This is long overdue, and I am sorry.
As the first title for the Nintendo 64 system, Super Mario 64 changed the way we look at games. Up until this point, games had been mostly a two dimensional affair, with some lame attempts at immersing the player in a larger 3D having entered the video gaming fray. It wasn’t until Super Mario 64 that we learned just how much fun it is to run around everywhere in a game instead of just usually going from left to right.
Play a game like Banjo Kazooie or the Jak & Daxter and then play Super Mario 64. Notice anything? They all share similar game play. Your view is from behind your main character and you’re in a 3D rendered world. This “style” of game was created by Super Mario 64. The first time you fired up this game on your Nintendo 64 was the first time you ever played anything like this and let me tell you having experienced it first hand, it was a pretty amazing moment.
These days, these types of 3D platforming games are a dime a dozen. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. There is an excellent selection of titles just like this out there that will provide hours of enjoyment. Super Mario 64, being the first 3D platforming game, brings a unique scenario to the table. Through this title, we can understand how the 3D platforming game has evolved over the years and see just how much influence this one particular title has had on the gaming industry.
These things about stood out to me as I recently replayed the Super Mario 64:
1. Originality
It may be a hard thing for younger students to grasp, but this game was one of a kind when it first came out. Explain the history of the Mario series and how it evolved from 2D to 3D. Emphasize just how much of a change it was going from Super Mario World to Super Mario 64. With those ideas established, then have your students look at other 3D platforming games (I recommend the Crash Bandicoot series, any 3D Sonic games (especially Sonic Adventure for the Sega Dreamcast), or the games I mentioned above. What have those games borrowed from Super Mario 64? Where have they made improvements on the game play of Super Mario 64?
2. The World of Super Mario 64
While the world in which Super Mario 64 takes place may seem small to the worlds in which games take place these days (I’m thinking of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess), at the time of the release it felt like the world was never ending. Each world had it’s own unique feel, enemies, music, and more. What are the elements of each of these unique worlds and how do they work together to create a unique feel? Can these worlds be mapped out visually? How are they constructed? Since the game is in a 3D setting, I would recommend using Google Sketch Up to have your students either recreate the Super Mario 64 worlds visually or to have them create their own worlds influenced by the game.
