Innovation through repetition? Supplement a handheld revolution with a game so cemented in the 3D era? It’s not hard to understand why many see Super Mario 64 DS as filler for a system rushed into production without a launch title. Fortunately, this view misses the intent of what is arguably the most promising Nintendo DS product to date.
An oft-misunderstood aspect of Mario 64 DS is that it’s a remake, not a port. The basic structure of collecting stars throughout worlds accessed via the castle is the same, as is the overall layout of the levels. Most of them are recognisable from the N64’s seminal title and operate in an identical manner. To unaware eyes, it could pass off as the original, albeit smaller.
Which is exactly the point. It’s as if Nintendo realised explaining the DS to developers would be futile, so instead they used their most acclaimed title to demonstrate how to redesign current game ideas into DS products. Mario 64 can read like a How-To guide to making DS games. "When constructing a platform game for the DS, widen all platforms, as the controls aren’t as precise. Don’t limit players to only one method of control, as not all situations suit touch-screen input. Generously place power-ups in order to overcome the lessened concentration from a player on the move". These modifications in Mario 64 DS is an admittance of fallibility by Nintendo and this rare declaration will make sure developers avoid these mistakes too.
The bonus of this demonstration is the public receives a game that plays beautifully. It’s as shallow as you want it to be or as deep as is necessary from a videogame. Mario 64 DS is the best game on the DS to date, in spite of the well-documented control problems. It is so good that Nintendo may regret releasing it, as it counteracts everything DS titles are supposed to stand for. Deep, long, structured and sustaining, Mario 64 DS goes against the short and sweet approach we have seen so far for its developers’ new machine. It will be interesting to see if other games – Zelda DS, in particular – follow this path.
Of course, the main section of Mario 64 DS is only one of its parts. An omitted point from its wide coverage is when taken on a rickety bus or a shaky train, Mario 64 DS becomes virtually unplayable. In these situations, Nintendo have provided a series of mini-games that quickly threaten to dominant the titles main draw. It is probably Nintendo’s biggest mistake with Mario 64 DS to require a player to unlock these from within the main game, as some of them are arguably the best portable games since Tetris. Simple, fun and making the most of limitations, it is a shame that some players will not ever experience the joys of Mario Slide.
Imposing limitations like these in Mario 64 DS say a lot about Nintendo’s doubt in releasing a nine-year-old game and it’s this doubt that’s responsible for the majority of its problems. Nintendo first constructed the Mario 64 universe around Mario’s abilities and therefore were able to restrict him through natural boundaries, rather than cheap tricks like invisible walls. With the arrival of Wario, Luigi and Yoshi, tricks return to limit the improved abilities of these characters. The inclusion of new content is welcome, but points to Nintendo doubting the popularity of a nine year-old game. Their worry was unnecessary, but that they did is telling of what exactly is going on behind the company’s doors. Similarly, the multi-player experience of Mario 64 DS is under-developed and unrewarding, despite being a centrepiece at last years E3. Although all sharing the same objective, the multi-player seems torn between racing and battling, ultimately not deciding on either. Unlike the mini-games, the novelty soon wears off.
In the context of Nintendo’s mission statement for the DS, Super Mario 64 DS is a very strange product. For all manner of reasons, it should not have worked. That it still – at the time of writing – holds resides in the Japanese chart after five months since release not only says it did, but reveals perhaps that a market does exist for Nintendo DS games that are not so simple in design.
Or perhaps it just shows that excellent games – such as Super Mario 64 DS – succeed, regardless of the format they’re on.
Chris Hicks
