Wikipedia:Today's featured article/September 29, 2022

Super Mario 64 is a 1996 platform game for the Nintendo 64. Developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo, it is the first Super Mario game to feature 3D gameplay, combining traditional Super Mario gameplay, visual style, and characters in a large open world. Bowser, one of the main antagonists of the franchise, invades Princess Peach's castle and hides the castle's sources of protection, Power Stars, in many different worlds behind magical paintings. Super Mario 64 was highly anticipated by video game journalists and audiences and appeared in many critics' lists of the best video games. Reviewers praised its ambition, visuals, and gameplay while some criticized its virtual camera system. It is the best-selling Nintendo 64 game, with nearly twelve million copies sold by 2015. The game has attracted a cult following, spawning many fangames, a large speedrunning presence, and enduring rumors surrounding game features.