A new demo for Super Mario 64 - Return to Yoshi's Island has been released. What is Super Mario 64 - Return to Yoshi's Island, you ask? It is a mod from developers Kaze, biobak and Badup based on Super Mario 64 that lets players experience a new adventure as Mario. It is playable on actual N64 hardware (via flashcarts) and this new demo only features the first level. According to a tweet from Kaze, its purpose is to collect feedback on Mario's movement and the new camera from testers via a survey.

Gameplay footage of the new demo has been shared by YouTube channel Project Longplay, providing a decent look at the progress made by the developers:

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[SDA]

Return to Yoshi's Island, huh? This hack better feature stuff from the Yoshi's Island games or else it won't live up to its name.

 

[BETA215]

This Kaze dude has been making groundbreaking changes. This isn't just another hack.
Best of luck in his endeavours. I bet it must be an awesome ROM hack

 

[ZeroFX]

not a big deal, the game has the source out

 

[Lodad]

I'm not crazy about the level design that I've seen so far across his videos and it doesn't really have any Yoshi's Island aesthetics, but DANG if he's not pushing the capabilities of the system to the max. The mechanics upgrades are good QoL as well. I would love to play it once it's finished to see how it performs on the MiSTer.

 

[KiiWii]

not a big deal, the game has the source out

He has rewritten most of the source.

It’s his custom engine that runs on real hardware. It’s a big deal.

 

[osaka35]

I'd recommend watching his youtube channel where he breaks down how the n64 deals with data, and his efforts to tweak the code to the point he can get 60fps with all this expanded gameplay and scenery.

This is not some mario 64 mod. This is more like a rewrite, tweaking out the most performance the n64 is possible of. It's just...brilliant coding. He makes the n64 go vroom vroom. Seriously, go check out his youtube channel.

 

[Robert Newbie]

I always appreciate new developments from Kaze. I've lost track of all his projects, is Return to Yoshi's Island the "main" one? Like, the one that will have all the big assembly-level changes that'll turn Super Mario 64 into the most sophisticated N64 game ever created by man?

That reminded me to check up on Skelux. I'm not sure how his health is, but he's still working on Super Mario Star World as of November.

Good luck to all the SM64 modders out there.

 

[The Catboy]

Really hope this doesn’t draw the attention of the Big N. We need more projects like this while we wait for Nintendo to finish dragging their feet on everything else

 

[BlusterBong]

I'd recommend watching his youtube channel where he breaks down how the n64 deals with data, and his efforts to tweak the code to the point he can get 60fps with all this expanded gameplay and scenery.

This is not some mario 64 mod. This is more like a rewrite, tweaking out the most performance the n64 is possible of. It's just...brilliant coding. He makes the n64 go vroom vroom. Seriously, go check out his youtube channel.

I'll believe it when he actually releases the rewritten code on GitGud or some other code hosting site

 

[KanaKonpaku]

I always like the stuff Kaze makes, but my issue nowadays is I prefer playing things on the Mario 64 decomp PC Port and would rather play it with the enhancements you get from it versus emulating the rom. I'll still probably check this out, but I find the ease of the PC Port much better.

 

[AshuraZro]

I’m very excited to check this out. What he’s been doing to the engine for the past few years is crazy.

 

[eigenvector]

this is actually really cool

 

[BingusMcgee]

Some of the comments in this thread are hilarious, please watch Kaze's channel and listen to him explain what he is working on. This is a big deal, and it is extrenely interesting work. He is optimising and upscaling almslt everything in SM64 within engine. It is cool and ground breaking work. Do nlt dismiss the awesomejob Kaze is doing!

 

[ciro64]

As someone who has Mario 64 as their favorite I'm really looking forward this. I haven't played some romhacks in the past because they feel like romhacks, but this? It's a whole damn game!

Kaze is my biggest example of why modders should be allowed to receive donations for what they do.

Speaking of which, how did he managed to keep this up? Didn't Nintendo went after his patreon at least once or twice? It's commendable that he just keeps going.

 

[KiiWii]

1.05 is out now too. Lots of fixes.

And compatibility with the iQue player

 

[ZeroFX]

He has rewritten most of the source.

It’s his custom engine that runs on real hardware. It’s a big deal.

Yes, it's something you can do with the source code available.

 

[DJ-Yoshiman]

Yes, it's something you can do with the source code available.

I'm glad you agree!

 

[Beware]

Yes, it's something you can do with the source code available.

Strong entry for “dumbest comment on Temp” today. Tell us more about how you understand nothing about this project or Kaze or the N64 or modding or game design or programming or source code etc

 

[Osha]

Strong entry for “dumbest comment on Temp” today. Tell us more about how you understand nothing about this project or Kaze or the N64 or modding or game design or programming or source code etc

Don't bother, they're infamous for being inflammatory toward anything and everything. Anyone with eyes can tell it's impressive work.