Hello yall, I'd want to make a thread about the nintendo 64 life-era because mainly its my favorite console. Back in the days, when it was in development under the name of ''project reality'', it was probably really making the kids ( and less youngs ) dreams about what would be the future of 3D in gaming. It's not until 1996 when suddently the n64 was reveal to the public eyes including the unforgetable super mario 64. When they first show it on the tv around the world, It was just mind-blowing that this game was this way and was really seemed promising for the future of gaming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoQ_9thx480 But, after its released, other games starts little by little to be launched for the n64. What I wanted to talk about here is despite the fact of having this fabulous game super mario 64, it seems ( for me actually I think it highly ) that the n64, counting its very low library of games, seems like there was a numerous failures of game for that console, if you know what I mean. I find it sad that this was really a promising console back in the days, but that now it didnt went well as we all hoped. I had hope that eventually, after seeing great games such a SM64, Diddy kong racing and such, I had hoped that eventually there would be much more great games on that console, but instead the contrary happened. It seems ( again my opinion ) that main games of the n64 library are either badly reputed or never were sucessful.. Unless all the great n64 games ( banjo kazooie, marios, zeldas ) , what is the main reasons do you think the n64 suffered greatly ? I think that the console mainly suffered for his little capacity in the cartridge. I think that cause a really great matter in the video game industry because the cartridges allows only a few space capacity to be inside the cart, compared to the PS1s CD that allows a great stockage capacity ( it's why the PS1 games originally looks better both graphically and in contents. If you have something to share concerning the n64 era, let us know ! thanks
Well I'm coming partly from the PC side since the late 90's and early 00's I didn't do consoles (so take this for what it is), I did check out the N64 and from a pure graphics perspective it was quite low fidelity in my eyes (low res/few textures, simple filtering), I'm sure you're right there, this is in in part because of the expensive cart ROM and limited RAM. Alhough the hardware could probably drive better graphics if given more space at least but consoles are a locked platform for years (or forever really). Connecting through composite/S-video vs. RGB or even VGA (though I reckon rare in early DC days) can't help bring out the best of the N64 either? The somewhat later PS1 and DC have better graphics potential and lots more storage so not a totally fair comparison, these days when I've compared many titles on all three systems I'm just not instantly attracted to N64 in general, though the gameplay might well be there. Mind you on the PC in those days it was all about driving flashier and flashier 3D environments, at higher resolutions, with better texturing and other effects, rarely to the benefit of well tested gameplay and good replay value. my 2c
Although I have a somewhat nostalgic feeling about that console. Every games I've tried feels like they didn't aged really well. A lot of aspect of design (graphics and gameplay) from previous eras have been forgotten to put energy in favor of 3D graphics. Too much racing games
I never bothered getting a PS1 back in the day and was exclusively N64 until I got a Dreamcast X-Mas of 99. Very few games from the 32-bit era aged well.
I remember hearing the first whispers of the Project Reality / SGI partnership back in 1993. Everyone was pointing to how SGI technology made the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park come to life, and this seemed like a true dream partnership with such huge potential. But alas, the pre-launch titles brought were a sobering letdown. Sure the N64 helped to eliminate some of the grainy/blocky/jiggly 3D flaws of the day, but it also introduced the infamous BLURRY TEXTURES and FOG shrouded landscapes that were way too commonplace in those games. All in all, this has to be one of the biggest letdowns in all video game history.
The N64 was the first "real" gaming console I had, and I must have played it for thousands of hours. I can see why people weren't big fans of it, but everyone I ask about the coolest video games from their childhood name N64 titles. The nostalgia factor is really high for me here, and I still own all the games I had as a kid and more. It had it's fair share of crap, but I couldn't tell you how many hours I spent playing Goldeneye with my friends.
It was the euphoria of having N64, Pokemon, and Attitude Era overlap. I'll probably never encounter such an era again.
I think the fact that we had to wait so long for the system to be released was a major factor in my disappointment in the system. Then when it was released it seemed inferior to the PS & Saturn. They created so much hype and hope and didn't deliver. Your age seems to be a big factor in your view of the system. If it was your first system or you were a kid, you remember it fondly.
I absolutely adored the N64. Games like Mischief Makers, Jet Force Gemini, 1080, the good AKI wrestling games, Pokemon Snap, etc. I actually just found an N64 in the local area with the original box and instructions for $20, so I've been searching around town and the internet to build up my collection. Any gems that you'd recommend that may not be on my radar? Thanks!
N64 was amazing, I spent countless hours playing games like Goldeneye, Blast corps & all the wrestling games. They should of kept the name "Ultra 64". Has anyone seen a prototype "Ultra 64" console. Apparently several were made/released ?
It was my first contact with console gaming and I have many fond memories of plenty of N64 games. Still, looking back, I wouldn't play many of them ever again and I certainly wouldn't go as far and say it was the best console or it has the best games. There are many good games, yes, but the library is seriously lacking variety and the absence of important third party developers such as Capcom and Konami didn't make it any better. Well yes, they were not entirely absent, but they certainly didn't bring them the gems that PlayStation and Sega Saturn/Dreamcast received. In retrospect I value the games and I discovered some new ones that I like (such as Sin & Punishment, Star Soldier Vanishing Earth), but overall it was neither Nintendo's best system nor was it's library better than the Saturn's or PlayStation's. But the games it had were absolutely unique, even if it was just for that special foggy atmosphere they all share.
