Ever wonder what the main castle from Nintendo 64 gaming classic "Super Mario 64" would look like if it were lovingly re-created in the latest version of "Minecraft?"
Two fellows who play "Minecraft" teamed up to take on the challenge:
The results are stunning.
This aerial shot is a taste of the incredible detail you'll find inside.
Upon closer inspection, you'll notice the iconic stained glass featuring Princess Peach.
It is her castle after all.
The rear courtyard is thankfully free of the Boos that normally haunt it.
Since the original game has a larger inside than the outside lets on, the two builders had to make the castle slightly larger than normal.
According to the level's co-creator, care of Reddit, "We didn't realize this when we started, but the scale between the interior and exterior of the castle in the original [Nintendo 64] game is... Not quite right. For example there's no possible way that staircase leading up to the final Bowser boss could fit inside the castle without making the exterior way bigger than it already is."
Here's another angle, with Peach looking into her main foyer.
The lighting in some rooms has been carefully re-created.
And yes, even the paintings (where you would normally enter game levels) are included.
You'll want to jump through the one on the right, obviously. Secret slide level!
There are no yellow rabbits to chase down here (that we've seen, anyway).
The two-tone floor remains fantastic, years later.
What's that in the distance?
Ah yes, a hidden fire level amidst the flooded basement.
The original wasn't quite as creepy. Thanks "Minecraft!"
There are creative uses of "Minecraft" blocks all over the place, from the black and white dyed blocks to the obsidian in this room:
It's amazing how directly many of these rooms are re-created.
Heading upstairs, there's painting after painting being re-created.
But how did all the artwork from the original "Super Mario 64" end up in this re-creation? There's a simple explanation (below the image):
"We used an online tool to convert images into 'Minecraft' maps. Here is the website if anyone wants to do the same thing. The colors won't be 100% accurate, but it is much more flexible than a resource pack with custom paintings. I highly recommend it," one of the level's co-creators explained on Reddit.
Here's more of the castle's upper level:
And here's the best level in the game, the clock tower level. There's even a "Mario Kart" level dedicated to it!
And finally, the big enchilada: Bowser himself!
The re-creation is all the more striking with the gorgeous sky of "Minecraft" as backdrop:
Majestic!
If you want to download and explore this re-creation, you totally can! You'll need the latest version of "Minecraft" on a PC, and you'll need to download this file right here. Enjoy!