Review

Super Mario 64 DS

By Bro Buzz
November 29, 2004 06:59 AM PST
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Super Mario 64 DS packs a bunch of fun as well as fond memories into a small package.

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Revisiting Super Mario 64 is about as good a reason as any to pick up a DS. It's not quite a port of the original, but all the essential elements are there. You get to return to Princess Peach's Mushroom castle with all of its transdimensional wall paintings and secret, locked doors. The 3D gameplay, level challenges, and secondary Mario world character all return intact.

But there's abundant DS freshness, too. This time Wario and Luigi join the...er, Mario party, and Yoshi carries the ball on a quest to track them down inside the magical castle paintings. The classic visuals are impressive, having been touched up for DS duty. The sounds are superb and classic Mario. They're particularly sweet in surround mode with a set of headphones.

Thumb Sprints

Your goal in the single-player Adventure mode is 150 stars this time, and you're going to have to work to get them. It's not so much the challenge of the game's puzzles as it is getting used to the controls. Three control settings use the touch screen and stylus, the touch screen and thumb, or a more traditional keypad layout.

With the touch screen there's a fine art to mastering precise movements, running fast and slow, and steering your direction as the game cam wings around the 3D space. There's nothing wrong with the touch screen that a few hours of practice doesn't alleviate, but true to the game's console roots, you yearn for a control pad throughout.

The Touchy Feelies

The mini-games in Rec Room mode feel much more intuitive, having been designed with the touch screen and stylus in mind. You get eight to start with and you unlock more in Adventure mode. They're simple but compelling puzzle challenges that will improve your dexterity with the stylus, too.

The wireless multiplayer VS mode is a nifty diversion, a way to get some DS action with friends. You only need one Super Mario game card to enter a Mario-style shoving match to beat the Stars out of your buddies.

You can never get enough of a classic. Super Mario 64 is essentially here with enough DS goodies to make a compelling dual-screen package. Nintendo has a Mario Bros. game designed for DS brewing, and after playing Mario 64 DS that sounds-a like-a good idea.