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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Super Mario 64
Universal acclaim
Based on 13 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 70 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Genre(s): Action, Platform
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: September 26, 1996
Summary
The action begins when Mario goes to visit the Princess, but finds her castle eerily empty. Leaping through pictures hanging from the walls, he enters 15 magical worlds to search for 120 Power Stars. Mario has more than a dozen moves, including running, jumping, swimming, stomping and punching, and even performing a backward somersault! When troublemakers swipe Mario's cap, he'll have to grab it back! [Nintendo]
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central Game Revolution GamePro GameSpot GameSpot Guide
Also On The Web: Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Electric Playground
It has quickly grown to become the standard by which almost all other games are measured.
Read Full Review >All Game Guide
As the first true 3D platform game, the game does everything right. Super Mario 64 is a masterpiece in the truest sense of the word.
Read Full Review >Gaming Maxx
This is definitely a game no game collection should be without...Seriously!
Read Full Review >IGN
Complete in every way, and the challenging experience of working toward each new level is far greater than the game's minimal flaws. Nintendo's craftsmanship and zeal for creating fantastically enjoyable games has never shown through more than in Super Mario 64.
Read Full Review >Nintendojo
I haven't met anybody who hasn't wasted at least half an hour just running around outside the castle, sliding, jumping, stomping, diving, swimming... There are no enemies here and there's really nothing to do, but boy is it fun!
Read Full Review >Electronic Gaming Monthly
There'll never be another Mario game that will make the same impact as Super Mario 64. [Jan 2004, p.189]
GameSpot
A game that rewards the curious, the original, and in some cases the bludgeoningly stubborn and tenacious.
Read Full Review >TotalGames.net
The sheer scale of the achievement, in originality, variety and technological muscle earns it a 'Best Game Ever' acclamation through sheer muscle, almost regardless of its undoubted and typically Nintendo artistry.
Read Full Review >Computer and Video Games
The graphics are so finely detailed that you'll soon forget you're playing a game - it's more like taking part in the best cartoon you've ever seen.
Read Full Review >Games Domain
The five years it took to write have been well used and it is easily in contention for being one of the best games of the decade.
Read Full Review >GameShark
It was the first game on the system, and regretfully, it was also the only great game for the system that could stand the test of time.
Read Full Review >Game Revolution
While we've seen some more creative and impressive world design, no game yet has had this kind of crystal clear 3D graphics, remarkable texture mapping, absence of pixillation, and a frame refresh rate that makes your PC look like the toy.
Read Full Review >Nintendorks
The distribution of power stars in the levels is horrendous. I think 7 stars in one level is more than enough, don't you think? I understand that there are memory constraints, but there either could have been less stars overall, or 1 (maybe 2) more level(s). Definately a problem.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 70 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Why Not? gave it a10:
Look. SM64 is NOT the best video game ever. That said, it's no lower than third on my list. The graphics are amazing for a game made over a decade ago (is it really from 1996?!), and the controls are excellent. The level design is nothing short of a masterpiece. My only gripe is that the camera angles could be a tiny bit better. Still, after 12 years, Super Mario 64 still looks amazing.
ENOUGH!! gave it a10:
This was the first real game I had ever played in the fifth generation, so of course I liked it. I then played it again, twelve years later. What happened? Genius. Despite the passing of time, Super Mario 64 proves to us the reason why the Platformer was so popular in the 5th and 6th generations. Sadly, many of those games were cheap knockoffs that are NOTHING compared to the original (Ratchet and Clarnk, The original Crash, and the original Spyro, obviously do not count; they are awesome.)
Titanium Dragon gave it a10:
The best 3D platformer I've ever played, and arguably ever. It does everything it should do, and is just tons of fun. You can't NOT enjoy this game; it is amazingly well put together, has a decent level of difficulty, and some amount of replay value. The gameplay is simply amazing, and everyone should play this game at least once.
Joe S. gave it a5:
An okay game, but ultimately boring if you're not a die hard Mario fan. The enemies are as goofy as always, the levels are small to moderate in size with little to look at except green and brown walls, and ultimately you're just doing the same thing over and over again as you try to grab stars. I am totally lost as to why people call this the best game of all time. I stopped playing after half an hour and have never played it since.
Paul M. gave it a10:
A truly unforgettable and original game .A wonderfully fun and enjoyable experience from start to finish.This is a remarkable achievement in games development that raised the bar to untouchable heights in the most picturesque, awe-inspiring and loveable way possible.A magicaly addictive and enchanting game that will remain the fondest gaming memory of my life .This game is without doubt one of a kind.It plays like an immaculate dream that you will not want to wake up from.Beautiful, Colourful, Inviting, and always brilliant.Guaranteed to satisfy and exhilirate even the most intricate of imaginations.Eternally exciting, fun and enjoyable. THE BEST PLATFORM GAME OF ALL TIME.
Starfire gave it a10:
This is just as fun and mesmerising as the day it came out. Mixing the playful fantasy of Mario with immersive 3D graphics is a stunning combination. The DS version doesn't have the same playability. As others say, it may well still be the best game ever created- certainly the one with the most freedom of play.
Rob R. gave it a10:
Still very playable now, helped by the Wii Virtual Console, and a mesmerising game at on release.
