23rd May 2024, 8:06 PM
https://rentry.co/mb64-setup-guide
Mario Builder 64 is an incredibly cool romhack project just released a few days ago. It's basically a 3d Mario 64 level creator toolkit, inspired by Mario Maker but 3 and it's an actual Nintendo 64 game that does run on real hardware. I'm sure it's possible to make levels that use too many objects and will crash on real hardware, but the tools themselves and at least many of the levels will work on a real N64, which is important to note since a great many Mario 64 hacks don't.
Unlike Mario Maker, the game doesn't have a built in internet connection of course, but being able to play these fan-created stages by just putting files in a folder on your N64 flashcart SD card, instead of having to create a custom rom patch file for every single hack -- seriously, this is a really tedious and time consuming process -- is pretty fantastic. The level creation tools are as easy to learn as they could be for creating levels in a 3d space, too. It does use every button on the N64 controller so you will need to use the d-pad as well as the analog stick and the C-buttons, but oh well, it works.
Of course, the main problem with a 3d level editor is that 3d is much more complex than 2d. Making a platformer level that is as good, or as challenging, as a 2d level is dramatically more difficult. And given the ... suspect ... quality of so many Mario Maker 1 and 2 levels, and yes I love the game as much because of this as despite it, that 3d levels in a widely available official title like this would be .. . mostly really poor, I am sure. I haven't made a level in this yet, but I sure remember quickly giving up on any attempts at making anything in a 3d level editor, after making a few not very good stages in Warcraft II and Starcraft and such. Mario Builder 64 simplifies things by using a block-based design. There can be only one object per block, so you can't just put an enemy on a sloped ramp, you need to put them on the block above that slope's block. Once you start they will fall onto the slope. The game has over a hundred objects, so there's a lot of variety for creators. The one thing it doesn't have is invisible blocks or the ability to place invisible walls in your stages, I'm sure troll and kaizo creators would like that, but who knows, that could be added at some point. Or not, I don't like invisible blocks at all.
Anyway, this thing is amazing, and the polish level is quite impressive as well. It's as simple to control as a 3d level bulder could be and is built off of the mechanics and gameplay of one of gaming's greatest masterpieces, Mario 64. There is no equivalently easy to use level creation tool hack for other official Mario games -- stuff like Lunar Magic, the SMW editor, is a much more complex thing. There are a decent number of fanmade levels already, too. I'm sure many will be large empty spaces with just scattered stuff in them, but again, that's the problem of creation in 3d --- it's HARD to make something good, way harder than it is in 2d. I sure don't know if I could make a 3d level worth playing. I fully understand why Nintendo hasn't made an official product like this, but it's amazing that it exists now.
Mario Builder 64 is an incredibly cool romhack project just released a few days ago. It's basically a 3d Mario 64 level creator toolkit, inspired by Mario Maker but 3 and it's an actual Nintendo 64 game that does run on real hardware. I'm sure it's possible to make levels that use too many objects and will crash on real hardware, but the tools themselves and at least many of the levels will work on a real N64, which is important to note since a great many Mario 64 hacks don't.
Unlike Mario Maker, the game doesn't have a built in internet connection of course, but being able to play these fan-created stages by just putting files in a folder on your N64 flashcart SD card, instead of having to create a custom rom patch file for every single hack -- seriously, this is a really tedious and time consuming process -- is pretty fantastic. The level creation tools are as easy to learn as they could be for creating levels in a 3d space, too. It does use every button on the N64 controller so you will need to use the d-pad as well as the analog stick and the C-buttons, but oh well, it works.
Of course, the main problem with a 3d level editor is that 3d is much more complex than 2d. Making a platformer level that is as good, or as challenging, as a 2d level is dramatically more difficult. And given the ... suspect ... quality of so many Mario Maker 1 and 2 levels, and yes I love the game as much because of this as despite it, that 3d levels in a widely available official title like this would be .. . mostly really poor, I am sure. I haven't made a level in this yet, but I sure remember quickly giving up on any attempts at making anything in a 3d level editor, after making a few not very good stages in Warcraft II and Starcraft and such. Mario Builder 64 simplifies things by using a block-based design. There can be only one object per block, so you can't just put an enemy on a sloped ramp, you need to put them on the block above that slope's block. Once you start they will fall onto the slope. The game has over a hundred objects, so there's a lot of variety for creators. The one thing it doesn't have is invisible blocks or the ability to place invisible walls in your stages, I'm sure troll and kaizo creators would like that, but who knows, that could be added at some point. Or not, I don't like invisible blocks at all.
Anyway, this thing is amazing, and the polish level is quite impressive as well. It's as simple to control as a 3d level bulder could be and is built off of the mechanics and gameplay of one of gaming's greatest masterpieces, Mario 64. There is no equivalently easy to use level creation tool hack for other official Mario games -- stuff like Lunar Magic, the SMW editor, is a much more complex thing. There are a decent number of fanmade levels already, too. I'm sure many will be large empty spaces with just scattered stuff in them, but again, that's the problem of creation in 3d --- it's HARD to make something good, way harder than it is in 2d. I sure don't know if I could make a 3d level worth playing. I fully understand why Nintendo hasn't made an official product like this, but it's amazing that it exists now.