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Thursday 21 February, 2008
SUMMARY:
Super Mario 64 is a 3D platformer for the Nintendo 64 console. The goal of the game, as with so many in the Mario series, is to rescue Princess Peach from the clutches of the malicious Bowser. The player must run, jump, slide, bop, and punch his way through a variety of challenges in several different worlds to acquire Power Stars and thereby proceed through the game.
GAMEPLAY:
I started the game with the mindset of a present-day gamer; that is to say, I was immediately critical of the graphics, which now seem dated and ugly. As I played, though, I found myself caring less and less about the graphics, if only because the game exists in a world worth exploring.
I find myself at a loss to describe what it was I felt as I explored the grounds in front of the starting castle, but then I've never played a game where chasing birds around was something I could do. The world is so colorful and so alive that I found myself forgiving the dated graphics and simply enjoying myself; only later, as I began playing through the challenges proper, did I begin to understand the breadth of the accomplishment of the game creators. It took me a while to remember that the game was first published over ten years ago, and when I did remember that, my awe only increased.
I haven't progressed far in the game, but I hope that what I have experienced so far - living game worlds, excellent sound and level design, a certain innocent charm - will hold true through the rest of the game.
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