How much was Mario 64 when it came out?
As a life-long Nintendo fan, I still vividly remember picking up my copy of Super Mario 64 on launch day back in September 1996. This groundbreaking 3D platformer retailed for $59.99 – the standard $10 premium that Nintendo commanded for marquee titles launching on its new Nintendo 64 console.
Adjusted for inflation, that $59.99 price point would equate to $109 in 2023 money. So while definitely not cheap, Super Mario 64 offered a legitimate value proposition as one of the N64‘s must-have killer apps. Let‘s dive deeper into the history and method behind Mario 64‘s revolutionary – yet pricey – launch.
Nintendo‘s Premium Pricing Power
Nintendo has enjoyed strong pricing power in the console gaming space since revitalizing the industry with the NES in 1985. Back then, premium NES releases like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda retailed for $49.99. This set a baseline expectation of quality and value at a time when console gaming was still recovering.
Fast forward to 1996, and Nintendo had firmly re-established its dominance with the SNES console. Iconic SNES releases like Super Mario World, F-Zero, and Star Fox sold for around $59.99 as the new standard price for flagship Nintendo releases.
So when Nintendo announced its new Ultra 64 (later the Nintendo 64) console for September 29th, 1996, the $59.99 pricing for Super Mario 64 made perfect sense. Nintendo was transitioning its most acclaimed franchise into 3D; for consumers, this signaled that Mario 64 would be a showcase title worth paying up for.
The Console Pricing Arms Race
Beyond Mario‘s inherent allure, the market landscape also facilitated Nintendo pricing Super Mario 64 at a premium. The Nintendo 64‘s other chief rivals – Sony‘s PlayStation and Sega‘s Saturn – launched in 1995 for $299 and $399 respectively.
With rumors swirling that Nintendo‘s new console would be significantly more advanced thanks to its 64-bit architecture, speculation mounted that it could launch for $350 or more. Instead, Nintendo introduced the revolutionary N64 for a scant $199 – directly in line with Sony‘s recent PlayStation price cut.
| Console | Launch Year | Launch Price |
| Nintendo 64 | 1996 | $199 |
| Sony PlayStation | 1995 | $299 |
| Sega Saturn | 1995 | $399 |
This strategic $199 price point drove massive demand for the new console. And with Super Mario 64 confirmed as a launch title showing off the new console’s graphical capabilities, Nintendo could justify sticking to the tried-and-true $59.99 price tag. Early adopters were more than willing to pay a premium for Mario’s 3D debut.
The Triumphant Debut of 3D Gaming
As an avid reader of gaming magazines like Nintendo Power and EGM in 1996, the hype around Super Mario 64’s impending launch reached fever pitch for me. The screenshot spreads blew my middle school mind – Mario in FULL 3D?! Way more fluid movement than clunky polygonal fare like the PlayStation‘s Jumping Flash? Sign me up!
Beyond the graphical wizardry, I distinctly remember the reviews hailing Super Mario 64 as a revolutionary synthesis of gameplay innovation and technical prowess. The new camera system, playground-like 3D environments, and focus on exploration/discovery delivered an experience of seemingly limitless possibilities.
Even today I consider Mario 64 to be a timeless masterpiece; no Nintendo console has ever had software that showcased new technical capabilities as brilliantly right out of the gate. Between the nostalgia and cherished memories of wonder it instilled, I‘d argue the quality and magic justified its premium launch pricing.
Success Validates the $59.99 Investment
In the end, Super Mario 64 sold over 11 million copies globally – cementing its place as the Nintendo 64‘s killer app alongside Goldeneye 007 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. For early N64 adopters, Mario 64 was the must-have game that justified the new console purchase and made systems hard to find that holiday season.
Nintendo‘s software attach rates have always trounced the competition – people buy Nintendo consoles explicitly for tentpole Nintendo exclusives. By sticking to the established $59.99 pricing for Super Mario 64‘s launch, Nintendo reinforced that its iconic franchises command a premium.
In terms of historical console launches, bundling Mario 64 with the N64 at $199 stands among Nintendo‘s shrewdest, most impactful hardware/software strategy plays. Gamers who took the plunge on Mario 64 and the cutting-edge N64 were richly rewarded with an all-time classic platforming experience. Anecdotally, getting my N64 in ‘96 with Mario 64 as my first game set me on a glorious gaming journey that transformed childhood afternoons.
While far from cheap in literal dollar terms, adjusted pricing proves Nintendo‘s $59.99 valuation of Mario 64 matched other benchmark console titles. Factor in inflation, and Mario 64‘s original $59.99 MSRP sits below modern AAA standard edition pricing. Yet it could be argued this single cartridge delivered more platforming innovation than many franchises manage across multiple generations.
Ultimately, Super Mario 64 represented a watershed moment for both Nintendo and 3D games. By maintaining its premium software pricing standards at launch, Nintendo underscored that Mario‘s impeccable pedigree warranted the investment. And for millions of dazzled gamers, Super Mario 64 proved well worth the full $59.99. Over 25 years later, I‘d argue it still does.
