A dedicated modder is painstakingly recreating Super Mario 64 for the Game Boy Advance. This ambitious undertaking, initially seeming impossible due to the GBA's comparatively weaker hardware than the N64, is showing remarkable progress.
Super Mario 64, a 1996 classic and a landmark title in gaming history, was Nintendo's pioneering foray into 3D platforming for its flagship franchise. Its immense popularity is evidenced by its near 12 million N64 sales.
Joshua Barretto, a passionate Super Mario fan, recently unveiled a video showcasing their GBA recreation. Abandoning a problematic direct port attempt, Barretto opted for a complete code rebuild, yielding stunning results. Progress has been rapid; from a rudimentary red triangle Mario in early May, the game's initial level is now playable within just a couple of months.
Modder's GBA Port of Super Mario 64 Shows Impressive Progress
Barretto's GBA version currently achieves a respectable 20-30 FPS, with Mario executing key moves like somersaults, crouches, and long jumps. Despite imperfections, the feat of running such a graphically demanding game on the GBA is truly impressive. While still in its early stages, Barretto aims for a complete, playable GBA version. The hope is that Nintendo, known for its aggressive stance on fan projects, will not issue a cease-and-desist order.
Super Mario 64 has experienced a recent surge in community engagement, with modders and dedicated players accomplishing extraordinary feats. A gamer recently completed the game without using the A button to jump—a challenge attempted since the early 2000s, finally conquered after an 86-hour playthrough exploiting a rare Wii Virtual Console glitch.
Shortly before that, another player achieved the seemingly impossible: opening Super Mario 64's famously unopenable door in the Snow World level without mods, using an incredibly complex technique.
