Pretty much my reaction, and still to this day I dislike it. It's not a bad game by any means (i mean it's a really great game) but it's not for me... and I haven't really enjoyed a mario game since it left 2d.
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What were your impressions of Mario 64 when it was released?
- Thread starter urfe
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Pretty much my reaction, and still to this day I dislike it. It's not a bad game by any means (i mean it's a really great game) but it's not for me... and I haven't really enjoyed a mario game since it left 2d.
I really disliked it. I thought it was pretty ugly, I thought it lacked the instant accessibility and simplicity of the 2D games. It was also my first experience with the N64, and I hated the controller.
I went back and played it properly after OoT, and loved it, but it was far from some instant mind blowing moment for me as it was for a lot of people.
I went back and played it properly after OoT, and loved it, but it was far from some instant mind blowing moment for me as it was for a lot of people.
My first impression of Mario 64?
"Ugh, so ugly."
Not kidding. As a kid of the (S)NES era I certainly appreciated the existence of 3D rendering, but by no means whatsoever wanted it in my games. That low-poly Mario was an insult to my eyes.
Also, it did not help that I was battling POVray on the high end and Turbo Pascal/ModeX on the low end. Made me appreciate 2D so much more ("shit's hard"), and made the Ultra64 graphics look that much less impressive. I mean, of course there was no way a 30/60fps game would ever match a scene that took days to render, but it made the horrible low-res low-poly 3D of that time look seriously ugly to my eyes.
Even today I'll go for 2D over 3D, so that part of me hasn't changed - but at least the rendering quality and performance has vastly improved, so I can endure it. If it's coupled with a good art style, that is.
</rant>
"Ugh, so ugly."
Not kidding. As a kid of the (S)NES era I certainly appreciated the existence of 3D rendering, but by no means whatsoever wanted it in my games. That low-poly Mario was an insult to my eyes.
Also, it did not help that I was battling POVray on the high end and Turbo Pascal/ModeX on the low end. Made me appreciate 2D so much more ("shit's hard"), and made the Ultra64 graphics look that much less impressive. I mean, of course there was no way a 30/60fps game would ever match a scene that took days to render, but it made the horrible low-res low-poly 3D of that time look seriously ugly to my eyes.
Even today I'll go for 2D over 3D, so that part of me hasn't changed - but at least the rendering quality and performance has vastly improved, so I can endure it. If it's coupled with a good art style, that is.
</rant>
Toys R Us had Mario 64 and NiGHTS with the 3d Controller next to one another. There was a PSX around the corner with some demo in it, but I don't remember which game. Noone cared, crowds us were around the N64 and Saturn though.
Damn good times. It really blew my mind when I started to play it. The feel of it and all was just perfect. I had already done PC gaming, but nothing FELT like M64 did in terms of 3d movement. They really made it feel fantastic.
And the level design was splendid.
I knew that "Zelda 64" would be one of the greatest games ever instantly once I played Mario 64. It was clear that they had a great grasp on bringing their franchises to 3d from 2d. Lots of other companies struggled with that, but Mario Zelda and Starfox (even though it was sort of always 3d) had the greatest transitions to full 3d games ever. Nothing else is even in their league in that transition except the Final Fantasy Franchise and the Metal Gear Franchise.
Damn good times. It really blew my mind when I started to play it. The feel of it and all was just perfect. I had already done PC gaming, but nothing FELT like M64 did in terms of 3d movement. They really made it feel fantastic.
And the level design was splendid.
I knew that "Zelda 64" would be one of the greatest games ever instantly once I played Mario 64. It was clear that they had a great grasp on bringing their franchises to 3d from 2d. Lots of other companies struggled with that, but Mario Zelda and Starfox (even though it was sort of always 3d) had the greatest transitions to full 3d games ever. Nothing else is even in their league in that transition except the Final Fantasy Franchise and the Metal Gear Franchise.
I Wanna Be The Guy
U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!
I didn't play it when it first released but my impressions when I played the game for the first time in 2007 were that it had bad controls, an even worse camera and the level design was too focused on exploration than platforming. First impressions were that I hated it. Sorry.
