I first saw this video today, then watched your vod on 7 Days to die and Splatoon. I watched them back to back and you suddenly talking about this video, i just watched, was awesome. Thanks. I hold this game also very deeply to my heart. Thanks for all Vinnie. You also helped me got through some rough times. This is what i wantes to tell you. Greetings from germany and have a great day. (Wow, this sounds strange... ^^¡
For real, I don't think my parents would ever be that proud if I was in his shoes, not that they aren't proud of me but they're kinda boomery and would probably find eSports/Speedrunning sad... All the while watching sports
@@apairofglasses775 It's all a game, whether you won a world record in Super Mario 64, or Ping Pong, or Baseball, or Bowling, etc.--why should it being a "game" only negatively affect reactions to video game world records rather than other games? In every case of those records, whether in video games or other games and sports, it was a combination of the player's skill, determination, physical ability, persistence concentration, and more. It is just as deserving of praise as any other record, and Simply's parents are great examples of people who understand that.
Damn, you beat me too it, but i totally agree. It was cool to see some parents who support their kid chassing a dream like that, because i feel most parents would be discouraging of "wasting time on that silly video game".
I watched Simply back in the day, when he had a job as a lifeguard. He was so humble. I broke down similarly to how he reacted. I was so happy. He recovered from hand pain, and grinded out the goal he always wanted. And Simp Family was so supportive. Truly, each one of them are champions.
51:06 Simply's mom bursting out with such sincere and honest love, pride, and support makes me cry every single time I see it. It's so hard to get into a niche activity like speedrunning and have the people in your life empathize with how intense it can be to chase records and grind like hell for that fleeting taste of glory.
Right! Between the impressiveness of the achievement itself, and the love and support shown by his parents, that's enough to put a smile on anyone's face 😊
This and Ocarina of Time are two of my most cherished gaming memories. Growing up in a less than ideal environment these two games made life bearable and magical even. SM 64 is etched into my heart.
Simply's parents cheering him and showing their support when he got the WR might be one of the most wholesome things I've ever seen. Love him and all the speedrunning community for keeping this game alive. This video really shows why this is my favorite game of all time. I never get tired of replaying it.
Why do people feel the need to make things about themselves? Sorry you had less than ideal parents. But what does that have to do with a wholesome retrospective?
This comment right here, I wrote it, scrolled down and saw you were way ahead of me and... Ya That shit brought tears to my eyes. I wish all of us could have parents like that 🥺
@@syrew900 He felt something from the moment and chose to express it... Which is the healthy thing to do 🤷 I didn't know TH-cam comments had to meet some kind of requirement 🙄
My first experience with SM64 was actually with the DS remaster, which had several gameplay additions and tweaks. For example, you start as Yoshi, and unlock Mario, Luigi and Wario as playable characters as you progress, each with their own strengths and unique power up you can get from the "!" Blocks. You even hear Mario say "Bye bye!" If you close the DS while it was on. :D I must've put in at least 400 hours into that game as a kid.
The physics and controls in the DS version are way worse than the original. Those are the most important things in a Mario game. Also, controlling a 3D game with a d-pad doesn't feel good at all. Even though the DS version adds new stuff, I would definitely recommend the original N64 version.
I remember visiting my rich cousins house and seeing the n64 for the first time mid 90s. They had a giant CRT and massive speakers. I vividly recall us trying to get into the door underwater in the moat. The loud ""Whah!" over those big speakers, the foot taps as we walked around, the sliding sound as we rubbed against things. They handed me the controller and for the first time I got to move mario in 3D for myself. It was ground breaking and life changing. It would be over a year until I got my own n64, and in the interim I would read about everything in Nintendo power, each issue now worn and torn from multiple reads. My favorite "bathroom reading". My parents made a rule that I had to read a minute for every minute of video games I played, but whenever I wasnt playing I was reading about games. That and Calvin and Hobbes. Good times.
Whoa! I had a similar "Mario moment" where it was love at first sight, but that was with Super Mario Bros. 2 on the NES. I randomly fell over someone playing the game, in a TV program when randomly channel surfing, and the display of color, jump sounds, cheerful music and level design was love at first sight. I got an NES for my birthday a year later or so, and then was a hooked gamer for most of my childhood.
I'm impressed by his analysis of "The Game" at 14:00. Usually people just discuss the "plot" (or lack thereof), and give a brief rundown of how to access different levels. But Liam is one of the few people I've seen who go IN DEPTH about what you actually DO in Super Mario 64... like, what is expected of you? What kind of skills are required? Unlike other analyses, Liam actually spent 20 minutes describing the SPECIFIC movements, puzzles, and strategizations you'll encounter in the game. Very technical explanation. Very impressive.
I'm floored that even 25 years later, the game has gone from a three dimensional marvel in game design to a frightening, existential phenomenon that gamers and TH-camrs alike project their thoughts and feelings onto. It's cultural significance is astounding. Fantastic video, L.T.
Same. I think the Ds version has as much excitement and mystery around it as the 64 version. I can't remember how many times I tried to unlock waluigi.
Seeing the clip of that guy setting WR and his parents praising him always melts my heart... the 'are you winning son?' Meme but put in practice. (And yes, he's winning.)
I was born in 98' and due to that, I am obligated to say the 2000s were the best decade ever followed closely by the 2010s. The 90s were mid/cringe and the 2020s have sucked total ass so far
I was five years old. We had a big car accident in November and I was in traction for Christmas. My parents got me a Nintendo 64 and it came with this game. We didn't have a lot of cash but that's the kinda shit you do for your kid when they're stuck in a hospital for the holidays. I didn't find that out until my teen years and it legit made it hit even harder. The entire thing was so magical. The music, the atmospheres and how it brought me and my father incredibly close. I'll never forget any of the happy memories we made with this game. Looking back on it, I know he held back and nudged me toward the goals rather than telling me what to do. He'd always pretend to be surprised when me or him made a discovery and he'd always find the time to do the hard parts for me. Me and my old man are still best friends to this day. I love him and this game so fucking much.
Being a kid in the 90's and witnessing the evolution of video games was truly a wondrous time. Going from being wowed at Daytona and Virtua Fighter 2 in arcades to controlling characters in 3D spaces at home just a couple years later was mind blowing to 9-12 year old me. The mid to late 90's will always be my favorite time for video games, with 1996 in particular being notable for Mario 64, Crash, Tomb Raider and Resident Evil all games that amazed me seeing and playing them for the first time.
@@mem3b0i_ that's fair. Out of all the games listed in the original comment, I think only mario 64 holds up. Maybe Virtual fighter since fighting games don't really change much. Original Resident evil, or tomb raider is so clunky. Just my opinion. I didn't grow up playing these games so I had no attachment. I only went back and played them as first time experience because of the hype from boomers. Didn't enjoy it so I explain it as it must because of their childhood. I didn't have that.
I stood in line at every kiosk that had it in 1996, it was mindblowing. I don't remember Mario 64 at McDonalds, but I do remember when they had Sonic and Knuckles hooked up in a playland kiosk a year or two earlier. I knew the level select too which was like a crazy bar trick when you're six.
What I remembered as a kid, is that they pushed back the date to release SM64. I forgot the reason but I remember talking to my cousin on the phone about it. Those were great times.
I’m just old enough to remember playing Mario 64 for the first time when it launched. My dad had a connection at a local electronics store and got the N64 a few days early. I think we stayed up all night playing it. It’s a core memory for sure. It’s hard to forget seeing Mario walk *into* the background for the first time.
I am incredibly grateful that you highlighted the game's predecessor's in the 3D platforming space. While Super Mario 64 is often credited as the dawn of the genre, and I wasn't familiar with the titles you highlighted, it's nice to see that multiple people were taking their own approach to solving these problems, and that Nintendo's solution didn't just emerge fully formed from the ether.
