Super Mario 64 DS, developed by Nintendo EAD and published by Nintendo, is a Nintendo DS remake with its own rules: Yoshi starts the adventure, Mario, Luigi, and Wario are unlockable, the game has 150 Power Stars, and the bottom screen is part map, part control tool.
This guide is for Super Mario 64 DS fundamentals. It is not a full all-150-Star route, rabbit checklist, minigame guide, speedrun route, original Nintendo 64 guide, or Switch Online/N64-context guide.
Essential Tips
1. Treat DS as Its Own Version
Do not follow original Super Mario 64 assumptions blindly.
The DS version changes the basics that beginners notice most: four playable characters, 150 Power Stars, new stages, touch-screen support, and minigames. If a guide assumes only Mario, 120 Stars, N64 C-button camera controls, or no character rooms, it is not using the DS ruleset.
2. Learn the Game With Yoshi First
Yoshi is the starting point, not a side character.
You begin as Yoshi while Mario, Luigi, and Wario are locked away. Use the early castle and first courses to learn movement, camera control, the lower-screen map, and Power Star objectives before worrying about late-game cleanup.
3. Rescue Characters Instead of Forcing Every Star
Some problems are easier, or only possible, with the right character.
After you unlock Mario, Luigi, or Wario, use the character rooms to switch before entering courses. If a Star feels awkward with your current character, leave it for later and return with the movement, strength, or special ability that fits the task.
4. Use Caps as Temporary Tools
Caps let Yoshi become another character inside a course.
When Yoshi finds Mario’s, Luigi’s, or Wario’s cap, he can use that character’s moves for as long as he keeps it. If you get hit and drop the cap, recover it quickly or use the map to relocate it before continuing the route.
5. Follow the Power Star Loop
Courses, doors, and keys are the structure of the adventure.
Jump into paintings to enter courses, collect hidden Power Stars, return to the castle hall, then use your Star count or keys to open more areas. When you feel lost, check which doors are blocked and which course objectives are still unfinished.
6. Read the Bottom Screen Often
The DS map is one of the remake’s best beginner aids.
The lower screen can show the course layout, your position, cap locations, coins, Power Meter, and red coin or Silver Star progress. Glance at it after entering a course, after losing a cap, and whenever a collectible counter matters.
7. Pick a Control Mode That Feels Stable
Consistency matters more than switching constantly.
Super Mario 64 DS supports Standard, Touch, and Dual-Hand controller modes. Try them, then stick with one long enough to build muscle memory for walking, dashing, jumping, crouching, long jumping, ground pounding, and camera control.
8. Recenter and Zoom the Camera
A bad camera angle is often a solvable problem.
Use the camera reset and zoom tools instead of fighting blind jumps. Center the camera behind your character before narrow paths, zoom out when reading a route, and use touch arrows or buttons to rotate before committing to a jump.
9. Treat Coins as Safety and Progress
Coins are not just score filler.
Coins refill the Power Meter, red coins and Silver Stars are tracked objectives, and 100 coins in a regular level can earn a Power Star. If a course is hurting you, slow down and use coins or Spinning Hearts to stabilize before pushing deeper.
10. Save Minigames for Breaks and Unlocks
Rec Room play is useful side content, not the main route.
The game starts with a small set of touch-screen minigames and unlocks more through rabbits in Adventure Mode. Catch rabbits as you explore the castle, but do not let minigame hunting interrupt your early Power Star and character-unlock progress.
Character Fundamentals
| Character | Beginner Use | Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| Yoshi | Starting character, early exploration, cap-based transformations | Some goals are better after rescuing another character |
| Mario | All-around movement, familiar Super Mario 64-style tasks, wall kicks, flight-related options | Unlock him before assuming a route is impossible |
| Luigi | High jumps, gap crossing, invisibility routes after Power Flowers | Lower attack power makes some direct fights less comfortable |
| Wario | Strength checks, breaking tougher objects, metal Power Flower routes | Slower movement and jumping make precision platforming less forgiving |
The simple rule is to stop treating character choice like a cosmetic option. If a course asks for a certain jump, wall, block, cap, or Power Flower interaction, switch characters before spending ten attempts on the wrong tool.
