Super Mario 64 (N64, 1996)
There’s a theme here… Much like with their first two consoles, Nintendo launched the 64 with a Mario title, but in this case he was in a new dimension entirely. Our favourite plumber’s first entrance into 3D worlds changed platform games as people knew them, and few games have had as much of an impact since. The camera system, though retrospectively frustrating, was revolutionary. It may not be by today’s standards, but Peach’s Castle felt open world in size and freedom, and the gameplay formula is one that is still seen today.
With the N64’s unique analog control in a 3D environment, Mario had 360 degree movement, breaking away from the linear gameplay he’d been stuck in for decades. As the console’s best-selling game with over 11 million copies shipped, Super Mario 64 completed a hat-trick of successful home console launch titles that went on to change the industry in a big way.