Every time a retrospective/review for Mario 64 pops up I watch it. But I’ve never been too impressed with the videos. I think because I was obsessed with the game, no review feels like it does the game justice for just how important it is, and how many different things you need to tackle in covering it. You did it Liam. This is absolutely the best video I’ve ever seen covering super Mario 64 by a mile.
The immense quality u put in this video combined with the nostalgia of having played the DS version of this game has made this one of the most incredible watching experiences i've ever had. Absolutely amazing job.
When I opened my N64 on Christmas Day I freaked the fug out!!! Such good memories! I remember playing this in Babbages at my local mall before it was released. Instant fascination. Being a 90s kid was so pure 😊
I still to this day, (being 29) remember being around 6 or 7 playing this game so much i would have dreams about it. There was this one dream i had that was so vivid i still remember it. Me and a bunch of my friends (oddly enough) were in the game on the top of Peach's castle and there was like a secret cloud world. Brings me such nostalgia hearing others experience with this masterpiece of a game that is my childhood! XP
@@roccosmos1913wtf? How is the age of the characters in that game relevant to anything? Lmao. Oh, did u think his comment was meant as an insult to you? It wasnt, he was lightly making fun of himself for how he laughed. No need to be so defensive!
I've always felt that Mario 64 is the game that perfectly encapsulated "videogame magic", not only through it's gameplay, but how fun it was to talk about it with friends. So many good memories.
I cannot imagine the absolute surge of emotions when Simply got the world record: - Knowing that, after all this time, effort and struggle, he finally did it. His work finally paid off; - His family showing immense support and love to him after his accomplishment (something that a lot of families tend to shrug off or refuse to try and understand if it's not a "traditional" accomplishment such as graduating or getting a promotion); - His chat going bananas and being wholesome af; - That fucking Staff Roll music, holy shit. A game isn't successful because it sold well or got XYZ awards. A game is successful because of the joy it brought people. Excellent video, Liam. Gonna binge watch the rest of your stuff over the next few days.
I remember playing this as a kid, it was my first 3d experience. After 3 hours or so i remember walking to the shop and having the strangest urge to try and triple jump in real life. ive never had the feeling since.
They will never be a game that has mesmerized me as much as this one. Even after years of playing it and playing so many other great titles none of them will ever match up to this masterpiece right here.
Super Mario 64 was the first video game I ever played. When I was four, I played it on my brother-in-law's Nintendo 64 at his and my sister's apartment (yes, my siblings are that much older than me). I have a lot of nostalgia going towards this game from those experiences, but, when I downloaded it onto the Wii Virtual Console when I was 13 and played it all the way through myself, it was a totally different experience. It, among a handful of other Mario games, was one of the first games I 100% completed, and it took a while for me to complete it at that time. Now, I'm 25, and I have so much experience that I could probably100% Mario 64 in one sitting (haven't tried it yet, and I'm no speedrunner, though if I put in the time for it I probably could become an amateur). That being said, my different experience playing it during visits as a kid led me to having a few dreams of this game myself, like the ones you mentioned, Liam (though Luigi was never a part of them). But, even more curiously, I actually have a couple memories of this game that I know aren't actually part of the game, and yet I vividly remember them happening. Did they actually, or were they just dreams? Who knows. But I have snippets of them in my head, and I don't think I've ever heard anyone on the internet mention them. So, talk about personalized copies? Yeah, I've been there. I remember watching my brother-in-law playing in Big Boo's Haunt on his Nintendo 64, and there was this one room he explored his way into where some wolf-headed monster had its face protruding from the wall (not unlike the Unagi in Jolly Roger Bay, but this was much scarier), and, when he got too close to it, it came out of the wall and chased Mario around the room until he eventually died. I was never able to find this place again in subsequent play sessions, though I did discover the Mad Piano when I was playing my first initial runthrough of the game. Could this have been what chased my brother-in-law around, but I just remembered it completely differently? Who knows. Then, much later on, I got to play Mario 64 again, only this time I think it was on his virtual console version. I remember accidentally stumbling across the Toad secret star on the third floor of the castle and collecting it for him, which was a huge surprise, but hey! I did something for him! But on this playthrough, I remember coming across some room somewhere on one of the upper floors of Peach's Castle, where you come across this watery haze that hurts and eventually kills Mario over time if you stand in it too long. I remember accessing it through the basement, though, but the design of the room looked like it was on one of the upper rooms. What probably actually happened was I just stumbled across the hazy maze in Hazy Maze Cave, but remembered it having a different look to it. But, even still though, the way you remember things. Oof.
51:06 at this point of the video I burst into tears. seeing how supportive and knowledgable his parents are just hit me different. speedrunning sm64 is his passion and his parents are so proud of him
Ah yes, nothing like the joys of being a parent forcing u to relive your childhood traumas lmao, except this time it's in a totally goofy and harmless way haha (unless ur still secretly scared of that eel lololol I don't blame u tho)
Having grown up in the 70s, I have had most of the major consoles. Of them all N64 was the apex. Not only did it have Mario 64 and the Zelda games but also the great Rare games that were on the system.
So so good. There’s so much that could be talked about, though I do wish you’d mentioned Charles Martinet. Crazy to think that Mario didn’t really have a voice before this game, and Charles has been killing it for 3 decades
This is a video I'm definitely going to come back to several times, I can already tell. Super informative and fun and really captures the connection so many people have with this game. I really enjoyed this one a lot!
If you think that was genuine joy you're highly delusional. Do you really think his parents are happy their son spends 24/7 in his room playing games and masturbating?
Been waiting for this one for a while. This title, despite how many times it is replayed or talked about, never misses its magic. One of the best and most satisfying character movements ever crafted
This game holds a special place in my heart. But the part when you mentioned your dad playing it makes me wonder if my dad would have ever gotten into games because he was always interested in them but just never personally picked up a controller and gave them a chance aside from arcade games and smartphone games when they first started coming out.
You finally made a video about one of the games that defined the whole gaming industry and made many kids fall in love with Super Mario series. This game means a lot to so many people
My first experience with this game was through the DS version. I remember that one of my friends had the game and a DS and he would usually bring it to school and we would spend a lot of recess time playing it, eventually other friend got his so we could play multiplayer together. Sadly I didn't got to own the game until years later as I lost contact with those two, I really wish that I would've been able to play with both guys again.
I also remember playing the DS version with elementary school friends, but I also remember mainly playing Mario Kart DS, especially when our bus broke down during a field trip lmao
When Simply got the world record and his parents came in and congratulated him... Dude... All that love and support, I WISH we could all have that. Honestly brought a tear to my eye 🥲
If you think that was genuine joy you're highly delusional. Do you really think his parents are happy their son spends 24/7 in his room playing games and masturbating?
51:06 i love it when peoples parents support their child like this but don't overdo it, it makes me so happy to see stuff like this no matter how old the person maybe
Super Mario 64 is partly why my parents seperated. My dad bought my mom an N64 for Mother's Day and she was absolutely livid. This started a cascade of arguments and fighting, while 5-year-old me happily frolicked around the castle oblivious to the marriage crumbling behind me.
Insane timing. I just played Sm64 for the first time a few weeks ago and loved it. Now one of my favorite youtubers has made an almost 2 hour video about it!
