It's no exaggeration to say that the platformer genre wouldn't be where it is today without Super Mario 64. The game was more than Mario's first venture into 3D platforming; it was a massive milestone in 3D platforming in general. Elements of Super Mario 64 like its 360-degree camera and its emphasis on exploration have shaped tons of other platformers in the decades since its release. That's why it's no surprise to see Nintendo continue to celebrate Super Mario 64 after all these years. Not only did it get ported to the Switch via last year's Super Mario 3D All-Stars, but Super Mario fans just learned of a new LEGO set designed after Super Mario 64.
At a glance, the Super Mario 64 LEGO set looks simply like a famous Super Mario Question Mark Block. However, when players open it up and assemble its components on top, they'll see that it's actually a scaled-down diorama of several famous Super Mario 64 areas. Above the diorama stands a model of Princess Peach's castle, which slides open to reveal a glance at the castle's interior. Savvy Super Mario fans will notice that the castle contains replicas of paintings from inside the castle, each of which served as a gateway to a playable course in Super Mario 64. Each of the three paintings inside the castle represent a course that's part of the Super Mario 64 LEGO set.
The Super Mario 64 Set's Courses
The Super Mario 64 set wouldn't feel right without Bob-omb Battlefield. It's the first level that players unlock and serves as a fantastic introduction to many of the game's central elements, like the cannons that can launch Mario to new heights. In fact, the LEGO version of Bob-omb Battlefield comes with a couple of those cannons, as well as a replicate of the floating island Mario can get to using them. There are also LEGO micro-figures of King Bob-omb, the boss of Bob-omb Battlefield, and a Chain Chomp that guards one of the course's Power Stars.
Another level that the LEGO set depicts is Cool, Cool Mountain, a snowy course that players can unlock early on in the game. Cool, Cool Mountain's LEGO incarnation is pretty simple, depicting the icy mountain that makes up the entire level, but it has some nice details, like the snowball that Mario can unite with a disembodied snowman to get a Power Star. Cool, Cool Mountain also comes with a couple of penguin micro-figures, representing the penguins that Mario can meet and similarly reunite.
Lastly, the LEGO set contains a replica of Lethal Lava Land, the volcanic lava world that serves as one of Super Mario 64's more dangerous courses. Lethal Lava Land is famously populated by Bullies that try to ram Mario into the lava, so the LEGO set comes with a micro-figure of a Bully. There's also a LEGO Mr. I, a replica of Lethal Lava Land's central volcano, and a Power Star visible on the map. The set even comes with a piece representing the Bowser slide puzzle that Mario can complete to get another Power Star.
Celebrating Super Mario 64's Legacy
Of course, the LEGO set wouldn't be complete without micro-figures of Mario and Princess Peach. With these figures, Super Mario fans can pose Mario across their favorite Super Mario 64 courses and create charming, nostalgic dioramas. The level of detail that went into this LEGO set really manages to capture the depth of Super Mario 64's level design and the value of exploring each of the game's courses. Super Mario 64 celebrates the 25th anniversary of its release this September, so this collaboration with Nintendo is the perfect way to celebrate the game. The game industry is full of nostalgic games that are worth remembering and celebrating, but time and time again, Super Mario 64 stands out from that crowd.
Super Mario 64 is available now for the Nintendo 64 and DS.