Good transition from the GCN to the DS
PROS:
- It follows the original Super Mario 64 style pretty closely, which is good because Super Mario 64 is a good game, and it has enough noticeable differences to make it not seem too repetitve.
- The addition of three more playable characters adds a new sense of depth to the game.
- More levels and more stars...always a good thing.
- It has a multiplayer (as opposed to the original).
- The sound is decent and somewhat addictive.
- The graphics actually seem to have improved (compared to those of the original).
- The single-player mode is long and challenging, which I always view as a good quality in games (unless it's monotonous, which this game wasn't).
- Perhaps the biggest PRO of this game is the addition of lots of mini-games, which are innovative, addicting, and provide you with something to do once you've completed the single-player mode.
CONS:
- Although the original Super Mario 64 was a good game, I thought it was a little lame that Nintendo used many of the exact same levels. It did add the nostalgic feeling, but I would rather have some newer, more improved levels (some of which it did have, actually).
- The multiplayer gets very boring, very fast. I only played it once, not because I couldn't play it anymore, but because I didn't want to play it anymore.
- This is a little picky, but I think the viewing screen from Super Mario 64 was reduced to fit Super Mario 64 DS. Basically, it focuses in on your character more, leaving less space on the screen for you to view your surroundings.
Overall, I would highly recommend this game to any DS owner, as I think it is the second best DS game that I have played so far.