Super Mario 64

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This article is about the original Nintendo 64 game. For the Nintendo DS remake, see Super Mario 64 DS.
Super Mario 64
North American box art of Super Mario 64.
For alternate box art, see the game's gallery.
Developer Nintendo EAD
Publisher Nintendo
Platform(s) Nintendo 64, Nintendo 64DD, Virtual Console (Wii, Wii U), Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online
Release date Nintendo 64:
Template:Release Virtual Console (Wii):
Template:Release Virtual Console (Wii U):
Template:Release Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online:
Template:Release[?]
Language(s) English (United States)
French (France)
German
Japanese
Simplified Chinese
Genre 3D platformer, action-adventure
Rating(s)
ESRB:K-A - Kids to Adults
PEGI:3 - Three years and older
CERO:A - All ages
ACB:G - General
Mode(s) Single player
Input
Nintendo 64:
iQue Player:
Wii:
Wii U:
Nintendo Switch:

Super Mario 64 is a 3D action-adventure platform game released for the Nintendo 64 in 1996 for Japan and North America and in 1997 for Europe and Australia. It is the eighth entry in the Super Mario series.[1] This game was one of two (three in Japan) launch titles for the Nintendo 64, along with Pilotwings 64, which helped drive initial sales of the console. Despite its name, Super Mario 64 runs in 32-bit, like most Nintendo 64 games at the time. Since its release, Super Mario 64 has been widely acclaimed as one of the greatest and most important games of all time.[2][3][4]

In entering the third dimension, Super Mario 64 largely eschews the obstacle course-based design of the 2D Mario platformers for a mission structure and gameplay focused on exploring a larger area. Though not the first 3D platform game, Super Mario 64 codified many of the controls and design conventions of the genre.[5] Being the first 3D Super Mario game, Super Mario 64 has introduced several moves, including triple-jumping, ground-pounding, long-jumping, diving, and side-somersaulting, which would be used in most subsequent installments of the Super Mario series. Punching and kicking were also introduced but would not appear in any later title. The game popularized Charles Martinet's portrayal as Mario (being the first game of the Super Mario series to feature his voice) and Princess Toadstool's name as Peach in the West, and made them both series standards.

In 1996, a Nintendo 64DD version of the game was shown at Shoshinkai 1996.[6] A sequel, named Super Mario 64 2, was being developed for the Nintendo 64DD, but it was canceled due to the 64DD's commercial failure.

On November 17, 2003, Super Mario 64 was rereleased for the iQue Player as one of the launch titles, and a timed demo of the game was bundled with every iQue Player. The game was digitally rereleased for the Wii's Virtual Console service in November 2006 and for the Wii U's Virtual Console service in April 2015. Super Mario 64 was among the first games released on both Virtual Console services.

A sequel titled Super Mario Sunshine was developed for the Nintendo GameCube and released in 2002. In 2004, a remake was released for the Nintendo DS, titled Super Mario 64 DS. It has several differences, notably the inclusion of Luigi, Yoshi, and Wario as playable characters. An emulation of the 1997 rerelease of the game is bundled in with Super Mario 3D All-Stars for the Nintendo Switch, though with upscaled graphics and a redrawn HUD. The original game is one of the launch titles for Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online.

As of 2015, Super Mario 64 has sold over 11 million copies worldwide[7] and is marked as the best-selling Nintendo 64 game. The game became the second-best-selling game on the Wii's Virtual Console after Super Mario Bros., as of June 2007.[8]

Storyline

Intro Princess Toadstool Peach
The Princess's letter
Mario facing the picture of Bob-omb Battlefield
Mario in front of a painting, which serves as an entrance to a level

The following is the story given on pages 4 and 5 of the Super Mario 64 instruction booklet. The colors given in the instruction booklet signify who is talking: red, hotpink, orange, and blue, with black being narration.

hotpink

red
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.

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

orange
The sound seems to come from everywhere.

red
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...

red
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.

red
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.

red
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.

blue

Gameplay

The player controls Mario. In addition to his jump and a basic punch string, Mario's repertoire includes a variety of advanced acrobatic moves (many of them carried over from the 1994 game Donkey Kong) accomplished through precise timing and various combinations of the analog stick and the jump button, such as the somersaulting Triple Jump and the low but far-ranged Long Jump. Eschewing the "Super Mario to Small Mario" mechanic found in most of the previous mainline games, Super Mario 64 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.

When the player starts a game, Mario starts off outside 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. The main goal of the game is to collect Power Stars. 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. The main courses contain six numbered missions each plus a hidden Power Star for collecting 100 coins. 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.

The game employs a mission-based structure. When the player enters a main course, a screen shows them the Stars they have collected and the newest mission unlocked, each having a title hinting at the mission tasks. Missions vary widely in nature, ranging from defeating enemies to reaching a point of interest on the map to racing friendly characters, though every course features a mission that requires collecting eight Red Coins scattered around the map. Accomplishing a mission rewards the player with a Power Star; collecting it boots Mario back to the room he came from, although collecting 100-Coin Stars allows him to stay on the map. The fifteen main courses consist of large open worlds, with many points of interest and paths, and as such, many of the missions can be completed out of order. Some missions, however, can be completed only by selecting a specific scenario from the course-selection screen, as to prompt the appearance or disappearance of a character or object needed to complete the task.

The courses feature various enemies who chase or attack Mario on sight. Most enemies can be defeated by kicking, punching, or jumping on them and leave coins when defeated; some missions also require Mario to defeat a specific type of enemy. Multiple missions involve fighting a large boss, whose defeat usually involves a puzzle or more advanced maneuvering than standard enemies. Not all characters Mario can encounter are hostile, however. Friendly NPCs include Toads sealed inside the castle's walls who give hints or backstory when spoken to, Bob-omb Buddies who give clearance to use a cannon on the course, and mission-specific characters who challenge Mario to a race or ask him to fetch an object in exchange for a Power Star.

Various power-ups can help Mario on his adventure. Koopa Shells can be ridden on land, water, or lava to provide temporary invincibility, and by hitting Cap Switches found in the secret courses, Mario can activate blocks containing the Wing Cap, Vanish Cap, and Metal Cap, whose powers are necessary to complete many of the missions. As the game is a showcase title for a new console and the first 3D Super Mario game, many aspects of the game showcase the Nintendo 64's features. Multiple sections take advantage of the analog stick's precision requiring Mario to walk slowly over narrow passageways or tiptoe to sneak up on enemies. Some bridges and platforms sway under Mario's weight.

Controls

Nintendo 64

Super Mario 64 uses a majority of the buttons on the Nintendo 64 Controller; the only buttons not used are the Control Pad and L Button.

  • Control Stick – Move Mario/cursor, climb poles, angle camera in second-person mode, fly (when wearing the Wing Cap)
  • A Button – Jump, swim, confirm
  • B Button – Punch, dive, grab, throw, cancel
  • Z ButtonCrouch
  • Left C Button, Right C Button – Move camera
  • Up C Button – Zoom in, enter second-person mode (which allows the player to look around)
  • Down C Button – Zoom out
  • R Button – Toggle camera mode
  • START Button – Pause the game, show Power Star list (when in the castle) or pause menu (when in courses)

Wii (Classic Controller)

  • Classic Controller Left Stick – Move Mario/cursor, climb poles, angle camera in second-person mode, fly (when wearing the Wing Cap)
  • Classic Controller a Button – Jump, swim, confirm
  • Classic Controller b Button - Punch, dive, grab, throw, cancel
  • Classic Controller L Button – Crouch
  • Classic Controller Right Stick (left/right) – Move camera
  • Classic Controller Right Stick (up) – Zoom in, enter second-person mode (which allows the player to look around)
  • Classic Controller Right Stick (down) – Zoom out
  • Classic Controller R Button – Toggle camera mode
  • Plus Button – Pause the game, show Power Star list (when in the castle) or pause menu (when in courses)

Wii (GameCube controller)

  • Control Stick – Move Mario/cursor, climb poles, angle camera in second-person mode, fly (when wearing the Wing Cap)
  • A Button – Jump, swim, confirm
  • B Button – Punch, dive, grab, throw, cancel
  • L Button – Crouch
  • C Stick (left/right) – Move camera
  • C Stick (up) – Zoom in, enter second-person mode (which allows the player to look around)
  • C Stick (down) – Zoom out
  • R Button – Toggle camera mode
  • START/PAUSE Button – Pause the game, show Power Star list (when in the castle) or pause menu (when in courses)

Wii U (default)

The Wii U Virtual Console version's controls can be customized.

  • Left Stick – Move Mario/cursor, climb poles, angle camera in second-person mode, fly (when wearing the Wing Cap)
  • A Button – Jump, swim, confirm
  • B Button – Punch, dive, grab, throw, cancel
  • L Button – Crouch
  • Right Stick (left/right) – Move camera
  • Right Stick (up) – Zoom in, enter second-person mode (which allows the player to look around)
  • Right Stick (down) – Zoom out
  • R Button – Toggle camera mode
  • Plus Button – Pause the game, show Power Star list (when in the castle) or pause menu (when in courses)

Additional moves

Mario punching and kicking
Mario punching and kicking
Mario performing a Sweep Kick in Super Mario 64.
Mario sweep-kicking

To navigate the courses more efficiently and complete certain missions, Mario has to use several moves. Along with the standard moves listed above, there are several additional moves that can be done by using button combinations.

In the following list, a "→" (right arrow) shows buttons to press in succession, and a "+" (plus sign) shows buttons to press simultaneously.

Locations

Setting

"Miniature Japanese garden" from a small temple in Minato, Tokyo. It is an example of a hokaniwa, or "box garden", that is the basis for the level design in most 3D Super Mario games and many other 3D action-adventure games.EXIF Info:Nikon DfLens: 24-70mm F/2.8GFocal Length: 24mmAperture: F/2.8Shutter Speed: 1/800sISO Sensitivity: 400Tiny-Huge Island 64.png
A photograph of a hokaniwa[image 1] (left) compared to a screenshot of Tiny-Huge Island (right). The design principals of the former are the cited influence behind the courses in the game.

Super Mario 64 takes place within the walls of the Mushroom Castle in the Mushroom Kingdom. It is the first Super Mario game to explicitly include the Mushroom Kingdom as a location since Super Mario Bros. 3. The game's levels, called "courses," are not naturally occurring places but were created by Bowser using the Power Stars he stole from Princess Peach. Most of them are accessed through paintings that hang in the castle's walls, but some are more cryptically hidden or require the player to accomplish a task in the castle before becoming accessible. Some paratextual material and subsequent titles present the courses introduced in this game as visitable places outside the paintings.

Generally, a course is a sprawling location with interactive environmental elements and several levels of elevation. Courses often have subareas and collectibles obscured in the landscape that passively encourage the player to rotate the camera and explore. Most courses feature prominent landmarks, such as the mountain on the Bob-omb Battlefield and the volcano in Lethal Lava Land, that provide the player with a consistent point of reference that mitigates their chance of getting lost.[9] Like its more immediate predecessors, courses are themed after real-life ecosystems (i.e., deserts, mountains, seas) and more fantastical settings (i.e., haunted houses, clocktowers, rainbow roads in the sky). The theme informs the types of objects that can be interacted with in the level, the types of enemies that can be encountered, and the non-playable characters that can be spoken to. For example, cactus enemies, a condor, and quicksand are in the desert-themed Shifting Sand Land. Penguins, slippery ice, and deep snow appear on Cool, Cool Mountain and Snowman's Land. Most courses contain switches and strikable objects that modify elements of the course, such as the Crystal Taps in Wet-Dry World.

Unlike the levels of prior two-dimensional entries, the courses in this game are open-ended and largely do not funnel the player towards one goal. This was an intentional departure from the level design principals of prior games because the development team did not believe they could be replicated for a fun experience in a three-dimensional environment. Director and series creator Shigeru Miyamoto wanted Super Mario 64 to be a game where players "create their own vision," a decision partially influenced by the technical difficulty of making a precise jump in a 3D environment.[10][11][9] This mindset manifested in levels where players were largely free to interact with the world in ways they wanted to, with larger platforms and sprawling spaces that encouraged exploration rather than carry out precise actions to reach a goal. The courses themselves were created using hakoniwa or "box garden" design principals.[12][11][note 1][9][13] A hakoniwa is a intricately-arranged miniature garden within an enclosed space, with layers of depth and detail that become apparent to an onlooker when carefully examined.[14][15][13] Applying these principals allowed the development team to create complex levels that surprise players, another important tenet during development.[10][11][9] In the West, where creating miniature gardens is not as culturally prevalent, these types of levels are most often likened to sandboxes.[13]

Courses

Animated screenshot of Mario jumping into the painting for Bob-omb Battlefield from Super Mario 64.
Mario jumping into the painting for the Bob-omb Battlefield

Most of the courses are accessed through paintings inside the Mushroom Castle, the hub world of the game. The surface of a painting ripples like water when near, and Mario is brought to the course it represents by physically jumping through it. Accessing levels in this manner is a departure from the overworld system in previous platform games (see below). However, the castle is divided into several sections that are analogous to the world structure of proceeding games, where multiple levels are available to the player on a single section and the player must complete a boss-dedicated course in order to gain access to the next one. As Mario advances through the castle, he encounters some courses that are accessed through portals other than paintings, such as Shifting Sand Land, which is accessed through what looks like a brick wall at a dead end in the basement, and Tick Tock Clock, which is entered through a clock face. The locations of courses on subsequent floors are generally more complex and are puzzles in themselves, such as the painting for Snowman's Land that is viewable only through a mirror.[16]

Rather than present a unilateral scenario that leads to a single spatially-fixed goal, most courses in the game host multiple objectives called "missions" that each have a goal in a different location from each other. For most courses, entering a painting (or equivalency) brings the player to a mission-selection screen, where selecting one sends Mario to the course within the confines of the mission's specific scenario and its unique goal. In nearly all courses, this goal is a Power Star, a collectible token resembling the Super Star of prior entries. Touching one completes the level and returns Mario to the castle. The number of Power Stars collected is tracked by the game and communicated to the player on the user interface in the upper right corner of the screen. Accumulating Power Stars is how new courses become accessible to the player. On the first floor, some ★ doors that seal away certain paintings open only after Mario has collected a specified number of Stars. Mario can access a new floor only after clearing the current one's Bowser course, itself becoming accessible only after a specified number of Power Stars has been obtained. However, there are 120 obtainable Power Stars in a game that requires only 70 to access the final level. The player has some discretion on how many or which ones are obtained to finish the game, as well as the order.

