Super Mario 64 (Nintendo DS, 2004)

Super Mario 64 DS (2004.) A Nintendo DS rerelease of 1996's Super Mario 64, with new features.

Super Mario 64 was an amazing Nintendo 64 game - which wowed audiences all around the world when it was launched with the Nintendo 64. Unfortunately for Nintendo, the 64-bit gaming system went under faster than any system they had ever released before, and many of the classics were forgotten. Until now. The Nintendo DS, Nintendo's new portable gaming system, is STRONGER than the 64-bit system, and that old favorite is getting new life here. Read on for my review of Super Mario 64 DS.

PROS:
-THIS IS MORE THAN THE ORIGINAL N64 GAME. I was hesitant to buy this because I already own the Nintendo 64 version. However, I bought it anyway, and I'm glad I did. There are all kinds of new areas, and you can play as more characters than you could in the original game. There are also new minigames and multiplayer modes.
-THE GAME LOSES VIRTUALLY NOTHING IN THE TRANSLATION TO THE NINTENDO DS. I was afraid that this game would lose a lot when it was transferred to a portable system - I was stupid to have those fears. Pretty much everything from the original game and then some is here.
-TONS OF LEVELS. The many levels were one of the things I loved about the original release of this game, and they're all back. There are many new additions to them, and many new levels altogether! This game is much more than the original was.
-CONSIDERABLY LESS GLITCHING THAN THE N64 VERSION. The N64 version was Nintendo's first venture into full 3D gaming, and it was plagued with glitches. Not true here. The graphics here are a bit more simplistic and to the point, and I like it like that.

CONS:
-THE CONTROL STYLE DOESN'T EXACTLY TRANSLATE RIGHT TO THE DS. The Nintendo 64 had analog control - something the DS lacks unless you're willing to control Mario with the touch pad. Using all these buttons in their configurations will feel weird at first. For instance, you must hold down a button if you want to run.
-VETERANS OF THE N64 GAME WILL HAVE AN INSTANT ADVANTAGE. Not that this is a bad thing, but still, if you already owned the game, you're going to be covering a lot of familiar territory.

OVERALL:
Overall this is a very good game, and I'm glad to see it get the long overdue revival it deserves. If you're one of the fortunate few that shelled out the cash for a Nintendo DS, this game is the obvious choice to buy with it. Mario rarely fails to please, and this is no exception.