Rhazer Fusion
Member
The game blew me away; it was the complete embodiment of fun at the time. I also thought the game was just gorgeous, and used to stare at the graphics. I liked everything, from the visual style, to the levels and gameplay. In fact, I kind of wish Nintendo would go back to making sandbox style levels like in 64/sunshine.
There hasn't been a Mario since that has given me the same feeling. Not even close.
There hasn't been a Mario since that has given me the same feeling. Not even close.
Austriacus
Member
I was around 6, was my first game. I think it gave me my first orgasm too....
PetriP-TNT
Member
Pretty much this. The graphics, the stages (jumping into the paintings!), the mission based approach, the castle, the controls AND Lakitu-camera blew my mind. Oh and the secrets, goddamn those secrets. Perfect game.
After reading all the previews like most people I had really high expectations which were probably impossible to meet. I had a brother in college in the states so I had him send the N64 when it came out. I was probably the first person in Africa to get an N64 - I remember even having problems getting it cleared through customs. Super Mario 64 gave me a headache the first time I played it. I had to get used to the camera and the camera controls which admittedly in retrospect aren't that refined (but still much better than Mario Sunshine). I didn't really know what to think of the game at the time. It wasn't until a some time later, in between playing Shadows of the Empire, when I was a couple of hours into Mario that I really started to really appreciate it. Mario 64 was a great game but it didn't hook me in immediately. Not in the same way as when I first played the SNES with Mario World and Street Fighter.
Moon_frogger
Member
That Mario controlled horribly. That it didn't really feel like a Mario game. These impressions lasted through the years until I recently had a chance to play through again. My more recent impressions? The level design makes up for it's shortcomings
homeworkfilms
Member
It was the game that ended my time as a Sega fanboy and opened my eyes to all of gaming. For that it will always be in my heart. Still pretty much my favorite game of all time.
I just couldn't stop moaning that it wasn't enough like Super Mario World and that Nintendo had lost their touch.
I fucking loved it from start to finish. First time I played it it was jaw-on-the-floor stuff. I remember me and my friends being amazed for hours just pissing about in the courtyard 
SkylineRKR
Member
The N64 was released later in Europe. Our local gameshop had a Mario 64 demopod for months and we rinsed it there. It was on 120 stars by the time the N64 came out.
But my impression was that of a gamechanger, and I thought the Nintendo would take the crown back with this machine. But as time advanced it became obvious that it was about the only sort of games the N64 could offer.
As for my own experiences I had difficulties with the controls and the classic beat a level premise was sort of gone. You just had to do objectives and that didn't gel with me at first.
But my impression was that of a gamechanger, and I thought the Nintendo would take the crown back with this machine. But as time advanced it became obvious that it was about the only sort of games the N64 could offer.
As for my own experiences I had difficulties with the controls and the classic beat a level premise was sort of gone. You just had to do objectives and that didn't gel with me at first.
JustAnotherOtaku
Member
When it first came out I was mainly ignoring it to be honest, as I was a Saturn/PS1 owner. But yeah, it definitely looked impressive at the time. Loved it when I played at friends houses.
OverturePT
Member
I've seen everything now.
Annoying music? lol
Maybe you prefer the CB graphics, but remember, that game was basically corridors, Mario 64 was way more open and those things take their toll in how much detail they can put into the graphics.
I disagree completely, but to each is own.
As I said on a GTA thread, I spent hours just playing around in the first level just having fun with flying.
When I got round to playing the game properly, the Rainbow Islands level blew me away and it wasn't until Journey's dragon lamps level that I had that sense of glee & wonder at visuals in a video game.
Still one of my top 10 games of all time.
When I got round to playing the game properly, the Rainbow Islands level blew me away and it wasn't until Journey's dragon lamps level that I had that sense of glee & wonder at visuals in a video game.
Still one of my top 10 games of all time.
eXistor
Member
It felt like the perfect playground to me. Everywhere you looked there was something to do and the game just let you go about your business. The castle-hub felt so mysterious to me; here was a place that had secrets everywhere, there even was an entire world hidden in a wall! That kind of thing really spoke to my imagination as a kid and it still does.
