Post
Mario jumped into the third dimension and every 3D game since has been chasing that camera.
Launch title for the Nintendo 64, Super Mario 64 basically invented 3D platforming in one shot. Miyamoto's team solved the fundamental challenge of movement and camera control in 3D space, using an analog stick for the first time on a Nintendo console. Mario's moveset was absurdly deep: triple jumps, wall kicks, long jumps, ground pounds, and more. Each of the 15 main courses was a sandbox playground with multiple objectives. The game shipped 11 million copies and became the template that every 3D platformer built upon.
Example
The speedrunning community has made Super Mario 64 one of the most dissected games in history. The Backwards Long Jump (BLJ) exploit, where Mario builds infinite backwards speed on stairs, allows players to clip through doors and skip major portions of the game. The any% world record has been fought over for decades.
Why it matters
Super Mario 64 solved 3D game design problems that the entire industry was struggling with, from camera systems to analog control to open-ended level design. It defined the 3D platformer genre and influenced how every subsequent 3D game handles movement and camera control.
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