I downloaded Super Mario 64 on my Wii a couple of weeks ago, and have been playing it relatively regularly. (Albeit regularly in my very unregular free time.)

Although I had owned a Nintendo 64, I never played Mario on it. The idea of 3D platformers was daunting.. There was so much empty space, I felt there was a loss of purpose and fun.

Well.. the game is a lot of fun. It literally screams "I am fun!" with its bright colours, quirky mini games, playful tunes and amusing baddies.

The only flaw in an otherwise great game is that sometimes having to repeat levels (required to advance in the game) can, at times, feel like a chore. If I wanted games that felt like a chore, Id play a MMORPG.

Is Super Mario 64 the best of the series ? Depends on how much you love 3D.   I personally love games that give you the most bang for the least amount of buck. Gameplay without the dogma. And by that standard, the original Super Mario Brothers is still the undisputed king.