I just watch the entirety of the video speechless. Early years in children's brains are incredibly important for the person's development through their entire lives, and this game having a big influence on many of us since the early years had an amazing impact on us in ways we are probably not aware of. Myself, I started playing Mario 64 when I was 3 years old on surreal 64, since then Mario has been my entire life obsession and purpose in a way, since kindergarten and middle school I was known as the Mario kid, thanks to mario I learned how to: Play games, Draw, Voice act, video&photo edit, 3D animate, 2D animate, Make Vtuber Models, and many other things. At some point I spent hours of my life doing my best to improve my Mario impression and used modern tools to virtually become Mario himself. When I see mario 64 I see the start of my baby years introducing me to what I would passionately dedicate the rest of my life to, now I realize how nostalgia is a powerful drug and how important early childhood years are to people's brains. As this game gets preserved and younger generations experience them in early years it will keep changing people which I find beautiful! Thanks for this video, Im so happy other people in this world connect with this game as deep as me!
ya it the best tech demo nintendo ever made. lol. srsly tho it lived upto all the hype. the full 360 n fluid movements. the graphics. the open world. it all so magical. it set the standard. its historical n iconic n never to be forgotten...also the voice of martinet added charm to the overall experience of this game. the power of the nintendo 64 and mario first adventure in the 3D realm back in the 90s just epic. ya u had to be there kind of thing. thank you nintendo n all sm64 staff! ✌
You had me crying from the first five minutes. I put myself in the shoes of kid me again and Jesus, you awoke memories I thought I had burned away. Such an awesome video. Thank you so much for making and sharing this ❤️
I was born in 2001, so I was very late to mario 64 when I played it, but it was still my first game ever and I have very deep nostalgia for both the N64 version and the DS version. The end credits music never fails to get me emotional... Also I see Odyssey as the true sequel to Mario 64, it really does feel like 64 fully realized.
I know that people are born all the time, every year… but as a child of the 80s, it blows my mind that Mario 64 is before peoples time. I remember when people not growing up with Super Mario Bros. was strange to me. Glad you appreciate it, as dated as it is.
@@JuliusCaesar103 Agreed, obviously. But I do wonder what I would think if I played Mario 64 for the first time today. Clearly 3D games have come a looooooong way. And not all classics hold up. Goldeneye is a great example of that (imo). That game blew my little tiny mind when I was 13. Going back to it now? It plays like garbage… well maybe not garbage but it’s fucking rough to go back to.
@@ilavain No and I’m sure you’re right…. but that doesn’t even sound like “playing Goldeneye”. What made that game *was* the funky controls. Plus I no longer fuck with PC gaming. If I emulate, I do it on my television. I made a decision long ago that my computer is the place I work. Not a place I play.
This is an absolutely amazing video. In the course of almost 2 hours, you've been able to cover practically every aspect of Super Mario 64 (including ROM hacks, the DS "remake", the L is real theory, and even Pannenkoek's videos) with great transitions and while also being able to interweave it with your own story of how you grew up and experienced the game. Including the section of showing the game to your dad was a genius way to tackle discussing the vastly different experiences between someone who grew up playing the game and newcomers trying the game for the first time. This was like perfectly done, discussed everything that could be discussed about the game, was whole and complete on its own, and felt like the perfect love letter for the game you put so much time into. Thank you so much for your work on this! It's incredible.
I played this game two years ago and I deeply regret not playing it during my childhood because even now whenever I play it I feel like it is a masterpiece in every single way and often makes me nostalgic especially with the design of the maps and the music
I grew up with the DS release, and even then it still had the same sort of atmosphere to it. I remember getting a really strange feeling from Mario's unlock level, thinking that it being in Peach's room somehow tied it directly to her, that it was a world she created and escaped to now and again, now overrun in her absence. There must've been other things that drove my imagination up the wall that have now unfortunately slipped my mind. The game was really challenging though, and I don't think I've ever beaten it. This is mostly since I got my DS on Christmas of 2012, a fair while after the 3DS had released, so I had a plethora of games to play with how cheap they were. When it got too hard, I played something else. Really enjoyable video as always.
It's interesting how you felt the same way about the outside of the castle as I felt about the Delfino Runway. It just feels like home, no matter how long you play around it
Mario 64 is my favorite game of all time. It's hard to summarize my feelings as to why I love it so much, but this nearly 2 hour video of the jumpy wahoo man definitely sums it up well. Thanks so much for all the hard work you put into this video. ❤️
Same my uncle gave me and my brother a n64 in 2005 when the next Nintendo console was out, my parents didn’t have a lot of money so the N64 and Mario 64 will always have a special place in my heart
33:24 fun fact: you can move up the slopes without slipping while crawling. I believe that was even listed in one of the official game guidebooks, and something that the Mario 64 speedrunner ‘Simply’ showed off in a video about that book a while back.
Dude... I haven't finished the video yet, but I straight up teared up when you talked about the speedrunner getting big love from his parents and the experience with your father playing the game. It's the experience I wish I could have but I know I could never get. He's not dead or anything and I love my pops very much. But he's never been so willing to put himself out there for me, just to spend time doing something I love.
As a kid, it was the opposite for me. I was always at school while my mom didn't work, so she could play Super Mario Bros. for hours a day. I could clear Super Mario Bros. in a single life, but my mom's times would wipe the floor with my own and all my friends.
I was 13 when this came out and spent the entire summer mowing lawns so that I could buy it day one, and Mario 64 is still my 2nd favorite game of all time. 10 out of 10, literal perfection.
Honestly, Wall Kicks Will work really was the pivotal moment in SM64 for me, and probably for many others. I remember feeling so accomplished when I figured out you need to fire the cannon at that iconic distant tree, and throwing yourself at that super high wall until you make it up there, the terror of tiptoeing across the thin icy bridge… it’s all just so genius!
I can definitely remember my first time playing this game. I figured out the triple jump on my way to the castle, but other moves like the back-lit, side flip, ground pound, and long jump I had to later learn from signposts or trial and error. It felt like learning the shinespark and wall jump in Super Metroid, new tools to add to my arsenal that could be used from the beginning on future playthroughs, and changed how I look at the game world. And speaking of wall jumps, it is embarrassing how long it took me to get that down, because I kept trying to do it like in Super Metroid
Super Mario 64 was one of the greatest experiences I had being a gamer. I grew with it (born in 1996) and even did an 16 star speedrun in a game conference here in Brazil some years ago. No one was able to see these little glitches live, and everyone was impressed, like I was doing something otherworldly! I love everything about this game, even its flaws. Thank you for creating this masterpiece of content in this platform. I appreciate very much some videos like these, and appreciate even more being alive to watch something so warming like this. :)
Super Mario 64 what a amazing groundbreaking game after it was released everything was changed with one of the best soundtracks the best level design and probably the greatest Mario game ever created Super Mario 64 stands as a pillar in The Gaming Community as one of the most rich and diverse experiences that has ever been put to code
Another great video Liam 🙏 I've only had the time to watch a few of yours, but this one takes the cake so far. Every chapter feels like it can be its own standalone video. Great work!
That scene where that guy's(I think you said his name was cheese I can't remember) parents got super excited that he got the world record is so freaking wholesome that it makes my cold dead heart warm up.
I'm not old enough to have grown up with Mario 64, but hearing about all of the passion and imagination spurred by this game, I just can't help but reminisce on the games that I grew up with. I must have spent well over a thousand hours in the gen 4 and 5 pokemon games, just exploring the world, finding every little hidden item, listening to all of the NPC dialogue I could find, trying to build the strongest team I could. The feeling of exploring those worlds, from the mysterious caves outside driftveil to the everyday life of NPCs in peaceful towns and bustling cities is probably one of the biggest reasons I still love video games as a medium. Thank you for making this video.
Even to this day where we think we know everything about the game, there's always little bits and pieces here that we haven't discovered about it. The community making projects, content, and creative things out of this game is all the more worthwhile to say that this game truly impacted our lives. Needless to say, SM64 is one of my favorite video games of all time, so thank you for covering this amazing game!
I'm glad you were able to put into words why I've loved this game for years and why it's drawn me to the romhacking scene. Terrific video as always Liam.
The part where you talk about how satisfying the controls are- every year I’ve revisited Mario Odyssey around Christmas (there’s always been moons to find), and I’m always struck by how fun it is to pull off complex moves with Odyssey’s Mario. That game really is the Mario 64 sequel I always wanted
1:38:40 Holy Damn!! that sent shivers down my spine, That's such a massive HUGE coincidence. It almost feels like the time we all wasted running around that damn star statue has finally paid off. As if somehow all of us trying collectively to find if L was real resulted in Luigi actually showing up perfectly on said date.
