GBA Remaster of Nintendo's Iconic Platformer In Progress

A dedicated modder is painstakingly recreating Super Mario 64 for the Game Boy Advance. This ambitious undertaking, given the GBA's significantly less powerful hardware compared to the original N64, is showing remarkable progress.

Super Mario 64, a 1996 classic and a landmark title in gaming history, redefined the platformer genre with its groundbreaking 3D gameplay. Its success on the N64, with nearly 12 million units sold, cemented its place as a beloved Nintendo franchise cornerstone.

Modder Joshua Barretto recently unveiled a video showcasing their GBA adaptation. Instead of a direct port (which proved too challenging), Barretto opted for a complete code rebuild. The results, considering the short timeframe, are astonishing. From a rudimentary red triangle in early May, the first level is now playable within just a couple of months.

Modder Joshua Barretto's GBA Super Mario 64 Progress

Barretto's creation currently boasts a frame rate of 20-30 FPS, allowing Mario to execute key moves like somersaults, crouches, and long jumps. While imperfections remain, the achievement of running such a complex game on the GBA is undeniably impressive. The project is ongoing, with Barretto aiming for a complete, playable GBA version. The hope is that Nintendo, known for its strict stance on fan projects, won't issue a cease-and-desist order.

Super Mario 64 has recently experienced a surge in community engagement, with modders and dedicated players accomplishing extraordinary feats. Just months ago, a player completed the game without using the A button to jump – a challenge attempted for over two decades, finally achieved after an 86-hour marathon utilizing a rare Wii Virtual Console glitch.

Even more recently, another player successfully opened a previously unopenable door in the game's Snow World, a decades-long mystery solved through an incredibly complex technique, entirely without mods.