A Thorough Explanation of the Innovation of Super Mario 64 | A Historical Masterpiece that Became the Pioneer of 3D Action Games

Released on June 23, 1996, as a launch title for the NINTENDO64, "Super Mario 64" revolutionized the gaming industry. The sight of Mario, who had previously been synonymous with 2D action, freely running around in a complete 3D space left a strong impression on players at the time. Super Mario 64 is not just a mere 3D conversion but a historical masterpiece that established the foundation of 3D action games. In this article, we will explain the innovations realized by Super Mario 64 from various angles and detail the impact this work had on the gaming industry.

Three Innovations Achieved by Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 realized three innovations that had a significant influence on game development in later years, during the dawn of 3D action games. These innovations include free movement controls in 360 degrees using an analog stick, a sandbox exploration-style game design, and a 3D camera work system. Each of these innovations posed independent technological challenges and complemented each other, providing players with an unprecedented immersive experience.

Previous 2D Mario series games primarily relied on left-right movement and jumping actions using the directional pad. However, Super Mario 64 faced fundamental questions about how to move in a deep 3D space, how to control perspective, and how to explore. Nintendo's development team tackled these challenges head-on, presenting solutions that would become the standard for later 3D game development. Notably, these innovative elements were designed with player enjoyment as the top priority rather than being mere technical implementations.

Free 360 Degree Movement with the 3D Stick

The analog stick (3D stick) first installed in the NINTENDO64 controller was the core of the operational innovation in Super Mario 64. While the previous directional pad was limited to 8-directional inputs, the analog stick allowed for movement in 360 degrees in any direction. By adjusting the tilt of the stick, players could also control the speed of movement; a gentle tilt would result in a slow walk, while a strong tilt would lead to a full sprint. This delicate operability allowed Mario to move freely in 3D space, accurately reflecting the player's intentions whether carefully navigating narrow platforms, dodging enemy attacks, or dashing straight towards a target.

Sandbox Exploration-style Game Design

Super Mario 64 broke away from the traditional "left to right" linear progression game design and established a new sandbox exploration-style game design. Players can explore various courses by entering paintings decorated on the walls from their base in Peach's Castle. Each course contains hidden power stars, and players can collect them in any order they choose. This sandbox design provides players with the freedom to proceed at their own pace. Difficult stars can be postponed, allowing players to tackle courses they are more comfortable with first.

Innovative Camera Work System

The biggest challenge in 3D games is controlling the camera work.

Super Mario 64 responded to this challenge with a unique system called "Lake Camera (Camel Camera)." The camera automatically follows behind Mario, but players can manually adjust the viewpoint using the C buttons. In narrow indoor spaces or specific scenes, it switches to a fixed camera, providing the optimal viewpoint automatically. This camera system allowed players to always play the game from an easy-to-view angle.

The Control System That Laid the Foundation for 3D Action Games

The control system of Super Mario 64 not only established the foundation for 3D action games but also created standards for modern game controls. The seamless movement control via the analog stick, the combination of various actions, and the intuitive operation combined to provide players with a stress-free and comfortable gaming experience. The development team led by Shigeru Miyamoto was particular about the perfection of the controls, conducting numerous playtests for adjustments.

The Freedom of Movement Brought by the Analog Stick

The introduction of the analog stick allowed players to continuously adjust their movement speed. While the D-pad offered a binary choice of "move" or "not move," the analog stick varied Mario's walking speed based on the angle of the stick's tilt. For instance, tilting the stick slightly makes Mario walk slowly, while a more significant tilt prompts him to run. This speed adjustment feature enabled delicate maneuvers on narrow platforms and sudden direction changes. Additionally, players could smoothly adjust their direction while running, allowing for graceful curves in movement. This feel of control gave players a natural sensation, almost as if they were running around in the real world.

Variety of Actions and Intuitive Controls

Super Mario 64 boasts a rich variety of actions. In addition to the standard jump, there are actions like triple jump, long jump, backflip, wall kick, sliding kick, and hip drop, all of which can be utilized depending on the situation. Notably, all these actions can be executed with intuitive controls. For example, the triple jump can be performed simply by pressing the A button three times while running, and the wall kick is executed by jumping towards the wall and pressing the A button. This design allows players to perform actions they wish to execute directly. Due to this intuitiveness, complex actions can be performed with simple controls, providing depth that can be enjoyed by both beginners and advanced players alike.