Mario 64 is a masterpiece. I get emotional just hearing dire dire docks music. Christmas 96 is my favorite one because that the one when I got the 64. It truly can’t be understated just how impacted this game was.
I've watched a lot of the retrospectives and several on this game, but this is easily the best one I've ever seen. You touched on things that most miss, and I actually learned things that I did not know despite watching several documentaries on the same subject already. And you touched the nostalgia within me without turning sappy and making me roll my eyes. Really, really excellent video essay.
I've played this game for 20 years. I love this game with all my heart and my appreciation of it has only grown as I've done casual speedruns, never posting times or anything since they're not good and frankly I'm not interested. I thought I knew all of the movements and their unique quirks to negate fall damage, building speed, set myself up for tight jumps, ect. All of the shortcuts to get everywhere quickly or efficiently or even in just more fun ways by clipping out of bounds. I thought I knew everything I needed about this game that I've poured thousands of hours in and that's not even touching the countless hours I've spent watching simpleflips play the game. Yet, when you said that Mario got a new triple jump after 120 stars, I thought you were joking. Especially since the very next thing you talk about is rumors. But I decided to boot up the game and there it was. I felt like the girl on the playground who overheard about catching Regirock in Pokemon Ruby, went their to have her mind absolutely blown away that they were right again. A game hasn't made me feel this way in ages, but Mario 64 just keeps giving me more
Man you maked me cry like a baby, god bless you, thanks for this indescribable video... Sincerely, you brough some tears of joy and nostalgia into my face... Wow, what a beautiful memories came back. I rembember the first time i played it, an innocent child in a ciber, payed for play 1 hour, some guy helped me to open the Emulator and said to me "What game do you want to play, just click one and play it" I replied "I Just want to play Mario" and the adventure began. Good memories, like the first time i played Kaizo Mario 64, the first time i killed bowser, my first 120 star run and the first time i saw yoshi in gameplay, huge and good memories come to my mind, and really say thanks to god for giving me this gift that life itself its. More than a game, absolutely.
I get up with the original and then a few years later got the ds version loved both of them to death. Had dreams about levels that never existed and I even have some fuzzy memories of them to this day.
Wow I wish I was born earlier. This video was so amazing, and I remember playing the game on my grandparents Wii with the virtual console. I never got that far, but this game truly was and still is a wonder to everyone. It’s something you can only truly experience in the handful years after it’s release, and I was born too late.
I've recently had some time off work and I bought the Switch membership/expansion and got the N64 emulators along with Mario 64. I'm in my late 30's and I haven't played SM64 for _years_ and even still, I got 70 stars and beat the game in one day. Granted, I really got into it and played the game for maybe 7 or 8 hours that day, but it shows how deep it lodged itself in my memory. I was maybe 11 or 12 when I first got the game and played it, and still remember so much about it.
Everything about Mario 64 was my first nightmare It was the first time I could experience pure, unadulterated rage, confusion, terror while playing a game 10/10
I remember back when I was a kid playing this for the first time when my only prior gaming experience was pokemon red on the OG gameboy with no colour. My mind was blown. I'd just run around in the courtyard climbing trees n swimming around for hours. Until I Adventured and found flying hat and the shooting out of a canon with it lol amazing. I was so scared of bowser in that game up to this day I still think this game has the scariest version of bowser seeing it with the eyes of an adult.
This game was my first video game. Don't think my life would be the same today without it. I have some great memories with it. Simply because of that, it is more than just a game in my book.
I loved minute 51:38, he celebrated with his parents and Mario gives him a peace sign, seconds later a Mario plushie kisses him on the cheek. That made tear up a lil bit :)
This video makes me appreciate a game I already deeply appreciate even more.
Thanks for introducing me to corruptions!
binty
I first saw this video today, then watched your vod on 7 Days to die and Splatoon. I watched them back to back and you suddenly talking about this video, i just watched, was awesome. Thanks. I hold this game also very deeply to my heart. Thanks for all Vinnie. You also helped me got through some rough times. This is what i wantes to tell you. Greetings from germany and have a great day. (Wow, this sounds strange... ^^¡
It'll make you love the fandom even more!
Big ups Binyot! been a fan for nearly 10 years now I hope life is good
Hearing how excited and supportive Simply's parents were when he achieved the world record was just so wholesome and touching.
For real, I don't think my parents would ever be that proud if I was in his shoes, not that they aren't proud of me but they're kinda boomery and would probably find eSports/Speedrunning sad... All the while watching sports
@@Tomversal in their view you are just playing a game which...
you do
@@apairofglasses775 It's all a game, whether you won a world record in Super Mario 64, or Ping Pong, or Baseball, or Bowling, etc.--why should it being a "game" only negatively affect reactions to video game world records rather than other games?
In every case of those records, whether in video games or other games and sports, it was a combination of the player's skill, determination, physical ability, persistence concentration, and more.
It is just as deserving of praise as any other record, and Simply's parents are great examples of people who understand that.
Damn, you beat me too it, but i totally agree. It was cool to see some parents who support their kid chassing a dream like that, because i feel most parents would be discouraging of "wasting time on that silly video game".
I watched Simply back in the day, when he had a job as a lifeguard. He was so humble. I broke down similarly to how he reacted. I was so happy. He recovered from hand pain, and grinded out the goal he always wanted. And Simp Family was so supportive. Truly, each one of them are champions.
51:06 Simply's mom bursting out with such sincere and honest love, pride, and support makes me cry every single time I see it. It's so hard to get into a niche activity like speedrunning and have the people in your life empathize with how intense it can be to chase records and grind like hell for that fleeting taste of glory.
You do not cry
Simp mom, the while Simp Family are so amazingly supportive.
@@DropkickNation pretty sure getting your comment noticed on TH-cam is the lowest form of achievement.
@@HistoryandReviews of course, nobody has emotions. Especially emotions you don't have 💀
@@DropkickNation nobody asked
Whenever I feel sad, I'm going to come back to the moment of Simply telling his parents about his WR. Such a pure and touching reaction.
Right! Between the impressiveness of the achievement itself, and the love and support shown by his parents, that's enough to put a smile on anyone's face 😊
@@SuperSamGalaxy This moment is so wholesome !
The support shown by their parents is priceless, I wasn't expecting to get emotional watching this video hahaha
@@SuperSamGalaxy 28:16
@@SuperSamGalaxy 28:37 28:37
This and Ocarina of Time are two of my most cherished gaming memories. Growing up in a less than ideal environment these two games made life bearable and magical even. SM 64 is etched into my heart.
Same here. Super Mario 64 was amazement and bliss, Ocarina of Time was... Something life-changing.
Majora’s Mask too! At least for me.
So true and same for me. It was such an amazing game for me at the time.
Simply's parents cheering him and showing their support when he got the WR might be one of the most wholesome things I've ever seen. Love him and all the speedrunning community for keeping this game alive. This video really shows why this is my favorite game of all time. I never get tired of replaying it.
@@nullvoyent Same here 😂
Why do people feel the need to make things about themselves? Sorry you had less than ideal parents. But what does that have to do with a wholesome retrospective?
What's his job today?
This comment right here, I wrote it, scrolled down and saw you were way ahead of me and... Ya
That shit brought tears to my eyes.
I wish all of us could have parents like that 🥺
@@syrew900 He felt something from the moment and chose to express it... Which is the healthy thing to do 🤷
I didn't know TH-cam comments had to meet some kind of requirement 🙄
My first experience with SM64 was actually with the DS remaster, which had several gameplay additions and tweaks. For example, you start as Yoshi, and unlock Mario, Luigi and Wario as playable characters as you progress, each with their own strengths and unique power up you can get from the "!" Blocks.
You even hear Mario say "Bye bye!" If you close the DS while it was on. :D
I must've put in at least 400 hours into that game as a kid.
Even with the weaker controls, i still think that version is the best
Mario also does that in NSMB
The physics and controls in the DS version are way worse than the original. Those are the most important things in a Mario game. Also, controlling a 3D game with a d-pad doesn't feel good at all. Even though the DS version adds new stuff, I would definitely recommend the original N64 version.
