Super Mario 64 is one of the gaming industry's most iconic video games for a good reason - Nintendo took a much-beloved franchise into the new era of video gaming.
The game took us to see many worlds we would only previously see as a 2D background in a side-scrolling platformer. Aside from exploring various worlds, it introduced gamers to the franchise's characters in 3D for the first time.
However, an indie video game developer took the game's formula upside down and released a game that felt so wrong but felt so right.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is what Another Princess Is In Our Castle is.
Plot And Gameplay
Another Princess Is In Our Castle is a game being developed by Claudio Mondin, a video game developer and an avid fan of Super Mario 64.
He mentioned in the official Another Princess Is In Our Castle webpage that it is a Super Mario 64-inspired horror experience that he is planning to expand into a full video game. However, as of the writing of this review, it only has a demo that features what the game offers.
The game is set in a universe where Princess Peach died five years before the game started. It is unknown if the events of Super Mario 64 already took place before the game began.
Regardless, players will take control of Mario as he visits Peach's castle five years after her death. However, something doesn't feel right after doing so. The castle feels empty and small, unlike its Super Mario 64 counterpart, wherein Mario can make acrobatic jumps without hitting the ceiling.
All the doors that led to the various paintings are locked save for the upper right door that leads to the room with stained glass windows.
Without spoiling too much of the demo, something will trigger the castle to become darker than usual, and a ghostly sound can be heard from behind.
The premise of the game is similar to survival games like Amnesia: The Dark Descent and Slender: The Eight Pages. Players have to collect several items while avoiding the ghost of Princess Peach herself to progress in the game.
The appearance of Princess Peach's ghost is a departure from what she looked like in Super Mario 64. She now sports an otherworldly look. However, this changes when she spots and chases Mario. During this time, her eyes will turn red while her mouth will run agape, revealing a set of sharp dagger-like teeth.
Peach also has a screech that serves as an alarm to players that she has found the player and will start pursuing them until she catches them.
Players can run from Peach's ghost, but Mario's limited stamina means that running isn't a permanent solution when she spots them. Thankfully, treasure chests big enough for Mario to hide in can be found scattered across the castle, though their locations could either help or hinder the player.
While the gameplay is familiar, its atmosphere isn't. Super Mario 64 players can feel during the game that things don't feel right with the game. It took something so familiar and nostalgic and gave it a twist that corrupts it into something that feels so wrong despite being familiar to them.
It also has a haunting and terrifying atmosphere that makes you not want to leave the first treasure chest you can get into. It's like you're in a Super Mario 64 creepypasta wherein you play a cursed copy of the game.
Soundtrack
The game doesn't feature much of a soundtrack. However, it does feature the castle's theme and the endless staircase theme from Super Mario 64. The castle theme is used when the player enters Peach's castle for the first time, while the endless staircase theme is triggered when Peach's ghost is in pursuit of the player.
The game also has creepy main menu music that encompasses the game's feel - anxiety-inducing.
Future Content
As previously mentioned, Another Princess Is In Our Castle is a Super Mario 64-inspired horror experience that Mondin is planning to expand into a full video game since all we have now is a demo.
Mondin promises players that more content will be added to the game in later updates. This effort is evidenced by Mondin adding the game's chase music and castle theme as background music, per the game's latest update.
He also made Peach's ghost faster, while Mario's speed remained the same, although his stamina consumption increased when he runs while its regeneration rate decreased.
Verdict
Another Princess Is In Our Castle is a must-play for any Super Mario 64 fans and fans of horror games in general. Its terrifying atmosphere and the way it corrupted Peach and her castle by just dimming the lights and turning the princess into a demonic ghost is superb.
I can give this game a 7/10 and a recommendation for anyone who wants a scare this Halloween season.
Here's hoping that the game does reach completion.
