Super Mario 64

Lore & Background

The development team spent about one year on design and twenty months on production, starting with the virtual camera system. They 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. Reviewers praised its ambition, visuals, level design, and gameplay, though some criticized its camera system. It became the best-selling Nintendo 64 game, with nearly twelve million copies sold by 2015. The game has produced many fangames and mods, a large speedrunning community, and enduring rumors about its features and development.

Reader's Guide

Super Mario 64 is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential video games ever. Its impact on the 3D platform genre is profound, with numerous developers citing it as an influence. The game's camera system and 360-degree analog control established a new archetype, much as Super Mario Bros. did for side-scrolling platform games. Its influence can be seen in later 3D platformers such as Spyro the Dragon, Banjo-Kazooie, and Psychonauts. The game introduced a health point system, diverse movement abilities, and a hub world set in Princess Peach's Castle. The game's legacy includes a large speedrunning community, many fangames and mods, and enduring rumors about its features and development. It remains a benchmark for 3D game design.

Did You Know?

• Super Mario 64 is the first Super Mario game to feature 3D graphics.
• The game's score was composed by Koji Kondo.
• It is the best-selling Nintendo 64 game, with nearly twelve million copies sold by 2015.