Super Mario 64 Review | One of the Most Influential Games of All Time
Wow. This might be with nostalgia glasses, but after yet another playthrough of Super Mario 64, all I can think about is what a phenomenal…
Wow. This might be with nostalgia glasses, but after yet another playthrough of Super Mario 64, all I can think about is what a phenomenal experience this game always is. The levels and objectives are themed excellently, scored beautifully, and are succinct, and fun. The puzzles, platforming, power-ups, everything is dialed in to near perfection. It’s one of those games that defined an entire genre, that’s how remarkably good it is. It’s one that any well-informed gamer ought to play for themselves if they have not yet had the chance to do so.
Those glowing remarks aside, it’s a game that has been greatly affected by the sands of time. It doesn’t take much to get frustrated at “mis-inputs” that you may not feel are justified. Maybe the camera won’t cooperate. Perhaps you’ll miss the jump or die to something dumb. I feel like they just didn’t have the technology to give you full control of the character and camera. Because of that, for me, it was easy to get frustrated at the game because it’s not hard to justify my game over as the game’s fault. An example that makes me seeth with frustration: is Tick Tock Clock. Here’s a level that I wager for all players will show just how poorly this has aged with its restrictive camera and clunky control. I rolled game-overs so many times when I was trying for those 100 coins. BLEH. Sure, these issues can be fixed with mods, but I’m out here playing 3D collection with just nostalgia and sheer will.
But man. My dumb gripes aside, I still love playing this game. This is such a staple of 3D platformers and collectathons and it serves as such a foundational piece of my gaming history that it’s easy to look past many of the flaws, and just enjoy the pure fun that this game brings to the table. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve completed it, and how it will always have a place in my heart, and on my shelf.