Super Mario 64 - Nintendo 64

Review comments

Super Mario 64 box art Mario steps into a whole new dimension in this unforgettable launch title of the Nintendo 64. Unravel the secrets of Peach's castle, find all 120 stars and defeat Bowser in this cult classic that set the rules for all 3D action games.

Although it managed to stay faithful to the spirit of the series, Super Mario 64 tried a new approach as it brought the concept of exploration into platform games. Mario gained many new moves in the process, yet remained as easy to control as ever thanks to the inclusion of an Analog stick on the Nintendo 64 controller. This innovation quickly became a standard in the industry. Super Mario 64 is often cited as one of the greatest games ever made.

Retrospective comments

Mario's first foray into the world of 3D is regarded by many as the greatest videogame of all time, and with good reason. It ranks as the first really convincing use of a 3D world in a platform title, it introduced the concept of analogue control to a generation of games players and set the template for hundreds of imitators. Just finishing the game won't take you too long but as with most Mario games that's not really the point - it will take you weeks (and quite possibly months) to discover all the secrets contained within this game. We're not 100% convinced it's the 'best game ever' but it is undoubtedly one of the best games available on the N64.