Experience Luigi's Presence in Super Mario 64 Through an Unconventional Approach

Last month, a video was uploaded to a small Japanese YouTube account that has now become a significant part of video game history. At the 13:20 mark of the video, which was uploaded to the Now In Game Channel account on November 22, there is a brief glimpse of what appears to be the first-ever known footage of Luigi in Super Mario 64. The footage shows a few monitors at Nintendo's booth from the 1995 Space World convention in Japan, with one of the monitors flashing to a room with checkerboard flooring. In the room, a tall figure in a green shirt, green hat, and overalls can be seen performing the SM64 spin jump and floating to the ground.

According to VGC, the footage aligns with a 1996 interview with Nintendo head Shigeru Miyamoto in an official Japanese strategy guide, where he mentioned Luigi as an intended second playable character. In the interview, Miyamoto talks about an area that closely resembles the stage seen on the monitor, specifically the "room made of simple Lego-like blocks," where the two plumbers could "run around in there, climb slopes, jump around," and more.

The newly uncovered video surfaces three years after a major leak of internal Nintendo information revealed Luigi's character model from Super Mario 64 for the first time. In a 2009 interview, Miyamoto and late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata also discussed the game's multiplayer mode, which apparently utilized split-screen technology to keep both characters on-screen.

Mario, Luigi, and many more are playable in the duo's latest adventure, Super Mario Wonder, which is available now exclusively for Nintendo Switch.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z netizen, I am thrilled by the discovery of this old VHS tape that reveals Luigi's presence in Super Mario 64. It's amazing to think that after all these years, we are still uncovering secrets about this iconic game. The footage is a fascinating glimpse into the development process of Super Mario 64, and it's exciting to imagine what the game could have been like if Luigi had been included as a playable character.

I also appreciate the historical significance of this discovery. The fact that this footage was found on an old VHS tape is a reminder of the importance of preserving our gaming history. In an era where digital media is so prevalent, it's easy to forget about the physical artifacts that came before. This VHS tape is a valuable piece of gaming history, and I'm glad that it has been preserved for future generations to enjoy.