Facebook – Top 100 FAVORITE Video Games: 36

36: Super Mario 64 (N64)
Developer: Nintendo
Year: 1996

Once again a great Mario game enters the list, this time as equally influential as the original Mario Bros. game over a decade before it. The Nintendo 64 entry into the franchise is noted for many things, but chief among them being its innovative 3D game world and camera controls (which are horribly, horribly dated anymore, but then? Perfect) which presented – for many gamers – an opportunity to take those first important steps into the third dimension.

While Mario games are always light on plot, and this game not being any kind of exception, the fact remains true for this game as is true in any other Mario title; having the Princess (now called Peach… I wonder when that actually started…?) be kidnapped by Bowser is really all you need. Tongue-in-cheek jokes have been made (typically in the Paper Mario series) about her ease of capture, but in any game that is mostly exploration, platforming, and (now) punching the shit out of Goombas, all you really need to know is that the giant Koopa wants the Mushroom Kingdom and “It’s up to us!” to stop him. This narrative drive is as impactful as is essential to this style of gaming, keeping players focused on having a good time over delving deeper into mysteries, character motivation, and/or unexpected twists.

So, if the plot of a Mario game isn’t essential in comparison to the game, let’s talk about the game. Mario games are known for their addictive gameplay and platforming levels, and the N64 title doesn’t disappoint. Built around the simple premise of “GIANT WORLDS TO RUN AROUND IN”, the player moves Mario as he runs, jumps, and stomps his way toward gathering enough Stars to finally do battle with King Koopa. As you move through the Castle, you come across (incredibly empty rooms for a castle that house) paintings you can leap into. These lead you to worlds of great variety (snow, fire, sky, etc.) and you must figure out puzzles, toss bosses, and complete timed challenges to acquire the precious yellow stars. This game introduced the idea of multiple power caps for Mario to wear, too, most important being the Flying Cap, a winged hat that allows Mario to soar in the sky. Although… truth be told the music of the Metal Cap makes it almost 10x better. But not… not for flying.

The jump to 3D was a big step, though, and the element to the game that really gives it enough cred to be this high up the list. Full and huge 3D worlds were easy to navigate and a thrill to play through once you got the hang of moving Mario around. The models were instantly recognizable, with Koopas, Goombas, and the like all being present and accounted for, doing all those things they’re known for. The colors and differences visually to each of the worlds meant almost anything was possible, with particular note being given to all the Bowser levels, each one being strange and difficult to figure out, spatially, the first time you play through them. The music, too, reached greatness, with a high number of tracks being catchy and immediately recognizable in any future installment that might borrow them.

All in all, Super Mario 64 showcased the power of Nintendo’s post-SNES system right off the bat. And, while the console didn’t do that much business in the end (thanks largely to Nintendo’s at-the-time retarded stance on putting games on cartridges and avoiding discs as long as possible), the first wave of games that came out (this, Shadows of the Empire, Goldeneye, etc.) showcased how good gaming in the third dimension could really be. Without games like this, which really allowed gamers to understand how gaming was about to change forever, we would still be playing Busby 3D and waiting for the next 2D side-scrolling Mario game. Deny that all you’d like, you fools.

Classic Moment:
Jolly Roger Bay. That fucking eel. The first time you swim down that giant pool of water on the far end of the level and you see that creepy fuck’s grinning face through the murk and the din, you shit your pants. Admit it. Please? Don’t make me the only one…!

Why Super Mario 64 > Goldeneye:
Really, they’re each great for the same reason: innovation. But the fact is that FPS titles had been in 3D for quite some time before this, but there wasn’t a great, full-3D platformer on the market as of yet. Nintendo and Mario changed that, leaving the gaming world to catch up. For a decade you would be able to tell how much of this game other companies “borrowed” in order to make their 3D games work. And not suck.

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Added March 22, 2017
Reading through the comments (mostly the Aaron debate) I stand by my opinion of this game, its influence, and its quality. And would defend it to my dying days.

Added October 30, 2017
Updated the title to showcase this was a Facebook note, originally.