@@Bluesine_R Counterpoint, it doesn't have Luigi lol
@@nintony2994 i believe you won the argument
I remember visiting my rich cousins house and seeing the n64 for the first time mid 90s. They had a giant CRT and massive speakers. I vividly recall us trying to get into the door underwater in the moat. The loud ""Whah!" over those big speakers, the foot taps as we walked around, the sliding sound as we rubbed against things.
They handed me the controller and for the first time I got to move mario in 3D for myself. It was ground breaking and life changing. It would be over a year until I got my own n64, and in the interim I would read about everything in Nintendo power, each issue now worn and torn from multiple reads. My favorite "bathroom reading".
My parents made a rule that I had to read a minute for every minute of video games I played, but whenever I wasnt playing I was reading about games. That and Calvin and Hobbes. Good times.
Calvin and Hobbes gave me an insane vocabluary at a young age. I would ask my parents the words I didn't know and boom
@@carlrygwelski586 good to know it wasn’t just me hahaha. I have the famous Hamlet soliloquy memorized because of Calvin and Hobbes
I related to ask of these details. Man I miss the 90s!
Whoa! I had a similar "Mario moment" where it was love at first sight, but that was with Super Mario Bros. 2 on the NES. I randomly fell over someone playing the game, in a TV program when randomly channel surfing, and the display of color, jump sounds, cheerful music and level design was love at first sight. I got an NES for my birthday a year later or so, and then was a hooked gamer for most of my childhood.
I'm impressed by his analysis of "The Game" at 14:00. Usually people just discuss the "plot" (or lack thereof), and give a brief rundown of how to access different levels. But Liam is one of the few people I've seen who go IN DEPTH about what you actually DO in Super Mario 64... like, what is expected of you? What kind of skills are required? Unlike other analyses, Liam actually spent 20 minutes describing the SPECIFIC movements, puzzles, and strategizations you'll encounter in the game. Very technical explanation. Very impressive.
That "24 years and one month" bit kind of gave me chills. I know it's a coincidence, but it's still kind of crazy to think about lmao.
I'm floored that even 25 years later, the game has gone from a three dimensional marvel in game design to a frightening, existential phenomenon that gamers and TH-camrs alike project their thoughts and feelings onto. It's cultural significance is astounding. Fantastic video, L.T.
I grew up with the DS version, and it 100% solidified my love for exploratory games. Also, love the Red vs Blue name drop, one of my favorite shows
Same. I think the Ds version has as much excitement and mystery around it as the 64 version. I can't remember how many times I tried to unlock waluigi.
me too! i used to play for hours at a time, just exploring before I ever beat the game
same!
Same here and even after so many years of playing so many different consoles and titles none will ever much up to this masterpiece 🥲
Both the Original & the DS Remake are magical in their own right
Seeing the clip of that guy setting WR and his parents praising him always melts my heart... the 'are you winning son?' Meme but put in practice. (And yes, he's winning.)
Shame his record was beat a week later.
@@AcidelCyqage don't matter too much, the important part is to get at it, because that is the real question.
That run is not even top 3 anymore. He's dropped to 5th :(
@@niallmcardle7 let's hope it will not take him another 1k hours to become the first one again.
@@AcidelCyqage hope not :'(
Man, to be 9 years old again and having Bowser as the biggest stress in my life. 90's kids, I LOVE YOU. KEEP GOING!!!
90s= best decade ever!
good times
Heh looks like someone's nostalgic
I was born in 98' and due to that, I am obligated to say the 2000s were the best decade ever followed closely by the 2010s. The 90s were mid/cringe and the 2020s have sucked total ass so far
@@ThwipThwipBoom lol you liked your own comment too.
I was five years old. We had a big car accident in November and I was in traction for Christmas. My parents got me a Nintendo 64 and it came with this game. We didn't have a lot of cash but that's the kinda shit you do for your kid when they're stuck in a hospital for the holidays. I didn't find that out until my teen years and it legit made it hit even harder.
The entire thing was so magical. The music, the atmospheres and how it brought me and my father incredibly close. I'll never forget any of the happy memories we made with this game. Looking back on it, I know he held back and nudged me toward the goals rather than telling me what to do. He'd always pretend to be surprised when me or him made a discovery and he'd always find the time to do the hard parts for me. Me and my old man are still best friends to this day. I love him and this game so fucking much.
I'm surprised this has so little likes, so i'm gonna like and leave this comment so you have to come back and watch this video again.
Wholesome
Being a kid in the 90's and witnessing the evolution of video games was truly a wondrous time. Going from being wowed at Daytona and Virtua Fighter 2 in arcades to controlling characters in 3D spaces at home just a couple years later was mind blowing to 9-12 year old me. The mid to late 90's will always be my favorite time for video games, with 1996 in particular being notable for Mario 64, Crash, Tomb Raider and Resident Evil all games that amazed me seeing and playing them for the first time.
I agree! I was born way late in the 90s, so I got to experience a bit less of that evolution, but things still came a long way from the Dreamcast era
Most of the games suck if it wasn't for nostalgia.
@@tgo007 kinda like em’ tbh
@@mem3b0i_ that's fair. Out of all the games listed in the original comment, I think only mario 64 holds up. Maybe Virtual fighter since fighting games don't really change much.
Original Resident evil, or tomb raider is so clunky. Just my opinion. I didn't grow up playing these games so I had no attachment. I only went back and played them as first time experience because of the hype from boomers. Didn't enjoy it so I explain it as it must because of their childhood. I didn't have that.
'96 and '97 were insane years for gaming.
I don't have to imagine, I remember having that experience at a Blockbuster with a N64 kiosk. I was blown away by this game as a kid back in 1996.
Man you just made me remember when _McDonald's_ had this
I stood in line at every kiosk that had it in 1996, it was mindblowing. I don't remember Mario 64 at McDonalds, but I do remember when they had Sonic and Knuckles hooked up in a playland kiosk a year or two earlier. I knew the level select too which was like a crazy bar trick when you're six.
What I remembered as a kid, is that they pushed back the date to release SM64. I forgot the reason but I remember talking to my cousin on the phone about it. Those were great times.
Finally, my recommendations have been so dry for days
I was just thinking the same thing. I know what i am doing tonight. 😁
Frig now I have the water level with lyrics song stuck in my head now.
Same lol
Same thing, the algorithm is giving me lame shit all week…
same, it was nothing but HoTD and ROP discussions and reviews
I’m just old enough to remember playing Mario 64 for the first time when it launched. My dad had a connection at a local electronics store and got the N64 a few days early. I think we stayed up all night playing it. It’s a core memory for sure. It’s hard to forget seeing Mario walk *into* the background for the first time.
I am incredibly grateful that you highlighted the game's predecessor's in the 3D platforming space. While Super Mario 64 is often credited as the dawn of the genre, and I wasn't familiar with the titles you highlighted, it's nice to see that multiple people were taking their own approach to solving these problems, and that Nintendo's solution didn't just emerge fully formed from the ether.
....not that it matters much since sm64 was and is the best of all of them...but i guess knowing they existed is cool
@@metalmario1231 it makes that achievement more remarkable when u can see how others tried and failed.
Every time a retrospective/review for Mario 64 pops up I watch it. But I’ve never been too impressed with the videos. I think because I was obsessed with the game, no review feels like it does the game justice for just how important it is, and how many different things you need to tackle in covering it. You did it Liam. This is absolutely the best video I’ve ever seen covering super Mario 64 by a mile.
The immense quality u put in this video combined with the nostalgia of having played the DS version of this game has made this one of the most incredible watching experiences i've ever had.
Absolutely amazing job.
When I opened my N64 on Christmas Day I freaked the fug out!!! Such good memories! I remember playing this in Babbages at my local mall before it was released. Instant fascination. Being a 90s kid was so pure 😊
NINTENNNNNDO SIXTYYYYYYY FOURRRRRRRR 🎁
Babbage's! What a great store.
