Standard Edition
StandardIn the box
- Nintendo 64 cartridge
- Cardboard box with cover art
- Instruction booklet
Nintendo 64
Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 is a 1996 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It is the first Super Mario game to feature 3D graphics, combining traditional Super Mario gameplay, visual style, and characters in a large open world.
PlatformAdventure
- Update patch
- No patch
- Time to beat
- about 13 hours
- Plays offline
- Yes
Overview
Super Mario 64 is a 1996 platform game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It is the first Super Mario game to feature 3D graphics, combining traditional Super Mario gameplay, visual style, and characters in a large open world. In the game, Bowser invades Princess Peach's castle, kidnaps her, and hides the castle's Power Stars in different worlds inside magical paintings. As Mario, the player traverses levels and collects Power Stars to unlock areas of the castle, reach Bowser and rescue Peach.
Director Shigeru Miyamoto conceived a 3D Super Mario game during the production of Star Fox (1993). The team spent about one year on design and twenty months on production, starting with the virtual camera system. The team continued with illustrating the 3D character models and refining sprite movements. Yoji Inagaki recorded the sound effects, and the score was composed by Koji Kondo.
Super Mario 64 was highly anticipated, boosted by advertising campaigns and showings at the 1996 E3 trade show. It was released in Japan and North America in 1996 and PAL regions in 1997 to acclaim, with reviewers praising its ambition, visuals, level design, and gameplay; however, some criticized its camera system. It is the best-selling Nintendo 64 game, with nearly twelve million copies sold by 2015.
Official trailer
Trailer. Watch on YouTube
Gameplay
Super Mario 64 - N64 Gameplay, N64guide. Watch on YouTube
Screenshots
Game details
- Genres
- Platform, Adventure
- Developer
- Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Series
- Super Mario
- Engine
- Super Mario 64 Engine
- Platforms
- Wii, Nintendo 64, Wii U
- Age rating
- ESRB E
- Modes
- Single player
- Yes
- Local multiplayer
- No
- Online multiplayer
- No
- Co op
- No
- Age ratings
- CERO
- A
- ACB
- G
- PEGI
- 3
- ESRB
- E
- USK
- 0
Release dates
| Platform | Region | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo 64 | Japan | 1996-06-23 |
| Nintendo 64 | Brazil | 1996-09-29 |
| Nintendo 64 | North America | 1996-09-29 |
| Nintendo 64 | Europe / PAL | 1997-03-01 |
| Nintendo 64 | Australia | 1997-03-01 |
Editions
Players Choice
In the box
- Nintendo 64 cartridge
- Players Choice box
Rumble Pak Version
In the box
- Nintendo 64 cartridge
- Box with cover art
Standard Edition
StandardIn the box
- Nintendo 64 cartridge
- Cardboard box with cover art
Space and patches
Update patchNo patch
DLC
No DLC. Nintendo 64 games had no downloadable content.
Playable today
Playable offline todayYes
Single player only, with no online features. The cartridge runs on any Nintendo 64, and the game is on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Ever released on disc | Yes, on Nintendo 64 cartridge |
| Ever released in the store | Yes, 19 November 2006 On the Wii Virtual Console. Later on the Wii U Virtual Console in 2015, in Super Mario 3D All-Stars on Switch in 2020, and in the Nintendo 64 library of Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack in 2021. |
| In the store to buy today | No The Wii and Wii U shops have closed and Super Mario 3D All-Stars left sale on 31 March 2021. Playable with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. |
| Can be downloaded again if you already bought it | Yes Wii and Wii U Virtual Console purchases can still be downloaded again. The Nintendo Switch Online version needs an active Expansion Pack membership. |
| Disc runs with no patch | Yes |
| Disc runs with the final patch | Does not exist No patch was ever released. |
| Has online features | No |
| Online servers running today | Does not exist |
| Playable offline today: campaign | Yes |
| Playable offline today: local multiplayer | Does not exist Single player only. |
| Playable offline today: online multiplayer | Does not exist No online play. |
| Playable offline today: DLC | Does not exist No DLC. |
Online
Plays offlineYes
Reception
- Aggregates
Outlet Platform Score Scale Metacritic Nintendo 64 94 100 - Critics
Outlet Score Scale Famitsu 39 40 IGN 9.8 10 GameSpot 9.4 10 N64 Magazine 96 100 Hyper 95 100 GamePro 5 5 Next Generation 5 5 Computer and Video Games 5 5 AllGame 5 5
Staff and cast
- Staff
Role Name Developer Nintendo EAD Publisher Nintendo Director Shigeru Miyamoto Producer Shigeru Miyamoto Designers Yoichi Yamada, Yasuhisa Yamamura, Takashi Tezuka, Kenta Usui, Naoki Mori, Yoshiki Haruhana, Makoto Miyanaga, Katsuhiko Kanno Programmers Yasunari Nishida, Yoshinori Tanimoto, Hajime Yajima, Daiki Iwamoto, Toshio Iwawaki, Takumi Kawagoe, Giles Goddard Artists Shigefumi Hino, Hisashi Nogami, Yoshiaki Koizumi, Hideki Fujii, Satoru Takizawa, Masanao Arimoto, Tomoaki Kuroume, Yusuke Nakano, Yoichi Kotabe Writer Leslie Swan Composer Koji Kondo
Notes for collectors
- A North American launch game for the Nintendo 64, and the best-selling game on the console with 11.9 million copies by 2015.
- Its free camera and analogue stick movement set the pattern for 3D platform games.
- Japan got a Rumble Pak Version in July 1997 that fixed bugs, added rumble and used the English voice acting. The 3D All-Stars release is based on it.
- A blurry courtyard sign reading L is real 2401 started the rumour that Luigi could be unlocked. He cannot.
- Reissued in the Players Choice line in North America and as a Million Seller in Australia.
Credits
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Developer
- Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development
- Director
- Shigeru Miyamoto
- Released
- 1996-09-29
- Age rating
- ESRB E
- Region
- US
- Time to beat
- about 13 hours
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