85
The learning curve of this title is still a dream and the game is just as good as it always was. The new modes are icing on the vitamin.
80
In only a few days my anti-videogame girlfriend had become a wide-eyed, pixel staring “let me try this level just one more time” gaming geek.
70
While not as exciting or enduring as Nintendo's last puzzle game, "The New Tetris," Dr. Mario is a legitimate and satisfying puzzle game that is executed rather nicely in this four-player-focused package.
7
I bought this game at a thrift shop the other day and it was not that bad. Sure, the game is just a puzzle game but at least there is 4 player spilt screen.
6
Dr. Mario is kinda the last game I expected to have a story, but having 2 stories to go through was a surprising development. You can play as either Mario or Wario in the main campaign, basically on a constant chase to the next area to get the miracle cure that was established in the beginning. But really it's not a story to write home about, but it does provide you with two new characters to play with if you are able to beat both campaigns without using continues. A feat I can't say I really accomplished...Again, I honestly was just expecting for more of the same Dr. Mario from the original NES days, but they really did step up what the game had to offer by also providing multiplayer matches, score attack, and a few other neat modes. These are all things I didn't really know I wanted in a Dr. Mario game, but honestly feels like a no brainer after seeing games like Puyo Puyo, Magic Drop, and heck even **** game is honestly the same as it ever was, and really you couldn't ask more from the gameplay when it was already so well established in the early NES days. Gameplay is the standard matching 4 of the same color either vertically or horizontally to either clear a row or eliminate a virus(es) of the same color. Sure there are now multiplayer ways to screw with your opponents, but if you're like me you're really just focused on eliminating the virus in a battle before time runs out. Which, Ill be honest, isn't the best when you could be properly doing combos to help screw over your opponent. Dr. Mario is particularly a puzzle game that can get really out of hand when things don't go as planned due to the way viruses are structured into a play area; leaving little room for error to begin with. If this sounds particularly hard for you, which it did for me, I strongly suggest playing with save states ala Nintendo Switch Online or OTHER.I don't think Dr. Mario is really a must have game by any accounts as a lot of the newer Dr. Mario games probably have a lot more going for it in terms of multiplayer, and features, but 64 is clearly a sign of Nintendo stepping up the series as a whole. Absolutely a solid 64 title back in the day, and even has some merit with a story campaign attached to it too.
5
A fairly typical block-matching puzzle game that's a little too tricky for the age range it seems to be pitched at.
Dr. Mario 64
Nintendo 64
Released On:
Apr 8, 2001
Metascore
Mixed or Average
71
User score
Mixed or Average
6.8
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
46% Positive
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
46% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
8% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
100
This new version, in fact, is much the same as the ones of yesteryear. But since that means it still features great gameplay and some of the best multiplayer in existence, you won't hear us complaining.
85
The learning curve of this title is still a dream and the game is just as good as it always was. The new modes are icing on the vitamin.
User score
Mixed or Average
25% Positive
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
71% Mixed
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
4% Negative
1 Rating
1 Rating
Nov 15, 2018
8
A really good game, there are lots of cool things about it and it is a lot of fun to play.
Sep 3, 2025
7
I bought this game at a thrift shop the other day and it was not that bad. Sure, the game is just a puzzle game but at least there is 4 player spilt screen.
80
In only a few days my anti-videogame girlfriend had become a wide-eyed, pixel staring “let me try this level just one more time” gaming geek.
70
While the game still holds up, there's nothing really added to it, other than a bunch of "Paper Mario" inspired cinemas and a few new characters.
60
The few new game modes and extra features hardly justify the price tag. Nor does the fact there are already numerous similar games available for free on the Web.
50
Those who've never had an appointment with the doctor may take to it, but others who in the past made regular visits might feel that he hasn't kept up with the times.
42
Dr. Mario is too little too late and definitely isn’t what the doctor ordered.
Jun 29, 2020
7
good game! really fun puzzle game to play. If anyone wanted more from Dr Mario on the GB or NES, I'd recommend this. 7/10.
Jul 25, 2016
7
The other versions are a bit better since this one doesn't really use the 64 bit graphics. The game feels clunky and that is my only main problems everything else is fine by me.
Feb 13, 2024
6
Dr. Mario is kinda the last game I expected to have a story, but having 2 stories to go through was a surprising development. You can play as either Mario or Wario in the main campaign, basically on a constant chase to the next area to get the miracle cure that was established in the beginning. But really it's not a story to write home about, but it does provide you with two new characters to play with if you are able to beat both campaigns without using continues. A feat I can't say I really accomplished...Again, I honestly was just expecting for more of the same Dr. Mario from the original NES days, but they really did step up what the game had to offer by also providing multiplayer matches, score attack, and a few other neat modes. These are all things I didn't really know I wanted in a Dr. Mario game, but honestly feels like a no brainer after seeing games like Puyo Puyo, Magic Drop, and heck even **** game is honestly the same as it ever was, and really you couldn't ask more from the gameplay when it was already so well established in the early NES days. Gameplay is the standard matching 4 of the same color either vertically or horizontally to either clear a row or eliminate a virus(es) of the same color. Sure there are now multiplayer ways to screw with your opponents, but if you're like me you're really just focused on eliminating the virus in a battle before time runs out. Which, Ill be honest, isn't the best when you could be properly doing combos to help screw over your opponent. Dr. Mario is particularly a puzzle game that can get really out of hand when things don't go as planned due to the way viruses are structured into a play area; leaving little room for error to begin with. If this sounds particularly hard for you, which it did for me, I strongly suggest playing with save states ala Nintendo Switch Online or OTHER.I don't think Dr. Mario is really a must have game by any accounts as a lot of the newer Dr. Mario games probably have a lot more going for it in terms of multiplayer, and features, but 64 is clearly a sign of Nintendo stepping up the series as a whole. Absolutely a solid 64 title back in the day, and even has some merit with a story campaign attached to it too.
Oct 4, 2022
6
This is coming from someone who is completely new to the series, Dr. Mario 64 being the first game I've played of it. It's hard, seriously hard. This in itself is not a problem, I found the game quite addicting and love a challenge. However, adding the fact that the enemy AI can combo and cause random pill colours to land on your side is frustrating in the final 3 stages in particular. The AI are fast as it is, and I feel like the combo system maybe should have been implemented at higher difficulty levels instead.
Jan 12, 2023
5
A fairly typical block-matching puzzle game that's a little too tricky for the age range it seems to be pitched at.
SummaryIt's a new outbreak of Dr. Mario madness! Dr. Mario's back, packing a prescription for fun--and now the frenzied action of the original gets even more frantic with all-new multiplayer modes! Up to four players can go head-to-head, or they can pair up to pile on capsules in Team Battle. Other options let 'em race against time in Score Att... Read More
Rated Efor Everyone
