Super Mario 64 GBA Port Showcases Major Progress: Joshua Barretto’s Ambitious Fan Project

Super Mario 64 GBA Port Showcases Major Progress: Joshua Barretto’s Ambitious Fan Project When Super Mario 64 made its portable debut alongside the Nintendo DS in 2004, it redefined the possibilities for handheld gaming.

Now, modder and developer Joshua Barretto is pushing the boundaries even further by rewriting the N64 classic specifically for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo's beloved handheld predecessor to the DS.

This ambitious homebrew project continues to garner attention across the gaming community, most recently highlighted in an in-depth video report by prominent YouTuber Nathaniel Bandy. Barretto's Game Boy Advance adaptation of Super Mario 64 has advanced considerably since its initial spotlight in May 2024.

The latest showcase reveals that not only has a fully functioning Mario character model been implemented, but players can now switch between various fan-favorite characters, including Yoshi, Luigi, and the Koopaling Larry, through a streamlined in-game selection feature accessible via the pause and select buttons.

This expanded roster elevates the experience, offering unique playstyles seldom seen in classic Mario adaptations. The development of this ambitious project has grown into a collaborative effort.

Barretto's recent credits acknowledge crucial contributions from fellow developers and enthusiasts, such as @larrykoopa64dshacker64, @Smol_bug, and @Pack64.

Their teamwork has accelerated enhancements across numerous aspects of the game. Significant graphical improvements are also on display in the latest updates.

The environments within the GBA port exhibit substantial refinement, boasting enriched textures, added detail, and improved graphical fidelity.

In addition, Barretto and his collaborators have successfully integrated core mechanics from the original Nintendo 64 release, including swimming, sliding, enemy encounters, and the quest for stars.

Despite Game Boy Advance’s hardware limitations—lacking a GPU and native floating-point support—these advances underline the technical prowess and dedication behind the project. Speaking on the project's technical challenges, Barretto clarified, "This is not actually Super Mario 64: it's my attempt at rewriting SM64 for the GBA." He elaborated, "Initially, I considered attempting a straight port, but the GBA is significantly slower than the N64 and has no built-in hardware support for some essential features.

So far, I've built fundamental physics, collision handling, a 3D camera, rasterization, texture-mapping, and transparency from scratch." While the project is still a work in progress and far from a complete 1:1 recreation of the Nintendo 64 classic, the achievements so far have been widely praised within retro gaming and Nintendo homebrew circles.

Barretto’s transparency with development progress—and his intention to eventually release the rewritten code into the public domain—has fostered a dedicated following eager for every update.

However, he has noted that, due to the code being created from scratch, the eventual public release will exclude any original Nintendo assets, ensuring compliance with copyright statutes. Fans interested in following development can subscribe to Joshua Barretto’s YouTube channel for further updates and gameplay showcases.

This ongoing project not only highlights the enduring legacy of Super Mario 64 but also celebrates the creativity and technical ingenuity thriving in the Nintendo fan development scene.

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