Marina Liteyears
A small robotic heroine who rescues Professor Theo and uses her grab-and-shake abilities to fight and manipulate objects.
Documented for this version
Control Stick | Move Marina |
|---|---|
A | Jump |
B | Grab or manipulate nearby targets |
Z | Shake a grabbed target |
How it plays
The game is viewed primarily from a side-scrolling perspective, with occasional changes in viewpoint and arena-style encounters. Each stage asks Marina to reach an endpoint, defeat enemies, collect items, or complete a small environmental challenge. Objects and opponents can be grabbed, shaken, thrown, or used against one another.
Stages are grouped into themed areas and culminate in boss fights. Progression comes from clearing levels and advancing through the story rather than from a conventional character-level system. The game also includes optional collectibles and challenge-focused moments that reward careful exploration and precise manipulation.
Plan your run
Learn the difference between grabbing, shaking, and throwing before attempting difficult rooms. Many enemies are more useful as tools than as targets, so look for objects that can activate switches, break barriers, or damage stronger foes.
Explore side paths for collectibles, but prioritize safe positioning during boss fights. Against bosses, observe attack patterns and use the arena’s objects rather than repeatedly attacking without a setup.
Meet the cast
A small robotic heroine who rescues Professor Theo and uses her grab-and-shake abilities to fight and manipulate objects.
Marina’s inventor and mission giver, whose abduction sets the main story in motion.
A recurring member of the Empire who confronts Marina during the adventure.
Before you begin
Use enemies and scenery as weapons instead of relying only on direct attacks.
Experiment with grabbed objects when a route or switch seems inaccessible.
Replay completed stages to collect missed items and improve timing.
Editorial context
A creative Treasure platformer built around satisfying object manipulation.
Its short length and occasional precision demands may not suit every player.
Mischief Makers is an action platformer developed by Treasure and published by Enix for the Nintendo 64. It follows Marina Liteyears, a robotic rescuer sent to save Professor Theo from the troublemaking Empire. The game combines side-scrolling stages with a distinctive grab-and-shake system, letting Marina seize enemies and objects, manipulate them, and use them to solve hazards or defeat bosses. Its compact levels, unusual physics, and energetic presentation made it unlike most contemporary 3D console platformers. Critics generally praised its inventive mechanics, visual style, and responsive action, although some found the game short and its camera or precision challenges inconsistent. It has since gained a strong cult reputation among fans of Treasure’s experimental work.
Catalog entry maintained by EmuGamers Editorial Team
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