Impact on the Gaming Industry and Standardization of Controls

The control system of Super Mario 64 became the standard model for later 3D action games. The basic control framework of movement via the analog stick, action execution with buttons, and camera control laid the foundation for modern game controllers. In particular, it influenced the development of the PlayStation controller "DualShock," leading to the industry-wide adoption of analog sticks as standard equipment. Furthermore, the action design of Super Mario 64 had a direct impact on subsequent 3D action games such as "Banjo-Kazooie" and "Crash Bandicoot."

Innovations Brought by Sandbox Exploration Design in Games

Sandbox exploration design is the most important innovation in game design established by Super Mario 64. In conventional linear progression games, one-directional gameplay that follows a predetermined route was the mainstream. However, Super Mario 64 achieved a nonlinear game progression that allows players to freely explore vast spaces, providing an unprecedented level of freedom. This sandbox design became the foundation for later titles such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and modern open-world games, leaving a significant mark on the history of game design.

Transition from Linear Progression to Sandbox Design

The traditional Super Mario Bros. series followed linear progression, clearing stages starting from 1-1 in order. Players moved in one direction from left to right, aiming for the goal. While this structure was simple and easy to understand, it limited player choices. With Super Mario 64, this structure was fundamentally changed. From a central hub called Peach's Castle, players can choose any course they wish to enter. Each course is made up of vast spaces where movement is possible in all 360 degrees. For example, in the course titled 'Bob-omb Battlefield,' players can choose to either defeat the boss at the mountain's peak or search for hidden stars freely. This nonlinear progression system allows players to visit the same course multiple times and enjoy it in different ways.

Star Collection System and Free Progression Order

The game progression in Super Mario 64 revolves around collecting 120 Power Stars. Each course typically hides 6 stars, and players can collect them in any order they prefer. It is possible to defeat Bowser and reach the ending with a minimal number of stars (around 70), or to collect all 120 stars to fully explore the game. This high level of freedom allows players to progress through the game in accordance with their play style. Players can skip difficult stars for later, or repeatedly play courses they are good at to gather stars, leading to player-driven gameplay. This star collection system provides players with clear goals while ensuring freedom in achievement methods, showcasing excellent game design.

Maximizing the Fun of Exploration

The course design in Super Mario 64 is filled with ideas that spark the desire to explore. Each course has secret areas and hidden passages, driving players' curiosity with thoughts like 'How do I get to that location?' For example, visual hints are cleverly placed, such as distant islands, mysterious coins at high places, and secret rooms hidden in walls. Also, courses that have been visited once appear completely different when aiming for different stars. Changes in the setup of mechanisms and enemy placements within the course provide fresh experiences even in the same space. This high replayability makes Super Mario 64 a game that can be enjoyed for a long time.

Innovations in 3D Camera Work and Overcoming Challenges

One of the most challenging technical issues in 3D games is controlling the camera work. In 2D games, it was not a problem as the screen was fixed, but in 3D space, 'which angle to present the game screen from' becomes extremely important.

The development team of Super Mario 64 presented innovative solutions to this challenge, establishing the foundation for camera systems in later 3D game development. In particular, the system called "Lake Camera" was a groundbreaking invention for its time.

Camera Issues and Solutions in 3D Games

Setting the position and angle of the camera is extremely important in 3D game development. If the camera is not positioned correctly, players cannot grasp the character's position or the surrounding situation, and cannot progress comfortably in the game. In other 3D games of the time, issues frequently arose where the camera would clip into walls, characters would become invisible, or viewpoints would suddenly change causing confusion. The development team of Super Mario 64 developed a system called the "Lake Camera" to address these problems. This system features a virtual "camel" existing between the camera and Mario, which follows Mario's movements. The camera continually stays at a fixed distance behind Mario, allowing for smooth viewpoint transitions.

Differentiating Between Lake Camera and Fixed Camera

In Super Mario 64, different camera modes automatically switch based on the situation. In wide areas, the Lake Camera activates and follows Mario's movements. On the other hand, in narrow indoor spaces or specific situations, it switches to a fixed camera. For example, in the narrow hallways of the castle, the camera adopts a fixed viewpoint looking down at Mario. This differentiation allows players to always play the game from the optimal perspective. Additionally, underwater, the camera's movement changes to allow for more free viewpoint adjustments, along with fine-tuned adjustments based on the environment.

Player's Freedom to Adjust Viewpoint

The most innovative aspect was the feature that allowed players to manually control the camera using the C buttons. The right C button rotates the camera to the right, the left C button to the left, and the upper C button switches to a viewpoint from in front of Mario. This manual adjustment feature enables players to view the game screen from angles they wish to see. For instance, when wanting to check the landing spot of a jump or search for hidden items, adjusting the viewpoint allows for an accurate grasp of the situation. This design philosophy of "entrusting players with viewpoint control" has been inherited by modern 3D games.

