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I still, to do this, go back to Mario 64 to run around in all the levels just because they were so well crafted and so fun to play around in.
My (everyone's?) first game on the 64, it was quite a big sep up considering the only other Mario game I had played SMB on the NES. But yes the open world feel was...Amazing
Yes man, Yes.
I remember the first time I started up Mario64, I did exactly what me and my best friend had hyped ourselves giddy over in checking out all the promo info we could find:
I ran Mario around in a circle.
It seems silly now, but that was *the* coolest thing in the world at the moment in time. Mario was running around in 3D space, and this was the first time I could make him run in a circle, like a village idiot. he didn't control like a tank, or a plane, or an X-Wing, or a car in Rad Racer. It was MARIO, just as agile and happy looking as you'd expect him to be.
I must have just done that for about a minute, right there in there in the first clearing. It was just one of those amazing moments in my gaming history that I'll never forget, and something I still most of the time when I get free control of a 3D character. Especially Mario.
I remember the first time I started up Mario64, I did exactly what me and my best friend had hyped ourselves giddy over in checking out all the promo info we could find:
I ran Mario around in a circle.
It seems silly now, but that was *the* coolest thing in the world at the moment in time. Mario was running around in 3D space, and this was the first time I could make him run in a circle, like a village idiot. he didn't control like a tank, or a plane, or an X-Wing, or a car in Rad Racer. It was MARIO, just as agile and happy looking as you'd expect him to be.
I must have just done that for about a minute, right there in there in the first clearing. It was just one of those amazing moments in my gaming history that I'll never forget, and something I still most of the time when I get free control of a 3D character. Especially Mario.
I remember when my uncle first go a n64 I was content to just set there and watch him play for hours it was like the tv transformed into this gateway to a whole other dimension. Hey, I was like 7 or 8 then so I really didn't have any other way to describe it.
I didn’t even own this game or an N64, but I, too, will always remember the first time I played Super Mario 64. That outer world was so cool to explore, and like Tubatic, I was like, “Holy crap, I can run around in a circle!” Great write-up as always, Chad.
Great memory this week, when I got the game I dived into the water, it was crazy because that was obviously my first N64 game, along with Goldeneye.
I always loved just running around inside the castle without jumping into any levels. Great write up Chad!
It's amazing how I did the same as you. The first time I played this I was absolutely floored by it. Just running around figuring out how to do all the different jumps was amazing. And discovering that you could climb trees and do some crazy acrobatic jump off of it just blew my mind
It's a feeling I still look for in games - like things have gone up to a new level ane won't be the same. I felt that way with portal. Also to some degree with Mario Galaxy. Further back, I think HL2 gave me hints of that feeling - not in gameplay mechanics, but more in the area of story telling.
I can't wait until the next game surprises me like this game did and gives me that feeling.
I can't wait until the next game surprises me like this game did and gives me that feeling.
It's also helpful that jumping with Mario in that game is one of the most enjoyable things ever. i loved nailing the triple jump over and over again.
An excellent Memery Card. I think anyone who played it had the same experience. It was so great to run around aimlessely.
I think I saw people doing the same thing in a video I got from Nintendo Power. way back when
I think I saw people doing the same thing in a video I got from Nintendo Power. way back when
Every once in a while, I load up the VC version of this and just play around. Super Mario 64 was, in my opinion, the single most influential video game ever released.
Bravo on this choice. To me, Mario 64 is still the greatest Mario game ever. Mario Galaxy was okay, but when I held it up against the Flawless Victoly that was Mario 64, it just couldn't compare (that, and I happen to hate space).
Yea this is so true! I used to go to my local Blockbuster and do the same thing..just sit there and play it for hours :)
No one will likely ever recapture this game's magic. The first time I played it at Toys R Us, it blew my goddamn mind. One of the best games ever.
We had one of those consoles in the Blockbuster where I worked at the time. It was just set-up. The time on the clock was torturous, and I couldn't wait until I clocked out to play. Any time I had a 3-day weekend, I would rent the N64 and Mario 64 (maybe WaveRace 64). I would play all weekend.
Chad, I never knew anybody else felt the way I do about this game. It's great to see the write up and to read everyone's agreement about how fun this game is.
