Super Mario 64 X 4

Nintendo DS

Nintendo - 2004

Go Go Gadget DS! So I had to get my DS on launch day, and along with it I picked up Super Mario 64 X 4. One of my top games is Mario 64, and I thought, "Why not play it again with NEW STUFF!" Heck, I say to myself quite frequently, "So you already have 3 versions of the original Zelda, why not buy it again for the GBA?" So when I get new stuff on a port, that just makes my day.

So let us report. Or me rather. Starting out you must get really excited. you can still mess with Mario's face, and even DRAW YOUR OWN CHARACTERS/THINGS (aka penis) and move them around like you did Mario. (Try moving a penis around for great pleasure. Mmmm...) Sorry that was just WRONG. Never again (penis) will I sink to that (penis) level.

Yeah, so what about the main game? Well let me tell you this, The point of the main game is to find rabbits, catch them and get new mini games. Mini games are where it is at. These games (especially the turtle shell ones) are the heart and soul of Mario 64 X 4. Well if the actual game wasn't they would be. But they still manage to distract me for hours. WAIT! Gotta go play some now.

YES! I beat the high score! I rock your world!

Ok, I'm back. Hi. The real game. Well, the sad thing is you start as Yoshi, and he isn't as fun as Mario. But you easily unlock Mario soon enough and the game becomes great. Sadly I haven't figured out how to unlock Wario and Luigi, but I have only 48 stars of the 150ish now. I'm taking my sweet time through the game.

What problems are there? Well if you call better graphics than the N64 bad, then it has that... Wait, I know an actual bad problem. there is no analog stick, so you have to learn how to move all over again. You must hold a button to run, which still feels funny to me, and pulling off the complicated moves, like the back-flip, are almost impossible at times. And I had 3 perfect games on Mario 64 and Mario Sunshine so you would think I would know these moves like the back of my hand, an expression that is SOO not true. Well, I can't pull off moves, and I think Nintendo realized this, for they added new items for characters. Mario's is from Mario World where he gets really big like a balloon and you can float him. This makes those hard jumps meaningless, for floating to a place is just easy peasy. Of course I do feel like I'm cheating when I do so, but WHATEVER.

I guess I should mention the other stuff. It has support from the touch screen. On the touch screen is a map of the world, much more helpful than I thought it would be, and if you touch one direction or another the camera will spin. Or you can hold L and move the control stick, which is easier and achieves the same desired effects. There is multiplayer, but no one else in the world has a DS yet so I will not report on that. the MINIGAMES all use the touch screen, and well. Very fun use of touch screen. PLAY THEM! AARGH! I'M A BUTT PIRATE! What? Nevermind.

What liked: MINIGAMES! New levels. Playing a great game again.

What disliked: Controls (aka no analog). What were they thinking. Not being able to pull off backflip jumps and stuff.

What to expect: Mario 64 + (like Wetrix + but good.) MINIGAMES!

What not to expect: Easy controls. Mario 64 just.

What's so different from this and other games of it's genre: Mario 64 invented the 3-D platformer. This is a remake, so don't expect a lot, but it does use the touch screen, and that's pretty inventive.

Ratings on:

Control: 5 - I'm upset about how hard a backflip is, but I am biased. It isn't that bad. Still a great game.

Graphics: 9 - Well I don't know the graphic capabilities of this system yet, but the graphics are noticibly better than the original game. So there.

Sound: 9 - go go gadget surround sound! On a portable system! Wowzers!

Style: 6 - This game was oozing with style (kinda gross if you ask me) back when it came out IN '96! Now it retains style, but by the fact that time passes and so style is lost, I can't give it a high rating. But I can for the MINIGAMES! So MINIGAMES get a 10+

1st hour: 10 - I just pooped my pants.

5th hour: 8 - Ok over Yoshi.

1st week: 10 - got Mario. Who cares about Luigi and Wario?

5th week: 8 - Stages are getting hard. I guess I NEED Luigi and Wario to beat some of them. Here boys... Oh well, I'll just play some more MINIGAMES!

#1 reason why I hate this game: MINIGAMES! No. Wait I love MINIGAMES! I hate the controls. I want my backflip and I'll complain until I'm tired of complaining, which is now.

by Hawke