What are the differences between Super Mario 64 (N64) and Super Mario 64 DS?

Question

What are the differences between Super Mario 64 for the Nintendo 64 and Super Mario 64 DS for the Nintendo DS? Are they just the same game or are there any significant differences?

Asked by alexanderpas

Answer

The DS version's main feature is a few extra playable characters with special abilities. The Wikipedia article covers most of the functional differences.

However, I would like to bring attention to the main difference in my head: the DS controls are horrible. Since the DS doesn't have an analog stick, you are forced to use either the DPad or the stylus. Both controls are clunkier and more annoying than their 64 counterparts.

I loved the 64 version and got every star in it, and really wanted to play it again with new characters. Unfortunately, the DS controls made me unable to stand playing the DS version for more than a few levels in. It would be nice if they would rereleased the rerelease on the Wii instead so I have some chance of ever completing it.

Answered by Mag Roader

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Is it possible to jump over the flag-pole in Super Mario Bros?

Question

When I was younger, I remember there was a persistent rumour that claimed that under certain circumstances it was possible to jump completely over the flagpole at the end of each level. Every time I jump for the flagpole and my 5000 points, I still remember this and wonder about it. On a few occasions, it seems as though I'm about to make it! Mario is on course to leap to freedom! However I always find myself "pulled" back to the top of the flagpole.

Is there any way to completely clear the flagpole at the end of a level?

Answer

Yes, but there's really only one level it's possible on, World 3-3:

Game Trailers provides a great video about the Mario Flag Pole jumping myth in an episode of Pop-Fiction.

But it can also be done with the Game Genie or other "hacks".

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How do you get up the endless stairs on Super Mario 64 for Nintendo 64?

Question

Do you need a certain amount of Stars or is there another way?

Answer

Once you have 70 stars, the staircase is no longer endless and you reach the door at the top.

Or the long jump trick to reach the top of the staircase without 70 stars is:

Do a long jump away from the stairs, then tilt the control stick up. Mario should still be doing long jumps and facing you, but at the same time going up the stairs instead of down. Press the jump button as fast as you can, and Mario will eventually make it up the stairs.

P.S.-- in the DS version the only way to do it, if even possible is to use a mod like action replay to have all the stars {in which case you will already have 70} so there is absolutely no way to do it becasue DS makes it impossible

(source)

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Differences between Mario Bros for the NES and 25th Anniversary Super Mario Bros?

Question

As part of the 25th anniversary celebrations, Nintendo has released a couple of Wii bundles that include some sort of variant of Mario Bros:

25th Anniversary SUPER MARIO BROS is pre-installed, the design is partially rearranged from the original SUPER MARIO BROS for NES

Does anyone know what the difference is?

Answer

From the screenshot shown on that page, it appears that the coin blocks have been relabeled with "25". I hope, at least, that this was the only "partially rearranged" issue in the 25th anniversary of a classic.

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Different stickers and boxes for “Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga”; what’s the difference?

Question

I’m looking to buy a copy of Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga, and noticed that a few copies of the cartridge have different stickers and some have different box art, but I can’t find any information on why or what the difference(s) may be.

I thought maybe it’s a regional thing, but I can find some photos on Google Images that show different region codes on the same images (last two).

Can anyone tell me why there’s at least three different sticker designs and three different box arts?

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Answer

According to the Wikipedia page, the first image in your question is the North American box art. Upon going to the website in tiny print in the bottom-right corner of your second image, it appears to be custom, fan-made box art for the game (that got criticism for being "way too crowded"). Number three also seems to be fan-made.

As for the cartridges, I'm not sure. Number three and two seem to be the North American versions (with number two not for resale), and numbers one and four seem to be European cartridges. I don't know why number one has different "cartridge art" though. The fourth looks suspicious to me because of the way the Nintendo Seal of Quality is printed, but perhaps that's the way European cartridges are stamped. The first cartridge lacks the Nintendo logo and is different from the other three, leading me to believe it's fake.

TL;DR, the first box art is the real one, and I believe number three is the "real" cartridge.

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How many stars are there in Super Mario Galaxy 2?

Question

I've read in reviews of Super Mario Galaxy 2 that it has 240 stars. Are there really 240 unique stars? Or is it like the first Super Mario Galaxy, where you get 120 stars, then have the option to play the whole game again as Luigi and collect the same 120 stars again.

I'm around 105 stars, and it's looking like most of the galaxies have been marked "complete," so I don't see where all these stars are going to come from (if they are indeed unique).

Answer

There are a total of 242 stars:

• 120 standard Gold stars, consisting of:
  • 56 Power stars (the normal ones)
  • 6 Grand Stars (at the end of each world)
  • 17 Hidden Stars (in 17 different galaxies)
  • 29 Comet Stars (in 29 different galaxies)
  • 6 Additional Normal Stars after beating the game for the first time.
  • 6 Additional Comet Stars after beating the game for the first time.
• 120 Green Stars which appear after you collected the first 120 yellow stars and have beaten the game again (2 or 3 per galaxy, 18 per world, except for the very last world, which has 12)
• 2 additional Gold stars after you have collected all the previous 240 stars. (1 Power Star, 1 Comet Star, which also requires 9999 Starbits)

The only way to get all Comet Stars, is to collect all Comet Coins, which are found on the first level of each galaxy, including the very last one!

Note that it is possible to get Bronze Stars instead of Gold Stars if you use the Cosmic Guide available (after dying a couple of times) on certain levels (available in every galaxy, but not every level). While these Bronze Stars allow you to continue to move on, the do not count with respect to unlocking certain secrets.

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