Is Super Mario 64 DS well acknowledged as the finalized edition of SM64?

[Dorayaki]

While SM64DS is acknowledged as an official mainline title, I find it weird it seldom officially promoted as the expansion edition comparing to the SMB titles on NS1/2, where we have no reason to go back to play their original version. Might be my misconception but SM64 seems to appear more often in tributes or digital releases.

Well, with Yoshi and the hat system, SM64DS sure had a different story and game walkthrough from the original, but ultimately this version came with render update and new playable characters which are very close to the definition of expansion so it's get confusing sometimes.

I just think even if Nintendo don't consider them same game, they could still manage to do an integrated version with modes from both games. If they did, the recent SM64 digital release could had already include SM64DS contents within it and you don't have to pay twice for it, otherwise it feels weird to still release SM64 solely in newer platforms.

Did Nintendo only view SM64DS as a variation rather than expansion because of its system? Or you think Nintendo want to stick to SM64 and don't acknowledge the new contents SM64DS added?

 

[ButterCashier]

It's odd. It doesn't look quite as good I think. Also of course the D pad controls are worse. A port of that version might be interesting, they did that on the Wii U in the Virtual Console section. Also, adding all the characters, the hats and abilities, along with extra worlds and stars, fundamentally changed the game quite a bit, now you have to play as certain characters for certain stars. The original game is all zooming along at whatever pace you like, racing through, star, star, star, or take your time and look around. But the DS version has to be slower, as it has more stars, but also forces you to play as certain characters and stuff. More minigames, but they require the touch screen controls. It was a launch game for the DS, wasn't it? Much much closer to the original game's release than now, I think they'd be much better off making a whole new remake, I bet they would. 3D All Stars just used the original N64 version. I love the DS version for adding things, a bit like the Master Quest in OoT, but I don't think it'll be re-released or anything so much, as the original has. If that makes sense at all.

 

[Lee Chaolan]

The short answer is that they're considered different games. The other two games you've listed are Switch ports of the exact same game with some enhanced features, 64 DS is considered a remake that is an entirely seperate entity to the original.