@@pixelmentia Babbages/Software Etc became GameStop unfortunately.
The movement in SM64 is _SO_ crisp, that even today, over a quarter of a century later, it still holds up brilliantly well!
I still to this day, (being 29) remember being around 6 or 7 playing this game so much i would have dreams about it. There was this one dream i had that was so vivid i still remember it. Me and a bunch of my friends (oddly enough) were in the game on the top of Peach's castle and there was like a secret cloud world. Brings me such nostalgia hearing others experience with this masterpiece of a game that is my childhood! XP
28 here. Played this in turns with my brother around the same age. Great one of our childhoods
charles martinez s voice telling us "thank you so much for the playing my game" always been the greatest moments of my childhood...
it still is...
It makes me giggle like a stupid manchild to this day.
@@BriceTerry says the guy with splatoon idol profile picture, you know... game that has everyone in it is underaged kids
@@roccosmos1913wtf? How is the age of the characters in that game relevant to anything? Lmao.
Oh, did u think his comment was meant as an insult to you? It wasnt, he was lightly making fun of himself for how he laughed. No need to be so defensive!
Simplys parents are PROUD of him, you can hear it, and it makes me happy to a degree I love
Literally got emotional watching this. Took me back to being a kid and when all we had to worry about was who’s house we were playing at.
I've always felt that Mario 64 is the game that perfectly encapsulated "videogame magic", not only through it's gameplay, but how fun it was to talk about it with friends. So many good memories.
Your dad holding back on the analog stick to not fall off Peach’s slide level is adorable lmao
i missed this , where is it in the vid??...
I cannot imagine the absolute surge of emotions when Simply got the world record:
- Knowing that, after all this time, effort and struggle, he finally did it. His work finally paid off;
- His family showing immense support and love to him after his accomplishment (something that a lot of families tend to shrug off or refuse to try and understand if it's not a "traditional" accomplishment such as graduating or getting a promotion);
- His chat going bananas and being wholesome af;
- That fucking Staff Roll music, holy shit.
A game isn't successful because it sold well or got XYZ awards. A game is successful because of the joy it brought people.
Excellent video, Liam. Gonna binge watch the rest of your stuff over the next few days.
Mario 64 is a good video game
Yep
yes
Understatement of the century
Mario 64 is a video game
i could beat up mario 64
The speed runner celebrating with his parents on stream for the world record made me cry, lmao
I wish I was born
@@moosesues8887 i wish i wasn't
W parents
shoutout to simpmom and simpdad
It should make you smile
I remember playing this as a kid, it was my first 3d experience. After 3 hours or so i remember walking to the shop and having the strangest urge to try and triple jump in real life. ive never had the feeling since.
Thanks man. I just took a dump.
They will never be a game that has mesmerized me as much as this one. Even after years of playing it and playing so many other great titles none of them will ever match up to this masterpiece right here.
Super Mario 64 was the first video game I ever played. When I was four, I played it on my brother-in-law's Nintendo 64 at his and my sister's apartment (yes, my siblings are that much older than me). I have a lot of nostalgia going towards this game from those experiences, but, when I downloaded it onto the Wii Virtual Console when I was 13 and played it all the way through myself, it was a totally different experience. It, among a handful of other Mario games, was one of the first games I 100% completed, and it took a while for me to complete it at that time. Now, I'm 25, and I have so much experience that I could probably100% Mario 64 in one sitting (haven't tried it yet, and I'm no speedrunner, though if I put in the time for it I probably could become an amateur).
That being said, my different experience playing it during visits as a kid led me to having a few dreams of this game myself, like the ones you mentioned, Liam (though Luigi was never a part of them). But, even more curiously, I actually have a couple memories of this game that I know aren't actually part of the game, and yet I vividly remember them happening. Did they actually, or were they just dreams? Who knows. But I have snippets of them in my head, and I don't think I've ever heard anyone on the internet mention them. So, talk about personalized copies? Yeah, I've been there.
I remember watching my brother-in-law playing in Big Boo's Haunt on his Nintendo 64, and there was this one room he explored his way into where some wolf-headed monster had its face protruding from the wall (not unlike the Unagi in Jolly Roger Bay, but this was much scarier), and, when he got too close to it, it came out of the wall and chased Mario around the room until he eventually died. I was never able to find this place again in subsequent play sessions, though I did discover the Mad Piano when I was playing my first initial runthrough of the game. Could this have been what chased my brother-in-law around, but I just remembered it completely differently? Who knows.
Then, much later on, I got to play Mario 64 again, only this time I think it was on his virtual console version. I remember accidentally stumbling across the Toad secret star on the third floor of the castle and collecting it for him, which was a huge surprise, but hey! I did something for him! But on this playthrough, I remember coming across some room somewhere on one of the upper floors of Peach's Castle, where you come across this watery haze that hurts and eventually kills Mario over time if you stand in it too long. I remember accessing it through the basement, though, but the design of the room looked like it was on one of the upper rooms. What probably actually happened was I just stumbled across the hazy maze in Hazy Maze Cave, but remembered it having a different look to it. But, even still though, the way you remember things. Oof.
Liam, your essay is poetic and heartfelt. This perfectly captures the magic of Mario 64. Thanks for sharing your childhood with us.
51:06 at this point of the video I burst into tears. seeing how supportive and knowledgable his parents are just hit me different. speedrunning sm64 is his passion and his parents are so proud of him
His parents should have flattened his ass and kicked him out for this crap. Speedrunners are worthless hacks with no real lives.
I bet he still lives in moms basement🤣
The eel terrified me as a kid. Now its my three year olds favorite character and we have to "visit" him everyday 🤣🤣
Oh my gosh that's so cute haha I was terrified of it too
Ah yes, nothing like the joys of being a parent forcing u to relive your childhood traumas lmao, except this time it's in a totally goofy and harmless way haha (unless ur still secretly scared of that eel lololol I don't blame u tho)
Hahaha im working on it. He's forcing me to face my fears 🤣🤣
The N64 was such a unique system. The PS1 was a beautiful game console too, but the N64 was so wild and weird
Having grown up in the 70s, I have had most of the major consoles. Of them all N64 was the apex. Not only did it have Mario 64 and the Zelda games but also the great Rare games that were on the system.
So so good. There’s so much that could be talked about, though I do wish you’d mentioned Charles Martinet. Crazy to think that Mario didn’t really have a voice before this game, and Charles has been killing it for 3 decades
This is a video I'm definitely going to come back to several times, I can already tell. Super informative and fun and really captures the connection so many people have with this game. I really enjoyed this one a lot!
His family cheering him on brought a tear to my face. That was great.
So so cute
@@LDAR ikr
If you think that was genuine joy you're highly delusional. Do you really think his parents are happy their son spends 24/7 in his room playing games and masturbating?
Been waiting for this one for a while. This title, despite how many times it is replayed or talked about, never misses its magic. One of the best and most satisfying character movements ever crafted
5 years old, Christmas morning, a n64 and copy of Mario 64. Needed dads help for the first star. Amazing experience. EVERYONE had this game.
This game holds a special place in my heart. But the part when you mentioned your dad playing it makes me wonder if my dad would have ever gotten into games because he was always interested in them but just never personally picked up a controller and gave them a chance aside from arcade games and smartphone games when they first started coming out.
You finally made a video about one of the games that defined the whole gaming industry and made many kids fall in love with Super Mario series. This game means a lot to so many people
My first experience with this game was through the DS version. I remember that one of my friends had the game and a DS and he would usually bring it to school and we would spend a lot of recess time playing it, eventually other friend got his so we could play multiplayer together. Sadly I didn't got to own the game until years later as I lost contact with those two, I really wish that I would've been able to play with both guys again.
so many friends back in they day that i would love to talk to and game again
I too played the DS Version first.
