Super Mario 64
The Nintendo 64 was a bit of a revolutionary console. Not only did it bring Ocarina of Time, but also Mario’s first fully-realized 3D outing too. Starting you off in the grounds of Princess Peach’s castle, you’ll find out that Peach and her servants have been kidnapped by Bowser and imprisoned by 120 Power Stars. Therefore, it’s up to you as Mario to acquire all of these stars and rescue Peach. This means exploring many of the portraits within the castle that are actually portals to other worlds.
Playing a Mario game for the first time in 3D was a huge step for Nintendo and its titular plumber. The portals to other worlds help showcase all of the magic of the Mushroom Kingdom and exploring each and every one of them just felt right in 3D. No longer was the Mushroom Kingdom just something you saw a tiny slice of in the 2D games, this was a real world, and somewhere that hours could be spent just trying to see every last bit of it.
Mario’s translation into the third dimension didn’t screw up the classic gameplay, either. In fact, controlling Mario around these worlds felt natural, and stomping on goombas was all the more satisfying now that their angry faces could be seen up close. If you’ve never played a Mario game you really should check out Super Mario 64. It’s one of the pivotal games in shaping the series into what it is now, and it’s a magical experience to behold.
