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vbanuelo's Super Mario 64 (N64)
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| [February 8, 2008 02:38:44 PM]
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GAMEPLAY
The story driving this game is typical Mario Bros. Basically Bowser has kidnapped Princess Peach and its up to our hero Mario to save her. This is basically what every Mario Game has been; Saving Princess Peach. Although this game does make it interesting in having to collect stars in order to access different levels in search of the Princess.
But here's a summary of some of the things I've enjoyed:
The easy control Scheme. As I said in the last log, this control scheme is great. Its pretty reminiscint of Super Mario Bros on the NES where only A and B were used. I also believe that using the analog stick is the only way to play a 3D game like Super Mario 64, using the D-pad would be pretty ridiculous. How would I spin Bowser by the tail so nicely without the little stick? So the Control Scheme is wonderful.
The different Caps. There's a Flying Cap, a invisibility/zero mass cap, and a metal cap. The flying cap makes it so you can fly. This is reminiscint of the leaf in Super Mario Bros 3, or the feather in Super Mario World. The invisibility/Zero Mass cap is a new feature, at least I dont remember seeing anything similar to it. You basically are invisible and can go through certain objects with this cap, be it walls, obstacles, or some enemies. With the Metal Cap, you become a metallic Mario with a high density. Metal Mario sinks when in water, doesn't get burned, doesn't get hurt, and doesn't need to breathe. This is important in certain areas, such as the gas maze (where breathing the gas depletes life) in one of the levels.
Some of the things I haven't enjoyed so much:
The Camera. As I stated earlier, and what still remains true, the camera angles suck sometimes. I'm told by the camera crew ingame that I have full control of the camera. If they are truly going to give me control of the camera, give me full 360 degree control. If I can't make the camera face how I want, then give me zero control. Otherwise all that arises is frustration. And that's happened a few times.
The caps have have a limited time period. I was kinda dissapointed by this. But it does make sense. This is the first game to introduce a life system. Where before Mario could be hit depending on what item he had. If he had just a mushroom, he could get hit twice before dying. If he had fire or flying powers, he could get hit a max 3 times. This was of course assuming no items were used before. But now they are temporary. Although this adds a new element where a certain objective must be completed before the times up. But I still like being able to fly as I please.
DESIGN
First and foremost, this is a very well made game. The levels are all varied, and are interesting to play. There are levels in an ice world, water world, lava world, desert world, and combinations of these. There's also a level where you fight ghosts. The earlier levels had levels dedicated to certain elements, but as the game progresses these different levels are combined in certain ways. It could very well be that the first levels served as tutorials, or that as in any good game, they increased difficulty by combining different elements, or rules. Almost like in a game of emergence.
The challenges have been good ones thus far. Each level, or course, is broken up into 6 challenges, seven if you count having to find 100 coins. There's races, having to find red coins, fighting sub-bosses, and other challenges according to the course. My favorite kind so far have been the ones where I get to punch stuff. Be it enemies, or objects.
Aside from Camera angles, there isn't anything I would change about this game. Perhaps making it easier to get extra lives. Since chasing the 1-up mushrooms is a bit difficult. That and make it a two-player game. Sort of similar to Super Mario Bros 3, and Super Mario World. It would be kinda difficult though. Otherwise, I feel this game was solidly made.
This entry has been edited 1 time. It was last edited on Feb 8th, 2008 at 14:48:03.
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| [February 8, 2008 11:49:33 AM]
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SUMMARY
In Super Mario 64, a 3D platformer, the player controls Mario, an italian plumber who must once again save Princess Peach from the clutches of Bowser (aka King Koopa) who has stolen all of the castles stars locking in all of its inhabitants. Mario must go into the castles different paintings, which have been transformed into portals to different worlds created by Bowser, and recover stars. Mario must recover enough stars to unlock different rooms, and ultimately enough to unlock Bowser's Room and save the princess.
GAMEPLAY
I started playing Super Mario 64 and it was like getting back on a bike. The control scheme is really easy, and kinda reminds of the old days of small sets of buttons to remember. A is to jump, B is to punch/kick, and Z is used to crouch. The C-controls are all used to control Laikitu who is news reporter covering your mission to save Princess Peach. Those are the basic controls, and there are a few advanced moves that is basically a combination of these buttons. The advanced moves are actually needed to beat certain levels. But the advanced moves are also fairly easy. Hold Z, then press A to long jump. Jump three times to super jump. There's a side jump. A back flip. A butt stomp. And the wall jump, which is basically jumping into a wall and pushing off to jump higher.
I do remember as a kid feeling frustrated because some of these moves, especially the wall jump and long jump, were hard for me to master. But as I was playing it again, it felt really easy to access higher areas in any level with ease. Maybe it was all those hours of frustration that made it so easy now.
Although I did like the control scheme, the camera angles could use a bit of fine tuning. I would prefer it to stay fixed behind my Mario's back for the most part. There are times that I like to take advantage of being able to peek around corners using the different camera angles. But other wise I would have preferred if the camera angle stayed fixed. The reason they have it floating around, well at least my best guess why, is that since Mario's journey is being recorded, the news crew wants to make it as cinematic and dramatic as possible, and having a fixed camera limits the dramaticness.
So far though the game has been entertaining to play. Although this game seems really easy. That might have a lot to do with the countless hours I spent in my youth playing this game. So far all the stars in the beginning levels have been easy to collect. I'll write more as I play more. This is all for now.
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vbanuelo's Super Mario 64 (N64)
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Current Status: Finished playing
GameLog started on: Friday 8 February, 2008
GameLog closed on: Wednesday 20 February, 2008 |
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