Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 Super Mario 64 is a classic adventure where you run, jump, and double jump to collect Power Stars, defeat Bowser, and rescue Princess Ridge. Discover hidden stars, allies, and tricky puzzles across each course.

Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 is a classic adventure where you travel to rescue Princess Ridge (Princess Peach). Your mission is to chase down power stars across the world, including areas filled with Bowser’s minions. Use smart movement—running, jumping, and double jumping—to gather power stars and strengthen your progress.

Once you’ve collected enough Power Stars, you’ll be able to take on Bowser and save the princess. Just remember: the levels don’t only contain enemies—allies are out there too. Team up with friends and use their items to solve puzzles, reach new stages, and find hidden Power Stars.

Gameplay

Unlike many earlier games, Super Mario 64 uses a health point system. Mario’s HP is shown as a pie-shaped meter split into eight segments.

Health and recovery

If Mario takes damage, you can restore HP in several ways:

• Yellow coins: restore 1 segment.
• Red coins: worth two yellow coins, restoring 2 segments.
• Blue coins: worth five yellow coins, restoring 5 segments.
• Spinning heart: restores health when you pass through it.
• Jumping into water: restores health as well.

Underwater behavior: while submerged, the health meter changes role—it becomes a breath timer. It drains slowly the longer you stay underwater, and it refills when you surface.

Finishing bonuses

Completing a course rewards Mario with an extra life for every 50 yellow coins you collected. Extra 1-Up Mushrooms are hidden around the world—some may drop to the ground, while others can chase you through the air for a short time if you don’t grab them.

Special caps and translucent blocks

Because you don’t just rely on classic power-ups like the Super Mushroom or Fire Flower, many stages include translucent blocks in red, green, and blue.

To unlock permanent cap power-ups, look for three switches matching those colors. Each switch is located in one of three secret areas—either inside stages or within the castle. When activated, the corresponding blocks become solid forever, letting you obtain special caps throughout the game.

Cap power-ups

• Wing Cap: lets Mario fly after a triple jump or after being launched from a cannon.
• Metal Cap: makes Mario immune to enemies, fire, and harmful gases. It also helps him handle wind and water currents, allows certain land moves while underwater, and grants unlimited breath underwater.
• Vanish Cap: makes Mario partially intangible and invulnerable, and enables him to pass through some obstacles.

Extra ability from Koopa shells

Even without traditional power-ups, there’s another useful mechanic: after stomping a Koopa Troopa, the shell remains. Mario can use it to run over enemies and also surf across water, lava, and quicksand.

Characters

Mario

Mario is the game’s only playable character. He introduces many new moves for this 3D platformer, including wall-jumping, triple-jumping, and other techniques you’ll use throughout the game.

Dorrie

Dorrie, a friendly sea dragon, helps Mario cross water in the Hazy Maze Cave area—allowing you to reach a Power Star, and even access a secret course.

MIPS

MIPS appears after you collect 15 Stars. If MIPS is caught in the castle basement, he awards Mario an extra Star. He repeats the same process after you reach 50 Stars.

Princess Peach’s Letter

Princess Peach has been trapped inside the castle walls. Mario must rescue her by collecting Power Stars and ultimately defeating Bowser.

Toad

Toads provide Mario with helpful hints as you progress. Sometimes, they also reveal a secret Power Star.

Yoshi

After you collect 120 Power Stars, Yoshi gives Mario one hundred 1-Up Mushrooms on top of the castle. He also upgrades Mario’s Triple Jump, then Yoshi jumps into the waterfall. Yoshi’s dialogue includes a line that reads: “Mario!!! It that really you???” instead of “Mario!!! Is that really you???”

Strategies

Use the ground-pound to avoid fall damage

Normally, dropping off a ledge and hitting the ground hurts Mario. But if you ground-pound right as Mario is about to land, you can take no damage.

Heal using deep water

In swimming sections, your health meter doubles as your air supply. If you get injured in a level with deep water, you can dive underwater, then come back up to restore health to full.

Wall Jump to reach higher places

Wall Jump is one of Mario’s most important movement tools. Bounce between two walls to climb upward to platforms you can’t reach normally. If a doorway seems too far—or a coin is just out of reach—try jumping into a nearby wall to help you close the gap.

Control water height in Wet-Dry World

When you jump into the Wet-Dry World painting, your jump height affects the water level:

• A short jump makes the water low.
• A high jump makes the water high.

Adjust timing in Tick Tock Clock

To enter the Tick Tock Clock course, you must jump through a portal shaped like a clock face. Inside, you can influence the speed/timing of the moving platforms (details continue beyond the provided text).