PolarGamer
Member
As your profile picture subtly hints at, you are experiencing alzheimers. It's ok. Crash is here to kiss you goodbye. Don't scream when he "adjusts" your pillow. Uggabugga!
I really love your profile pic, but today you are wrong. Better gfx in Crash? One game is really 2d, the other opened up the games world for 3d.
I played it around my Uncle's house and thought it looked amazing despite my Nan loudly proclaiming she couldn't see what the fuss was about every few minutes.
Then when it was my turn to have a go I hated that stupid controller and it just didn't feel like the Mario games I loved on the NES.
Then when it was my turn to have a go I hated that stupid controller and it just didn't feel like the Mario games I loved on the NES.
Napalm_Frank
Member
Saw it at a friends house. Not at release tho, I think it was in 98, a year or so after EU release. I really liked it. Not really blown away since I already was more familiar with PSX around that time and got the ''blown away'' effect from Soul Edge and Crash Bandicoot coming from a shitty MSDOS computer.
What I remember being the most impressive was the flying cap. I was shitty at flying for quite some time too
What I remember being the most impressive was the flying cap. I was shitty at flying for quite some time too
Crash is more linear but it certainly does have better gfx no question. I don't think back then I really even thought about things like games being linear/more open ect.
Sothis Krieg
Member
I was 12 and i was fortunate enough to possess a japanese N64, but man discovering Mario 64 was one of my best moment in my gaming experience.
I do not remember a game that made such an impact on me as quick as Mario 64. For me it really was the next big thing, "hey can i jump in the trees ? "holy s***t!".
i'm going to cry.
I do not remember a game that made such an impact on me as quick as Mario 64. For me it really was the next big thing, "hey can i jump in the trees ? "holy s***t!".
i'm going to cry.
This is actually a great point.
The Super Bob
Member
Thought it was brillliant, and still do in fact.
BruiserBear
Banned
I rented a Japanese N64 during the summer of 96 (this crazy import shop had them here in Illinois). Now mind you, I had mostly been out of the gaming loop for a year or two at this time. My friend and I just stumbled into the store and saw the N64 and Mario 64 and were like "WTF is this"?!
So I get it home and plug it in, and fire up Mario 64. I can still remember the feeling when I first moved Mario and ran and jumped into the moat around the castle. My mind was fucking blown. My brain almost broke seeing a smoothly animated 3D world being rendered for the first time. It was an amazing experience, and that day literally kickstarted the second phase of my love for gaming, and since then I have been in deep.
Of course I bought the console the day it launched in the U.S, and shortly after I stumbled upon an import copy of Waverace 64, and my mind was blown all over again. How could water and waves look that good?!?
To this day my early experiences with the N64 stick out as some of my biggest gaming memories.
So I get it home and plug it in, and fire up Mario 64. I can still remember the feeling when I first moved Mario and ran and jumped into the moat around the castle. My mind was fucking blown. My brain almost broke seeing a smoothly animated 3D world being rendered for the first time. It was an amazing experience, and that day literally kickstarted the second phase of my love for gaming, and since then I have been in deep.
Of course I bought the console the day it launched in the U.S, and shortly after I stumbled upon an import copy of Waverace 64, and my mind was blown all over again. How could water and waves look that good?!?
To this day my early experiences with the N64 stick out as some of my biggest gaming memories.
Nervous Sausage
Member
Same as everyone else. blew me away seeing it for the first time but I didn't own it until years after I already had a Playstation and played all the good platformers on that, Spyros, Crash Bandicoots, Croc, Ape Escape, Rayman 2. Finally being able to play Mario 64 after all of them felt like the culmination of everything I'd done so far, it felt so free and open compared to all those Playstation platformers and I loved the exploration. Banjo Kazooie also blew me away with the giant open worlds but Mario 64 was still more fun.