I let me 3-year-old daughter run around outside the castle. Talk about a tutorial! She loves it, (even though she sucks.)
Chad, I never knew anybody else felt the way I do about this game. It's great to see the write up and to read everyone's agreement about how fun this game is.
I let me 3-year-old daughter run around outside the castle. Talk about a tutorial! She loves it, (even though she sucks.)
Nice article, Chad. I will never forget the first time I saw Mario 64 in a Toys R Us. There was such a dramatic jump between it's 3d world and anything I had seen on the snes. It sounds stupid, but I actually remember standing in front of the demo, (probably slack jawed) thinking to myself that this must be what Alice felt like when she came out of the rabbit hole and into Wonderland. The closest I've come to having that feeling again was the first time I experienced the sandbox world of GTA 3.
now everyone does this.. running rampant in games, usually sandbox though. first thing i ever did in gta iv after doing the first mandatory mission to the safehouse was drive around running people over
I remember going to my cousins house the night N64 came out. He had both launch games, Wave race and Mario 64. When I got there my older cousins Chris and Nike were playing wave race but soon my cousin Dan and I (around 12 years old) played Mario 64 for the first time. I recall not being intimidated at all with the new controls. It was as if Mario had always controlled that way.
To my eternal shame, I never myself owned Super Mario 64. A friend of mine, the same friend who owned an SNES while I had a Genesis when that was the current gen, did, and we would spend hours in front of the tv at her house. Those were some good times. The jumping piano scared the hell out of us! Hahahaha, thanks for bringing out some good memories Chad, I haven't thought about that in years.
I would run around for, literally, hours in the garden -- just for the fun of it.
I dunno, I doubt that. Not even you, Mr. Concelmo, could enjoy that for HOURS. 30-60 mins perhaps, but not HOURS.
I didn't like this memory card, but i still like you chaddy :)
I dunno, I doubt that. Not even you, Mr. Concelmo, could enjoy that for HOURS. 30-60 mins perhaps, but not HOURS.
I didn't like this memory card, but i still like you chaddy :)
Being the first 3d game I really played, it was incredible playing this on the demo station for the first time, then getting it for Christmas that year. I toooootally did this too, just messing around trying all kinds of things in the bold new 3d world.
Oh my God, Chad. You have no idea. Actually, you have exactly the idea, because you did almost the same thing.
I had my mom drive me to Blockbuster, where she would sit out in the car and write checks to pay the bills, and I would play Super Mario 64 on the kiosk there for literally hours. And the kicker?
It was just a 15 minute demo.
I too remember being so completely amazed at how the analog stick worked, and I too spent way too much time running around outside of Peach's castle.
My mom bought me an N64 for my birthday that year (it was the year that those were almost impossible to find), but it wasn't after multiple sessions of play at Blockbuster.
I had my mom drive me to Blockbuster, where she would sit out in the car and write checks to pay the bills, and I would play Super Mario 64 on the kiosk there for literally hours. And the kicker?
It was just a 15 minute demo.
I too remember being so completely amazed at how the analog stick worked, and I too spent way too much time running around outside of Peach's castle.
My mom bought me an N64 for my birthday that year (it was the year that those were almost impossible to find), but it wasn't after multiple sessions of play at Blockbuster.
I remember doing this exact same thing! I didn't go back, since I couldn't get to the Toys R Us on a daily basis for no good reason, but I remember being enchanted by that opening area so much, I didn't even go into the castle. It was fucking amazing.
I distinctly remember the first time I saw that Mario 64 demo station at Toys R Us. This was '96 so I was 14 at the time. I remember a little girl was playing it, probably 7 or so, and it took every once of restraint to not muscle her off the controller. She just kept climbing a tree and jumping off the tree, over and over again. I sat there waiting and when her mother finally pulled her away, I immediately stepped up....and climbed that tree again.
If I was to sit down and hammer out all the defining moments in video game history I would never have come up with this, but you are absolutely right. I forgot how awesome it was to just run around and do nothing in a 3d environment for the first time. Mind blowing stuff in 1996.
You've done it again Concelmo.
