Status Reset_Tears Aug 9, 2019
So it's time I give my final thoughts on Mario 64, now that I've saved Da Princess™. It's good. It sure ain't a 5-star game though, at least not for me.
Here's the thing. If you just play it for a bit every now and then, like I did at a friend's house back in the day, it's a great …
So it's time I give my final thoughts on Mario 64, now that I've saved Da Princess™. It's good. It sure ain't a 5-star game though, at least not for me.
Here's the thing. If you just play it for a bit every now and then, like I did at a friend's house back in the day, it's a great fun time -- and back then especially, the bright and colorful 3D world to prance around in was a fresh new experience. You do a few stars in the first level, race the turtle and defeat the barking chain ball etc. You do the slide down the secret window bonus stage with that country jamboree music going on in the background. And you drop the crying baby penguin off an icy cliff. GREAT FUN TIME!
But if you go for the 70 stars needed -- and especially if you go for all 120 -- hooooooo-eee. You're gonna get frustrated. The camera has not aged well, and the controls have definitely not aged well. Mario does not turn on a dime -- he turns on a monster truck wheel. The levels themselves are also hit and miss, leaning much more toward miss in the second half of the game. I also never liked swimming or flying (or any climbing/hanging-based challenges). Complaints aside though, I still overall found the game a solid romp. I appreciated the variety in the star missions, and especially liked the slide challenges. The collect-a-thon aspect of the game was also at just the right level IMO. (Banjo-Kazooie cranks that up to... not 11, but more like 17 or something, hot damn. It'll be a while before I finish that one.)
Super Mario 74 is definitely tougher in ways i never thought the game would be. but so satisfying to land in these hard ones... I had to give up the 