Also I didn't buy 3D All Stars but yeah
I also remember playing the DS version with elementary school friends, but I also remember mainly playing Mario Kart DS, especially when our bus broke down during a field trip lmao
This game was such a big part of my life - born in 1993 this was the first game that I felt like was "mine". And what luck that was...
When Simply got the world record and his parents came in and congratulated him...
Dude... All that love and support, I WISH we could all have that.
Honestly brought a tear to my eye 🥲
If you think that was genuine joy you're highly delusional. Do you really think his parents are happy their son spends 24/7 in his room playing games and masturbating?
51:06 i love it when peoples parents support their child like this but don't overdo it, it makes me so happy to see stuff like this no matter how old the person maybe
Super Mario 64 is partly why my parents seperated. My dad bought my mom an N64 for Mother's Day and she was absolutely livid. This started a cascade of arguments and fighting, while 5-year-old me happily frolicked around the castle oblivious to the marriage crumbling behind me.
Who needs parents when u go sm64 ey!
give us the full story
I, I’m so sorry to hear about this haaaahhh, i bet the ending theme hits you in the feels.
@@joshshrum2764 Don’t be sorry! My dad got like 15 games and 4 controller setup, shit was cash.
@@pinkpools tbf there were probably other issues, that was just the random first domino set in motion. Hope all turned out as ok as it could have
Insane timing. I just played Sm64 for the first time a few weeks ago and loved it. Now one of my favorite youtubers has made an almost 2 hour video about it!
Enjoy man! Enjoy!
you have never played it before?
@@RoseQuartz692 everyone starts somewhere
Man, I teared up at Simply's parents' reaction at him getting the world record. What amazing parents!
I teared up at that part too it was so wholesome
I just watch the entirety of the video speechless.
Early years in children's brains are incredibly important for the person's development through their entire lives, and this game having a big influence on many of us since the early years had an amazing impact on us in ways we are probably not aware of.
Myself, I started playing Mario 64 when I was 3 years old on surreal 64, since then Mario has been my entire life obsession and purpose in a way, since kindergarten and middle school I was known as the Mario kid, thanks to mario I learned how to:
Play games, Draw, Voice act, video&photo edit, 3D animate, 2D animate, Make Vtuber Models, and many other things. At some point I spent hours of my life doing my best to improve my Mario impression and used modern tools to virtually become Mario himself. When I see mario 64 I see the start of my baby years introducing me to what I would passionately dedicate the rest of my life to, now I realize how nostalgia is a powerful drug and how important early childhood years are to people's brains.
As this game gets preserved and younger generations experience them in early years it will keep changing people which I find beautiful!
Thanks for this video, Im so happy other people in this world connect with this game as deep as me!
ya it the best tech demo nintendo ever made. lol. srsly tho it lived upto all the hype. the full 360 n fluid movements. the graphics. the open world. it all so magical. it set the standard. its historical n iconic n never to be forgotten...also the voice of martinet added charm to the overall experience of this game. the power of the nintendo 64 and mario first adventure in the 3D realm back in the 90s just epic. ya u had to be there kind of thing. thank you nintendo n all sm64 staff!
✌
wow great personal comment....
You had me crying from the first five minutes. I put myself in the shoes of kid me again and Jesus, you awoke memories I thought I had burned away. Such an awesome video. Thank you so much for making and sharing this ❤️
I was born in 2001, so I was very late to mario 64 when I played it, but it was still my first game ever and I have very deep nostalgia for both the N64 version and the DS version. The end credits music never fails to get me emotional... Also I see Odyssey as the true sequel to Mario 64, it really does feel like 64 fully realized.
I remember getting this and the N64 Christmas of 1996
You said it perfectly: It was a magical time to be a gamer
The atmosphere of this game makes me automatically feel like a child even though I played this for the first time as an adult.
I know that people are born all the time, every year… but as a child of the 80s, it blows my mind that Mario 64 is before peoples time. I remember when people not growing up with Super Mario Bros. was strange to me. Glad you appreciate it, as dated as it is.
@@leeartlee915 good games are timeless, my friend.
@@JuliusCaesar103 Agreed, obviously. But I do wonder what I would think if I played Mario 64 for the first time today. Clearly 3D games have come a looooooong way. And not all classics hold up. Goldeneye is a great example of that (imo). That game blew my little tiny mind when I was 13. Going back to it now? It plays like garbage… well maybe not garbage but it’s fucking rough to go back to.
@@leeartlee915 Have you ever tried playing Goldeneye with mouse + keyboard? I heard it makes the game feel way less dated
@@ilavain No and I’m sure you’re right…. but that doesn’t even sound like “playing Goldeneye”. What made that game *was* the funky controls. Plus I no longer fuck with PC gaming. If I emulate, I do it on my television. I made a decision long ago that my computer is the place I work. Not a place I play.
This is an absolutely amazing video. In the course of almost 2 hours, you've been able to cover practically every aspect of Super Mario 64 (including ROM hacks, the DS "remake", the L is real theory, and even Pannenkoek's videos) with great transitions and while also being able to interweave it with your own story of how you grew up and experienced the game. Including the section of showing the game to your dad was a genius way to tackle discussing the vastly different experiences between someone who grew up playing the game and newcomers trying the game for the first time. This was like perfectly done, discussed everything that could be discussed about the game, was whole and complete on its own, and felt like the perfect love letter for the game you put so much time into. Thank you so much for your work on this! It's incredible.
I played this game two years ago and I deeply regret not playing it during my childhood because even now whenever I play it I feel like it is a masterpiece in every single way and often makes me nostalgic especially with the design of the maps and the music
My favourite level has to be big/small island and dire dire docks
I grew up with the DS release, and even then it still had the same sort of atmosphere to it. I remember getting a really strange feeling from Mario's unlock level, thinking that it being in Peach's room somehow tied it directly to her, that it was a world she created and escaped to now and again, now overrun in her absence. There must've been other things that drove my imagination up the wall that have now unfortunately slipped my mind.
The game was really challenging though, and I don't think I've ever beaten it. This is mostly since I got my DS on Christmas of 2012, a fair while after the 3DS had released, so I had a plethora of games to play with how cheap they were. When it got too hard, I played something else.
Really enjoyable video as always.
It's interesting how you felt the same way about the outside of the castle as I felt about the Delfino Runway. It just feels like home, no matter how long you play around it
Mario 64 is my favorite game of all time. It's hard to summarize my feelings as to why I love it so much, but this nearly 2 hour video of the jumpy wahoo man definitely sums it up well. Thanks so much for all the hard work you put into this video. ❤️
Same my uncle gave me and my brother a n64 in 2005 when the next Nintendo console was out, my parents didn’t have a lot of money so the N64 and Mario 64 will always have a special place in my heart
This is the best video on Mario 64 I've ever seen! It's so comprehensive and accurate in every aspect. Great work man!
33:24 fun fact: you can move up the slopes without slipping while crawling.
I believe that was even listed in one of the official game guidebooks, and something that the Mario 64 speedrunner ‘Simply’ showed off in a video about that book a while back.
Dude... I haven't finished the video yet, but I straight up teared up when you talked about the speedrunner getting big love from his parents and the experience with your father playing the game. It's the experience I wish I could have but I know I could never get. He's not dead or anything and I love my pops very much. But he's never been so willing to put himself out there for me, just to spend time doing something I love.
It’s always a good time whenever Liam uploads a new retrospective.
Yo it’s you hey man.
I very rarely like a video but i did it for this video for the depth and effort he put in for this
the BCS analysis king has arrived
Can we all please appreciate how much dedication and heart this man puts in his videos :)
The support from the parents 🥺 how wholesome. That's the parent I aspire to be
As a kid, it was the opposite for me. I was always at school while my mom didn't work, so she could play Super Mario Bros. for hours a day. I could clear Super Mario Bros. in a single life, but my mom's times would wipe the floor with my own and all my friends.