You've done it again Concelmo.
True story: I got an N64/Mario 64 before its official release. How? It's a secret...we had connections :D.
Got it over a week before its release in fact, right on my birthday. I remember coming downstairs getting ready for school, and I just saw the box laying in front of the TV with "Happy Birthday!" written on a paper taped to it. I had to do a triple take, I had no idea I would be getting one, but my parents knew how badly I wanted the thing. Totally out of left field...I was like "WHAT THE FUCK!?"..but I remember walking to the box and inspecting the hell out of it just to make sure I wasn't dreaming I had one. I about goddamn had a fucking heart attack...that was seriously the longest day of school ever though.
I remember telling my buddy he had to come over after football practice, which was thankfully shortened because of the varsity game that night (which I'll be damned if I was attending, I had more IMPORTANT shit to do). When we got back, it was already hooked up, and since my birthday was that Friday, I spent all weekend playing the living shit out of Mario with him as we took turns going through all the different worlds. We had no guide so it was basically exploration on our own, but we racked up a good amount of stars in the thing. But, before all of that, we did exactly what was discussed here. I bet we didn't walk into the castle until an hour or two after just fucking around in the garden...that was how amazed we were and discovering and getting used to Mario's movements. It was perfect; tutorials definitely kill pacing, and this is a nice little memory of how things could have been.
Seriously, I don't think any gaming memory ever tops that one. Whenever I decide to start a C-Blog, I think that'll be my first story.
Got it over a week before its release in fact, right on my birthday. I remember coming downstairs getting ready for school, and I just saw the box laying in front of the TV with "Happy Birthday!" written on a paper taped to it. I had to do a triple take, I had no idea I would be getting one, but my parents knew how badly I wanted the thing. Totally out of left field...I was like "WHAT THE FUCK!?"..but I remember walking to the box and inspecting the hell out of it just to make sure I wasn't dreaming I had one. I about goddamn had a fucking heart attack...that was seriously the longest day of school ever though.
I remember telling my buddy he had to come over after football practice, which was thankfully shortened because of the varsity game that night (which I'll be damned if I was attending, I had more IMPORTANT shit to do). When we got back, it was already hooked up, and since my birthday was that Friday, I spent all weekend playing the living shit out of Mario with him as we took turns going through all the different worlds. We had no guide so it was basically exploration on our own, but we racked up a good amount of stars in the thing. But, before all of that, we did exactly what was discussed here. I bet we didn't walk into the castle until an hour or two after just fucking around in the garden...that was how amazed we were and discovering and getting used to Mario's movements. It was perfect; tutorials definitely kill pacing, and this is a nice little memory of how things could have been.
Seriously, I don't think any gaming memory ever tops that one. Whenever I decide to start a C-Blog, I think that'll be my first story.
MArio 64 was a game that showeed everyone what true 3d platforming was it was a great game that still holds it own aganist some of the best ones out there
I remember loading the game for the first time, and when Mario's disembodied head appeared, I remember looking at his nose and thinking "Oh my God, they've perfected the curve!"
I played other 3D platformers before Mario 64 (Tomb Raider, some other games on PlayStation) but NOTHING compared to controlling Mario with the analogue stick for the first time. It was beautiful.
Mario 64 is a masterpiece. Not perfect, but it is a masterpiece. Ocarina of Time is the only other 3D game I can think of that reaches Mario 64's level of influence, and even that ran on a newer version of the Mario 64 engine.
Mario 64 is a masterpiece. Not perfect, but it is a masterpiece. Ocarina of Time is the only other 3D game I can think of that reaches Mario 64's level of influence, and even that ran on a newer version of the Mario 64 engine.
I, too, remember vividly that first time I started up Mario 64 and experienced the joys of the castle yard. It was magical. I was only 15, but had managed to save up the money to get the system myself. Had it preordered at Toys R Us and took it home on launch day. Coupled with the foray into 3D and analog control, it really felt like the future to me. A brave new world of maturity, independence, and exploration.
Great Memory Card, Chad!
Great Memory Card, Chad!
