How to Play Super Mario 64 DS

Start a new save file. There will be three save files to choose from for the game, all of which will be empty if you have a new copy of the game.

• If you want to clear an old save file, select "File Options" at the bottom the files screen, and then select "Delete", and choose which file you would like to delete.
• If you want to copy a save file to another file, select "File Options" once again at the bottom of the files screen, and select one file. Then select which file you would like to copy the first file to.

Allow the opening cutscene to play. The cutscene is officially complete once Yoshi wakes up from his nap on the ground, so when you see that, you're free to start the game.

Catch the rabbit who has the key to unlock the castle. When you start the game, you'll walk up to the castle and Lakitu will talk to you. He'll say that you need to find the key to unlock the castle. Know then that there will be a yellow rabbit hopping around in the courtyard. Run after him and catch him by pressing A to stick your tongue out when you're close enough. He'll then give you the key to the castle, and you are free to enter and officially start your adventure.

Enter Peach's Castle. A brief message from Bowser will pop up, but nothing will happen. If you'd like, you can speak to the Toad near the door, and he'll give you some backstory of the game.

Enter the room leading to Bob-Omb Battlefield. This is the door to the left that has a star on it, but no number. Jump inside of the painting to be taken to the level-select screen.

Beat the first level of Bob-Omb Battlefield. To do this, make your way to the top of the mountain in this level. A battle with King Bob-Omb will then start up. To beat him, as Yoshi simply eat the Bob-Ombs that he throws at you, and quickly spit them out back at him. Once you do this three times, he will finally cough up your first star.

Recognize that you have a lot more choices for what to do now that you have your first star. You can either go in and obtain the second star of Bob-Omb Battlefield, or you can move on to the second level, Whomp's Fortress. You can also attempt a secret star level, the Princess's Secret Slide, if you'd like.

Continue getting more power stars. As you get more stars in levels, more levels should open up, and you'll have a lot more freedom for what you can do. However, note that some stars require certain characters, so if you don't have that character, then you won't be able to get that particular star.

Beat the first Bowser boss battle when you are able to. In order to be able to even enter the level, you must have Mario unlocked and be playing as him, as well as 8 stars. Once you've met those requirements, head to the giant door with a star on it, which is up the staircase in the middle of the castle and to the left. Once you've opened the door, walk towards the painting, which looks like Princess Peach. As you get closer, the painting changes to Bowser, and a trap door opens beneath you, and you fall into the level. To beat the level, travel all the way through it, and go into the green warp pipe at the end. You will then enter the battle after a brief message from him. In order to beat him, grab him by pressing the A button, then swing him around by drawing circles on the touch screen using the stylus or your fingers. Once you throw him into one of the spikes on the edge of the Arena, you'll have won the battle. Take the key that he turns into, and you'll leave the level.

Know what door that the key he gave you opens. This key will open the door to the basement, which is through the brown door in the castle, with nothing on it, not even a star, and down the stairs that are in there. This will open up multiple new levels for you to try.

Play the next levels that are down in the basement. There are multiple to choose from, with multiple different themes, so play as many of them as you'd like. Once you have achieved 30 stars, you're able to tackle the second boss battle of the game.

Beat the second Bowser boss battle. As said above you need 30 stars to open this door, which looks the same as the door to the first Bowser battle. In case you missed it, when you first walk into the basement, go to the left and you should notice the door. You must again also must be playing as Mario. When the door opens, you should notice a blue portal. In order to officially unlock the second Bowser boss battle, you must get the first star this course, Dire Dire Docks. The first star is pretty easy, and all you have to do is travel through a tunnel that can be found once you go underwater, and find a sub with a Bowser logo on it at the other side of the tunnel. Once you've found it, climb on the sub and obtain the star. Once you have it, you should notice the portal moved back and a hole appeared, jump in this hole to enter the level. Navigate this tricky course until you get to a green funnel looking thing, jump in it and enter the battle with Bowser. The procedure to beat him is the exact same, except now Bowser has added teleportation and moving the arena to his list of tricks. Beat him and he'll give you another key.

Know what this key opens. This key opens that door with a keyhole that you probably noticed at the top of the first castle staircase. This will lead to another room with stairs. Walk up those stairs and enter to find even more levels for you to play through.

Play the new levels until you reach 50 stars. Once you've reached 50 stars, you will be able to open yet another big star door that you may have noticed upon entering the new area. It is slightly to the right and up another staircase. You don't need Mario for this door to open, however.

Notice the few new levels that are available to you. These are the last levels in the game, and you don't need to jump into typical paintings for any of them. One of the levels, Tick Tock Clock, is found when you jump into a clock that you should see when you first walk into the room, and the two others, Rainbow Ride and a secret star (explained later) level, are found by jumping into holes that you'll find in the two alcove-like areas at the sides of the room. Accessing them might be easier with Luigi or Yoshi because of their flutter jump ability.