In most courses, one mission correlates with one Power Star, and its name on the mission-selection screen hints at the Star's location in the course. However, some Power Stars can be encountered outside their dedicated missions and collected. Some mission-dedicated Power Stars become available to the player only once they have cleared specific missions (e.g., Footrace with Koopa the Quick becomes available only after Big Bob-omb on the Summit has been completed) or accomplish tasks outside the paintings (e.g., striking the Cap Switch in the Cavern of the Metal Cap makes the titular power-up accessible in Through the Jet Stream, in which it is not optional). Certain actions completed within a course permanently change elements within it regardless of the mission subsequently played. Recurring examples are the cannons found in most courses, which Mario can enter and launch from to reach distant areas. A cannon becomes useable in a course after Mario has spoken to a Bob-omb Buddy, a friendly non-playable character that controls the cannon, and it remains accessible for all subsequent revisits.

Like inSuper Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and a departure from previous Super Mario games, there is no time limit in effect within courses, but there are a few cases where there is one. For example, Blue Coins appear for only a brief period of time once a Blue Coin Block is struck, and Mario must outrun Koopa the Quick in order to earn a Power Star. All power-ups in this game change Mario's form for a limited time, and one cannot be brought outside a course even if he completes it while still under its effect—another similarity to Yoshi's Island.

There are two different types of courses in Super Mario 64.

  • Main courses[17] contain six dedicated missions and an unlisted 100-coin mission. Some of the dedicated missions build off each other environmentally or narratively. (This means the events that transpire in the completion of one mission are reflected in the events of the subsequent mission.) However, some Power Stars can be encountered before the mission-dedicated one and can be collected, resulting in some instances where the Stars are obtained out of the intended "order." These courses are the most intricate levels in the game. Most include objects that can enable quick traversal between areas, such as cannons and Warp Points. Some courses include accessible subareas, such as the volcano in Lethal Lava Land and the pyramid in Shifting Sand Land. There are 15 main courses in the game, and they are the only levels explicitly numbered and listed on the pause menu.
  • Mini courses[17][18] are smaller and structured more like traditional obstacle courses that emphasize precise platforming. They lack dedicated missions to select, and most contain only one Power Star. Power Stars obtained in mini courses are counted together as "Secret Stars" on the pause menu. Mini courses can further be classified into three subtypes, as detailed below.
    • Bowser courses[19] lead to an arena where Mario must defeat Bowser. Each Bowser course features a Power Star obtained by collecting eight Red Coins, but this does not complete the level. In the first two courses, defeating Bowser awards Mario a Big Key, a different kind of token that completes the level when touched. The Big Key is used to permanently unlock the Key Door to another floor in the castle. In Bowser in the Sky, the final course, defeating Bowser releases the Jumbo Star. Collecting it does not contribute to the player's Power Star total, instead freeing Princess Peach. There are three Bowser courses in the whole game, one for each floor.
    • Secret courses[20] are cryptically hidden in the castle. All secret courses have at least one Power Star to collect, with the sole exception being The Princess's Secret Slide, which has two. None of these courses are accessed through paintings, and they often require the player to investigate a space within the castle to find.[16] There are three in the game.
    • "Switch courses" are where Mario is under the effect of a power-up immediately upon entering a course and is needed to reach a Cap Switch. When one is ground-pounded, it causes the power-up to permanently become accessible within the main courses. They are analogous to the Switch Palaces in Super Mario World, though unlike in them, striking the switch does not make Mario exit the course. These are the only courses in the game where Mario can fall down a pit without losing a life; he is instead brought back to the castle.

There are eight courses on each floor. At least four of them are main courses, and two are mini courses. One of the mini courses is always a Bowser course. Including the Mushroom Castle, there are 25 courses in the game. The chart below lists all of them. Each one is provided with a screenshot, a brief description, and a list of its missions. The order that the courses and missions are listed follows their organization in the Super Mario 64 Player's Guide.[21] Only the names of the missions in main courses are provided in-game. When available, the missions that lack in-game names, such as the 100-coin missions, are also derived from the Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Where no such name exists, the mission assumes the name of its course.

Courses
Assembled texture of the main hall's wall in Mushroom Castle from Super Mario 64. First Floor and Mezzanine
01. Bob-omb Battlefield
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7 Total number of accessible cannons×6 Total number of boss battles×1
Missions
Screenshot of Bob-omb Battlefield from Super Mario 64. Power Star Big Bob-omb on the Summit Power Star Footrace with Koopa the Quick
Power Star Shoot to the Island in the Sky Power Star Find the 8 Red Coins
Power Star Mario Wings to the Sky Power Star Behind Chain Chomp's Gate
Power Star Treasure in the Sky[22]
Grassy fields surrounding a spiraled mountain. A battle is waged here between the peaceful Bob-omb Buddies and the enemy Bob-ombs. Once the battle is over, the Bob-omb Buddies allow Mario to access their cannons. There is a floating island in the east and a barred cave towards the center with a Chain Chomp leashed in front of it.
Unlock criterion: Enter the Mushroom Castle.
02. Whomp's Fortress
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7 Total number of accessible cannons×1 Total number of boss battles×1
Missions
Screenshot of Whomp's Fortress from Super Mario 64. Power Star Chip Off Whomp's Block Power Star To the Top of the Fortress
Power Star Shoot into the Wild Blue Power Star Red Coins on the Floating Isle
Power Star Fall onto the Caged Island Power Star Blast Away the Wall
Power Star Whomps and Flowers[22]
A fortress in the sky. It is ruled by the Whomp King, who sits at the top of the fortress. The path leading to him has falling platforms and stone enemies. Once he is defeated, a climbable tower appears at the top. A chain of floating islands is in the northeast. They can we reached with the help of Hoot, a sleepy owl found in the course's single tree.
Unlock criterion: Collect a Power Star.
03. Jolly Roger Bay
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7 Total number of accessible cannons×1
Missions
Screenshot of Jolly Roger Bay from Super Mario 64. Power Star Plunder in the Sunken Ship Power Star Can the Eel Come Out to Play?
Power Star Treasure of the Ocean Cave Power Star Red Coins on the Ship Afloat
Power Star Blast to the Stone Pillar Power Star Through the Jet Stream
Power Star Pirates' Plunder[22]
A cove containing the wreck of a sunken ship. A giant moray eel called Unagi nests in the ship and stirs when approached. An underwater corridor in the northwest leads to a cave that holds Treasure Chests. Solving the puzzle of the chests reveals a Power Star.
Unlock criterion: Collect 3 Power Stars.
04. Cool, Cool Mountain
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7 Total number of accessible cannons×3
Missions
Screenshot of Cool, Cool Mountain from Super Mario 64. Power Star Slip Slidin' Away Power Star Li'l Penguin Lost
Power Star Big Penguin Race Power Star Frosty Slide for 8 Red Coins
Power Star Snowman's Lost His Head Power Star Wall Kicks Will Work
Power Star Dough in the Snow[22]
A snow-covered mountain inhabited by penguins and snowpeople. Wooden bridges and a moving chairlift are built into the side of the mountain. A log cabin is near its peak. It contains the Cabin's Snow Slide, where Mario is challenged to a race by the Big Penguin.
Unlock criterion: Collect 3 Power Stars.
Bowser in the Dark World
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×1 Total number of boss battles×1
Missions
Screenshot of Bowser in the Dark World from Super Mario 64. Key Bowser in the Dark World Power Star 8 Red Coins
A winding path in a cavernous void. The path bears Amps and shifting platforms. It ultimately leads to Bowser, who is fought on a circular platform surrounded by floating bombs.
Unlock criterion: Collect 8 Power Stars.
The Princess's Secret Slide
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×2
Missions
Screenshot of The Princess's Secret Slide from Super Mario 64. Power Star The Princess's Secret Slide Power Star Second Star[23]
A carpeted slide hidden on the mezzanine. Reaching the bottom of the slide gives Mario access to a Power Star—the first Secret Star available to the player. Reaching the bottom within 21 seconds awards Mario a second one.
Unlock criterion: Collect a Power Star.
The Secret Aquarium
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×1
Missions
Screenshot of The Secret Aquarium from Super Mario 64. Power Star The Secret Aquarium
A closed tank housing blue fish and Red Coins. Collecting all of the Red Coins reveals a Secret Star. The aquarium is accessed through a little alcove in the same room that holds the painting for Jolly Roger Bay.
Unlock criterion: Collect 3 Power Stars.
Tower of the Wing Cap
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×1
Missions
Screenshot of the Tower of the Wing Cap from Super Mario 64. Power Star Flying for Coins[24]
Towers in a sea of clouds. The turret in the middle holds the Wing Cap Switch that makes the Wing Cap permanently available in main courses once struck. Red Coins appear around the towers and can be collected by Mario only in his Wing form.
Unlock criterion: Collect 10 Power Stars.
Assembled texture of the basement's wall in Mushroom Castle from Super Mario 64. This texture is also used for the "painting" of Shifting Sand Land. The Castle Basement and Courtyard
05. Big Boo's Haunt
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7 Total number of boss battles×4
Missions
Screenshot of Big Boo's Haunt from Super Mario 64. Power Star Go on a Ghost Hunt Power Star Ride Big Boo's Merry-Go-Round
Power Star Secret of the Haunted Books Power Star Seek the 8 Red Coins
Power Star Big Boo's Balcony Power Star Eye to Eye in the Secret Room
Power Star Beat the Boos![25]
The haunted house hidden in Princess Peach's courtyard. The rooms of the house contain Boos and animated furniture that try to strike Mario. Navigation requires solving puzzles and memorizing patterns in the halls. Failing to do so often brings Mario to the house's flooded basement, where a spinning carousel filled with Boos can be found.
Unlock criteria: Clear Bowser in the Dark World, collect 12 Power Stars, and defeat the Big Boo that holds the miniature carousel in the courtyard.
06. Hazy Maze Cave
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7
Missions
Screenshot of Hazy Maze Cave from Super Mario 64. Power Star Swimming Beast in the Cavern Power Star Elevate for 8 Red Coins
Power Star Metal-Head Mario Can Move! Power Star Navigating the Toxic Maze
Power Star A-Maze-Ing Emergency Exit Power Star Watch for Rolling Rocks
Power Star Blue Coins in the Haze[25]
An underground labyrinth filled with dead ends, traps, and bottomless pits. There are two floors. The first one has a large chamber in the southeast with a controllable elevator, hallways with rolling rocks in the northwest, and a maze with strange clouds in the northeast. The lower floor leads to a pool that holds Dorrie.
Unlock criterion: Clear Bowser in the Dark World.
07. Lethal Lava Land
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7 Total number of boss battles×2
Missions
Screenshot of Lethal Lava Land from Super Mario 64. Power Star Boil the Big Bully Power Star Bully the Bullies
Power Star 8-Coin Puzzle with 15 Pieces Power Star Red-Hot Log Rolling
Power Star Hot-Foot-It into the Volcano Power Star Elevator Tour in the Volcano
Power Star Surf the Lava[25]
Platforms in a lava sea. Some of them shift back and forth or can be manually rolled. They surround a small volcano that can be physically entered. Bullies appear in this course and knock Mario into lava on contact. Sparkies and other fiery obstacles that burn him when touched also appear.
Unlock criterion: Clear Bowser in the Dark World.
08. Shifting Sand Land
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7 Total number of accessible cannons×1 Total number of boss battles×1
Missions
Screenshot of Shifting Sand Land from Super Mario 64. Power Star In the Talons of the Big Bird Power Star Shining Atop the Pyramid
Power Star Inside the Ancient Pyramid Power Star Stand Tall on the Four Pillars
Power Star Free Flying for 8 Red Coins Power Star Pyramid Puzzle
Power Star Once More into the Pyramid[25]
Desert sands surrounding a pyramid. Klepto flies through the sky here. Much of the course is covered in quicksand and steep dunes. Little tornados can be used to avoid obstacles. Narrow walkways are found in the northeast, and a small oasis is in the northwest. The pyramid can be entered, where a labyrinth leads to Eyerok.
Unlock criterion: Clear Bowser in the Dark World.
09. Dire, Dire Docks
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7
Missions
Screenshot of Dire, Dire Docks from Super Mario 64. Power Star Board Bowser's Sub Power Star Chests in the Current
Power Star Pole-Jumping for Red Coins Power Star Through the Jet Stream
Power Star The Manta Ray's Reward Power Star Collect the Caps...
Power Star Above the Submarine Pen[25]
Deep water. A whirlpool is at the center of the seabed and is circled by Sushi and a Manta Ray. A corridor in the east leads to an wider area where Bowser has hidden a submarine.
Unlock criterion: Collect 30 Power Stars.
Bowser in the Fire Sea
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×1 Total number of boss battles×1
Missions
Screenshot of Bowser in the Fire Sea from Super Mario 64. Key Bowser in the Fire Sea Power Star Power Star for 8 Red Coins[26]
Three narrow pathways surrounded by lava. Portions of the course gently rise and fall in lava, making traversal challenging. The pathway leads to the second battle against Bowser.
Unlock criterion: Complete Board Bowser's Sub.
Cavern of the Metal Cap
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×1
Missions
Screenshot of Cavern of the Metal Cap from Super Mario 64. Power Star Grab 8 Red Coins[27]
An underground streambed that holds the Metal Cap Switch. Striking it makes the Metal Cap accessible in other courses. The water moves rapidly in this course. If Mario is swept up in it, he is brought to the Castle Grounds.
Unlock criterion: Clear Bowser in the Dark World.
Vanish Cap Under the Moat
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×1
Missions
Screenshot of Vanish Cap Under the Moat from Super Mario 64. Power Star 8 Red Coins
A hidden area accessible only once the castle's moat is drained. When Mario enters the course, he is in his Vanish form, and he must navigate the course while the power-up is still in effect to access the Vanish Cap Switch. Striking it makes the Vanish Cap accessible in other courses.
Unlock criteria: Clear Bowser in the Dark World and drain the castle's moat.
Assembled texture of the third floor's wall in Mushroom Castle from Super Mario 64. Upper Floors and Tower
10. Snowman's Land
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7 Total number of accessible cannons×1 Total number of boss battles×1
Missions
Screenshot of Snowman's Land from Super Mario 64. Power Star Snowman's Big Head Power Star Chill with the Bully
Power Star In the Deep Freeze Power Star Whirl from the Freezing Pond
Power Star Shell Shreddin' for Red Coins Power Star Into the Igloo
Power Star Coin Cold Storage[28]
A chilly land surrounding a giant snowman. Slippery ice and freezing ponds appear in this course. The Chill Bully is on a floating island of ice in the east. Narrow paths allow Mario to ascend the snowman, but he begins to blow gusts of air when he nears his head. An enterable igloo is near the base of the snowman.
Unlock criterion: Clear Bowser in the Fire Sea.
11. Wet-Dry World
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7 Total number of accessible cannons×1
Missions
Screenshot of Wet-Dry World from Super Mario 64. Power Star Shocking Arrow Lifts! Power Star Top o' the Town
Power Star Secrets in the Shallows & Sky Power Star Express Elevator--Hurry Up!
Power Star Go to Town for Red Coins Power Star Quick Race Through Downtown!
Power Star Blue Coin Collecting[28]
A flooded empty town. There are Crystal Taps at several locations in the town that cause the water level to rise or fall. There is a hidden downtown area that can be accessed only through the cage in the southeast.
Unlock criterion: Clear Bowser in the Fire Sea.
12. Tall, Tall Mountain
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7 Total number of accessible cannons×1
Missions
Screenshot of Mushroom Castle from Super Mario 64. Power Star Scale the Mountain Power Star Mystery of the Monkey Cage
Power Star Scary 'Shrooms, Red Coins Power Star Mysterious Mountainside
Power Star Breathtaking View from Bridge Power Star Blast to the Lonely Mushroom
Power Star Challenge the Slide![28]
A tall mountain surrounded by Mushroom Platforms high above the sea. Gusts of wind and the Fwoosh make ascending the mountain challenging. The entrance to the Mysterious Mountain Slide can be found near the summit. Ukkikis live in this course, one of which attempts to steal Mario's cap.
Unlock criterion: Clear Bowser in the Fire Sea.
13. Tiny-Huge Island
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7 Total number of accessible cannons×1 Total number of boss battles×2
Missions
Screenshot of Tiny-Huge Island from Super Mario 64. Power Star Pluck the Piranha Flower Power Star The Tip Top of the Huge Island
Power Star Rematch with Koopa the Quick Power Star Five Itty Bitty Secrets
Power Star Wiggler's Red Coins Power Star Make Wiggler Squirm
Power Star Stomp the Giants[28]
An island that presents itself in two different ways depending on which painting it is accessed from in the castle. One is large with vast areas and giant versions of normal enemies. Mario can easily access the interior of this version of the island, which is home to Wiggler. The other is tiny with small enemies. Changing the terrain in one version of the island affects the other two, and doing so is required to obtain all of its Power Stars.
Unlock criterion: Clear Bowser in the Fire Sea.
14. Tick Tock Clock
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7
Missions
Screenshot of Tick Tock Clock from Super Mario 64. Power Star Roll into the Cage Power Star The Pit and the Pendulums
Power Star Get a Hand Power Star Stomp on the Thwomp
Power Star Timed Jumps on Moving Bars Power Star Stop Time for Red Coins
Power Star Multi-Coin Blocks[28]
A vertical obstacle course within the tower's clock. Moving platforms are found throughout the clockwork, and they can help Mario reach hidden alcoves or throw him back towards the bottom. The speed of these platforms (and whether they move at all) is determined by where the clock's hands are positioned when he enters the course.
Unlock criterion: Collect 50 Power Stars.
15. Rainbow Ride
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×7 Total number of accessible cannons×1
Missions
Screenshot of Rainbow Ride from Super Mario 64. Power Star Cruiser Crossing the Rainbow Power Star The Big House in the Sky
Power Star Coins Amassed in a Maze Power Star Swingin' in the Breeze
Power Star Tricky Triangles! Power Star Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Power Star Blue Coins Atop the Maze[28]
Floating islands and moving platforms high in the sky. Magic carpets travel along rainbows in large stretches of the course, one of which feeds through the Cloud House. The Rainbow Cruiser can be found in the northeast.
Unlock criterion: Collect 50 Power Stars.
Bowser in the Sky
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×1 Total number of boss battles×1
Missions
Screenshot of Bowser in the Sky from Super Mario 64. Jumbo Star Bowser in the Sky Power Star 8 Red Coins
A challenging obstacle course that leads to the final confrontation with Bowser. Some of the platforms on this course allow Mario to walk up walls if he maintains momentum, while others shift under his weight. Bowser starts to break the arena he is fought on, leaving it in the shape of a five-pointed star. The reward for defeating him, the Jumbo Star, is not incorporated into Mario's total Power Star count.
Unlock criterion: Collect 70 Power Stars.
Wing Mario Over the Rainbow
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×1 Total number of accessible cannons×2
Mission
Screenshot of Wing Mario Over the Rainbow from Super Mario 64. Power Star Cloud Hopping for Coins[29]
Clouds and checkerboard platforms in the sky. The platforms are bridged by rainbows.
Unlock criterion: Collect 50 Power Stars.
Assembled texture of Princess Peach's stained-glass portrait on Mushroom Castle from Super Mario 64. Other
Mushroom Castle
Total number of obtainable Power Stars×5 Total number of accessible cannons×1
Missions
Screenshot of Mushroom Castle from Super Mario 64. Power Star A Gift from Toad[27] (basement) Power Star A Gift from Toad (second floor)
Power Star A Gift from Toad (third floor) Power Star That Wascally Wabbit![30] (after collecting 15 Power Stars)
Power Star That Wascally Wabbit! (after collecting 50 Power Stars)
Princess Peach's castle in the Mushroom Kingdom. Toads and MIPS are sealed inside. Some of the former give Mario a Power Star when spoken to. The Castle Grounds are the first area of the game and where Mario initially appears every time the player loads their save file. Nearly all other courses are accessed from inside the castle, with the Cavern of the Metal Cap and Vanish Cap Under the Moat being the sole exceptions.
Unlock criterion: Begin a new save file.
Level chart information and legend: The main courses are designated with the unique number they are given in-game. Bowser, secret, and switch courses lack numerical designation and are listed as they appear in the Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Three symbols convey attributes about each course: Sprite of the star found on the doors from Super Mario 64. denotes the total number of obtainable Power Stars, Sprite of the Cannon Lid from Super Mario 64. denotes the total number of accessible cannons, and Isolated custom asset for chart purposes. Please do not include in galleries or integrate into major asset categories. denotes the number of boss battles. The name of each mission is accompanied by a symbol that indicates what type of mission it is. Star icon in Super Mario 64 denotes a mission where the reward is a Power Star, Star icon in Super Mario 64 denotes a mission where the reward is the Jumbo Star, and Isolated custom asset for chart purposes. Please do not include in galleries or integrate into major asset categories. denotes a mission where the reward is a Big Key.

