Almost Halfway...Mario 64

Stars: 55

The more I play this game, the more I enjoy it. There was a moment last night while playing when I found myself completely captured by its magic. I was wrapped up in a warm ball of nostalgic gaming bliss, and believe it or not, it was in a water level.

With certain older games, I sometimes try to imagine myself playing them immediately after opening them on Christmas morning. The joy of discovering something so well designed and to know that it was yours and you had the entire rest of Christmas break to enjoy it. Putting myself in that mindset will often completely change my opinion on a game. And that's just what happened last night while playing the Dire Dire Docks level, and I think a lot of it had to do with this music:

Even if you've never played the game, the feeling that music produces is wholly unique. Looking over the comments on this video, it's obvious many people feel the same way:

TangerineGroovin

Wow. I remember I had a dream when I was about 10, after I had played this for the first time. That night I was swimming in a dream, and this music was there. I was a child, innocent.
Its very amazing how just hearing this has unlocked a piece of my childhood long forgotten and tucked away.

Being human is amazing, and so is this song and the feelings it produces.

MountainWolf100

ahh Mario 64 and Zelda OOT. Getting both on Christmas morning - such fond memoirs of these games. I miss games like this, they had a...magic to them.

Spot on, both of you.

Yes, the game is still frustrating at times with wonky camera angles and slippery controls (and that mother effing giant snowman level where he blows your hat off!) but there is an indescribable magic that I can now freely admit is absent from Mario Galaxy and other modern games. Maybe that's why this kid was so excited.