A few years ago, a developer had an idea that was as simple as it was irresistible: to recreate the first level of Super Mario 64 to make it playable directly in a web browser.
Not the whole game, no. Just Bob-Omb Battlefield, level 1, the one with the green hills, the rolling boulders, King Bob-Omb perched at the very top, and that immediate feeling of being back in front of a Nintendo 64. The kind of experimental web project that makes you want to click before even asking whether it's reasonable.
This small demo, called Super Mario 64 HD, had been created by Roystan Ross with Unity. Originally, it was mainly used to showcase a 3D character controller. And to demonstrate that a character can run, jump, slide, and fall flat on their face, it's hard to find a more compelling example than Mario.
A clever hack… too close to the original
The demo offered a playable version of the first level of Super Mario 64, with modernized graphics and the option to play with a keyboard or controller. It wasn't a full remake, much less an official game, but rather a technical demonstration transformed into a Proustian moment in video game history.
Naturally, the project spread quickly. Mario in a browser, for free, without having to dig out the cartridge or the three-pronged controller: it didn't take much more to attract the curious.
But Mario is still Mario. The character, the universe, and everything associated with it belong to Nintendo, which isn't exactly known for letting unofficial projects like this last very long. Super Mario 64 HD was therefore removed following a request from Nintendo. The game is no longer available on its creator's website.
What remains of Super Mario 64 HD
What remains is a trace: videos, screenshots, a few articles, and the memory of a small but fairly typical moment on the web. A developer cobbles together a demo to showcase a tool, chooses a cult license to appeal to everyone, the internet goes wild… then copyright laws come running up behind him.
It's not really surprising, but it's a bit of a shame. The demo had the charm of those useless yet essential web experiences: not big enough to replace the real game, but well-made enough to make you want to spend ten minutes on it.
To legally replay Super Mario 64, it's best to use Nintendo's official offerings. And to find retro games directly in the browserThere are quieter options, such as the Internet Archive for some old PC games, or itch.io for independent creations with a retro look.
Super Mario 64 HD is no longer playable, but it retains its place in the grand showcase of web projects that are too cool to last. A little shooting star of the browser, with a mustache and red overalls.