Mushroom Castle

Main article: Peach's Castle
Mushroom Castle
The Castle Grounds before the Mushroom Castle

The Mushroom Castle is a connective space from which Mario can access the game's levels. It is a white-bricked palace with a red-tiled roof. Five towers are built into the castle: four at each corner and a large one in the center. Each one is topped with a spire, and the four outermost ones are also topped with a red pennant. A stained glass portrait of Princess Peach is above the front doors, in which Peach has been imprisoned by Bowser. The smaller windows on the castle are shaped like mushrooms. The Mushroom Castle overall bears a superficial resemblance to a keep. It is framed as the place where Peach lives in the Mushroom Kingdom and usually contains Power Stars for protection.[31] Several Toads, the princess's subjects, also live in the castle.

In the majority of prior platform games, the player selects levels on a map-like menu with a cursor. The cursor itself may represent the player character, as is done in Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins and Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island, but the degree of control the player has on the cursor is more limited than they would have in the actual levels. Super Mario 64 instead has a fully interactive level as the "map," where Mario controls exactly the same as he does in the courses, and the map itself is an expansive level with its own secrets to find.

The Castle Grounds are the first area in the game where the player takes control of Mario, and it is a risk-free environment for the player to familiarize themselves with his controls.[16][32][33][12][11] There are no enemies here, nor concrete objectives. While the player is directed to the castle in Peach's letter to Mario, nothing forces them to enter it, implicitly encouraging them to explore. The Castle Grounds are a grassy area with gently sloping hills, trees, picket fences, and a small lake that feeds into the castle's moat. Several readable signs that detail Mario's available actions are near his starting position, but they are not forced upon the player.

The castle's interior is divided into three sections analogous to the worlds of prior Super Mario games: a first floor and mezzanine, a basement and courtyard, and a second and third floor that leads to the central tower. With the exception of the basement, the castle's flooring has a checkerboard pattern and red carpeting. A hilly vista with a blue sky behind it is painted on the walls. The basement is a flooded dungeon-like area lit by torches that can burn Mario. One of the basement's corridors has a pair of stone pillars that, when ground-pounded, drain the moat. The courtyard is a grassy space behind the Mushroom Castle with a fountain at its center. It is filled with Boos, one of which contains a miniature carousel that holds Big Boo's Haunt. Among the courses of a section, Mario can typically play them in any order. There are some exceptions, such as at the start of the game, when only the Bob-omb Battlefield is initially accessible.

Rather than list them individually on the pause menu, all Power Stars collected from the mini courses are collectively listed as the castle's "Secret Stars," and indeed, most of them are well hidden when compared to the main courses in the game. Finding them necessitates exploration and puzzle-solving within the castle's walls. For example, the only way to access Vanish Cap Under the Moat is by draining the moat, the means of which are never explicitly communicated in-game but instead come from familiarity with Mario's moves. The window that leads to The Princess's Secret Slide is not in the center of its room, departing from what is established in the other rooms that contain paintings and can be found only if the player deviates from what is established. This design principal permeates throughout the castle and often awards the player 1UP Mushrooms, hidden courses, or interactable elements.[16][32]

As in the main courses, several non-playable characters appear in the Mushroom Castle. Toads (including the Toad, as relayed in some paratextual material)[31] can be found on each floor, where they provide gameplay tips and words of encouragement when prompted. Some of them give Mario a Power Star when spoken to. MIPS can be found hopping around the basement once Mario has obtained a certain number of Power Stars (see chart above). He will give Mario one if caught. Yoshi appears on the castle's roof after Mario has collected all 120 Stars. Mario can reach him with a cannon that opens on the Castle Grounds after completing Bowser in the Sky with all 120 Stars collected.

Characters

Owing to his removal during development, Super Mario 64 is one of the few Super Mario games not to feature Luigi, along with Super Mario Land, Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins, and Super Mario Sunshine. Many data structures in the code have unused references to Luigi's object slot, but he is considered irrecoverable from the final game's codebase.[34] A prerelease model and textures only surfaced through the Nintendo data leak. However, Luigi was included as a playable character in the game's Nintendo DS remake, Super Mario 64 DS.

Name Description
Model of Mario from Super Mario 64.
Mario
The hero of the Mushroom Kingdom and the game's protagonist. He was invited to the Mushroom Castle by Princess Peach, only to find that she had been kidnapped by Bowser. Mario has significantly expanded movement options to reflect the 3D environment of Super Mario 64. Some notable new moves include the Triple Jump, the Wall Kick, the Pound the Ground attack, and a punch-punch-kick. Unlike in previous installments, Mario has a health meter and does not shrink in size if struck by an enemy.

