the players then compete to collect as many stars as they can before time expires. This includes attacking your opponents and collecting their dropped stars. It's fun to play around with this option and it certainly shows how simple it is to connect wirelessly with a Nintendo DS, but other than that, the multiplayer leaves something to be desired. It's fun, but it's not as addictive as it could be.

overall

Whoever says that Nintendo is for kids hasn't played Super Mario 64. The game is filled with enough challenge to keep even the most experienced gamer on their toes. There's With a huge adventure that will take dozens of hours to complete, along with 36 different mini-games and single-card multiplayer, Super Mario 64 DS is easily the best title on the Nintendo DS right now. The control issues with the touch screen aren't nearly as damaging to the experience as some may think. The game plays well, has buckets filled with adventure and anyone who has ever played the game will be wanting to play it again in their hands. Super Mario 64 DS is a treasure that will not soon be forgotten.

9.2/10