Super Mario 64 is arguably one of the best 3D platformers of all time and one of the big reasons to own a Nintendo 64. Unlike a certain Blue Blur, Mario flawlessly transitioned from 2D to 3D and set a standard that few titles can even hope to emulate.
Even now, the gameplay is as smooth as ever, but Super Mario 64‘s visuals are, understandably, starting to show their age.
At least, they were.
Modder Kaze Emanuar has been working on a Mario 64 mod called Return To Yoshi‘s Island, and it looks phenomenal! Kaze has used every visual trick in the book to make the graphics stunning and showcases what can be accomplished with modern techniques. This mod is far more than just a visual overhaul. It’s a complete game featuring new worlds, levels, and bosses.
Kaze showcased the graphics in December last year, and many quickly pointed out that there’s no way a genuine N64 console could run such a pretty game. The latest video on his YouTube shows the game running on original hardware at a stable 30FPS!
He estimates the mod is about 70% complete, but this is already a project to get very excited about!
Kaze explains the various techniques used to achieve this overhaul on his YouTube channel. You can check that out here.
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