Super Mario 64 DS? Super fail. (Part 1)

Now, I know what you're thinking.
No, really, it's not all that much of an improvement from the original SM64.
Now, even though the DS is also a 64-bit console, it is inferior in many ways, and SM64DS is no different.
You see, one of the first things you'll notice is this: the items that were 2D in SM64 used interpolation to make them look smoother as you get closer.
The DS simply cannot do this.
Now, a lot of things were good, don't get me wrong, unlike in SM64 items like underwater and the mirror are more visible, tinted rather than being simply transparent, and there are some neat new tricks you can do in the mirror room, as well as taking advantage of the mirror system by changing paintings of Luigi into paintings of Wario, invisible things only visible in the mirror, turning Mario's reflection into Luigi, and a fully navigatable mirror room (well, sort of. the only thing past the door is a blank white space containing a secret star), catching M.I.P.S.-like rabbits can earn you minigames and stars, and many more things.
However, there were other things that were not so great.

An article announcing Waluigi's appearance in SM64DS showed beta screenshots of his 3D model and abilities.
Alas, they were only beta screenshots.
Waluigi never got a chance to appear in a popular DS game- wereas Wario did.
However, Waluigi's door was left in, but with only the sounds of cackling and a very scared player running out- maybe Waluigi is still in there, scaring away the protagonists and plotting his revenge...
Or maybe some boos have just taken up residence in the empty room.
The latter is more likely, taking into account that the courtyard is full of them.

Now, does anyone remember the title screen of SM64, with the fun little "stretch mario's face around" minigame? If not:
Well, in SM64DS, they replaced it with this:
Now, look at this:

Now, wouldn't that have been a lot better?
If it was possible as a DS demo, why couldn't it have been on SM64DS?
I know a lot of people thought the drawing minigame was pretty good, and I personally don't mind it, but wouldn't we all like the 3D mario head stretching minigame back?
I know I would.

So, that's all for today, next time- more!

Mario Phrases

Now, if you read Waluigious, you should know that in one article he rewrote various sayings to be Mario-themed (and make considerably more sense).
So, being inspired by Waluigious (and Artemendo in general), I decided to do some of my own.

-The grass is always greener... In level 1-1.
-%90 of everything is... Remakes.
-Engage brain before... Going to World 8-Tower 2 in NSMB. (NSMB)
-No news... Means Parakarry is out of a job. (PM)
-A chain is no stronger than... Mario in SMRPG. (SMRPG)
-A rolling stone... Can help you kill those annoying nipper plants. (SMW2: YI)
-If the cap fits, wear it... If you're in Boo's Haunt as Yoshi (You can't eat ghosts). (SM64DS)
-The early bird gets the worm... Or is it the bagel? (SMW cartoon)
-Paddle your own boat... But if you break your controller, don't say I didn't warn you. (Paddle Battle, Mario Party)

So, there you go!
Hope you enjoyed it.

The truth behind L is real... For real!

Ah, L is Real...
The infamous engraving on the courtyard statue.
Everyone thinks Luigi is in the game.
It's quite true there are a series of clues to hint Luigi's appearance in the ghost house in SM64DS, and the method described here is just the way to find him...
You see, Luigi is NOT a secret character in SM64.
The Original Super Smash Bros. proves this in its description of Luigi.
Rather, it is a reference to a game that has shared many references to the Mario series...
I am of course talking about the N64 LoZ game that also contained the infamous texture.
In LoZ, it reads something like this:
"Giant dead Dodongo
When it sees red
A new way to go will open"
In short, when you kill the Dodongo, a new pathway opens up.
This describes a similar way to reach Boo's haunt in SM64.
"Giant dead Boo
When it sees red (Mario)
A new way to go will open."
In SM64DS, Luigi's portrait is located in Boo's haunt.
So, there is a Luigi connection after all.
But, sadly, not in SM64.

Let there be blog!

And there was blog.
This is the first post of my new Mario column!
Thanks to Artemendo, Pyro-Sith, Reed and everyone else at Waluigious and MTfaMM!
There just aren't enough of these around, and the great ones that were, like Coin Heaven, have gone.
So...
Here's a new one!

~Tehlivingpencil