10 Video Games That Were WAY Ahead Of Their Time

Contrary to popular belief, Jumping Flash was the first true 3D platformer, not Super Mario 64. Nevertheless, the Italian plumber's first outing into the third dimension deserves all the glory, since it molded modern platforming into what it is today.

What stopped SM64 from being a generic platformer is how much time the developing team put into it. Rather than jumping right into devising massive levels, the developers spent months working on camera angles, analogue controls, and 3D mechanics. The controller went through over a hundred modifications to ensure exploring in a 3D environment felt effortless and fun.

Another crucial element to SM64 was the focus on exploration. Although SM64 was meant to have a level-clearing flagpole like in the original Super Mario Bros., Mario creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, made the levels objective-based.

For the first time, it was no longer about memorising when to jump or how many enemies you defeated. Instead, players were rewarded for exploring - a concept that's still used in nearly every modern sandbox title, whether that's Grant Theft Auto, Skyrim or Elden Ring.

Mario was so synonymous with sidescrolling at the time, it was hard to picture a polygonal version of Nintendo's moustachioed mascot. But not only did our pasta-loving hero make a perfect transition into 3D, Super Mario 64 showed the world how a 3D platformer should be.