The height control by holding or tapping the jump button would be back, but by timing multiple jumps in sequence, Super Mario 64 allowed the player to double jump. That means that Mario’s basic jump needed to be expanded in Super Mario 64 to allow players to reach every corner more efficiently. With levels fully built-in 3D, there’s a lot more for a player to explore. This philosophy would once again orient the design of the first 3D platformer in history. used the technological limitation as a source of creativity by adding multiple possibilities to a single action.
The design of Mario’s jump in Super Mario Bros.
Nevertheless, the change for 3D demanded a whole new approach. This flexible and controllable jump would become the bread and butter of every 2D Super Mario game forever. By tapping or holding the jump button, the player could also control the height of the jump, allowing more precision and diversity around a single mechanic. gave players the possibility to run in order to increase the jump length, also adding a simulated friction that gave the combo of running and jumping a unique feel. With Super Mario Bros., the jumping mechanic and the platformer genre would also be consolidated as a central part of the videogame industry. release for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
In 1985, Mario would cement itself as a pop culture icon with the Super Mario Bros. Still, it was only introduced in Donkey Kong, an arcade video game published by Nintendo in 1981, which featured a mustached character known as “Jumpman.” The character would get an official name with the release of Mario Bros. Jumping seems like a trivial mechanic in games. In the case of Super Mario 64, this was the game that introduced the world to the 3D universe, a still under-used and unconventional technology at the time.īesides the novelty, what exactly makes Super Mario 64 so great? How could it so profoundly affect the lives of millions of gamers? Why did it stand the test of time? Let’s jump (!) right into the discussion and try to figure out what makes Super Mario 64 a standard in the industry. That’s because each new Super Mario game strives for quality while ushering in new technological eras, inviting both long-time players and newcomers to discover something new. There’s a reason Super Mario is one of the most beloved, profitable, and durable videogame franchises of all times. However, it’s unquestionable that this game set a high standard while, at the same time, creating a whole new subgenre, influencing many others. While 25 years might not seem like a long time in history, the video game industry has changed so much and so fast that many people might not grasp how revolutionary Super Mario 64 really was. This, however, happened more than two decades ago, which makes me feel old, but also amazed at the fact that Super Mario 64 still holds up as one of the best 3D platformer games ever made.īoth the Nintendo 64 and Super Mario 64 are celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. It feels like yesterday since I bought a second-hand Nintendo 64 with a gray cartridge of Super Mario 64, both without the boxes they usually came in from the store.