Famitsu Reports

Super Mario 64 DS Interview

Super Mario 64 DS Director Shinichi Ikematsu, who also has credits on games like Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Pikmin 2 is interviewed by Famitsu about this "special game that's stuffed with new features!".

Famitsu,
Did you make sure the game would be ready for release alongside the hardware?
Ikematsu
Yes, we always intended to keep that deadline. The game is based on Super Mario 64, but in order that not only newcomers but people who already know SM64 well be able enjoy the game, we kept adding more and more new elements.

Specifically: the player controls not just Mario, but Yoshi, Luigi and Wario as well, and since they each have different abilities, the player must use them appropriately to advance. There are new courses, and new stars and bosses added to old ones. There are so many new things, I couldn't possibly go into detail about all of them! Even people who played the original will be able to have a new experience with this game, with the changes and additions to the old courses.

Also, because there aren't many things to do with touch control in the main game, we compensated by adding minigames which use the touch screen in many fun ways. We also used the Wireless Play capability to allow four people to play using only one cartridge. We wanted to show off the many things the DS can do, so we dwere certain we wanted to meet the hardware launch deadline.

The Nintendo DS is a new way of playing games, so we wanted to use Super Mario 64 DS to let many people experience it.

Famitsu
That's quite a lot [of things to do in the game].
Ikematsu
There is a lot in the game, but another of its selling points is that you can pick it up and play any time. This is similar to what I said before, but we have added vastly to the original version of Super Mario 64, including lots of minigames where you use the touch pen to draw, pull, and many other actions. You can have plenty of fun just with the minigames. I think it's a good game for people who have bought a Nintendo DS and want to pick it up and have a quick go of something, but also sometimes want to play something deeper for longer.

Famitsu
Just playing the main game with the touch screen is a new experience in and of itself, isn't it?
Ikematsu
You can play it with the D-Pad, but please do try using the touch screen. It's a new kind of experience, so I recommend it. With Super Mario 64 DDS in particular, we recommend using the Touch Strap.

Famitsu
You recommend the Touch Strap?
Ikematsu
The Touch Strap took a lot of trial and error [to develop], but Miyamoto really kept at it, and after many experimental versions, we finally produced the finished product.

Famitsu
Oh, so it was Mr Miyamoto's idea?
Ikematsu
Yes. Not only that, but he followed it through until completion. Even just the pointer part [on the end of the pen] went through several designs, and after trying them out he settled on the design [seen in the finished product].

Famitsu
There's a lot behind this item than many will think is simply an accessory! It seems we've just heard a valuable inside story [laughs].
Ikematsu
I'd like a lot of people to try out controlling Super Mario 64 DS with the Touch Strap. It's something you have to try for yourself!

posted by CTU Kyoto @ 12/08/2004 01:56:00 pm