@braulio09,
It's sad, but true. So sad in fact, that I would actually create my own games outside the castle: I would time how long it would take to run from one tree to the next, compete with my friends to see who could jump the farthest in the moat from the drawbridge. I even tried to play hide-and-seek with Mario, which, looking back, makes no sense. Ha ha. :)
I'm glad you still like me, though. Sorry this one wasn't your cup of tea. :) :) :)
It's sad, but true. So sad in fact, that I would actually create my own games outside the castle: I would time how long it would take to run from one tree to the next, compete with my friends to see who could jump the farthest in the moat from the drawbridge. I even tried to play hide-and-seek with Mario, which, looking back, makes no sense. Ha ha. :)
I'm glad you still like me, though. Sorry this one wasn't your cup of tea. :) :) :)
awesome, but quick question chad:
when did you start calling video games videogames, and did you take that from the page of collegehumor?
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1803646
when did you start calling video games videogames, and did you take that from the page of collegehumor?
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1803646
When I got to the water levels, I remember just walking along the shore. The music was quiet and peaceful. It was lonely, even -- and very still. The water was nothing like what we expect of it now, but walking along the edge and hearing Mario's feet "splash", just taking in the scenery ...
It was amazing to me.
A stretch of the best time of my life was spent playing this game with my little brother and older cousin. We all took turns and just wandered around, and we'd see a star and go "Oh!, let's try to get it!". I can't even remember when the game came out, but we played when it was snowing like crazy outside.
Good memories.
It was amazing to me.
A stretch of the best time of my life was spent playing this game with my little brother and older cousin. We all took turns and just wandered around, and we'd see a star and go "Oh!, let's try to get it!". I can't even remember when the game came out, but we played when it was snowing like crazy outside.
Good memories.
Yes, this is an awesome choice! I was probably about 15 or so when I was at blockbuster and I saw the kiosk. Mario? 64? I've heard of these things, wonder what they are like. Answer: Amazing!
I was absolutely blown away that if I moved the stick just a little bit he WALKED! OMG! This is awesome! The first time I triple jumped I landed in the water and I just sat there stunned. That was sooooo much fun! Did you see my ups?! I was flying through the air practically! And sweet jesus, just look at the water! Holy shit! He's swimming! Almost everything I did in that garden just floored me. Why is he humping a tree? Oh sweet! I can climb! DUDE!! A handstand! YES! Ohhhh man this is great!
I remember my brother walking past as I played and I looked at him with big eyes full of wonder and a slacked jaw with drool, "we NEED this!"
I was absolutely blown away that if I moved the stick just a little bit he WALKED! OMG! This is awesome! The first time I triple jumped I landed in the water and I just sat there stunned. That was sooooo much fun! Did you see my ups?! I was flying through the air practically! And sweet jesus, just look at the water! Holy shit! He's swimming! Almost everything I did in that garden just floored me. Why is he humping a tree? Oh sweet! I can climb! DUDE!! A handstand! YES! Ohhhh man this is great!
I remember my brother walking past as I played and I looked at him with big eyes full of wonder and a slacked jaw with drool, "we NEED this!"
I remember picking up the Nintendo 64 for the first time, seeing how Mario was in 3-D and could go anywhere, and going to town. Only a fleet of dolphins could have made this game better, right Chad?
Great memory! One thing though, this doesn't apply to me but it does apply to a lot of the girl gamers I've "played" with: Zelda has a pretty open environment and I can think of multiple instances where my girlfriend would just go around the houses swinging at bushes and grass. Not exciting to me, but she just did it to do it, not to win anything. So before mario 64 the SNES zelda seemed to provide a similar form of entertainment for some people.
Memory Card has become the reason Destructoid is my videogame news site of choice.
Chad, you nailed it. I'm sure I'm one of seven billion people on here who will bring up where they played their first big-store display version, but what the hey. It was at a Target by my grandmother's house, and I'd walk every day I was there to wait in line and try not to cum everywhere when the game started. I remember the kids in front of me who would laugh hysterically when Mario yelled "Mama Mia!". And the older gamers behind me, breathing heavily in wait. Probably my most unforgettable video game playing experience.
