Game developer is pushing the limits of the Nintendo 64

Screenshot of Kaze's Mario 64 mod

Published: Oct 7, 2024, 4:15PM

Kaze Emanuar, a prominent figure in the Super Mario 64 modding community, has been pushing the limits of the game and the Nintendo 64 hardware. He has optimized the game to run six times faster than the original, using these performance gains to add numerous visual upgrades. I’ve been following this game's developments very closely so in this article, we will explore many of these visual enhancements:

Solar Flare

Kaze added solar flare to the game:

Improved Star Visuals

Greatly improved how the star looks:

Normal Maps

Kaze also implemented normal maps, a method that gives depth to surfaces by giving data to textures on how light should be reflected on them, making them appear more three-dimensional:

Grass Particles

Added particles whenever Mario walks on grass:

Improved Lightning

Improved how light reflects on Mario based on nearby surfaces:

Nose Physics

Here's a funny one, he's also been exploring ways to make Mario feel more alive by adding body physics. Here, he shows off his implementation of nose jiggle physics:

These are just a few of the many improvements Kaze has made to the game. Be sure to check out his social media accounts, as he's actively working on this Super Mario 64 mod called "Return to Yoshi's Island".