Non-playable characters

Name Description Locations
Render of one of the Lakitu Bros. from the Super Mario 3D All-Stars version of Super Mario 64
Lakitu Bros.
A pair of cloud-riding Koopas that are documenting Mario's quest to liberate the Mushroom Castle and rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. One Lakitu Bro is with Mario throughout the entirety of the game, serving as an in-game explanation for the title's 3D camera controls. He is generally unseen, but his reflection can be spotted in a large mirror on the second floor of the Mushroom Castle. The Lakitu Bros. work for the Kingdom News Network. All courses
Rendered 3D model of Princess Peach in Super Mario 64.
Princess Peach
The ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom. She invited Mario to the Mushroom Castle for cake, but she is missing by the time he arrives. Toad informs him that she was kidnapped by Bowser and sealed away within the castle's walls. The game follows Mario's quest to restore the castle's Power Stars and liberate the princess. Castle Grounds
Model of Toad from Super Mario 64.
Toad
One of Princess Peach's attendants and an old friend of Mario's. He is one of several Mushroom Retainers that have been trapped inside the castle. He gives Mario hints, tips, and words of encouragement when spoken to. Some Toads give Mario a Power Star if prompted. Mushroom Castle
A Bob-omb Buddy.
Bob-omb Buddies
Friendly Bob-ombs that lack fuses. They reside on the Bob-omb Battlefield, where they are at war with the Big Bob-omb and his army. A Bob-omb Buddy is hidden away in nearly all subsequent courses. If spoken to, it prepares a cannon for Mario to use. The cannon remains open and accessible for all subsequent revisits. Bob-omb Battlefield; Whomp's Fortress; Jolly Roger Bay; Cool, Cool Mountain; Shifting Sand Land; Snowman's Land; Wet-Dry World; Tall, Tall Mountain; Tiny-Huge Island; Rainbow Ride
Model of Koopa the Quick from Super Mario 64.
Koopa the Quick
A Giant Koopa from Tiny-Huge Island. He challenges Mario to a race when spoken to and rewards him with a Power Star if he defeats him without using certain shortcuts. Mario first encounters Koopa the Quick on the Bob-omb Battlefield in the mission Footrace with Koopa the Quick after defeating the Big Bob-omb, and he encounters him again on the "huge" side of Tiny-Huge Island in the mission Rematch with Koopa the Quick. Bob-omb Battlefield, Tiny-Huge Island
Model of Hoot from Super Mario 64.
Hoot
A talking owl who roosts in a tree near Mario's starting position on Whomp's Fortress. Once woken up, Mario can grab onto Hoot's talons and be carried high into the air for a limited time. Hoot slowly descends while carrying Mario and drops him if he hangs on for too long, citing his weight. Whomp's Fortress
Model of an adult penguin from Super Mario 64.
Penguins
Big talking birds found in courses that feature snow. They are instrumental in several Power Star missions. The Mother Penguin found at the base of Cool, Cool Mountain awards Mario a Power Star if her lost chick, Tuxie, is returned to her, while the Big Penguin found in the cabin at the top of the mountain gives him a Star if beaten in a race. Revisiting this penguin after collecting all 120 Power Stars reveals that he has let himself go. The extra weight makes him a tougher opponent to out-sleigh. Cool, Cool Mountain; Snowman's Land
Rendered model of the giant snowman from Cool, Cool Mountain in Super Mario 64
Snowmen
Two giant snowmen occur in the game. One snowman is the focus of the mission Snowman's Lost His Head. His head is on a pedestal halfway down the mountain, while his sentient snowball body appears towards the top, by Mario's starting position. Either piece asks Mario to help put him together when prompted. Once assembled, the snowman gifts Mario a Power Star. The other is in Snowman's Land, where he can climbed as if he was a mountain. As Mario nears his head, he starts to complain about an irritating crawling sensation on his body and tries to blow Mario off. A Power Star is on the very top of his head. Cool, Cool Mountain; Snowman's Land
Rendered model of MIPS, the yellow rabbit from Super Mario 64.
MIPS
Princess Peach's pet rabbit.[35] He is found in the castle's basement and flees if approached. He gives Mario a Power Star if caught. While captured, MIPS claims to be late for tea. Mushroom Castle
Model of Dorrie from Super Mario 64.
Dorrie
A gentle giant that resembles a plesiosaur. It can be found swimming in an underground lake, where it can be ridden. Mario can steer Dorrie's body while standing on its back and lower its neck by performing a Pound the Ground attack on its head. Hazy Maze Cave
Ukkiki
Ukkikis
Mischievous monkeys. One steals Mario's cap when grabbed. Mario must grab the Ukkiki again in order to get it back, but he runs away if approached and must be cornered. During Mystery of the Monkey Cage, an Ukkiki appears on the summit and taunts Mario. If grabbed, he begs to be released in exchange for a Power Star. Tall, Tall Mountain
Model of Yoshi from Super Mario 64.
Yoshi
An old friend of Mario's. He is a dinosaur-like creature with a long tongue. He can be found on the roof of the Mushroom Castle once all 120 Power Star are collected. Yoshi awards the player 100 lives and a special Triple Jump for fully completing the game, then disappears off the side of the castle. Castle Grounds

Enemies and obstacles

New enemies

Name List of enemies Description List of enemies Locations Possible spoils
AmpSM64.png
Amp
A small floating invincible metal ball that spins around a fixed point while emitting electricity. Bowser in the Dark World, Shifting Sand Land, Vanish Cap Under the Moat, Bowser in the Fire Sea, Snowman's Land, Wet-Dry World, Tick Tock Clock, Rainbow Ride, Bowser in the Sky Indestructible
BookendSM64.png
Bookend
A haunted book that either emerges from its bookcase to bite Mario or shoots straight out at him with other books en masse. Big Boo's Haunt Blue Coin×1
Model of the Bubba enemy from Super Mario 64.
Bubba
An enormous quick fish that tries to swallow Mario whole. Tiny-Huge Island Indestructible
Model of the Bully enemy from Super Mario 64.
Bully
A horned creature that attacks Mario by pushing and can be beaten only by pushing it into lava. Lethal Lava Land, Bowser in the Fire Sea Coin×1
Model of a butterfly from Super Mario 64.
Butterfly
Being normally passive creatures, butterflies in later courses may turn into 1UP Mushrooms or giant iron balls that pursue Mario through the air before exploding if he continually bothers them. Castle Grounds; Whomp's Fortress; Tall, Tall Mountain; Tiny-Huge Island 1-Up Mushroom×1
Model of the haunted Chair enemy from Super Mario 64.
Chair
A haunted piece of furniture that flings itself at Mario. Big Boo's Haunt None
Chuckya SM64.png
Chuckya
A huge purple Bob-omb that picks up and throws Mario and can be defeated only by doing the same to it. Wet-Dry World; Tall, Tall Mountain; Tiny-Huge Island; Rainbow Ride; Bowser in the Sky Coin×5
ClamSM64.png
Clam shell
A giant shellfish that opens and closes its valves, sometimes containing an item. Jolly Roger Bay; Dire, Dire Docks Indestructible
BigSteelieSM64.png
Flame thrower
A tiny Fire Chomp-like sphere that floats in place, shooting a homing flame at Mario when approached. Hazy Maze Cave, Shifting Sand Land, Vanish Cap Under the Moat, Bowser in the Fire Sea, Wet-Dry World, Tiny-Huge Island, Tick Tock Clock, Rainbow Ride, Bowser in the Sky Indestructible
Model of the Fwoosh enemy from Super Mario 64.
Fwoosh
A cloud that blows gusts of wind to knock Mario off the ledge. Tall, Tall Mountain Indestructible
Model of the Grindel enemy from Super Mario 64.
Grindel
A mummified Thwomp that attempts to squish Mario by either slamming down or leaping forward. Shifting Sand Land Indestructible
Rendered 3D model of the Heave-Ho enemy in Super Mario 64.
Heave-Ho
A windup machine that powerfully tosses Mario over its back. Wet-Dry World, Tick Tock Clock Indestructible
Klepto
Klepto
A condor that tries to steal Mario's cap. Shifting Sand Land Indestructible
MadPianoSM64.png
Mad Piano
A haunted mini grand piano that noisily pursues Mario over a small area while chomping. Big Boo's Haunt Indestructible
Model of the Manta enemy from Super Mario 64.
Manta Ray
An enormous passive ray that damages Mario on contact and leaves behind a trail of rings. Dire, Dire Docks Indestructible
Money Bags
Money Bags
A hopping purse that disguises as a coin. Snowman's Land Coin×5
BompSM64.png
Moving Bar
A varyingly designed wall protrusion that tries to push Mario but can also be used as a platform. Whomp's Fortress, Tick Tock Clock Indestructible
Model of the Mr. Blizzard enemy from Super Mario 64.
Mr. Blizzard
A snowman that either throws snowballs at Mario or hops back and forth oblivious to him, with the former type being beatable by running around it enough. Cool, Cool Mountain; Snowman's Land Coin×3
X mark.svg
Mr I.png
Mr. I.
A giant floating eyeball that shoots bubbles at Mario but can be defeated by running around it enough. Big Boo's Haunt, Hazy Maze Cave, Lethal Lava Land Blue Coin×1
Venustrapsm64.png
Piranha Flower
A large Venus Fire Trap that sprouts suddenly, shoots a homing fireball, and then retracts. Tiny-Huge Island Coin×2
Rendered model of the Scuttle Bug enemy in Super Mario 64.
Scuttle Bug
A giant spider that pursues Mario and sometimes leaps from a pit. Big Boo's Haunt, Hazy Maze Cave Coin×3
Model of the Skeeter enemy from Super Mario 64.
Skeeter
A giant water strider that skims across the water passively, pursuing Mario while on land. Wet-Dry World Coin×3
Model of a Koopa Troopa from Super Mario 64.
Small Koopa Troopa
A tiny Koopa Troopa that is defeated immediately upon contact. Tiny-Huge Island Blue Coin×1
Model of a Piranha Plant from Super Mario 64.
Small Piranha
A miniature Venus Fire Trap that sprouts suddenly, shoots a homing fireball, and then retracts. Tiny-Huge Island, Bowser in the Sky Coin×1
Render of a Snufit from Super Mario 64.
Snufit
A small ghostly Snifit that shoots small bullets at Mario. Hazy Maze Cave, Cavern of the Metal Cap Coin×2
SpindelSM64.png
Spindel
A cylindrical Grindel that rolls back and forth. Shifting Sand Land Indestructible
SpindriftSM64.png
Spindrift
A slow flying floral creature that likes cold environments and makes Mario spin if he jumps on it. Cool, Cool Mountain; Snowman's Land Coin×3
Model of the Sushi enemy from Super Mario 64.
Sushi
A large but passive shark that swims in wide circles. Dire, Dire Docks Indestructible
Model of the Tox Box enemy from Super Mario 64.
Tox Box
A huge moving metal cube with one hollow side. Shifting Sand Land Indestructible
Model of Unagi from Super Mario 64
Unagi
A huge moray eel that likes to stay in tight places. Jolly Roger Bay Indestructible
A Whomp from Super Mario 64.
Whomp
A stone slab with a face and weak back that attacks Mario by slamming forward. Whomp's Fortress, Bowser in the Sky Coin×5

Returning enemies

Name List of enemies Description List of enemies Locations Possible spoils
BeachKoopaSM64.png
Beach Koopa
A Koopa Troopa after being evicted from its shell, to which it frantically tries to return. Bob-omb Battlefield, Tiny-Huge Island Blue Coin×1
A render of a Bob-omb from Super Mario 64
Bob-omb
A walking, respawning bomb that pursues Mario after lighting itself but can be picked up and thrown. Bob-omb Battlefield; Shifting Sand Land; Bowser in the Fire Sea; Tall, Tall Mountain; Tick Tock Clock; Bowser in the Sky Coin×1
Model of a Boo from Super Mario 64.
Boo
A ghost that turns transparent and invulnerable when looked at. Courtyard, Big Boo's Haunt Coin×1
Blue Coin×1
Miniature carousel×1
Model of the Bub enemy from Super Mario 64.
Bub
A fish that swims slowly after Mario. Dire, Dire Docks Indestructible
Model of the Bullet Bill enemy from Super Mario 64.
Bullet Bill
A giant bullet that swerves to hit Mario. Whomp's Fortress None
A Chain Chomp in Super Mario 64.
Chain Chomp
A huge iron guard dog shackled to a stump. Bob-omb Battlefield Indestructible
FlyGuySM64.png
Fly Guy
A Shy Guy that spits fireballs and flies with propellers that makes Mario spin when jumped on. Shifting Sand Land; Snowman's Land; Tall, Tall Mountain; Tiny-Huge Island; Rainbow Ride Coin×2
Model of a Goomba from Super Mario 64
Goomba
A small enemy that pursues Mario and often comes in groups of three but can be beaten with any attack. Bob-omb Battlefield; Whomp's Fortress; Jolly Roger Bay; Bowser in the Dark World; Shifting Sand Land; Bowser in the Fire Sea; Snowman's Land; Tall, Tall Mountain; Rainbow Ride; Bowser in the Sky Coin×1
Micro-GoombaSM64.png
Goombette
A tiny Goomba that is instantly defeated when it touches Mario but also pushes him back unless he attacks it. Tiny-Huge Island Coin×1
GrandGoombaSM64.png
Grand Goomba
A huge strong Goomba immune to punches and kicks that also sometimes fails to notice Mario. Tiny-Huge Island Coin×1
Blue Coin×1
Koopa Troopa
Koopa Troopa
A timid turtle that runs away from Mario and gets knocked from its shell upon being attacked. Bob-omb Battlefield, Tiny-Huge Island Green Shell×1
LakitusSM64.png
Lakitu
A cloud-riding turtle that throws an endless supply of Spiny Eggs at Mario. Tiny-Huge Island, Rainbow Ride Coin×5
Render of a Monty Mole in Super Mario 64
Monty Mole
An endlessly respawning creature that emerges from holes to throw rocks at Mario. Hazy Maze Cave; Tall, Tall Mountain 1-Up Mushroom×1
PiranhaPlant SM64.png
Piranha Plant
A sleepy plant that chomps upon being woken up. Whomp's Fortress Blue Coin×1
Old Pokey 64.png
Pokey
A tall segmented cactus with a weak head. Shifting Sand Land Blue Coin×1
Model of the Sparky enemy from Super Mario 64.
Sparky
A fireball that hops along land after spawning from lava or fire. Lethal Lava Land, Bowser in the Sky Indestructible
Spiny
Spiny
A spiked turtle that walks around slowly and can be destroyed only by going underwater. Tiny-Huge Island, Rainbow Ride None
A Spiny Egg from Super Mario 64
Spiny bomb
A spiked egg thrown by a Lakitu that hatches into a Spiny and is vulnerable to explosions. Tiny-Huge Island, Rainbow Ride None
3D Render of a Swoop from Super Mario 64
Swoop
A bat that hangs upside-down until approached, at which point it starts flying around. Hazy Maze Cave Coin×1
ThwompSM64.png
Thwomp
A floating stone cube that slams to the ground every few moments and can also be used as a platform. Whomp's Fortress, Tick Tock Clock Indestructible