I was 13 when this came out and spent the entire summer mowing lawns so that I could buy it day one, and Mario 64 is still my 2nd favorite game of all time. 10 out of 10, literal perfection.
ooh, what's your first favorite
@@KaylaTheKindOne World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade. I'm sorry.
@@magic3383 no problem ^^
Honestly, Wall Kicks Will work really was the pivotal moment in SM64 for me, and probably for many others. I remember feeling so accomplished when I figured out you need to fire the cannon at that iconic distant tree, and throwing yourself at that super high wall until you make it up there, the terror of tiptoeing across the thin icy bridge… it’s all just so genius!
I can definitely remember my first time playing this game. I figured out the triple jump on my way to the castle, but other moves like the back-lit, side flip, ground pound, and long jump I had to later learn from signposts or trial and error. It felt like learning the shinespark and wall jump in Super Metroid, new tools to add to my arsenal that could be used from the beginning on future playthroughs, and changed how I look at the game world. And speaking of wall jumps, it is embarrassing how long it took me to get that down, because I kept trying to do it like in Super Metroid
Wow, this is ridiculously high quality and a wonderfully deep dive into what some consider a topic that's been done to death. Love it!
Super Mario 64 was one of the greatest experiences I had being a gamer. I grew with it (born in 1996) and even did an 16 star speedrun in a game conference here in Brazil some years ago. No one was able to see these little glitches live, and everyone was impressed, like I was doing something otherworldly!
I love everything about this game, even its flaws. Thank you for creating this masterpiece of content in this platform. I appreciate very much some videos like these, and appreciate even more being alive to watch something so warming like this. :)
Can you imagine if these speedrunners were at the official releases of Super Mario 64 people's minds would have melted
Super Mario 64 what a amazing groundbreaking game after it was released everything was changed with one of the best soundtracks the best level design and probably the greatest Mario game ever created Super Mario 64 stands as a pillar in The Gaming Community as one of the most rich and diverse experiences that has ever been put to code
Another great video Liam 🙏 I've only had the time to watch a few of yours, but this one takes the cake so far. Every chapter feels like it can be its own standalone video. Great work!
That scene where that guy's(I think you said his name was cheese I can't remember) parents got super excited that he got the world record is so freaking wholesome that it makes my cold dead heart warm up.
I'm not old enough to have grown up with Mario 64, but hearing about all of the passion and imagination spurred by this game, I just can't help but reminisce on the games that I grew up with. I must have spent well over a thousand hours in the gen 4 and 5 pokemon games, just exploring the world, finding every little hidden item, listening to all of the NPC dialogue I could find, trying to build the strongest team I could. The feeling of exploring those worlds, from the mysterious caves outside driftveil to the everyday life of NPCs in peaceful towns and bustling cities is probably one of the biggest reasons I still love video games as a medium. Thank you for making this video.
Same but for me it was Wizard101.
Even to this day where we think we know everything about the game, there's always little bits and pieces here that we haven't discovered about it. The community making projects, content, and creative things out of this game is all the more worthwhile to say that this game truly impacted our lives. Needless to say, SM64 is one of my favorite video games of all time, so thank you for covering this amazing game!
I'm glad you were able to put into words why I've loved this game for years and why it's drawn me to the romhacking scene. Terrific video as always Liam.
This whole video filled me with so much nostalgia. Amazing work, Liam!
The part where you talk about how satisfying the controls are- every year I’ve revisited Mario Odyssey around Christmas (there’s always been moons to find), and I’m always struck by how fun it is to pull off complex moves with Odyssey’s Mario. That game really is the Mario 64 sequel I always wanted
1:38:40 Holy Damn!! that sent shivers down my spine, That's such a massive HUGE coincidence. It almost feels like the time we all wasted running around that damn star statue has finally paid off. As if somehow all of us trying collectively to find if L was real resulted in Luigi actually showing up perfectly on said date.
i feel like a big appeal with your content is that you're so unabashedly sincere about how joyful the titles can make us
Mario 64 is a masterpiece. I get emotional just hearing dire dire docks music. Christmas 96 is my favorite one because that the one when I got the 64. It truly can’t be understated just how impacted this game was.
I've watched a lot of the retrospectives and several on this game, but this is easily the best one I've ever seen. You touched on things that most miss, and I actually learned things that I did not know despite watching several documentaries on the same subject already. And you touched the nostalgia within me without turning sappy and making me roll my eyes. Really, really excellent video essay.
I've played this game for 20 years. I love this game with all my heart and my appreciation of it has only grown as I've done casual speedruns, never posting times or anything since they're not good and frankly I'm not interested. I thought I knew all of the movements and their unique quirks to negate fall damage, building speed, set myself up for tight jumps, ect. All of the shortcuts to get everywhere quickly or efficiently or even in just more fun ways by clipping out of bounds. I thought I knew everything I needed about this game that I've poured thousands of hours in and that's not even touching the countless hours I've spent watching simpleflips play the game. Yet, when you said that Mario got a new triple jump after 120 stars, I thought you were joking. Especially since the very next thing you talk about is rumors. But I decided to boot up the game and there it was. I felt like the girl on the playground who overheard about catching Regirock in Pokemon Ruby, went their to have her mind absolutely blown away that they were right again. A game hasn't made me feel this way in ages, but Mario 64 just keeps giving me more
Man you maked me cry like a baby, god bless you, thanks for this indescribable video... Sincerely, you brough some tears of joy and nostalgia into my face... Wow, what a beautiful memories came back. I rembember the first time i played it, an innocent child in a ciber, payed for play 1 hour, some guy helped me to open the Emulator and said to me "What game do you want to play, just click one and play it" I replied "I Just want to play Mario" and the adventure began.
Good memories, like the first time i played Kaizo Mario 64, the first time i killed bowser, my first 120 star run and the first time i saw yoshi in gameplay, huge and good memories come to my mind, and really say thanks to god for giving me this gift that life itself its.
More than a game, absolutely.
I get up with the original and then a few years later got the ds version loved both of them to death. Had dreams about levels that never existed and I even have some fuzzy memories of them to this day.
This video is THE BEST MARIO 64 VIDEO. The quality of the video is phenomenal! The sound quality is soothingly great! Keep up the good work! ❤
Wow I wish I was born earlier.
This video was so amazing, and I remember playing the game on my grandparents Wii with the virtual console. I never got that far, but this game truly was and still is a wonder to everyone.
It’s something you can only truly experience in the handful years after it’s release, and I was born too late.
I've recently had some time off work and I bought the Switch membership/expansion and got the N64 emulators along with Mario 64. I'm in my late 30's and I haven't played SM64 for _years_ and even still, I got 70 stars and beat the game in one day. Granted, I really got into it and played the game for maybe 7 or 8 hours that day, but it shows how deep it lodged itself in my memory. I was maybe 11 or 12 when I first got the game and played it, and still remember so much about it.
Everything about Mario 64 was my first nightmare
It was the first time I could experience pure, unadulterated rage, confusion, terror while playing a game
10/10
I remember back when I was a kid playing this for the first time when my only prior gaming experience was pokemon red on the OG gameboy with no colour. My mind was blown.
I'd just run around in the courtyard climbing trees n swimming around for hours. Until I Adventured and found flying hat and the shooting out of a canon with it lol amazing.
I was so scared of bowser in that game up to this day I still think this game has the scariest version of bowser seeing it with the eyes of an adult.
Facts facing Bowser was real battle spot on
You probably wont see this but this is a phenomenal video. Almost 2 hours yet was engrossed the whole time.
Simply’s parents’ reaction is so pure
This game was my first video game. Don't think my life would be the same today without it. I have some great memories with it. Simply because of that, it is more than just a game in my book.
I loved minute 51:38, he celebrated with his parents and Mario gives him a peace sign, seconds later a Mario plushie kisses him on the cheek. That made tear up a lil bit :)
First time I played it was on the 3D All Stars for the Switch and was mind blowned by it. Another great video worth the waiting 🤩🤩👏👏.