Super Mario 64 DS is such a fascinating remake because it changes so much from the original. The controls, the visuals, the progression system, and it even tweaks many of the levels in some truly fascinating ways. While I obviously prefer 64 overall for its smoother controls, replaying 64 DS made me realize that I actually prefer some of the levels in this version. So as a sort of followup to my Super Mario 64 level ranking, I wanted to go ahead and give my thoughts on each main stage in 64 DS and whether or not I think they're an upgrade or a downgrade compared to the original game.
Bob-Omb Battlefield
Bob-Omb Battlefield's DS version is definitely the most altered visually, with a far softer shade of grass. It gets off to a strong start with a new (and arguably better) King Bob-Omb fight that you can do as Yoshi. The useless sky island star was also completely removed, and replaced with a pretty fun Silver Star, so there are some positive changes here. However, as soon as the second mission, the cracks start to show. Star 2 is Koopa The Quick who you can only race as Mario, so you're forced to move on to another level pretty much immediately. My biggest issue with Bob-Omb Battlefield was always the fact that you couldn't get all seven Stars in one clean run, and that's made even worse here. My other big issue with Bob-Omb Battlefield was Mario Wings To The Sky and it's also worse here, since the modified Wing Cap physics means you can't just get all five secrets by aiming towards the first secret and letting go of the d-pad, making it a lot more irritating to get. As a result, I'd say Bob-Omb Battlefield in 64 DS has plenty of great changes but just enough annoying changes to prevent it from being a full upgrade.
Conclusion: Sidegrade
Whomp's Fortress
Whenever I think of modified 64 DS levels, Whomp's Fortress is always the first one that comes to mind as it adds an entirely new section at the bottom of the stage that takes great advantage of the Mega Mushroom and even includes the game's first Switch Star. No other stage in the game was transformed this much but I like the addition. Beyond that, the Hoot star was also dramatically fixed as not only does he feel way better to use in general, but the Star is on a floating island rather than a cage so Mario won't glitch out if he drops onto it the wrong way. With all my issues with Whomp's Fortress pretty much gone, I can easily call it one of my favorite stages in 64 DS.
Conclusion: Upgrade
Jolly Roger Bay
Jolly Roger Bay is yet another amazing improvement. Plunder The Sunken Ship in particular has all of its issues completely resolved. Unagi leaves the ship immediately rather than forcing you to look away, and the sunken ship only has one chest to hit making for a smoother difficulty curve. I always thought it was weird that you had to hit four chests underwater before hitting four chests on land in the cave, so I like this change a lot. And on top of all of that, there's a new Blue Coin spot with way more Blue Coins making the 100 coin star a lot easier to get. I truly can't think of any more improvements 64 DS could've made, Jolly Roger Bay is fantastic in this remake.
Conclusion: Upgrade
Cool Cool Mountain
Cool Cool Mountain barely has any changes. My one gripe is that tracking the rolling snowball is a bit trickier with 64 DS's camera but that's pretty much it. Otherwise, it's as great as it always was.
Conclusion: Basically The Same
Big Boo's Haunt
Once again, Big Boo's Haunt is pretty much exactly the same. The only notable difference is the fact that there is now a pane of glass blocking you from skipping the library star, but I don't really mind that since I've always liked the library star anyway.
Conclusion: Basically The Same
Hazy Maze Cave
Hazy Maze Cave is a mixed bag of changes. On one hand, this is pretty obviously the stage where the bottom screen map is at its most useful, and it especially helps with navigating the toxic maze. I also like the redone Watch The Rolling Rocks since it actually involves the rolling rocks. On the other hand, this is obviously meant to be Wario's main focal stage which sucks because Wario isn't very fun to play as. This also comes at the cost of Dorrie feeling pretty useless compared to the original game as the Star centered around her has been changed to focus on Wario instead.
Conclusion: Sidegrade
Lethal Lava Land
Lethal Lava Land's improvements are fairly subtle, but nonetheless great. For starters, there's now a big Blue Coin chain utilizing the Shell which means you can get 100 coins outside the volcano fairly easily. One of my biggest gripes with LLL is the fact that you can't leave the volcano if you enter so you have to make sure you have enough coins if you're going for the 100 coin star, but that's not really an issue here anymore. On top of that, the new Silver Star is probably my favorite in the entire game as it's entirely built around using the Shell, expanding on LLL in a natural and organic way.