Obstacles

Name List of enemies Description List of enemies Locations
Model of the bomb from Super Mario 64.
Bomb
A stationary spiked explosive used to defeat Bowser. Bowser in the Dark World, Bowser in the Fire Sea, Bowser in the Sky
Model of a casket from Super Mario 64.
Casket
Caskets rise and fall. They can crush Mario if he goes under one. Big Boo's Haunt
File:SM64 Screenshot Freezing Water.jpg
Cold water
Chilled water that hurts Mario on contact, either gradually or immediately depending on how cold it is. Snowman's Land
Mario in the Cavern of the Metal Cap.
Jolly Roger Bay Star 6
Current
Rapidly moving water that can forcibly remove Mario from the course if it pulls him far enough. Jolly Roger Bay; Cavern of the Metal Cap; Dire, Dire Docks; Tall, Tall Mountain
The "endless" stairs in Super Mario 64
Endless stairs
A magic staircase that loops Mario forever if he tries to climb them without enough Stars. Mushroom Castle
Model of a triangular column from Super Mario 64.
Falling pillar[36]
A giant precariously balanced stone that tips at Mario. Jolly Roger Bay
Model of a Fireball from Super Mario 64.
Fireball
A basic flame that appears as either a standalone obstacle or an enemy projectile. Mushroom Castle, Bowser in the Dark World, Hazy Maze Cave, Lethal Lava Land, Shifting Sand Land, Vanish Cap Under the Moat, Bowser in the Fire Sea, Snowman's Land, Wet-Dry World, Tiny-Huge Island, Tick Tock Clock, Rainbow Ride, Bowser in the Sky
Model of the fire bar from Super Mario 64.
Fire bar
A rotating rock with a constantly alit flamethrower on either side. Lethal Lava Land
A flamethrower in Bowser in the Dark World.
Flame spout
A jet of fire that usually comes from small holes but can also come from other openings and even lava. Bowser in the Dark World, Big Boo's Haunt, Hazy Maze Cave, Lethal Lava Land, Bowser in the Fire Sea, Rainbow Ride, Bowser in the Sky
Screenshot of the glass blocks in Rainbow Ride from Super Mario 64.
Glass block
A platform in Rainbow Ride that magic carpets travel through as an obstacle. Rainbow Ride
Model of a hidden smasher from Super Mario 64.
Hidden smasher
A giant mass of metal hidden in a wall that tries to crush Mario when he approaches. Lethal Lava Land
Model of an ice block from Super Mario 64.
Ice block
A sliding triangular ice chunk that comes in two sizes and pushes Mario into the cold water. Snowman's Land
Assembled textures of the ice block shooter from Super Mario 64.
Ice block shooter
A giant hole with Shy Guy masks that shoots triangular ice chunks. Snowman's Land
Snowman's Land Star 3
Ice structure
Stacks of ice created into a maze that requires a Power Star. Snowman's Land
Snowman's Land Star 6
Ice wall
A wall made of ice, with some containing coins. Vanish Mario is required to pass through these walls. Snowman's Land
BigSteelieSM64.png
Iron ball
A variably sized large black sphere that rolls down slopes. Bob-omb Battlefield; Tall, Tall Mountain; Tiny-Huge Island
Texture of the ivy on Tall, Tall Mountain from Super Mario 64.
Ivy
Slows Mario's speed and also makes it difficult to jump. Tall, Tall Mountain
Lethal Lava Land Start
Lava
Molten rock that burns Mario. Lethal Lava Land, Bowser in the Fire Sea
Shifting Sand Land Star 6
Moving sand
Rapidly flowing sand. Mario can stand on it, but it pushes him in the direction of its trajectory. Shifting Sand Land
Model of a pendulum from Super Mario 64.
Pendulum
A swinging obstacle that can block Mario's path. Its speed can change depending on the time Mario enters Tick Tock Clock. Tick Tock Clock
A flamethrower in Hazy Maze Cave in Super Mario 64.
Pit
A bottomless abyss that removes Mario from a course. Whomp's Fortress; Cool, Cool Mountain; The Princess's Secret Slide; Tower of the Wing Cap; Bowser in the Dark World; Hazy Maze Cave; Vanish Cap Under the Moat; Tall, Tall Mountain; Tiny-Huge Island; Tick Tock Clock; Rainbow Ride; Wing Mario Over the Rainbow; Bowser in the Sky
Mario stands on a pillar in Shifting Sand Land.
Quicksand
Sand that pulls Mario under at varying speeds. Shifting Sand Land
Model of a rolling rock from Super Mario 64.
Rolling rock
A giant boulder. Hazy Maze Cave
Model of a Slide Box from Super Mario 64.
Slide Box
A skull-marked crate that moves back and forth on the rocking ship. Jolly Roger Bay
Mario Coughing in Hazy Maze Cave
Strange cloud
Putrid gas found in deep, stagnant caves. Hazy Maze Cave
Model of the Tornado enemy from Super Mario 64.
Tornado
A whirlwind that makes Mario spin. Shifting Sand Land
Model of a Blaster from Super Mario 64.
Turtle Cannon
A metal cube that shoots out Bullet Bills. Whomp's Fortress
Model of a water bomb from Super Mario 64.
Water bomb
A bouncing balloon that pursues Mario after being shot from a cannon. Bob-omb Battlefield
SM64 Wet-Dry World Downtown.png
Water tide
Water that rises up or down. Mushroom Castle, Wet-Dry World
Model of a Whirlpool from Super Mario 64.
Whirlpool
A vortex that can suck Mario inside. Dire, Dire Docks
Screenshot of the Snowman blowing wind in Snowman's Land from Super Mario 64.
Wind
A gust that can either help or hinder Mario. Cool, Cool Mountain; Snowman's Land; Tall, Tall Mountain; Tiny-Huge Island; Rainbow Ride; Bowser in the Sky
Wet-Dry World Star 6
The Vanish form of Metal Mario in Dire, Dire Docks
Wire net (vertical)
A wall made of iron bars or wire nets. Vanish Mario is required to pass through these walls. Vanish Cap Under the Moat; Big Boo's Haunt; Hazy Maze Cave; Lethal Lava Land; Shifting Sand Land; Dire, Dire Docks; Wet-Dry World; Tick Tock Clock

Bosses

Bosses are listed in the order that they are first encountered.

Name List of bosses Description List of bosses Missions
Model of King Bob-omb from Super Mario 64.
Big Bob-omb
A giant Bob-omb on the Bob-omb Battlefield. He appears as the first boss in the game and has the first Power Star. He refers to himself as the "baron of all blasting matter." Big Bob-omb on the Summit
WhompKingSM64.png
Whomp King
A giant Whomp on top of Whomp's Fortress. He has the first Power Star, and after he is defeated, there is a tower on top of the fortress. Chip Off Whomp's Block
Bowser's model from Super Mario 64.
Bowser
Bowser appears in Bowser in the Dark World, Bowser in the Fire Sea (where the arena tilts), and Bowser in the Sky (where he must be thrown three times). Mario needs to swing him by the tail clockwise or counterclockwise and hurl him at bombs on the outside of his circular arena. Bowser in the Dark World, Bowser in the Fire Sea, Bowser in the Sky
Boo
Big Boo
A giant Boo that appears three times in Big Boo's Haunt. He initially appears once all the Boos in the mansion have been defeated, again in the underground merry-go-round, and lastly on the top balcony of the mansion. Go on a Ghost Hunt, Ride Big Boo's Merry-Go-Round, Big Boo's Balcony
Model of a Big Mr. I in Super Mario 64.
Big Mr. I.
A giant Mr. I. that appears only in the attic of Big Boo's Haunt. Eye to Eye in the Secret Room
A Big Bully render for Super Mario 64
Big Bully
A large Bully that appears in Lethal Lava Land. On both occasions, Big Bullies try to knock Mario into the lava. Boil the Big Bully, Bully the Bullies
EyerokSM64.png
Eyerok
A being composed of two stone hands with eyes on each palm. He appears when Mario blasts open the top of the pyramid in Shifting Sand Land and rides the elevator inside. Stand Tall on the Four Pillars
ChillBullySM64.png
Chill Bully
A large Bully made of ice. He tries to ram Mario onto a lethally frozen pond in Snowman's Land. Chill with the Bully
Venustrapsm64.png
Piranha Flowers
A patch of five giant fire-breathing Piranha Plants on Tiny-Huge Island. They quickly sprout and recede from the ground. Pluck the Piranha Flower
WigglerSM64.png
Wiggler
A giant caterpillar. He becomes angry when his home on Tiny-Huge Island gets flooded. Make Wiggler Squirm

Items and objects

Items

These are collectibles, pickups, and health-restoring objects.

Name Description Name Description
Power Star model from Super Mario 64
Power Stars
Power Stars fuel the Mushroom Castle and are stolen by Bowser to seal the castle's inhabitants away. They are the primary objective within missions, and accumulating Stars unlocks new missions. A larger token called the Jumbo Star is made available after the final battle with Bowser. Collecting it does not contribute to the player's total, but it does liberate Princess Peach. Sprite of a Bubble from Super Mario 64.
Bubbles
Bubbles are released from opened underwater Treasure Chests. Making contact with one refills Mario's Power Meter.
Model of a Big Key from Super Mario 64.
Keys
Tokens awarded to Mario after the first two Bowser battles. A key permanently unlocks a Key Door. 1UP Mushroom
1UP Mushrooms
Green mushrooms that give Mario an extra life each when obtained.
Sprite of a Yellow Coin from Super Mario 64.
Yellow Coins
Collecting a Yellow Coin restores one wedge to Mario's Power Meter. Collecting 100 during a mission rewards Mario with a Power Star. He also gains an extra life for every 50 coins he has when he completes a mission, but only up to three (i.e., no more than 150 coins). Model of a Koopa Shell from Super Mario 64.
Koopa Shells
Shells from Koopa Troopas that Mario can ride, allowing him to defeat enemies he runs over and move around the course quicker. Pressing Z Button causes the shell to disappear. If a Koopa Shell is grabbed underwater with B Button, Mario can hold on to the shell for a short time and move underwater easier.
Sprite of a Red Coin from Super Mario 64.
Red Coins
Red Coins are worth two coins. Eight are scattered around most courses, and collecting them all causes a Power Star to appear. They restore two wedges to Mario's Power Meter when collected. Model of Mario's cap from Super Mario 64.
Mario's cap
Mario can lose his cap: It can be stolen by Klepto or an Ukkiki or blown away by wind. He takes more damage without it. Mario can complete a mission or exit a course without his cap, but it is still missing when he returns to the Mushroom Castle. He has to return to the specific course where he lost his cap to retrieve it.
Sprite of a Blue Coin from Super Mario 64.
Blue Coins
Blue Coins are worth five coins. They typically appear after Mario ground-pounds a Blue Coin Block or after he defeats a strong enemy, such as a Mr. I. Model of a Block from Super Mario 64.
Crates
Small blocks that can be picked up and tossed to defeat enemies. Crates break on impact and release collectible Yellow Coins.
Model of a Spinning Heart from Super Mario 64.
Spinning Hearts
Spinning Hearts restore Mario's Power Meter when he passes through one. The amount of health recovered and how fast it does so are dependent on how quickly Mario moves through it. A Crazed Crate from Super Mario 64
Crazed Crates
Living crates. When Mario grabs a Crazed Crate, it immediately bounces three times in the direction he was facing when it is grabbed, taking him with it. Each bounce is progressively higher. A Crazed Crate breaks at the end of the third bounce, breaking and releasing Yellow Coins.

Power-ups

These are items that transform Mario's appearance and give him unique abilities. Power-ups are available in Cap Blocks, and they start appearing in the main courses only once their corresponding Cap Switches are struck in the hidden switch courses. Unlike in previous Super Mario games, all power-ups in Super Mario 64 only temporarily transform Mario, each one for 60 seconds. If he completes a mission in one of these forms, he will revert to his normal form. Additionally, Mario lacks a weak, diminutive small form in this game. Mario can be under the effect of two of these power-ups simultaneously in Dire, Dire Docks, namely the Metal and Vanish Caps.

Cap Block Power-up Effect Description
Texture of a red block from Super Mario 64.
Red block
WingCap SM64.png
Wing Cap
Wing Mario
Wing Mario
The Wing Cap is available only in red blocks and transforms Mario into Wing Mario. Performing a Triple Jump or launching from a cannon makes Wing Mario fly. Pressing up on Control Stick makes him descend, and pushing down makes him gain altitude. Alternating between both is necessary to keep Wing Mario airborne. Pressing Z Button brings him back to the ground.
Texture of a green block from Super Mario 64.
Green block
MetalCapSM64.png
Metal Cap
Render of Metal Mario from the Super Mario 3D All-Stars version of Super Mario 64
Metal Mario
The Metal Cap is available in green blocks and turns Mario into Metal Mario, a nearly invincible form. He can receive only fall damage in this form. Metal Mario functions the same as his normal form, but he can destroy enemies just by making contact and is impervious to most hazardous obstacles. Wind and currents cannot push him. While he does not need air, Metal Mario cannot swim and sinks to the bottoms of bodies of water, enabling him to circumvent jet streams and other underwater obstacles.
Texture of a blue block from Super Mario 64.
Blue block
Vanish Cap
Vanish Cap
Vanish Mario in Vanish Cap Under the Moat
Vanish Mario
The Vanish Cap is the final unlockable power-up and is contained in blue blocks. It transforms Mario into Vanish Mario, a form that allows Mario to phase through certain barriers and walls. Vanish Mario is undetectable to enemies, and they cannot harm him. He otherwise has the same abilities as normal Mario.

