Classic advertisement shows alternate cover art for Super Mario 64 and more

Some cover art, much like the games themselves, are absolutely iconic. Without a doubt, the cover for Super Mario 64 is one that many Nintendo fans remember fondly. This title ushered in a 3D era for Mario, as well as the Nintendo 64 itself. You can’t beat launch day memories like these!

While Super Mario 64’s cover art is unforgettable, it seems like Nintendo might have had another plan in the works. This classic ad from SEARS shows a very different cover for Super Mario 64, and it certainly doesn’t have the style or charm shown in the final version.

Of course, the question is whether this artwork was put together by SEARS or Nintendo. Did SEARS cook up something on its own to spread the word on this deal, or is this early artwork Nintendo sent out to retailers? This art has been floating around online for decades now, but this is the first we’ve seen it used as box art.

With SEARS pretty much dead and Nintendo being notoriously tight-lipped, it’s likely we’ll never know the true origins of this cover art. Still, it’s a neat thing to see discovered all these years later!