4 players on one console with no multitap and great game support from Nintendo and Rare made the N64 what it was, unfortunatly the Playstation and Saturn offered people so much more with its more mature game line up, massive storage space, fmv and cd quality sound (obviously). Mortal kombat 4 on N64 used actual models for the endings instead of fmv found on the Playstation (which is why Kitana was going to be playable but ended up being playable using a gameshark as she was in Liu Kangs ending); but the game was great on both platforms. The N64 games looked more polished and multiplatform games unfortunately usually wernt in the N64's favour lacking characters, stages, movies and most games seemed cartoonish compared to the Playstation or Saturn counterparts. Though they did have 4 player support instead of 2 players. Also to the N64's credit piracy wasn't as much of an issue on the N64 as it was on the Playstation or Saturn either.
Nintendo 64 was the VERY first gaming system I ever had. My sister and I first played Mario Kart 64 together, as I grew up with the system I found I was heavily addicted to the machine. All I ever wanted was more games, majority of them were racing games and really the N64 had the best 3D racing games for the time apart from the NFS series on the Playstation. The graphics is what made that system special, the jagged edges, fog flooded maps heavy lag with particles etc. It's always how I remember it. As camdman pointed out, the 4 player support was used a lot back in the day. My cousins would all meet up and play Goldeneye, those were the times. "GET THE GOLDEN GUN!"
I think the N64 had some really good games, and I think it was a pretty cool system despite having a small library. While it definitely had some limitations, it was also capable of some things that none of the other consoles of the time could do. One in particular that I was thinking about the other day is reflecting surfaces - like metal Mario and the water in Wave Race 64. That's something the other consoles couldn't do easily. There are a few PS1 games that have some kind of reflection, but none of them look as good as what the N64 could do imo. btw, playing N64 games over RGB is awesome.
N64 was great. Using cartridges was pretty detrimental to it's lifecycle in the long run with the high production costs and limited memory, but in a way, I think that helped contribute to the overall quality of the small handful of good games on the system. Where the Saturn's major bottleneck was with development, the N64's seemed to be with production. Obviously, if a game is in development, it's going to constantly require additional memory, and that was a major drawback for N64 devs. To get respectable demand, they pretty much had to make a game worthwhile enough to compete with disc-based games while finding a happy medium between minimalist/efficient programming and high production costs. Any one wrong move in that scenario leads to something like Conker's Bad Fur Day, which was a remarkable technological effort, but a financial catastrophe. It's a shame, too, because if those more advanced 512 mbit titles sold better they may have helped lower production costs for smaller titles. First-party Nintendo titles have always been of a respectable quality, but as a company, they were more alone during the N64 era than in any other, but between Nintendo and Rareware, they created about 90% of the good games on the system and made some excellent titles and franchises in the mix. Viva la Smash Bros
I have been thinking of picking one up provided I can find controllers with an analog stick that doesn't suck.
This was definatly my favourite system probably still is in a way. I agree there was a lack of actual "good" games my collection compromises of around 30 to 40 that I think makes the bench mark to the cough* everdrive and all its glory with the full library of was it 380 something? Anywho the games that were good, were stagerringly good, like mario 64 and zelda and goldeneye still mental replay value graphicly still stunning to me. I was 15 when I got my imported N64 in September 96 and the wait was agonising :/ and I had a playsation for Xmas the year before so to me I could see where things could go. However The real nail in coffin I think was Namco going to sony; and ironicly I think those "arcade" style of graphics and games would have been better suited to the cartridge base system, as well it was real time graphics you see. First of all sould edge (or blade as its known in UK) would be pretty much arcade perfect along with tekken series. heck even time crisis 1 would have run a lot better, these games all used 64bit type graphics in arcade so lost quality in transition to PS1. . admittadly FF7 would have been best on a playstation.. even metal gear with all that yapping lol.. and of course games like wing commander 3 with fmv. But I just wish those particular namco games I mentioned wer on the N64 it would have made the system just that little bit better I think. Oh I just had a thought imagine if sega rally was out on N64 would be arcade perfect am sure lol
i was a sega kid up till the release of the N64 (and during) but i loved the N64 i got it with Star Wars: Shadow Of The Empire and that was a pretty awesome game, one of my fav ever starwars games, it pretty much covered all aspects of the movies. then i got games like Turok Dinosaur hunter, Duke Nukem 64, Goldeneye 007, Lylatt wars (Starfox 64) forsaken, war gods, all awesome games in my opinion i liked the controller for the N64 too. PS1 i didnt pay much attention to till later on. Then it was Dreamcast and xbox 1. for me but i was more of a pc gamer from then on. theres still alot of N64 games i didnt play through and i'll buy one again at some point.
Probably the most overrated "successful" console with a handful of great games, but no third party stuff that's really worth playing. Even the good games are mostly covered in fog, and it also started the cycle of Nintendo consoles going months without anything worthwhile coming out, which just got worse after Rare left.