Objects

Name Description
Trigger objects
Bluecoinbox.png
Blue Coin Block
A block that causes a trail of Blue Coins to appear for a temporary period of time when ground-pounded. It disappears for the remainder of the accessed mission once struck.
Model of a brick pillar from Super Mario 64.
Brick pillar[37]
A pair of brick pillars is in the basement of the Mushroom Castle. Ground-pounding them permanently drains the moat.
Model of a bubble ring from Super Mario 64.
Bubble ring
An underwater ring released by the Manta Ray. Swimming through five consecutive bubble rings rewards Mario with a Power Star.
Vanish Cap Switch
Cap Switch
A type of ! Switch found only in switch courses. Ground-pounding one permanently makes corresponding semi-visible blocks turn solid, granting Mario access to the power-ups they contain. There are only three Cap Switches in the game, and they correspond as follows: The red one makes the Wing Cap available, the green one makes the Metal Cap available, and the blue one makes the Vanish Cap available.
Model of a Crystal Tap from Super Mario 64.
Crystal Tap
An octahedron in Wet-Dry World that causes the water level to either rise or fall when touched.
Model of a post from Super Mario 64.
Post
A post needs to be struck by a Pound the Ground attack three times to be fully embedded into the earth, and doing so may produce a Yellow Coin or trigger a nearby event. Running around one may produce multiple coins.
Model of a Purple Switch from Super Mario 64.
Purple Switch
Purple Switches cause temporary changes to the surrounding environment when stepped on.
Animated screenshot of Wing Mario collecting Secrets in Bob-omb Battlefield from Super Mario 64.
Secret
One of five cryptically hidden "spots" within a course. Finding one causes a corresponding red number to appear onscreen. Locating all five secrets causes a Power Star to appear.
Climbable objects
Model of a flagpole from Super Mario 64.
Flagpole
Koopa the Quick's climbable pole. It marks the finish line of a footrace.
Model of a pole from Super Mario 64.
Pole
Mario clings to climbable poles by jumping onto them. He can ascend, descend, and change which face of a pole he is on when the player moves Control Stick. Pressing A Button makes Mario jump from whichever face he is on. Poles' height and designs depend on where they are encountered.
Sprite of a tree from Mushroom Castle in Super Mario 64
Tree
Trees function like poles. Reaching the top of one sometimes triggers an event or releases a 1UP Mushroom that homes in on Mario.
Squared screenshot of a horizontal wire net from Super Mario 64.
Wire net (horizontal)
A ceiling of climbable metal netting.
Blocks and platforms
Model of an Arrow Lift from Super Mario 64.
Arrow Lift
A floating block that begins to move back and forth once stood on. An activated Arrow Lift stops moving for two-second intervals before moving again.
Model of a Block from Super Mario 64.
Block
Blocks contain Yellow Coins and release them once struck. They are visually identical to crates, but they are about the same height as Mario and cannot be picked up.
Model of Bowser's Sub from Super Mario 64.
Bowser's Submarine
The submarine appears only in Dire, Dire Docks during Board Bowser's Sub, during which it floats on the surface of the water. Bowser's Submarine does not appear in subsequent missions, and completing Board Bowser's Sub unlocks access to Bowser in the Fire Sea.
Squared screenshot of the Cloud House from Super Mario 64.
Cloud House
A large floating building in Rainbow Ride. Magic carpets travel through the Cloud House on a rainbow that weaves through it. The fireplace in the building shoots flames.
Model of a conveyor belt from Super Mario 64.
Conveyor Belt
A platform with a moving surface. The speed and direction vary depending on the position of the clock hands on Tick Tock Clock's face when Mario enters the course.
Model of a Falling Block from Super Mario 64.
Falling Block
A floating platform that falls when stepped on. In some courses, the Falling Blocks drop quickly, and Mario will lose ground if he does not keep moving forward.
Model of a flipping block from Super Mario 64.Model of a flipping block from Super Mario 64.
Flipping block[38]
A block platform that flips in set intervals. The speed and direction vary depending on the position of the clock hands on Tick Tock Clock's face when Mario enters the course.
Model of a floating wood platform from Super Mario 64.
Floating wooden platform[39]
Floating wooden platforms sink slightly in water when stepped on, then rise back up.
Model of a gondola from Super Mario 64.
Gondola
A moving platform on Cool, Cool Mountain. The gondola moves once Mario steps on it. It stops if it returns to the bottom after Mario has walked off it.
Model of a lift from Super Mario 64.
Lift
A moving platform. Some lifts move along tracks. Others move only up and down, like elevators. Their designs and environmental context for moving depend on where they are encountered.
Model of a log from Super Mario 64.
Log
Logs roll when stood on. Mario must keep pace with a log's roll to avoid falling off.
Model of a Magic Carpet from Super Mario 64.
Magic carpet
A type of lift in Rainbow Ride that travels along a rainbow. If Mario remains off a magic carpet for too long, it will disappear and respawn back at its original position.
Model of the merry-go-round from Super Mario 64.
Merry-go-round
A spinning platform in the basement of Big Boo's Haunt.
Model of a metal crate from Super Mario 64.
Metal crate[40]
A large stone block that can be pushed.
Model of a minute hand from Super Mario 64.
Minute hand[41]
A long platform in Tick Tock Clock. It rotates in incremental intervals around a pivot point at the center of the course. The speed and direction vary depending on the position of the clock hands on Tick Tock Clock's face when Mario enters the course.
A Mushroom Platform in  Super Mario 64
Mushroom
A tall platform that looks like a giant mushroom.
Model of a paddle wheel from Super Mario 64.
Paddle wheel
A set of four lifts attached to a pivot. Standing on a lift causes the paddle wheel to rotate.
Model of the puzzle from Super Mario 64.
Puzzle
A sliding puzzle of Bowser suspended over lava. The individual pieces constantly shift positions, forming and unforming the image of Bowser on the puzzle.
Model of pyramid platforms from Super Mario 64.
Pyramid platform
A platform that flips upside down for a few seconds once activated by a Purple Switch.
Squared screenshot of the Rainbow Cruiser from Super Mario 64.
Rainbow Cruiser
A six-winged airship flying in the direction of strong winds.
Model of a rotating bar from Super Mario 64.
Rotating bar[38]
A thin platform embedded in the side of Tick Tock Clock. The speed and direction vary depending on the position of the clock hands on Tick Tock Clock's face when Mario enters the course.
Model of the rotating bridge from Super Mario 64.
Rotating bridge[42]
A wooden platform in Whomp's Fortress that rotates 180˚ around a pivot point.
Model of the rotating ring platform from Super Mario 64.
Rotating ring platform[43]
A spinning platform surrounding the volcano in Lethal Lava Land. It stops moving periodically, during which the volcano erupts.
Model of a seesaw from Super Mario 64.
Seesaw
A long platform that tilts left or right depending on where Mario walks. Seesaws have different appearances depending on where they are found.
A Dotted-Line Block from Super Mario 64
Semi-visible block
A transparent block that turns solid and is able to be used after the player hits the Cap Switch.
Model of the Sunken Ship from Super Mario 64.
Ship
A sunken ship appears at the bottom of Jolly Roger Bay, and it is where Unagi nests. Approaching it causes Unagi to stir and exit the vessel, granting Mario access to its hull. The ship subsequently can be found floating on the surface of the water during Red Coins on the Ship Afloat.
Model of a spinning disc from Super Mario 64.Model of a spinning disc from Super Mario 64.
Spinning disc[44]
A spinning circular platform suspended in the air. Spinning discs' designs and environmental context for moving depend on where they are encountered.
Model of a square from Super Mario 64.
Square[45]
One of a pair of square-shaped platforms that move within the rims of a larger square-shaped frame.
Model of a swing from Super Mario 64.
Swing
A pendulum that swings back and forth.
Model of a treasure chest from Super Mario 64.
Treasure Chest
A wooden chest that contains a bubble and opens when touched. In some missions, five Treasure Chests appear and either release a Power Star or trigger a change in the environment when opened in a specific order. Opening a chest out of order electrocutes Mario and forces the player to start over.
Model of a wire platform from Super Mario 64.
Wire platform
A mesh lift in lava. Some wire platforms move along tracks that temporarily submerge them in lava.
Model of a wobbly platform from Super Mario 64.
Wobbly platform[46]
A prism-shaped platform that tilts toward the direction that Mario is standing on, dipping the nearest corner into lava.
Model of the wooden beam from Super Mario 64.
Wooden beam[47]
A plank in Whomp's Fortress. Kicking or punching the wooden beam causes it to fall over and become useable as a bridge.
Model of a Work Elevator from Super Mario 64.
Work Elevator
A large flat platform with four arrow-emblazoned buttons. Stepping on a button causes the Work Elevator to move in that direction until it meets an obstruction.
Model of a yellow block from Super Mario 64.
Yellow block
A floating ! Block that contains items. It releases its content when Mario jumps underneath it. It is functionally comparable to the ? Blocks of prior Super Mario games and is the only ! Block available at the start of the game.
Transportation objects
A ★ door from Super Mario 64
★ door
A door to a room that holds (a) painting(s), four of which open only once Mario has collected the required numbers of Power Stars indicated on the fronts of the doors. Not all paintings are locked behind ★ doors.
Star Door Mario 64 sprite.png
Big Star Door
A larger ★ door that has a higher Power Star-threshold to unlock. Three of the four Big Star Doors lead to rooms that contain Bowser courses.
Model of a cannon from Super Mario 64.
Cannon
Cannons launch Mario to distant areas. They are accessed like pipes. Most cannons are overseen by Bob-omb Buddies and become accessible only after Mario speaks to them.
Squared screenshot of the clock from Super Mario 64.
Clock
The portal for Tick Tock Clock. The placement of the clock's hands when Mario enters the face determines the speed and direction of the platforms and obstacles in the course. None of these objects move if he enters the face with the minute hand on 12, and they move slowly if it is on 3.
A Key Door from Super Mario 64
Key Door
A door that requires a key to open. Key Doors lead to new sections of the castle.
The painting leading to Bob-omb Battlefield.
Painting
A magical portal created by Bowser. Paintings lead to the courses of the game.
Texture of the painting in Big Boo's Haunt from Super Mario 64.
Painting (Boo)
Paintings of Boos appear only in Big Boo's Haunt, and Mario can pass through them only in his Vanish form.
Squared screenshot of the volcano from Super Mario 64.
Volcano
The volcano is at the center of Lethal Lava Land and periodically shoots fire. The volcano's interior can be accessed, and two Power Stars can be obtained in it.
Model of a warp pipe from Super Mario 64.
Warp pipe
A pipe going through the ground that brings Mario to a new area. He enters one by physically jumping into it. The cabin chimney on Cool, Cool Mountain functions like a warp pipe. Some pipes are Shrinker Pipes that change Mario's size and bring him to the two different versions of Tiny-Huge Island.
Animated screenshot of Mario warping in Bob-omb Battlefield from Super Mario 64.
Warp Point
Warp Points are hidden spots within a course that teleport Mario from one point to another.
Other objects
A Arrow Sign in Super Mario 64
Arrow Sign
A sign that directs the player towards the intended focus of the mission they enter.
Rendered model of the cloud platforms and rainbows in Wing Mario Over the Rainbow from Super Mario 64.
Rainbow
Rainbows passively indicate an intended direction for the player to follow. Magic carpets move along them in Rainbow Ride, and arches connect different clouds in Wing Mario Over the Rainbow. A ring-shaped rainbow in Rainbow Ride provides a visual target for the player to launch Mario out of a cannon. All rainbows are intangible.
3D Model render of a sign from Super Mario 64
Sign[48]
A posted board that contains information on actions, scenarios, and locations. Signs can be ground-pounded into the ground. There are variants found hanging on walls.
Model of a Star Marker from Super Mario 64.
Star Marker
A Power Star appears above a Star Marker in missions where Mario must collect eight Red Coins.

Reissues

Super Mario 64: Shindō Pak Taiō Version

Super Mario 64: Shindō Pak Taiō Version (Japanese: スーパーマリオ64 振動パック対応バージョン) is a version of the original game released in Japan on July 18, 1997, that includes Rumble Pak support. This game is the same as the international release of the game, as it retains all of the glitch fixes as well as graphical and sound changes (except Mario calling Bowser by his name in the "So long kinga[sic] Bowser!"[49] voice clip, which was changed to "Buh-bye!"). Other differences include a new title screen Easter egg and the fixing of the "Backwards Long Jump" glitch. This version was rereleased for the Virtual Console on the Wii in Japan on December 2, 2006, then on the Wii U on April 8, 2015.

Super Mario 64 DS

Main article: Super Mario 64 DS

Super Mario 64 DS is a remake of the game for the Nintendo DS, bearing some new features in its storyline, gameplay, and graphics. Unlike in Super Mario 64, Mario is not the only playable character (nor is he even available at the start; the only character available at the start of the game is Yoshi); in addition to Yoshi, Luigi and Wario also join the adventure in order to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. Yoshi's being on the roof at the start of the game is a reference to the fact that he is there at the end of the original version. Other new features within the game include a multiplayer mode, in which up to four players can play simultaneously on each Nintendo DS connected together locally; minigames to play with each character; and new additions to the story mode such as new missions and levels.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars

Main article: Super Mario 3D All-Stars

Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a compilation game for the Nintendo Switch featuring high-definition remasters of Super Mario 64 (specifically the Shindō Pak Taiō Version,[50] marking its first international release), Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. It was released on September 18, 2020, as part of the 35th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. The game is displayed in 720p resolution and contains redone textures.

Version differences

There is a total of four Nintendo 64 releases of Super Mario 64: the original Japanese version, the North American release, the European and Australian release, and the Japanese Super Mario 64: Shindō Pak Taiō Version rerelease.

Changes to the North American release

Text changes

  • The script is exclusively in English.
  • Princess Peach signs her letter with a large pink "Peach." In the Japanese release, she signs her letter in normal-sized black text.