My favorite level was probably Tick Tock Clock, I loved the platforming in that one and the danger of being so high. I remember all the insane rumors at school when you got 120 stars, you could play as Yoshi, go to Donkey Kong Country etc. I really liked Sunshine too and the Galaxy games were good but for me that totally lacked the exploration and sense of wonder and mystery of SM64. The levels basically played out as 3D versions of the 2D games, a lot more linear. One thing that sticks out to me in SM64 is that Wet/Dry world, shooting yourself from a cannon to the other side of the map and going underwater to the hidden city. The game was full of stuff like that. Hope the next Mario is a return to the style of 64 and Sunshine.
My favorite level was probably Tick Tock Clock, I loved the platforming in that one and the danger of being so high. I remember all the insane rumors at school when you got 120 stars, you could play as Yoshi, go to Donkey Kong Country etc. I really liked Sunshine too and the Galaxy games were good but for me that totally lacked the exploration and sense of wonder and mystery of SM64. The levels basically played out as 3D versions of the 2D games, a lot more linear. One thing that sticks out to me in SM64 is that Wet/Dry world, shooting yourself from a cannon to the other side of the map and going underwater to the hidden city. The game was full of stuff like that. Hope the next Mario is a return to the style of 64 and Sunshine.
Worst post of all time.
Crash 2 is one of my favourite psx games, but even that doesn't hold a candle to Mario 64 let alone the rough first iteration of Crash. Heck, I didn't even own a N64 when Mario 64 came out, but I was so jealous of it.
I was 15 at the time... I saw it the first time at a local store which had the Japanese version.
It was jaw-dropping. Literally. I stared at the screen for like 5 minute with my mouth open like an idiot while some other guy was playing.
After that lots of games impressed me, but no one like that. It was mindblowing
It was jaw-dropping. Literally. I stared at the screen for like 5 minute with my mouth open like an idiot while some other guy was playing.
After that lots of games impressed me, but no one like that. It was mindblowing
D.Lo
Member
It was like a real cartoon. A little blocky, but without the 'fake set' look of other 3D games that had come before. And the control was truly 3d.
It didn't hurt that the N64 was the first mainstream system available with perspective correction and filtering, meaning the vast majority of the time you never saw a texture seam or nasty blocky pixels. Same with Goldeneye, it looked like a low-res movie, very solid 3D structures, unlike Saturn and PSX games which were jagging and clipping everywhere.
It didn't hurt that the N64 was the first mainstream system available with perspective correction and filtering, meaning the vast majority of the time you never saw a texture seam or nasty blocky pixels. Same with Goldeneye, it looked like a low-res movie, very solid 3D structures, unlike Saturn and PSX games which were jagging and clipping everywhere.
While I can relate to the jealousy (didn't get to properly play Mario 64 till on an emulator in 2004) I still agree with him that Crash outshone Mario 64 is many areas, the graphics of it still hold up today. As a pure platformer Crash is superior. Look at the new Mario on WiiU, much more Crash than Mario 64.
I was just enraptured by the ability to run/walk/jump around in 3D space. No need to hype it up with hardcore nostalgia glasses. Running around in 3D was amazing. I never had these absolute mind-melting experiences or outbursts as a kid that get conveyed through gifs now. It was simply the new thing you could now do and it was awesome. It also managed to make every other game on similar platforms that wasn't fully exploring 3D space look laughable in comparison.
But that's basically it.
But that's basically it.
I was 15 and already had bought the game for christmas and wrapped it too un wrapp it at christmas and hope there was a n64 there. Well we un wrapped all the presents and there was no n64 till my dad said whats this one with no name on it and he handed it to me and damn if I was giggy like a little school girl getting her surprise and bam I open it up and there is the n6 freaking 4 and well I could go on about how I just played that game all day only giving it up when my brother or sister wanted to play! mind you there both older than me too.
The N64 showed us the Future my friend.
Worst post or all time? You need to read some more threads.
Crash 1 was always better. I played Mario 64 when it came out (Europe) and it was a huge turd compared the Crash 1 that I had already been playing. People keep saying how they were amazed by it being in 3D. Well when you've been playing Crash 1 for a couple of months and then play Mario 64 for the first time Mario 64 came off as complete "meh".