Controls and Touch Screen Habits
- Check controller mode early: Use the controller-mode menu before serious play so you know whether your movement is built around buttons, touch input, or Dual-Hand controls.
- Dash deliberately: The DS controls separate walking and faster movement. Use slower movement near ledges and full speed when setting up jumps with enough runway.
- Use L before tight jumps: Recenter the camera before bridges, slopes, moving platforms, and ledges.
- Use X and touch camera arrows: Zoom and camera rotation can make a route readable before the jump starts.
- Watch cap icons: If you lose a cap or need a character transformation, the lower-screen information can save aimless searching.
- Pause with intent: START gives you a chance to change options, leave courses where allowed, and reset your plan instead of rushing through a bad attempt.
Power Star Priorities
Start With Reachable Course Stars
Each course has multiple Power Stars, but you do not need to solve every task on the first visit. Take the obvious Star, learn the layout, then come back when you have more characters and better control habits.
Use Objective Types as Clues
| Objective Type | Beginner Approach |
|---|---|
| Standard course Star | Explore the named area, talk to helpful characters, and follow the course’s main landmark |
| 8 red coins | Sweep slowly and check the lower-screen counter before leaving a section |
| 5 Silver Stars | Keep the counter visible, avoid unnecessary damage, and recover dropped pieces quickly |
| 100 coins | Combine normal coins, red coins, blue coins, and safe enemy clears in one regular course run |
| Character-specific Star | Leave it until you have the right character, cap, or Power Flower |
| Key or boss route | Treat it as progression, not optional cleanup, because it can unlock characters or areas |
Come Back With the Right Character
If the course asks for wall kicks, high jumps, heavy object breaking, invisibility, metal movement, or cap transformation, mark it mentally and return later. A clean revisit is faster than turning one Star into a long fight against the control scheme.
Minigames and Version Notes
Super Mario 64 DS includes touch-screen minigames, and more unlock as you catch rabbits in Adventure Mode. They are worth sampling because they use the DS hardware well, but they are separate from learning the main castle and course loop.
Version matters for multiplayer expectations. Original Nintendo DS play supported wireless VS through DS Download Play, while Nintendo’s Wii U Virtual Console page says the Wii U version does not include the original wireless communication features and supports one player.
For Switch-era play, do not merge this guide with original Super Mario 64 advice unless you have confirmed the version. A version with no Yoshi start, no character rooms, no bottom-screen map, and no 150-Star DS structure is outside this guide’s scope.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Do not use a 120-Star N64 route for DS cleanup - DS adds characters, Stars, stages, and control differences.
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Do not stay with one character for every problem - Switch rooms and caps exist because some tasks favor specific characters.
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Do not ignore a dropped cap - Recover it quickly or use the map before continuing the route.
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Do not fight the camera during precision jumps - Recenter, rotate, or zoom before jumping.
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Do not sprint near every edge - Slow movement is safer when the route is narrow or the camera is awkward.
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Do not skip coins when damaged - Coins refill the Power Meter and can stabilize a risky course attempt.
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Do not assume rabbits are useless - Rabbits unlock more minigames, so catch them when you are already exploring the castle.
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Do not expect Wii U Virtual Console to preserve DS wireless play - The checked Nintendo page says those original wireless features are not available there.
Summary
| Category | Top Tip |
|---|---|
| Version | Use DS-specific advice, not original N64 assumptions |
| Progression | Collect Power Stars, open doors, find keys, and unlock characters |
| Characters | Switch when a Star favors jumps, strength, caps, or special powers |
| Controls | Pick one control mode and use camera reset/zoom regularly |
| Touch Screen | Check map, cap, coin, Power Meter, and red/Silver Star information |
| Minigames | Unlock extras through rabbits, but keep them separate from main progress |
| Platform Caveat | DS cartridge and Wii U Virtual Console multiplayer behavior differ |
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8 checked for this guideEvery factual claim in this guide was checked against at least two independent sources before publication. These are the references used for Super Mario 64 DS.
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