Audiovisual changes

Original Japanese Jolly Roger Bay Painting in the game Super Mario 64.
Japan
All versions beside the original Japanese version Jolly Roger Bay Painting in the game Super Mario 64.
America
  • The entrance to Jolly Roger Bay is changed. In the original release, it is a painting of bubbles in a blue frame. In Western releases, it is a painting of a sunken ship in a gold frame.
  • In the Japanese version, the animation that plays when Mario collects a key after defeating Bowser depicts him dancing with a Power Star, as he does after completing a Power Star mission in all versions of the game. In Western releases, this is changed to a new animation in which Mario dances with the key itself.
  • The unused "key" HUD icon is removed from this version. It is replaced with a corrupted graphic.
  • The J, Q, V, Z, %, &, !, and ‼ characters are removed from the game's multicolored font and replaced with corrupted graphics similar to the key. None of these symbols are actually used anywhere in the game.
  • The Chain Chomp's bark has been changed to a completely different sound.
  • The Red Coin sound effect increases in pitch with each coin collected. In the Japanese release, all Red Coins make the same sound.
  • The intro cutscene has several additional sound effects not present in the original release:
    • The blowing of wind when Lakitu is flying
    • The click of the camera shutter when the in-game camera moves to Lakitu's perspective
    • The spring sound and voice line "Ha ha!" when Mario jumps out of the pipe
  • A sound effect not present in the Japanese game plays when Mario exits a course through the pause menu.
  • When Mario enters certain substages, such as the Tower of the Wing Cap, the Power Star collection sound effect plays.
  • When Lakitu appears to explain things to Mario, a short tune entitled "Lakitu's Message" plays. Since this tune is not in the original Japanese release, it is not found on the official soundtrack.
  • Western releases add more voice acting for Mario:
    • "Hello!" when his face greets the player on the title screen
    • "Okey-dokey!" when the player chooses a save file
    • "Let's-a go!" when the player chooses a Star before entering a course
    • "Game over!" when he runs out of lives
    • "Press START to play!" during the title screen demo
    • "Boing!" when he jumps off a Spindrift
    • "I'm-a tired!" and the names of various pastas when he is sleeping
    • "Mamma mia!" when falling out of a non-painting course after Mario loses a life
    • In the original Japanese version, Mario says, "Here we go!" when he throws Bowser. In Western versions, he says, "Here we go!" only when throwing Bowser a short distance. When he throws Bowser a long distance, he instead says, "So long kinga Bowser!"
    • Similarly, when Mario hits a wall in the Japanese version, he grunts. In Western versions, Mario grunts if he hits a wall at a low speed, but he says, "D'oh!" if he long-jumps or dives into a wall.
    • When Mario triple-jumps in the Japanese release, he says, "Yahoo!" In Western releases, he randomly says, "Yahoo!", "Wha-ha!", or "Yippee!"; however, he says only "Yahoo!" when using the improved Triple Jump obtained after he talks to Yoshi.
  • All of Princess Peach's voice acting is new in this version of the game.

Fixed glitches

Frozen Head Glitch
Mario looking away from the camera
  • When Mario steps on one of the Cap Switches, a text box that explains the function of the switch is triggered. In the Japanese release, this text box causes the action in-game to pause until the text box is closed. If a Power Star is collected before this text box appears, the Star does not vanish as it is supposed to do upon collection. In Western releases, the text box does not cause the action to pause, which fixes this glitch.
  • If 1,000 coins are collected, the coin counter is intended to immediately set itself back to 999 coins. In the Japanese release, it instead sets the life counter to 999. Because the life counter is stored in memory as a one-byte-wide signed field, this causes an overflow, and Mario's life total becomes -25. Western releases correctly set the coin counter to 999, rather than the life counter.
  • The first two times Bowser is defeated, he leaves behind a key. If Mario is standing where the key lands and the player presses Up C Button to activate the first-person camera, Mario continues to look that way during the key collection cutscene.
  • In Shifting Sand Land's pyramid, collecting the fifth secret may cause the audio to stop playing. If this happens, attempting to leave the course in any way causes the game to crash.
  • If Mario exits a course while standing on a moving platform, he retains his momentum when the Mushroom Castle loads. This causes Mario to spawn in an abnormal location.

Level design changes

  • In the mission Blast to the Stone Pillar, the Power Star is in a yellow block, rather than in the open as it was in the Japanese release.
  • In the mission Li'l Penguin Lost, the Power Star's spawn location has been moved from directly above the Mother Penguin to an empty area adjacent to her. This was apparently done because the penguin's hitbox made it difficult to collect the Star in its original location.

Changes to the European and Australian release

These releases feature all the changes of the North American release, plus the following additional changes:

Text changes

  • The script can be switched between English, German, and French.
  • The North American version's "Sound" menu has been renamed "Options," reflecting the fact that the in-game language can be changed from this menu.
  • The characters Ä, Ö, and Ü have been added to the multicolored font, to allow proper representation of the German language. The Ü character is not actually used anywhere in the game. V and Z, which are present in the Japanese release but changed to corrupted characters in the North American release, are restored in this edition of the game.

Audiovisual changes

The title screen
The North American version
The European Title screen in the game Super Mario 64.
The European and Australian versions
The title screen with Mario's face in Super Mario 64.
The North American version
The PAL Intro Screen in the game Super Mario 64.
The European and Australian versions
  • The copyright date on the title screen is changed to reflect the release year of the European and Australian editions. The trademark symbol was changed for unknown reasons, and the logo is slightly narrower.
  • The intro screen says "PRESS START" in the NTSC versions but just "START" in the PAL version. The text was also moved slightly to the left in the PAL version.
  • The NTSC versions have slight letterboxing, while the PAL version does not. This is most noticeable with the gap between the edge of the HUD elements and the edge of the screen.
  • In the intro, Mario jumps out of a pipe and a variation on the classic Mario pipe sound effect plays. In this edition of the game, the sound effect plays at a much quieter volume.
  • The sound of a Big Star Door closing is now more similar to the sound of the door opening.
  • The Yellow Coin collecting sound is slightly slowed down.
  • The sound effect of grabbing and then releasing Mario's face on the title screen is changed.
  • Mario's Double Jump sound is different.

Gameplay changes

  • This version of the game outputs a signal compatible with the PAL television standard, rather than the NTSC standard used by the North American and Japanese releases. Therefore, it outputs 25 frames per second instead of 30. This causes everything in the game to happen at five sixths of the speed that it happens in the North American release.

Changes in Super Mario 64: Shindō Pak Taiō Version

This release features all the changes of the North American release, plus the following additional changes:

Text changes

  • The original Japanese script is restored.
  • Text that mentioned pressing B Button to read signs in both the original Japanese and localized scripts now additionally mentions A Button can be pressed as an alternative.

Audiovisual changes

The title screen
The North American version
The Shindou Edition re-release Title screen in the game Super Mario 64.
Super Mario 64: Shindō Pak Taiō Version
An exclusive Easter egg
The Easter egg and compatibility notice
  • The copyright date on the title screen is updated to reflect the release date of Super Mario 64: Shindō Pak Taiō Version. The trademark symbol is changed.
  • A notice in the lower right corner of the intro screen informs players that this release is compatible with the Rumble Pak.
  • If the player presses Z Button on the intro screen, the background fills with images of Mario's face. These faces are copied from the frame buffer, so they move in synchronization with the modeled Mario face.
  • The voice line "So long kinga Bowser!" is changed to "Buh-bye!" likely since Bowser's Japanese name is Koopa.
  • Mario's Double Jump sound is a higher-pitched version of the same sound from the European and Australian version.
  • One of Mario's single jump sounds is higher-pitched.
  • Mario faces the camera after grabbing a tree.

Gameplay changes

  • The game is compatible with the Rumble Pak.
  • The "Backwards Long Jump" glitch has been fixed. Although the move itself can be performed, the player is prevented from gaining high speeds.
  • The Power Star in Blast to the Stone Pillar is out in the open like in the original Japanese release rather than in a yellow block like in the international releases.

Notable mistakes and errors

  • If the player copies a save file to another file that already has data, it will say "Save Data Exits" instead of "Save Data Exists." This was fixed in Super Mario 3D All-Stars.
  • On the floating island of the Bob-omb Battlefield, one of the signs says, "Pull back to to fly up." This was fixed in Super Mario 3D All-Stars.
  • On Cool, Cool Mountain, the Headless Snowman says, "Have you run in to any headhunters lately??" instead of "into."
  • At the end of the game, when Mario speaks to Yoshi on the castle roof, he says, "Mario!!! It that really you???" instead of "Mario!!! Is that really you???"
  • If Mario is one Star short of opening a ★ door, the message still refers to the word needed in the plural: "You need 1 more Stars" instead of "You need 1 more Star."

Those errors remained in the Virtual Console version. However, they were removed in Super Mario 64 DS, as Yoshi is a playable character and the message that appears when Mario does not have enough Stars to open a ★ door is instead "You need [number] more."

Pre-release and unused content

Main article: List of Super Mario 64 pre-release and unused content

One unused asset is the Blargg, which is still in the game's data, and would have appeared in Lethal Lava Land, Bowser in the Fire Sea, and Wing Mario Over the Rainbow. Also, the Big Boo held a key instead of a Star inside him. The purpose of the keys was to unlock many of the doors in Big Boo's Haunt—there was even a "key counter." 32 levels were planned for the game, but only fifteen of them made it into the final product.

Staff

Main article: List of Super Mario 64 staff

Game director

  • Shigeru Miyamoto

Assistant directors

  • Yoshiaki Koizumi
  • Takashi Tezuka

Mario face programmer

  • Giles Goddard

Course designers

  • Kenta Usui
  • Naoki Mori
  • Yoshiki Haruhana
  • Makoto Miyanaga
  • Katsuhiko Kanno

Development

Super Mario 64 was the last game to be directed by Shigeru Miyamoto.

During the development of Super Mario 64, the title screen featuring Mario's face came from 3D struggles, leading Miyamoto to suggest playing with Mario's model like a programmer. Additionally, Miyamoto took up swimming at the time, which is reflected in Mario's breaststroke move.[51]

Reception

Super Mario 64 received critical acclaim, garnering a score of 9.8 from IGN, 9.4 from GameSpot, and 9.75 from Game Informer. Although it was criticized for its camera system and difficulty, it was praised for its graphics, its level design, its soundtrack, and the Super Mario franchise's shift from 2D to 3D. Sometime after the game's release, rumors about secret glitches, Stars, and hidden characters circulated. Among the most notable is the widely publicized hoax that Luigi was hidden and fully playable, causing false rumors to circulate on how to unlock him.

Super Mario 64 was one of the games featured at The Art of Video Games, an exhibition held at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in 2012.[52] The game won voting in the "action" category for the Nintendo 64, beating out Banjo-Kazooie and Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire.

Reviews
Release Reviewer, Publication Score Comment
N64 Doug Perry, IGN 9.8/10 "In fact, this game is exactly as one might hope it would be: Mario in 3D. More freedom, more space, more options, better graphics, improved and elaborated control schemes -- it's all there. Possibly the greatest videogame achievement ever. Don't rent. Buy."
N64 Gamespot Staff, GameSpot 9.4/10 "Mario 64 is a game that rewards the curious, the original, and in some cases the bludgeoningly stubborn and tenacious. If Mario 64 is even a rough indication of what's to be expected from Nintendo, or from games in general, then we just might have a revolution of sorts in our very hands."
Wii Corbie Dillard, Nintendo Life 10/10 "Finishing the game won't take you too long but as with most Mario games that's not really the point, it will take you weeks (and quite possibly months) to discover all the secrets contained within this game."
Aggregators
Compiler Platform / Score
Metacritic 94
GameRankings 96.41%

Sales

Super Mario 64 is the best-selling game for the Nintendo 64, selling 11.62 million copies worldwide, as of December 31, 2009.

Appearances in other media

It has been requested that this section be rewritten. Reason: Explain in which books it has been adapted

This section is under construction. Therefore, please excuse its informal appearance while it is being worked on. We hope to have it completed as soon as possible.

Super Mario 64 has received various manga adaptations.

Official descriptions

Wii U eShop description

North American version: On a bright, sunny day in the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario goes to visit the princess but finds her castle eerily empty. Leaping through pictures hanging from the walls, he enters 15 magical worlds in a quest to collect the 120 Power Stars pilfered by evil Bowser and save the day. The game's vast worlds teem with daunting obstacle courses, hidden items, puzzles and more than 30 types of enemies. Take advantage of Mario's large selection of moves, including running, jumping, swimming, stomping, punching, and even backward somersaulting! Special caps give him short-lived powers, including the ability to fly. Super Mario 64 features unmatched camera control that makes adventuring in its 3D world a snap, even for newcomers.

European and Oceanian version: Invited to Princess Peach's castle, Mario discovers that she has once again been kidnapped by Bowser and his minions. However, something has changed... This time the adventure is in 3D!

Leaping through pictures hanging from the walls, Mario searches for 120 Power Stars stashed away in vast, magical worlds teeming with daunting obstacle courses, hidden items, puzzles and an army of enemies! Mario has a huge repertoire of moves, including running, jumping, swimming, stomping and punching, and performing a backward somersault that can help him reach even the highest platforms. Special caps give him short-lived powers, including the ability to fly - and if troublemakers swipe Mario's cap, he'll have to grab it back!

Mario runs freely in a grassy meadow, tiptoes through a gloomy dungeon, climbs to the top of a snow-covered mountain, hot-foots it over lava lakes and swims in the castle moat. He can explore an ancient pyramid and even race Koopas for fabulous prizes. And, of course, he must fight his arch-nemesis Bowser, King of the Koopas - not once, but three times!

Please note: Super Mario 64 on Wii U Virtual Console is the US version of the game.

Super Mario 3D All-Stars description

Princess Peach has invited Mario to her castle to enjoy some cake! On his arrival, he's greeted by an eerie silence...until Bowser's laughter echoes through the halls. Thus begins an adventure to rescue the princess by exploring the magical worlds within the castle's many enchanted paintings. This first 3D action game in the Super Mario series launched alongside the Nintendo 64 system. The introduction of the analog Control Stick set a new standard for later games in the series.

Nintendo 64 - Nintendo Switch Online description

Retrieve the Power Stars and confront the ruthless Bowser!

