What a classic game, everyone and their brother has played this game. Mario 64 is not only an amazing game, but was revolutionary for the gaming world. It completely changed the way platformers were made forever. All that being said, Mario 64 has excellent level design. The landscapes are beautiful and most everything in a level has a purpose, whether its to challenge the gamer or to enhance the appearance of the level itself. Not all these levels are amazing, but each one can be quite an enjoyable experience. So without any further delay, here are my top five levels in Mario 64.

5) The Princess’s Secret Slide

Alright, this one isn’t much, but come on which one of you out there didn’t spend hours playing this course? I have great memories of trying to beat my brothers best time on the slide. This level was just about having fun. While it didn’t have as much to offer as other levels, I still found myself coming back to this secret slide. If I ever had trouble getting a star, I would just come back to the slide to take a break and just relax for a while.

4) Tall, Tall Mountain

This one only makes number four on the list, because while it is very fun and challenging, it is a bit bland. This level has a limited color pallet, mainly consisting of grey and brown. With so many other visually stimulating levels, that offer an equal or greater amount of fun, this level just can’t place any higher on the list. Still though one of my favorite levels for its challenging courses.

3) Rainbow Ride

I love this level. The first time you drop Mario into the level, the music makes it very clear that this level will be fast passed. Side note, this music is just amazing, if ou haven’t heard it before, click here to give it a listen. Any way this level moves quickly, so you have to be ready to move with it. Each challenge comes at you and you have to react within an instant or Mario will die. So yeah this is a challenging level, but it is also pretty cool visually. Mario is in the sky the whole time, riding magic carpets on rainbows, going on a sky ship, and solving sky puzzles. Yeah! Sky puzzles!

2) Dire Dire Docks

This level has my favorite melody in the entire game. Click here for a listen. The Docks is one of the water levels in the game. Unlike most water levels in games, I really enjoy playing this one. The landscape is a cool mix of an industrial dock and a lake. Each course offers a new and unique challenge. Now that I think about it, its probably in my top five water levels of all time. The Bowser’s Sub mission in particular is really fun. Mainly because after you collect the star from this mission, you get to fight Bowser again! So I guess its more rewarding then fun… any way great level.

1) Whomp’s Fortress

This may be only the second level in the game, but I feel it has the most to offer. The layout itself is just fantastic. This level has many different parts to it, the depth of it is just amazing. On each mission, you will find yourself going to a different part of the fortress. Red Coins on the Floating Isle is my favorite. You have to jump from the top of the tower, to platforms in the sky, form there you must collect all the red coins. It may not sound like much but its quite enjoyable. This level is so good, it even made a re-appearance in Super Mario Galaxy 2. Everything about this level is great, the music, the challenge, the depth, most definitely the best level in the game.