Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and in my opinion, Super Mario 64 DS is a pathetic port of a great N64 game.
Instead of introducing a brand new Mario adventure when the Nintendo DS launched, Nintendo instead gives us a rehash of Super Mario 64 but with new extras. Unfortunately, those extras are not enough to make this a great DS launch title. Like Super Mario 64, you guide Mario through several platforming stages. But this time, Luigi, Wario and Yoshi join your team, and their abilities will be very important for your adventure in the stages inside Peach's castle. When you begin the game, you start out as Yoshi, and he has to look for the other 3 characters because Bowser, Mario's nemesis, trapped them when they came inside the castle looking for Peach. This will require you to go through a number of stages in order to rescue all of them. Along your way, you'll pick the Special Stars which are needed for you to defeat Bowser. In each stage, you'll have platforming elements as well as tasks to take care of. Each of the 4 characters you choose can jump, attack and flip in different ways. Super Mario 64 DS has all that stages from the original N64 version, along with a few brand new hidden stages as well. With everything the N64 version offered present and brand new extras, this should excite you right? Unfortunately, I wish it did. The controls in the DS port are very awkward since you can use ether the Touch Screen to move your character, or use the D-pad (unlike the analog stick from the N64 version) The D-pad, while still kind of uncomfortable, is much better then the touch screen control. And thanks the Nintendo DS's control layout, navigating through the game is a little more difficult then the original N64 versions. So unless you never played the N64 version of Super Mario 64, you won't find too much enjoyment out of the DS version. If you're really good with the DS's control layout, then you might enjoy this. But otherwise, this port is not as strong as the N64 original. Nintendo also happened to add other extras as well, such as mini-games and multiplayer mode. To unlock more mini-games, you need to capture the rabbits that hop around Peach's castle with a different character each time. The mini-games require you to use the touch screen. Some of these mini-games are pretty likeable, but some are also very weird and also frustrating. And the multiplayer mode is nothing too special to take notice of. So, this is what I mean when Nintendo gives us a pathetic port of a great N64 game.
Graphics:
Most of the graphics are exactly how they looked when they first appeared way back on the N64 original in 1996. However, I did notice that Mario and other characters look a little more detailed then the N64 version. But other then that, everything is pretty much the same. I don't know too much of the DS's capabilities, but I will say the graphics are pretty decent for the DS and has some creative level designs.
Sound:
All of the music from the original N64 version is back, which is a good thing for Mario fans. However, I did notice a couple tracks are missing a few notes on the memorable or don't have the right sound quality. Still, there's no denying that Super Mario 64 had great music, and so does this DS port. The voices are tolerable, but at times they can be annoying. But there's still something good for everyone's ears in Super Mario 64 DS.
Conclusion:
I hate to say this, being a Mario fan, but I was a little disappointed with the DS port of this game. Super Mario 64 DS will definitely appeal to new Mario gamers, but for old-school gamers, like myself, who played the original N64 version, might be a little disappointed in it as well. I prefer the original N64 classic then this port, as it is more fun and more legendary then the DS one. Unless you don't have an N64 and are willing to tolerate with the game's problems, Super Mario 64 DS is not worth purchasing, but maybe worth renting.
Pros:
-A good return of a classic game. (When it works right)
-Same good music
-Decent for anyone who didn't play the N64 original
Cons:
-DS's controls make this port less enjoyable
-Some odd mini-games