Conclusion: Upgrade
Sinking Sand Land
Sinking Sand Land is the first stage in 64 DS that I felt was actively worse than the original. For starters, 64 DS's camera and controls just don't feel built for this stage, I had a lot of issues with navigating some of the thin platforms here. But otherwise, I have two main issues. First off, the original game let you skip standing on the four pillars by ledge-grabbing the entrance to Eyerok, but now it's blocked with a Brick instead. I didn't mind BBH's shortcut being blocked off, but it's more glaring here because I don't love spending more time outside than I need to. On top of that, unlike in LLL, the 100 coins star hasn't been fixed at all. The exterior and interior have roughly the same amount of coins, and you just have to hope you got enough coins from outside before entering the pyramid because you can't leave.
Conclusion: Downgrade
Dire Dire Docks
In my ranking, I mentioned Dire Dire Docks felt a bit incomplete, but I'm pleased to say this has been remedied somewhat in 64 DS. The first area in particular feels a lot more polished and fleshed-out. There are more enemies to deal with, more coins to collect, the Manta's rings have a more natural hitbox, the Chests In The Current star has less chests to deal with making it feel a bit less cheap, and there's even some land at the top of the lake housing a Switch Star. On top of that, like with JRB, there are way more coins added making getting the 100 coin star far easier. The Bowser sub doesn't even lag the game anymore, how cool is that! My only gripe here is that, due to how the Power Flower works, Collect The Caps which was my favorite star in the original DDD is not around anymore. But otherwise, this is a top-to-bottom improvement of what was easily the worst stage in the original.
Conclusion: Upgrade
Snowman's Land
Man, this one just makes me sad. I always thought Snowman's Land was pretty underrated for its unique setpieces, but like half of them are gone in this version. The ice block maze has now been replaced with a stack of ice blocks you're expected to burn as Yoshi, how exciting. The igloo also isn't a maze anymore, just a pond with some Spindrifts. The Red Coins have also been moved to the igloo to account for a Silver Star mission in its place, but that just means the exterior ends up feeling a lot more empty. The only real positive I can say is that the igloo has more coins, but that's really it. I think most people would agree Snowman's Land got the shortest end of the stick in 64 DS.
Conclusion: Downgrade
Wet-Dry World
Wet-Dry World doesn't change too much. I do like the new last Silver Star that really tests your ability to change the water level, and I like that Luigi makes it easy to not have to rely on the Heave-Hos, but that's pretty much it. This was the best stage in the original, and it's still the best stage here.
Conclusion: Basically The Same
Tall Tall Mountain
Oh my god? Tall Tall Mountain is fixed! I always thought this stage has potential but suffered from forcing you to climb all the way up the mountain for most of its Stars. But in 64 DS, you'll unlock Hoot after the first mission so you only need climb the mountain once. This is the perfect solution to this issue, and it helps TTM's pacing so much. On top of that, the annoying monkey star is made easier with Yoshi, and the lonely mushroom is less annoying to reach with Luigi. However, they also ruined the 100 coin Star and badly too. You can't exit the slide anymore, meaning that you'll most-likely have to collect your 100th coin on the slide and climb back up to the Star which is an absolute pain. Never mind, Shifting Sand Land, this is the worst 100 coin star easily, and across both versions too. Actually atrocious stuff. So despite how impactful the Hoot change is, it's also balanced out by arguably the worst stage change in the game meaning I can't in good conscience call it a full upgrade.
Conclusion: Sidegrade
Tiny Huge Island
Tiny Huge Island still sucks, nothing's really changed there. The collision remains janky, and the island remains frustrating to navigate. I do like that parts of the huge island don't reduce your jump anymore, but it comes at the cost of some areas on the tiny island being near impossible to properly ledge-grab. However, for some reason the itty bitty secrets mission has been replaced with yet another Klepto mission for some ungodly reason. I actually liked the secrets mission because it actually made you explore the whole tiny island, so I'd easily call this a downgrade even if it is a minor one.
Conclusion: Downgrade
Tick Tock Clock
Tick Tock Clock is slightly more generous than the original stage in that you have a bit more solid ground to land on if you fall, and that the invisible walls are completely gone, but that's pretty much it. Ultimately, my big issue with TTC which was having to climb up the clock multiple times ala Tall Tall Mountain hasn't been fixed in this version.
Conclusion: Basically The Same
Rainbow Ride
Hate to end on a bit of an anticlimactic note, but Rainbow Ride really didn't change much. It's a shame too since this stage probably could've used an overhaul the most, but aside from integrating the Power Flowers into two stars, I can't say this stage is better or worse than the original.
Conclusion: Basically The Same
Overall, yeah this game is weird. While many of the level changes are absolute improvements like reworking Hoot and several 100 coin stars being made easier, there are also some baffling downgrades and omissions that left me scratching my head. It makes for a really unpredictable gameplay experience as someone who's way more knowledgeable about the original 64, but I think that's kinda cool.
