Super Mario 64: Every Level Ranked From Worst To Best
6. Cool, Cool Mountain
The first snowbound level is another early jump up in difficulty for the player. It resides in the castle lobby and can be accessed with just three stars, but this is likely the first time the player will find themselves repeatedly falling to their deaths after a false move.
It can boast some of the game’s most distinctive, memorable, and best power stars. While the developers pad things out by awarding two stars for going down the secret slide, once alone, once racing a penguin, it’s so fun that you’re unlikely to complain.
The task of reuniting the mother penguin with her baby is another unforgettable one, especially for those who embraced their dark side by chucking the chick off the cliff after gaining their spoils.
A fun, well-sized level with no dud power stars, this falls down only because there’s not a great deal of scope for smart platforming on the icy, vertical course. It’s a world made for its individual moments, rather than free-running exploration, which is a big part of the magic of Mario.