r/SuperMario64

(This is basically something I wrote for a comment and I thought it could be more useful as a post)

Ok, so first of all: all the Mario 64 ports are decomp based.

Now, I may be mistaken, but this is the original pc port, based on the decomp. Quite basic.

Later came a fork of it: sm64ex. This is the port that got some juicy QoL features. Compiling this manually was tricky for most users, so a GUI builder was created. Nowadays, it's known as the sm64pcbuilder2.

The PcBuilder was useful, and allowed you to install not just EX, but other forks like "Ex Coop" (multiplayer focused) and Render96 (a project that aims to replace every texture and model, to make the game closer to the promotional art. While for the most part you can just install the textures and models by themselves, the Render96-ex fork has some gameplay unique features, like playing as Luigi and Wario). PcBuilder2 also allowed you to add some optional patches, like 60 fps or No exit when collecting a Star; and you could install custom models and textures in the builder.

Now, the problem with PcBuilder2 is that is was very tricky to use. You needed to install MSYS2 so the builder could compile everything. And it was prone to fail in many ocassions. It was the best we had, but even then a few of the forks that were part of the builder decided to be independent.

SM64Plus is part of the builder, but eventually it decided to make a launcher of it's own. This fork aimed to create the best single player experience. It has a lot of optional QoL improvements and while it still depends on MSYS2 to compile, it's actually reliable. It doesn't have much mod support aside from simple texture replacement in the files. I'd say it's the best one for a single player experience.

Ex Coop got independent from the PCBuilder and became SM64 Coop Deluxe. As I said, it aims to bring a multiplayer experience to sm64. Players can create and customize servers to play the entire campaign of sm64 with online multiplayer. While that on it self was a big reason for it's popularity, it was also the easiest port to install. You only needed to open .exe and select the rom. No need for an external terminal. The mod community of this particular port is the most robust imo with extra characters, texture packs and even game modes.

And finally we have Ghostship. You know the drill. Much like all the other Harbor Masters ports, you just need to place the rom on the folder and that's it. It's still quite new, and imo lacks many features available in other ports like Plus, but it's an adequate option to just plug-and-play sm64 on pc.

I hope this text is useful. Thanks for reading.

Hopefully I'm posting this in the right place

Lately I've been seeing gameplay of SM64 and got to experience it somewhat on ports while playing Vr, which has allowed me to witness just how fun and awesome the game is as an experience. I personally haven't been able to play any of the original games since I was either too young or not born yet when they came out.

I'm hoping to find a way to be able to play it in someway on PC natively, problem is though, is that I don't have an actual N64 console or the rom or anything. But I'm curious if there's some version of it that I could play.

I mainly just want either the original experience with original graphics and stuff, or the original with some modern enhancements almost like a remaster. I'm aware that it's dangerous to talk about this specific kind of stuff, but I wouldn't mind at least being pointed in the right direction where I can figure it out myself

Hi! I’ve wanted to play SM64 for a while, but I don’t own an original N64 or a CRT. I have a modded 3DS, PC, Switch with the N64 Classics and 3D All-Stars, and a Steam Deck. I hear these are all mostly good options, but I want to hear your opinions! How do you think I should play?

I grew up with the n64 as a child of the 90s, my most favourite n64 games were the Banjo Kazooie and it's sequel Banjo Tooie. But somehow I never got Super Mario 64. I guess one of the reasons might be is that me and my brother got the n64 in 1998 when Banjo Kazooie came out and Ocarina of Time was released.

I am starting to get into my n64 games since I brought the analogue 3d.

I probably will still prefer and like the Banjo Kazooie games as they seem more exploration, more collectibles, much more interesting vibrant worlds and a good story and better graphics.

But I do want to give Super Mario 64 a chance, when I do watch some short clips of the game, it seems like a cozy game, not too complicated, and there just seem Zen about the game. It's graphics assets environments were very simplistic as it was the very first n64 game released in 1996 and being a Mario game has this excitement going for it.

I want to give it a try.