The ds version of this game is a funny old affair.
Its difficult to imagine how I'd feel about this
game if I hadn't played it all those years ago on
the N64. Indeed, the initial incentive for me
buying this was to re-live the fun I had back in
the day. And on that level, it doesn't disappoint.
Almost every level was greeted by a huge grin
on my face, along with such thoughts as; "ooh, I
remember this bit", and "oh wow, I'd forgotten
how cool this bit is", etc.. But once you strip
away the nostalgia, how does the game stand up
on its own merits? The answer is, very well. Very
well indeed. The control system is fine. Not at all
awkward as some people seem to insist upon.
The graphics are fine too. Some parts are not as
sharp as the n64, but that's to be expected
considering how much they've crammed into the
cartridge. There's extra playable characters that,
rather than being a gimmick, are actually essential
if the player intends to complete the game fully.
Another smart addition is the addition of mini-
games. These provide an excellent distraction,
and are retro in their orientation. ie. Achieving
high scores is what matters. As was the norm in
days of yore. ..the only downside to this game,
unsurprisingly, is the camera. As was true with
the n64 version. But it by no means spoils the
game. ...in short, this game is as much of a
"must-have" as it was in its original incarnation.
Highly recommended.
I completed Super Mario 64 on the virtual console not long ago, and didn't much like it, but playing it on the ds, it really took a life of it's own. The graphics are significantly better, it's so satisfying playing it on a portable device and the added characters and mini-games make the game richer and longer-lasting.
Many reviewers find the controls a bit iffy, as there is no analogue stick on the ds but I got used to the d-pad controls very quickly and enjoyed the game just as much this way. Also, the touch screen provides a useful map of the level and shows where the star is or where the red coins are. You can also, with a flick of your finger, rotate your camera on the touch screen which is a significant gameplay improvement on the console version of the game.
On the downside, the game can be a bit frustrating and repetitive, and always ending up back in the castle when you start over - with the ever annoying soundtrack that accompanies it - may try your patience. (I prefer the 2D mario maps to the castle level entry). As with all mario games there is no storyline to keep you motivated - it's a gameplay based platform game after all - and the ending sequence and credits is pants, EVEN, apparently, if you've gone through the trouble of collecting all 150 stars (which I didn't).
Still, this is a must have game for the ds.
This seems to be one of the better games on the DS but still has some major problems. As has been said on here, there are more levels to complete, more characters to play as (Mario, Luigi, Yoshi and Wario), and some genuinely fun mini games that can keep you entertained for a long time.
However, the major annoyance with this game comes from the controls. Although there is apparently some kind of attachment analogue stick for the DS, I don't have one, so I'm forced to either use the stylus or the D-pad. Moving with the D-pad is problematic in the sense that character movement is very slow, which for some people would be a major annoyance, particularly when some of the levels are quite repetitive and they just want to get them done. Moving with the stylus is certainly quicker, though the ever-changing camera angles in a vast 3D environment can cause you to lose control very quickly, considering that whichever way the character on screen is facing affects the direction you need to move the stylus (like, if I can see Yoshi's face, I need to move the stylus down to move forward. When I'm looking at his side, I need to move it sideways to move forward... and while I do so the camera moves, meaning I need to shift the stylus in the opposite way the camera's moving in order to stay going forward).
In addition to this, using the stylus can get very annoying if you tend to use your right hand for it, as you need to use the XYBA buttons to jump, double jump, swim, crouch, backflip, hit, crawl, duck, dive, grab, etc (there are so many things you can do that you often get hurt/die after trying to do something and instead doing another thing by accident because you either forget or hit the wrong button combination). Because of this, you need to either opt for the slow D-pad, get used to using your left hand to control the stylus (very tricky at times), or be lucky enough to actually be left handed in the first place.
This lack of control in certain environments (like, on a slippery mountain) can cause you to become extremely frustrated very quickly, as like in other Mario games, if you die you need to begin the level from the very beginning. This wouldn't be much of a problem if you knew where you needed to go, but in some levels the map on the touchscreen is little help and you need to collect seven or eight red coins to unlock the star you need - many a time you wander round the environment, manage to collect six or seven coins, then die before you can get the final one, meaning you have to restart - again, this is incredibly frustrating considering the repetitiveness of some levels and how hard it is to control the character at times.
The game isn't all bad - the bright and colourful graphics are some of the best on this console, and there's no lag in the game as sometimes seen on the DS. The game is long too, great for a casual gamer because of the short missions (well, short depending on how easy the mission is) and has enough content to also please a much more hardcore gamer, with around 150 stars to collect and 36 addictive mini games to keep them occupied. There are little extras (such as the drawing feature on the main menu) that are genuinely decent additions that can be enjoyed over and over again. Nevertheless, the game is greatly marred to an extent by the awkward control system, which, obviously, has a huge impact on the fun you have playing the game - If you can't play it easily, you aren't likely to find easy enjoyment playing it. Nintendo make a good effort with this remake ofthe original, though you should probably compare it to other Mario DS games and consider very carefully before buying it, particularly at this price.