Super Mario 64

The little plumber is back! Wow, is he back! Super Mario 64 has the same characters and the same level-after-level excitement as the previous versions, but this time it all comes to you in glorious 3D. Mario can move like never before! He performs triple jumps, back flips and ground pounds, all in his noble quest to rescue the Princess from that nasty bully Bowser. Mario must endure 15 courses, collect 70 stars and battle the big Bowser 3 times to free his beloved Peach. Best of all, your game is game can be saved when you complete a task. So, if you die on the next level, there's no more starting from scratch!

There is only one word for this game - ADDICTING! My whole family spent weeks glued to the TV. The fact that this is a one-player game did not matter. We took turns, we watched each other play and we even fought over the controller; but, we had a great time! The boys and I even called Dad at work several times to announce our progress.

The graphics and audio on this game are outstanding! Each course has a particular theme and is brought to life by rich colors and textures, and mood-setting music. Mario is an absolute wonder. He breathes, pants when he's tired and even falls asleep when the controller is idle.

Super Mario 64 has something for everyone. The courses increase in difficulty as you move through the game - offering challenges to experienced gamers, but also allowing beginners the opportunity to develop skills. Toddlers can even run Mario around the castle yard, where there are no "meanies" to interfere.

Problem solving is an integral part of this game. It is a real triumph to finally find that elusive star or to figure out a boss' weakness. However, you might want to have a player's guide handy to keep the frustration level to a minimum. As a reward, there is a spectacular finale awaiting Mario when he finally conquers Bowser.

In my opinion, Super Mario 64 is THE GAME for N64.