I've played a huge number of games over the years, on everything from Atari to Xbox, and when all is said and done, Mario 64 is probably the most fun I've ever had with a single game.

Everything about this game is brilliant. The characters are warm and full of life, the environments are visually striking and brimming with activity, and the non-linear format of the game means you can pick it up and put it down at will.

Even after you've completed enough of the game to effectively "finish" it, there's plenty more to do. There's always more to do in this game.

Perhaps Mario 64's greatest achievement is that even at its most challenging, it's never frustrating. The game is never difficult in any nerve-wracking way, but it's not simple by any means. It's a large game, and while the gameplay is essentially just a 3D version of platforming standards we've already seen a dozen times, its carried out so flawlessly that it all seems fresh again.

Don't be put off by its all-ages label. This is a game for everyone, from kids to adults. I have never met a gamer who didn't take to this game immediately. Some more than others, of course, but even the most die-hard action gamer will find themselves smiling the first time they watch Mario jump around and yell "yipee!".

These days if you look around, you can pick up a Nintendo 64 with an extra controller and Mario 64 for under $50. This is a major bargain, and a package no gamer should be without.