Mario
A balanced hero with a strong jump, wall jump, and the ability to use power flowers for special transformations.
Documented for this version
Which controls does this version use?
Actions
A | Jump, swim, or confirm |
|---|---|
B | Attack, eat with Yoshi, or cancel |
Y | Run faster and use certain character abilities |
R | Crouch or perform a ground pound after jumping |
D-pad | Move the character |
L | Center or adjust the camera in supported situations |
Combos and sequences
AA | Double jump |
|---|---|
AAA | Triple jump |
AR | Ground pound Press R while airborne. |
D-pad directionA | Long jump Run, then press A while moving. |
Control notes
Some camera and touch-screen functions vary by activity.
The Nintendo DS version uses the D-pad for standard movement.
How it plays
How does Super Mario 64 DS play?
The adventure is viewed from a controllable third-person camera. Players explore Peach's Castle, enter themed paintings, and complete missions such as collecting stars, defeating bosses, racing, and finding hidden secrets.
Yoshi is the initial character; rescuing Mario, Luigi, and Wario adds their specialized abilities. Power Stars unlock castle doors and new courses, while coins, caps, and switches provide additional objectives. The game also includes four-player competitive modes and a large set of touch-screen mini-games.
Plan your run
What is the best way to play Super Mario 64 DS?
Explore each course with the mission objective in mind, but collect coins and search for secret areas during the same visit. Different characters open different routes, so return to earlier courses after rescuing them.
Use Yoshi for enemy-eating and flutter-jump challenges, Luigi for height and agility, Mario for general movement, and Wario for strength. Learn each course's camera-safe landmarks before attempting timed races or red-coin challenges.
Meet the cast
Who are the key characters?
Luigi
A high-jumping, slippery character who can run across water briefly and use a power flower to become invisible.
Yoshi
The starting character, able to eat enemies, flutter-jump, and produce eggs.
Wario
A slow but powerful character who can break certain heavy objects and use metal transformations.
Bowser
The principal antagonist and a recurring boss who guards important Power Stars.
Princess Peach
The owner of the castle whose disappearance starts the adventure.
Documented inputs
What cheats and unlocks are documented?
Documented unlockYoshi is available at the beginning of the adventure.
Documented unlockDefeat the Big Boo in the courtyard course to obtain the key that unlocks Luigi.
Documented unlockDefeat Chief Chilly in the snowman course to obtain the key that unlocks Wario.
Before you begin
What should you know before playing?
- 1
Collect eight Red Coins in a course to earn a Power Star.
- 2
Return to completed courses with different characters to reach otherwise inaccessible areas.
- 3
In multiplayer mini-games, experiment with the touch screen because many use direct stylus interaction.
Editorial context
What do players highlight?
A strong handheld reworking of a landmark 3D platformer, with four-character abilities and substantial extra content.
The camera and character movement can take practice, especially when using the Nintendo DS directional controls.
Community discussion
What are players saying? 0