"The Game of This Generation"

There are too many arguments amongst today's gamers. 

Xbox versus PS3.   Call of Duty versus Halo.  Rock Band versus Guitar Hero.

However, there is one (and maybe only one) statement that the enitre video gaming community can agree on: Super Mario 64 is a video game "classic" and, as video game journalist Nate Ahearn argues, "It may be the game of this generation."

  

"If you didn't play Super Mario 64 when you were little, then you didn't have a childhood," states high school senior Ian Horner, and a lot of gamers would be inclined to agree with him.  Super Mario 64 is held in very high regard amongst video gamers, but is it deserving of this much praise?

Based on its story, no.

While most games that are considered "classics" are supported by strong storylines, IGN's Hilary Goldstein is one of the many gamers who enjoyed the game but don't think much of the game's plot.  "On paper, the storyline of Super Mario 64 is laughable.  A plumber named Mario is on his way to the castle of Princess Peach, his royal girlfriend, to eat some cake that she baked for him.  Bowser, an evil turtle with a spiked shell, kidnaps Princess Peach and takes all of the kingdom's Power Stars with him.  Oh no!  Now, it's up to Mario to re-collect all of the stars by retrieving them from the castle's paintings, and save the Princess!"

Not exactly a script worthy of "classic" status.

"I don't get why the writers at Nintendo get let off the hook all of the time for their poor writing," says an angry Ben Croshaw.  "I don't care if they are creating a game that is marketed towards casual gamers.  Casual gamers aren't brain dead, but the writers at Nintendo certainly are if they think that a game with this plot is worthy of anyone's money."

Regardless, gamers don't consider this game a "classic" for its story, but rather for its gameplay.

"Super Mario 64 was the first great 3-D platformer," says Goldstein, "and it has laid the groundwork for every platforming game ever made or to be made."  Throughout the game, Mario shows off his surprising athleticism by pulling off acrobatic moves such as jumps, backflips, and wall jumps in order to find those missing stars.  "The large, detailed 3-D enviroments provided players with playgrounds in which they could make the best use of Mario's moves while also taking advantage of the vast freedom given to them by the game," says Goldstein.  As Mario preforms these amazing feats, he lets out enthusiastic shrieks of joy with each move, "just to let you know how much fun he is having.  And, over a decade later, its still hard not to smile when Mario happily screams 'Yipeeeeee!" at the top of a triple jump."

Super Mario 64's soundtrack delivers as well, providing gamers with simple, upbeat tunes that have stayed with gamers until this day.  "While I think the Mario franchise is more overrated than the Miami Heat, I can't deny the fact that it has some damn catchy music," says Croshaw.  Local college student and self-proclaimed video game fanatic Chris Jester takes it a step further: "If you don't remember the theme song for Bob-omb Battlefield (the game's first level), then something is seriously wrong with you."

Predictably, Bowser is defeated, Mario saves Peach, and everyone is happy in the Mushroom Kingdom (until Bowser turns right back around and does the same thing all over again in the next game).

And, most importantly, Mario finally gets to eat his cake.