Super Mario 64 DS

About Super Mario 64 DS

This title brings the Nintendo 64 classic to the handheld market with significant upgrades. Nintendo EAD released this version on November 21, 2004 for the DS and later the Wii U. It is a 3D platformer where you collect Power Stars to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser. The game lets you choose between four playable characters including Yoshi, Wario, and Luigi, each offering distinct movement styles. You explore a large castle hub connected to various levels via paintings. This adaptation leverages the dual screens to show map data on the touch panel while keeping gameplay on the top display.

Gameplay

You move through environments by running, jumping, and performing new moves like wall kicks or flutter jumps depending on your character. Each level contains ten main stars and a secret star for a total of eighty-nine stars across the game. Multiplayer modes let you race or battle up to three other players locally using the wireless adapter. The touch screen helps track objectives and view maps without pausing. Controls feel tight, though the analog stick on the DS can be slightly less precise than a console controller. You spend most of your time jumping between platforms, defeating enemies, and solving minor puzzles to unlock new areas within the castle grounds.

What Players Think

Players rate this title highly with an 85 score on Metacritic and an 82.9 rating from 209 users on IGDB. The average playtime hovers around forty hours for a full completion run. Community moods remain positive, often citing the addition of new characters as a major improvement over the original. Review snippets frequently mention how the multiplayer modes extend replay value significantly. Completion rates stay high among fans who enjoy collecting every star, though some note the difficulty spikes in specific levels like Big Boo's Haunt. The dual-screen implementation receives consistent praise for its utility during long gaming sessions.

PlayPile's Take

This version is worth your time if you want to revisit a classic or try the new characters. The price on secondary markets varies but remains reasonable for the content provided. You will earn fifty-seven achievements in total, including specific challenges for each playable character. It works well for both solo play and local multiplayer sessions with friends. Do not expect fresh mechanics since the core gameplay mirrors the N64 original. The extra levels and characters justify the purchase over the base version alone. Grab this if you have a DS or Wii U ready to go.

Storyline

Answering an invitation, Mario, Luigi and Wario set out for a royal party with Princess Peach. When they arrive at the castle, though, they find it strangely empty. Meanwhile, Yoshi awakes from a rooftop nap to find the castle eerily silent, with Mario, Luigi and Wario nowhere to be seen. Yoshi soon discovers that Bowser has pilfered the castle's Power Stars and imprisoned the Toads in the castle's immense collection of paintings. It's up to the dynamic dino to figure out what happened to Mario, Luigi and Wario and save the day.