Releases

The two versions compared on this page are the following:

Dr. Mario 64 was not released in Japan on the Nintendo 64. Almost two years after the U.S. release, Dr. Mario 64 came to Japan as part of Nintendo Puzzle Collection for GameCube, where it was called "Dr. Mario."

Nintendo Puzzle Collection

Only released in Japan, Nintendo Puzzle Collection is a GameCube game featuring updated versions of Dr. Mario, Panel De Pon, and Yoshi's Cookie. Of those three games, only Dr. Mario is a port of an earlier version.

Nintendo Puzzle Collection title screen

Nintendo Puzzle Collection game select screen

Title screen

There were three major changes to Dr. Mario's title screen in Nintendo Puzzle Collection. Starting with the title logo, a red-and-blue capsule was added, and the lettering was changed to look more like the logos seen in earlier versions of Dr. Mario. Secondly, "Press any button" was changed to "Press any key". Lastly, the copyright info was updated to include the original 1990 releases of Dr. Mario for Game Boy and NES.

Dr. Mario 64	Dr. Mario - Nintendo Puzzle Collection

New Play Control

Here's a look at the changes to the Controls screen after the switch from Nintendo 64 to GameCube.

• The "Controls" text box was moved to the right side, while the "L/R Buttons" box was added to the middle column.
• The "B Button" and "A Button" headings are different colors in each version to match each controller.
• In the GameCube version, the X and Y Buttons took over the role of the C Buttons. Though the GameCube controller's X and Y Buttons are light gray, the "X·Y Buttons" heading is still in yellow text from the "C Buttons" heading in Dr. Mario 64.
• The middle column in Nintendo Puzzle Collection is slightly thinner.
• The "B Button: Go Back" text in the lower-right corner was moved up a line.

Dr. Mario 64	Dr. Mario - Nintendo Puzzle Collection

The controller and console graphics on the multiplayer setup screen were also updated.

Dr. Mario 64	Dr. Mario - Nintendo Puzzle Collection

Octo

Octo first appeared in Wario Land 3 as a boss named "Scowler." Along with his name change, Octo underwent a dramatic color change for Dr. Mario 64, most likely because his black head and red lips look too much like blackface. Nintendo Puzzle Collection uses colors closer to Octo's original design.

Sprites

Dr. Mario 64	NPC

Below is Octo's original design from Wario Land 3.

Wario Land 3

Character Select

Octo's portrait on the character select screen also shows his new look.

Dr. Mario 64	Dr. Mario - Nintendo Puzzle Collection

Character names

Besides Mario, Wario, and Metal Mario, all characters first appeared in Wario Land 3.