Twenty-one years ago, Super Mario 64 revolutionized 3D platformers with its innovative gameplay and camera system. It’s one of Shigeru Miyamoto’s greatest achievements, and it is still widely regarded as one of the best video games ever made. After two decades, there are still many things that can be learned by examining the design and physics behind Super Mario 64, as shown in a recently released video.
Via Kotaku, a gamer calling themselves Pannenkoek has posted a 40-minute deep dive into the inner workings of Super Mario 64, examining the mathematics behind its makeup, focusing specifically on the geography that makes its world so visually stimulating and engaging to play around in. The video illustrated one surprising fact above all: every surface in the game is made up of triangles, even when the shapes don’t appear to be triangular at all.
Granted, many of the concepts and ideas laid out in this video were already very familiar to players who have made it their goal to discover every last secret that Super Mario 64 has to offer; Pannenkoek himself is a speedgamer who is dedicated to finding newer and faster ways to get through Super Mario 64. For casual viewers, this video is also a useful tool to understand a side of gaming that is rarely considered.
What did you think about this video? Did Pannenkoek’s analyses breathe new life into one of your old favorites, or is this triangle formula already old news to a speedrunning pro like yourself? Construct your thoughts in the comment section below!
Image: Nintendo
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