You’ve probably never imagined what Super Mario 64 would be like if it featured a 24 player multiplayer mode, but fortunately for all of us, there are some fans out there that have.
Three friends named Kaze Emanuar, Melonspeedruns and Marshivolt – some of those may not be real names – have developed a ROM hack for Super Mario 64 that theoretically allows for 24 players to play the game simultaneously.
The “theoretically” qualifier is a bit of a necessity in this instance due to the game’s finicky set-up and sometimes unfortunate technical issues. Installing the mod will take a little bit of effort on your part, and you’re going to have to put up with a few bugs, glitches, and “WTF just happened?” moments. Hey, that’s what happens when you turn a single-player 3D platformer from the ’90s into an online multiplayer experience.
Even still, Super Mario 64 Online is a true accomplishment. What’s amazing about this particular mod is the way that it retains the feel of playing Super Mario 64 – which has aged quite well all things considered – while incorporating multiple players in ways that feel surprisingly intuitive.
For instance, it’s entirely possible for players to make their own Nintendo-themed take on Battle Royale by devolving Super Mario 64 into a battle for precious resources. It’s quite funny to watch a team of players chase Wario through multiple portals as the Wario player uses every item, boss, and obstacle available to stall their pursuit. The whole thing results in what can best be described as a particularly portal heavy episode of Rick And Morty.
Yes, we’ve seen multiplayer Super Mario 64 mods before, but it’s truly impressive to see just how well the base Super Mario 64 game handles so many players on a conceptual level. In fact, if anyone from Nintendo happens to be paying attention, we’d love to see an official take on this concept after this fan project is inevitably taken down.