Mario 64 Has Become A First-Person Survival Horror
Let's be honest, the Mario games aren't exactly scary. Apart from the ominous "hu-hu-hu" of Bowser and the haunting melody of Big Boo's Merry-Go-Round, the scariest thing you'll find are Professor E. Gadd's failed experiments in Luigi's Mansion. Okay, so the man-eating piano in Super Mario 64 is pretty scary.
Now, someone has taken the darker aspects of the Mushroom Kingdom and turned the N64's classic Super Mario 64 into a full-blown survival horror. In a time that we're obsessed with seeing Ethan Winters have his hands sliced off in Resident Evil Village, or aliens being pureed in The Callisto Protocol, a Mario survival horror definitely has potential.
What Is The Mario Survival Horror?
The trailer ominously starts with the idea it's been five years since Mario rescued Princess Peach and tucked into a well-earned slice of cake. It's clear a lot has changed in the castle, and while we've vanquished Bowser, something much more sinister has set up residence here. The game is called Another Princess is in Our Castle, and to be honest, we can't wait to play.
With a warning that "something is coming or you," we get some serious A Nightmare on Elm Street vibes. Mario explores this familiar haunt, but this time, a ghostly version of Peach is chasing him. Complete with gnashing teeth and a wicked laugh, this restless spirit is out for blood. There's a decidedly Alien: Isolation vibe here, as armed with a lantern, Mario has to hide from this evil Peach.
According to Nintendo Life, Another Princess is in Our Castle is the brainchild of developer CM9_Animation. It's even more macabre than you'd think, as the Peach haunting the castle is actually our Peach after her untimely death, while Mario is only an impersonator. It might explain why Peach is so peeved.
Can You Play The Mario Survival Horror Game?
Click to enlargeThe aim of the game is to find a series of statuettes hidden around the castle, while also keeping your stamina stocked. In this first build of the game, it takes around 15 minutes to complete and you collect the first eight statues.
More than just being a first-person mod of Super Mario 64, it's actually been built from the ground up. If you want to play, you can download the demo over on itch.io. On the site, the developer explains how they plan to turn the demo into a fully realised game. Imagine being chased by Ghost Peach across Bob-Omb Battlefield, Jolly Roger Bay, and Big Boo's Haunt.