Technological Innovations of Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 achieved numerous innovations not only in game design but also in technology. Utilizing the hardware capabilities of the NINTENDO64 to the fullest, it showcased polygon representation, optimization for analog stick support, and a dynamically changing sound system—technologies that were cutting-edge at the time. Thanks to these technological innovations, Super Mario 64 became not just a 3D game, but a high-quality comprehensive experience.

Polygon Representation and Graphic Technology

Super Mario 64 realized a very high-quality polygon representation for its time. Mario's character model consists of about 800 polygons, allowing for smooth movements and expressive animations. Particularly noteworthy is the expression of Mario's face changing according to the situation.

Underwater, characters puff out their cheeks and express pain when damaged, showcasing fine animations. Additionally, texture mapping technology expresses diverse textures like grass, rock surfaces, and water surfaces.

Integration with Hardware

The NINTENDO64 had a high-performance 64-bit CPU and graphics processing capability for its time, but it had constraints on memory capacity. The development team employed various optimization techniques to efficiently use the limited memory. For example, distant objects are displayed with simple models and switch to detailed models as the player approaches (LOD: Level of Detail) technology was adopted. Moreover, utilizing the fast loading speed of cartridge media, a seamless experience was achieved that barely felt like loading times.

Innovation in Sound and BGM

The soundtrack of Super Mario 64, created by Koji Kondo, showed new possibilities for musical expression in 3D games. Particularly innovative was the system where the BGM dynamically changes based on the situation. For example, when entering water, the music changes to a muffled quality, and upon entering specific areas, the arrangement of the BGM changes. Additionally, as Mario's health decreases, the tempo of the BGM increases, heightening the tension. These dynamic sound effects greatly enhanced the player's immersion.

Impact on the Game Industry and Legacy for Future Generations

Super Mario 64 had an immeasurable impact on the entire game industry. The fundamental practices of 3D action games established by this work became standard models for subsequent game development, being inherited by many masterpieces. Furthermore, the sandbox exploration design became the origin of modern open-world games, and the camera system became an essential element in 3D games. The achievements of Super Mario 64 lie not only in creating an exceptional game but also in contributing to the overall development of the game industry.

Establishing Standards for 3D Action Games

With the success of Super Mario 64, the development techniques of 3D action games were standardized. The basic control system of movement via analog sticks, jumping actions with buttons, and manually adjustable cameras were widely adopted in subsequent 3D games. Additionally, the sandbox-style stage design influenced many games, with follow-up titles like "Banjo-Kazooie" and "Donkey Kong 64" adopting similar designs. Furthermore, Nintendo itself utilized the technology and know-how from Super Mario 64 in "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" to create a new masterpiece in 3D action adventure.

Influence on Subsequent Titles

The Super Mario series itself evolved by building on the innovations of Mario 64. In "Super Mario Sunshine," new actions using water were added, and in "Super Mario Galaxy," a new concept of spherical stages utilizing gravity was introduced. Then in "Super Mario Odyssey," an innovative system of throwing hats to capture enemies was added.

These subsequent works have realized the evolution of the series by adding new elements on the foundation built by Super Mario 64.

Elements Inherited by Modern Games

The influence of Super Mario 64 extends not only to the Mario series but to modern games in general. Representative works of open-world games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Genshin Impact are also part of the lineage of sandbox exploration design. Furthermore, the 360-degree movement control using the analog stick has become standard in all genres of 3D games such as FPS and TPS. The manual camera adjustment feature has also established itself as a common feature in modern games. In this way, the basic game design and control system established by Super Mario 64 continue to be inherited as a shared asset of the gaming industry.

Conclusion: The Future Pioneered by the Innovation of Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 has become the most significant turning point in the history of 3D action games. With three pillars: 360-degree free movement using the analog stick, sandbox exploration game design, and an innovative camera work system, this work established the foundation of 3D games. These innovations are not merely technical implementations but are the result of design focused on maximizing player enjoyment.

The impact brought by Super Mario 64 has not faded even nearly 30 years after its release. Modern open-world games and 3D action games are all built upon the foundation laid by this work. This historical masterpiece, which contributed to the development of the entire gaming industry, is an important piece that should continue to be passed down through generations. Playing Super Mario 64 is akin to touching the very history of games and is an indispensable experience to understand how modern games have evolved.

A Comprehensive Analysis of the Innovations in Super Mario 64 | Pioneering 3D Action