A copy of Nintendo's Super Mario 64 has become the most expensive computer game after being sold at auction for $1.56 million!  The game had never been played and was still in its original packaging. It was sold on Sunday by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, in the US.  The auction house said there were "fewer than five" copies of the game in such good condition, according to the BBC.  

Super Mario 64 was the first 3D game featuring Mario, an Italian plumber who featured in a range of Nintendo games.  Players had to rescue the character of Princess Peach and fight Mario's main enemy, Bowser.  It was released on the Nintendo 64 gaming console in 1996 and is seen as one of the best computer games of all time.  It also sold more than 11million copies, making it one of the most successful games too.

The auction listing for the same said: "What can we even say that would do this copy the justice it deserves? The cultural significance of this title and its importance to the history of video games is paramount, and the condition of this copy is just so breathtaking that we're really at a loss here."  

The previous record for the most expensive computer game was set two days before, when an unopened copy of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda sold for $870,000. In April, the auction house sold an unopened copy of Nintendo's Super Mario Bros for $660,000.  The Nintendo 64 was released on June 23 1996, and is now seen as one of the all-time great iconic games consoles. 

For the full story, click here and see below for Mario 64 (1996) gameplay.