Honestly, Mario's popularity peaked somewhere around 1990 with the release of Super Mario Bros. 3 for the NES. Since then, his popularity has steadily slid further and further into the gutter, and I think it's a damn shame. Sure, the little guy is a walking Italian stereotype, but he basically embodies all of Nintendo. Mario practically invented the home video game market, and for that we owe him many thanks. He's the original brain-child of game master Shigeru Miyamoto and one of the most recognized icons in the world. Where would video games be if Super Mario Bros. had never graced our TV screens?
Enter Super Mario 64, the first platform game for the N64. This game is awesome! This is Mario as he was meant to be played--as a living, breathing wrench-wielder. Some of the worlds, particularly Rainbow Ride and Wet-Dry World, are well-designed and loaded with eye-candy. Play control is solid and Mario has more moves than ever before, including somersaults and handstands. You really feel like you are Mario as you explore the depths of the painting worlds in Princess Peach's castle.
The only bad thing about this game is the camera. Nintendo clearly tried to develop a smart camera system for this game, but it really isn't smart enough. For the most part, the camera works, but sometimes it just doesn't shift the way you need it to when you have to make a tricky jump. In retrospect, a camera more like the one in Ocarina of Time would have worked better. It's very helpful to be able to press a button and have the camera instantly swing behind your character. The so-called "Mario cam" in this game just doesn't quite do it.
Overall, a great game, and certainly worth playing over and over even four years after its release. It took me quite awhile to find all 120 stars in this game, and I enjoyed every minute of it--from the depths of Jolly Roger Bay to the dizzying heights of Tall, Tall Mountain. Don't let Mario sink into oblivion. He's one of the greatest characters to ever grace a game pak.