Collect at least 80 stars. To do this, you may need to go back to previous levels, but these new levels will also provide you with stars. Once you have 80 stars, you'll be able to open the door to the final Bowser boss battle, which will mean you're one step closer to saving the princess.

Beat the final Bowser boss battle. As stated above, you must have 80 stars, and yet again be playing as Mario. Walk up to the door, and watch the cutscene for a third time, and enter. Begin the ascent up the stairs and you'll see a painting of Bowser, and a hole in front of it. Go in the hole, and you'll be in the final battle. This course is very tricky, but navigate it the best you can, even though it may take you a couple tries. Keep going until you reach the final green warp pipe. Enter it, and you'll be in the final boss battle of the game. Scroll through Bowser's message again and start the battle. The procedure is almost the same, but now he has more tricks, such as jumping and producing electric shock waves, and new fire breathing techniques. Also, you must hit him into spikes three times instead of the usual one. After the second time, he will break the arena into a star, so be prepared. Once you've beat him, collect the final star, and you'll automatically have a wing cap, and fly out of the level and outside the castle. Congratulations, you've beaten Super Mario 64 DS!

Watch the final cutscene and the credits. These can be annoying, but while they're going, celebrate because you've officially beaten the game.

Catch rabbits to get keys for the mini-game room. This is a fun, extra sidequest type adventure that you can have.

• Each character has their own unique rabbits to catch. Each catches seven (for a total of 28) and the color variations and locations vary from character to character. Yoshi's rabbits are yellow, Mario's rabbits are pink, Luigi's rabbits are green, and Wario's rabbits are orange. There are also some white, glowing rabbits that can appear when playing as any character in place of the regular rabbits), and they're needed to access a secret room in the character selection area (the one with no logo above it), and get a secret star.

Find the Castle's Secret Stars. These are hidden stars around the castle that are needed if you are attempting to obtain all 150 stars.

• All "character unlock" levels - the levels played to unlock Mario, Luigi, and Wario - have Red Coin stars. There is also a switch star in the Mario Level, a star in the Luigi level which needs to be obtained by grabbing a power flower as Luigi, and going into the boo picture in the last room before the boss, and a star in the Wario level that needs to be obtained by punching a black box as Wario.
• All the Bowser boss battles have red coin stars as well as switch stars to obtain.
• The are two secret stars in Peach's Secret Slide, located in the right-hand stained-glass window in the character select room. Jump into the window, and you'll get one star for simply beating the slide and hitting the yellow box at the end, and one for beating the slide in under 21 seconds.
• There are two stars in the switch tower, located in the foyer. Playing as Mario, step into the painting of the sun, hit X, and use the D-pad to look up. By activating the switch at the center of the level, you'll get a star. You can also get another star by gathering the red coins.
• In the minigame room, jump into the painting on the left-hand wall. Collect all the 5 silver stars in this level to obtain a star of your own.
• In the courtyard, which can be found by following the Boo that you'll see when you enter the first door that leads the basement, kill all the Boos and collect their 8 red coins to obtain a star. Also in the courtyard, head off to the side until you see three red brick blocks. Break them, enter the level and collect the five silver stars. However, be aware that these can be quite hard to obtain.
• There are three stars located throughout the castle being held by the Toads. One is the toad near the pool that leads to Hazy Maze Cave, one is the toad located near the painting for Tall Tall Mountain, and the last one is the toad that is slightly to the right of the clock for Tick Tock Clock. They'll only give stars when you collect 20, 40, and 60 stars, respectively.
• Located in the castle's moat, make sure that you have lowered the water level for this. Play as Wario, find the black brick, and punch it. Then fall into the hole where the brick was. There are two stars here, one of them can be found by going through a series of platforming, and the other is an 8 red coin star.
• In the room for Jolly Roger bay, look to the side, and there should be an alcove. Jump into this to enter an 8 red coin level. Swim through the level and collect all 8 red coins to achieve a star. However, be aware that you won't have an opportunity to come up for air, so make sure you constantly collect coins.
• In the room with the mirrors that you go in to unlock Wario, go in as Luigi, and collect a power flower. Go to the other side of the mirror and enter the door to get a star.
• In the alcove opposite of the Rainbow Ride level, there are two stars to obtain in this secret level. First off, you can get 8 red coins, by playing as Mario and using the wing cap. You can also play as Wario and get a star by shooting out of a cannon to other various clouds in the level.
• In Behind the Waterfall, which is a level that can be accessed through Hazy Maze Cave, there is an 8 red coin star, which can be only obtained by becoming Wario and grabbing a power flower, as well as a star which can only be obtained by grabbing a power flower as Mario, and floating directly up from the spot you got the flower.

Use the touch screen map to your advantage. You may notice a map at the bottom of your screen. This map is super helpful when you're obtaining stars as it will show you where they are located. Also, if you talk to a pink Bob-Omb, it will show you where 8 red coins are if you are going for that star.