I've had this debate many times, but I do believe that Super Mario 64 is the most important video game of all time. Go ahead and give it up to Pong or even the first Mario, you probably have your point, but I believe it was SM64 that took the industry by the hand and showed it what it would need to do to continue. It's like Superman. Sure, there were comic book characters before him, but he's the one that set the standard for the industry. Or at least the standard that worked.
Birth is easy. Surviving is what's tricky. I never thought I'd be so grateful to an Italian plumber.
Please keep Memory Card around. It's the best thing going today.
Chad, you nailed it. I'm sure I'm one of seven billion people on here who will bring up where they played their first big-store display version, but what the hey. It was at a Target by my grandmother's house, and I'd walk every day I was there to wait in line and try not to cum everywhere when the game started. I remember the kids in front of me who would laugh hysterically when Mario yelled "Mama Mia!". And the older gamers behind me, breathing heavily in wait. Probably my most unforgettable video game playing experience.
I've had this debate many times, but I do believe that Super Mario 64 is the most important video game of all time. Go ahead and give it up to Pong or even the first Mario, you probably have your point, but I believe it was SM64 that took the industry by the hand and showed it what it would need to do to continue. It's like Superman. Sure, there were comic book characters before him, but he's the one that set the standard for the industry. Or at least the standard that worked.
Birth is easy. Surviving is what's tricky. I never thought I'd be so grateful to an Italian plumber.
Please keep Memory Card around. It's the best thing going today.
Chad, what a read! Yeah!
Brought back many cherished Mario 64 memories...
My friend actually had his N64 imported! We were fortunate enough to play the Japanese version of Mario 64, for a few months, before the U.S. release.
As soon as the delivery truck came to the house, we freaked with anticipation. We knew what was waiting inside the package, yet we had no idea how much fun this system would be.
We couldn't get the damn thing set-up quick enough, it seemed. The feel of the anaolog-equiped N64 controller was inspiring, I couldn't put it down. The very moment we heard Mario's voice, we knew we were in for something extremely special.
For the first half-hour, or, so we'd take turns jumping off trees, back-flipping from the Castle's drawbridge into the moat and sliding down hills into the water.
It was truly amazing and a video game memory I will never, ever forget!
We played the game until, probably, six in the morning! I remember we fell asleep, with the game still running. I woke up to birds chirping, in real life and birds chirping in the game... And there was my friend, sound asleep. As was Mario! I couldn't believe my eyes! Mario was finally real... Like Pinocchio coming to life.
Awesome Memory Card, Chad! Thanks for re-awakening mine! This is one of the best parts of the this amazing site.
Dtoid! Yeah!
Brought back many cherished Mario 64 memories...
My friend actually had his N64 imported! We were fortunate enough to play the Japanese version of Mario 64, for a few months, before the U.S. release.
As soon as the delivery truck came to the house, we freaked with anticipation. We knew what was waiting inside the package, yet we had no idea how much fun this system would be.
We couldn't get the damn thing set-up quick enough, it seemed. The feel of the anaolog-equiped N64 controller was inspiring, I couldn't put it down. The very moment we heard Mario's voice, we knew we were in for something extremely special.
For the first half-hour, or, so we'd take turns jumping off trees, back-flipping from the Castle's drawbridge into the moat and sliding down hills into the water.
It was truly amazing and a video game memory I will never, ever forget!
We played the game until, probably, six in the morning! I remember we fell asleep, with the game still running. I woke up to birds chirping, in real life and birds chirping in the game... And there was my friend, sound asleep. As was Mario! I couldn't believe my eyes! Mario was finally real... Like Pinocchio coming to life.
Awesome Memory Card, Chad! Thanks for re-awakening mine! This is one of the best parts of the this amazing site.
Dtoid! Yeah!
Super mario 64 was the first game I ever played. I ran around in that courtyard hours. I never owned the game as like you I played it in a store. Ironicly it was where my mom go her glasses fixed. I was 6.
I remember getting this game for christmas when I was 10 or 12. It was awesome! We (my brother and I) spended all day playing, and I mean "playing" this game. Jut having fun with it. The game was for one player, but we take turns to play and we were HAPPY. Thanks for the memories!!! (also, this is my first timne posting here, and I'm from Chile). Bye!
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