On a bright, sunny day in the Mushroom Kingdom, Mario goes to visit the princess but finds her castle eerily empty. Leaping through pictures hanging from the walls, he enters 15 magical worlds in a quest to collect the 120 Power Stars pilfered by evil Bowser and save the day. The game's vast worlds teem with daunting obstacle courses, hidden items, puzzles, and more than 30 types of enemies. Take advantage of Mario's large selection of moves, including running, jumping, swimming, stomping, punching, and even backward somersaulting! Special caps give him short-lived powers, including the ability to fly.

Super Mario 64 features revolutionary camera controls that make adventuring in its 3D world a snap, even for newcomers.

Glitches

Main article: List of Super Mario 64 glitches

A notable glitch is the Backwards Long Jump, which lets Mario slide upward on any staircase, including the endless stairs. Another notable glitch is the Black Room of Death, which traps Mario behind the boundaries of the castle walls. It can be achieved in several ways, including using the Backwards Long Jump glitch. Another rather known glitch is the cloning glitch, often used to collect more coins than the actual number of coins in the game.

As in many other N64 titles, the cartridge can be tilted in the console to achieve messed-up results. For example, Mario's body will flip horizontally, but he can still be controlled. Also, the music will be heavily corrupted.

In multiple areas of the game in the Japanese version, there are unintended invisible walls that Mario can bump into. An example is the one on Tall, Tall Mountain just above the wooden log.

Using a well-timed Triple Jump on the slope near the castle, Mario can climb the castle without the cannon. Also, when he reaches a corner, he can fall down slightly and grab on to a ledge. Mario can then pull himself back up onto the roof, at which point he loses a life. For unknown reasons, he also loses his cap. This occurs because when Mario grabs the ledge, he is out of bounds, but the game waits until he pulls himself back up before causing him to lose a life. Something similar can happen if a door leads out of bounds or into a wall, but that can happen only through modding or glitches.

Angled Dive

When Mario enters the water, the angle he was facing before entering is preserved in a datum; therefore, when he jumps and lands on dry land, the next dive he performs starts with this angle. A few frames afterward, the angle fixes itself and the dive is completed correctly. Several things "reset" the angle, including grabbing a ledge, shooting from a cannon, changing areas, and jumping while facing a slope. This glitch does not affect the dive itself, just the animation.

Gallery

For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Super Mario 64.

Soundtrack

Main article: Super Mario 64 Original Soundtrack

Super Mario 64's soundtrack comprises 34 music cues composed by veteran composer Koji Kondo. The majority of the cues are new material, with some being interpretations of familiar melodies from earlier media. It also includes hundreds of sound effects; sound designer Yoji Inagaki felt that sound effects were equally as important as music.[53]

An album tying in with the game was published by Pony Canyon under license from Nintendo as the first of ten soundtracks in the Nintendo 64 Sound Series. In addition to all of the game's music cues, the album includes Mario's opening voiceover and a piano arrangement of the Piranha Plant's lullaby.

The music for Super Mario 64 was scored using Best Service's Voice Spectral, Brüse & Brüse AudioProduction's Acoustic Drums, Digidesign's SampleCell II CD-ROM Library #1, the E-mu Proteus/1, ILIO's Synclavier World & Orchestral, the Korg Wavestation, Optical Media International's Universe of Sounds: Sonic Images Vol. 1, Q-Up Arts' The Denny Jaeger Private Collection Vol. 1, Rarefaction's A Poke in the Ear With a Sharp Stick, Roland's JD-990 synthesizer and Sound Canvas SC-88 module, Spectrasonics' Bass Legends and Supreme Beats, and the Yamaha VL1.[54] Many of the sound effects in the game were sourced from Sound Ideas' General Series 6000 and Series 1000 sound effects libraries and the sound effects libraries of American film studios Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures.[55]

Media

For a complete list of media for this subject, see List of Super Mario 64 media.
Video.svg Bob-omb Battlefield - Big Bob-omb on the Summit star speed run
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Audio.svg Super Mario 64 - Super Mario 64 Main Theme
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Audio.svg Super Mario 64 - Inside the Castle Walls
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Audio.svg Super Mario 64 - Piranha Plant's Lullaby
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Audio.svg Super Mario 64 - Powerful Mario
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References to other games

Texture of carved stone from Super Mario 64, featuring a petroglyph of Mario fighting Bowser.
The carving
  • Super Mario Bros. - Carvings of Mario and Bowser from this game appear on several pillars in Bowser in the Sky. An arrangement of the overworld theme plays on the title screen, and the underground theme can be heard in the music for Hazy Maze Cave and Wet-Dry World. There is also a small jingle used at the Power Star select screen which sounds identical to the first few notes of the overworld theme in this game.
  • Super Mario World - The idea of Switch Palaces is, in a way, brought back. Also, when Yoshi is met, he says to Mario "It has been so long since our last adventure!", possibly referring to this game. Also, the soundtrack follows the same composition technique used in Super Mario World in a similar way where there's a signature melody in the game that's heard across different levels in several variations ("Super Mario 64 Main Theme", "Snow Mountain", "Slider").
  • Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island - The theme used for invincibility in this game, specifically the string instruments playing in the background, is reworked into Wing/Vanish Mario's theme for Super Mario 64. The idea of collecting Red Coins first appeared in this title as well. Fly Guys appear as enemies. Ukikis also appear as non-playable characters.
  • The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - This game was created using a modified version of Super Mario 64's engine, and was developed alongside it. Additionally, the notes for the Song of Storms are displayed as stars in the night paintings of the second floor in the Mushroom Castle.[56]

References in later media

The recreation of the Mushroom Castle's courtyard in Super Mario Odyssey

Names in other languages

Language Name Meaning Notes
Japanese スーパーマリオ64[?]
Sūpā Mario Rokujūyon
Super Mario 64
Chinese (simplified) 神游马力欧 (iQue Player)
Shényóu Mǎlì'ōu
超级马力欧64 (Super Mario 3D All-Stars)[64]
Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Liùshísì
iQue Mario
Super Mario 64
Chinese (traditional) 超級瑪利歐64[65]
Chāojí Mǎlì'ōu Liùshísì
Super Mario 64
Korean Super Mario 64[?] -

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ Private correspondence with shmuplations clarifies that the text they translated as "diorama" was written as 箱庭 (hakoniwa) in the original Shogakukan (1996) text.

References

  1. ^ Shogakukan. 2015. Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook.
  2. ^ GameFaqs - The top 10 games Ever
  3. ^ Edge Online - The 100 Best Games to Play Today
  4. ^ Official Nintendo Magazine - 100 Best Nintendo Games
  5. ^ GameSpot - 15 Most Influential Games of All Time
  6. ^ http://gamingafterhours.com/2014/06/24/super-mario-64dd-version-discovered-in-japan/
  7. ^ O'Malley, James (September 11, 2015). 30 Best-selling Super Mario Games of All Time on the Plumber's 30th Birthday. Gizmodo. Archived from the original. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  8. ^ https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wii-vc-47m-downloads-100-games/1100-6171850/
  9. ^ a b c d Yoshiaki Koizumi. "Super Mario Galaxy: The Journey from Garden to Galaxy" (keynote address; archived). Montreal International Games Summit, Alliance numériQC, 27 Nov 2007, Palais des congrès de Montréal, Montréal. Recorded by Eric St-Cyr. Compiled by Hover. YouTube, youtube.com. Published 24 Sep 2016. Accessed 27 Feb 2021.
  10. ^ a b 64編集部 (eds). スーパーマリオ64 マリオ・ザ・テクニック―完全攻略への最短ルート編 (Japanese source). Tokyo: Takarajimasha, 1996. ISBN: 978-4-79-661121-3. Cited in-text as Takarajimasha (1996).
  11. ^ a b c d shmuplations (translator). "Super Mario 64 – 1996 Developer Interviews" (English translations of Takarajimasha and Shogakukan, 1996). shmuplations.com. Published 2022. Accessed 22 Jun 2023.
  12. ^ a b Editing staff (eds). スーパーマリオ64 (ワンダーライフスペシャル―任天堂公式ガイドブック) (Japanese source). Tokyo: Shogakukan, 1996. ISBN: 978-4-09-102554-8. Cited in-text as Shogakukan (1996).
  13. ^ a b c Bill Trinen. "What's in a Box?". Nintendo Treehouse Log. Tumblr, tumblr.com. Published 14 Jun 2017. Accessed 30 Jan 2021.
  14. ^ Andrew R. Dean. "Chapter 8: The Courtyard Garden". Handbook, Part 1: Design & Craft (digital). North American Japanese Garden Association, najga.org. Published 10 Dec 2010. Accessed 24 Jun 2023.
  15. ^ Nihon Gaiji Kyōkai (eds). Contemporary Japan: A Review of Far Eastern Affairs. Tokyo: Foreign Affairs Association of Japan, (25): 246. Published 1957. Accessed 14 Aug 2023.
  16. ^ a b c d Design Doc. "What Makes a Great Hub World? - How Mario 64, Spyro, and Hades Made Theirs ~ Design Doc". YouTube, youtube.com. Published 12 Oct 2020. Accessed 18 Aug 2023.
  17. ^ a b Super Mario 64 Instruction Booklet. Großostheim: Nintendo of Europe, 1996. page 15.
  18. ^ David Upchurch (ed). "Super Mario 64 The Essential Player's Guide". Official UK Nintendo Magazine. London: East Midland Allied Press, (54): 31. Published Mar 1997.
  19. ^ Upchurch, p. 30
  20. ^ Upchurch, p. 32
  21. ^ Scott Pelland and Dan Owsen. The Super Mario 64 Player's Guide. Redmond: Nintendo of America, 1996.
  22. ^ a b c d Pelland and Owsen, p. 46
  23. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 44
  24. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 45
  25. ^ a b c d e Pelland and Owsen, p. 84
  26. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 81
  27. ^ a b Pelland and Owsen, p. 82
  28. ^ a b c d e f Pelland and Owsen, p. 127
  29. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 126
  30. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 83
  31. ^ a b Pelland and Owsen, p. 5
  32. ^ a b Rich Stanton. A Brief History Of Video Games: From Atari to Virtual Reality (digital). London: Little, Brown Book Group, 2015. ISBN: 978-1-47-211881-3.
  33. ^ Christopher W. Totten. "Hub Spaces". An Architectural Approach to Level Design. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2018. pages 133-135. ISBN: 978-1-35-198292-4.
  34. ^ JoshDuMan. August 28, 2019. Decomp is out! …but what does that mean? – Ukikipedia News Week 10
  35. ^ Shogakukan. 2015. Super Mario Bros. Hyakka: Nintendo Kōshiki Guidebook, Super Mario 64 section, p. 85. 「ピーチ姫の飼っているウサギ。」 ("Princess Peach’s pet rabbit.")
  36. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 33
  37. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 49
  38. ^ a b Pelland and Owsen, p. 113
  39. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 96
  40. ^ Upchurch, p. 20
  41. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 115
  42. ^ Pelland and Owsen, pp. 25, 26, 28
  43. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 62
  44. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 119
  45. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 42
  46. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 80
  47. ^ Pelland and Owsen, p. 28
  48. ^ Nintendo of America, p. 8
  49. ^ Martinet, Charles (April 29, 2019). Tweet by Charles Martinet. Twitter. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  50. ^ Master0fHyrule (September 18, 2020). 5 MAJOR Differences In Super Mario 64 That You Will Miss! (Super Mario 3D All Stars). YouTube. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  51. ^ MacDonald, Keza (September 14, 2020). Super Mario at 35: Mario's makers on Nintendo's most enduring mascot. The Guardian. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  52. ^ http://americanart.si.edu/exhibitions/archive/2012/games/#games
  53. ^ https://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0106/koukaon/interv/talk/index.html
  54. ^ https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1JJBlHHDc65fhZmKUGLrDTLCm6rfUU83-kbuD8Y0zU0o/edit?pli=1#gid=717751203
  55. ^ https://soundeffects.fandom.com/wiki/Super_Mario_64
  56. ^ HiteiGG's Twitter post, showing the Song of Storms in Super Mario 64
  57. ^ MarioKartESP (August 17, 2022). Los pingüinos nunca olvidan. Facebook. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  58. ^ MarioKartItalia (August 17, 2022). Un pinguino non dimentica mai. Facebook. Retireved November 27, 2022. (Archived via November 27, 2022, 22:01:36 UTC via archive.today.)
  59. ^ MarioKartNL (August 17, 2022). Een pinguïn vergeet nooit. Facebook. Retireved November 27, 2022. (Archived via November 27, 2022, 22:04:13 UTC via archive.today.)
  60. ^ MarioKartPT (August 17, 2022). Os pinguins nunca esquecem. Facebook. Retireved November 27, 2022. (Archived via November 27, 2022, 22:02:38 UTC via archive.today.)
  61. ^ March 6, 2013. We all did this - [Super Mario 64]. Reddit (/r/gaming). Retrieved November 27, 2022.
  62. ^ Fairfax, Zackerie (March 10, 2021). What Super Mario 64's Penguin Reveals About Its Players. screenrant.com. Retrieved November 27, 2022. (Archived July 19, 2021, 01:30:26 UTC via Wayback Machine.)
  63. ^ [1]
  64. ^ 《超级马力欧64》、《超级马力欧阳光》和《超级马力欧银河》。 3款历代的3D马力欧收录在Nintendo Switch的《超级马力欧 3D 收藏辑》,将于9月18日发售! Nintendo HK. Retrieved September, 2020.
  65. ^ 《超級瑪利歐64》、《超級瑪利歐陽光》和《超級瑪利歐銀河》。3款歷代的3D瑪利歐收錄在Nintendo Switch的《超級瑪利歐 3D 收藏輯》,將於9月18日發售! Nintendo HK. Retrieved September, 2020.

Image references

  1. ^ Mizu-chan. Miniature Japanese garden. Minato, Tokyo. 21 Jan 2014. Muza-chan's Gate to Japan, muza-chan.net.

External links