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After doing a few franchise playthroughs (Sonic, Star Trek and James Bond), I decided to pick something that would be a bit more varied by focusing on a console. I picked the N64 as I remember loving it, and I read about so many games in N64 Magazine that I never got to play. The number of games (419, including some prototypes) also makes it a reasonable endevour. For playing the games, I'll be using different ways to play. I'll mainly be emulating (using different emulators, as some work better in particular ones), plus using some ports/remasters. The ports/remasters are on a case-by-case basis and the game as a whole needs to have the same vibes as the N64 version, as sometimes the N64 versions had different level designs (and features) to other versions that remasters are based on. That said, some of those do kindly include the N64 mode as well. Some ports will be fan made and I will be allowing some graphical and QoL enhancements (mainly widescreen, textures that keep the right vibe and camera control). There was one game where I felt I went a bit too far on the graphical department, but a bit too late for that (it wasn't a big N64-specific one anyway). In the case of sports games, I'll be mainly getting a feel for them by playing a few matches rather than going insane while playing an entire season of each one. I also won't be shy in using cheats, mainly extra lives (they were pointless in most games of this era and losing them just wasted time as you walk back to where you were) and for games of genres I completely suck at - such as 1-on-1 fighters (I had no idea the N64 had so many). Some games only came out in Japan. I don't read or speak Japanese and I'm dreadful at understanding Japanese. For some games, there are fan-made translations that I will be using, for others, I'm relying on Google Lens (which, while some results are a big mangles, has been fairly successful and I get the gist of what things mean) . My reasoning for all of this is that this is for fun, not a serious challenge. For ordering the games, I've gone by the first release in any region, it seemed like the most logical way to do things. I've also inserted a few prototypes of games into the mix for checking out unfinished (or in a few cases, completely finished but unreleased) games. I'm already a fair amount of time into playing the games, up to number 150 on my list (an obscure game called Ocarina of Time). Out of the three Japanese launch titles, It would be rude to not start with: Super Mario 64 JP release: 23rd June 1996 NA release: 29th September 1996 PAL release: 1st March 1997 Developer: Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo N64 Magazine Score: 96% Starting off with a bang, one of the Nintendo 64’s launch titles just happens to be a revolutionary game that’s one of the best games on the system. It didn’t just show the world how platform games could work in 3D, but it set the standard for movement in 3D as well. Despite its legendary status, Nintendo have never given us the port that this game deserves. Super Mario 64 doesn’t need a full remake, just a little bit of sprucing, widescreen and an updated camera. Luckily, fans of the game have done this themselves by fully recreating the game’s engine on PC, with lots of options to set it up the way you want. There are some much more graphically impressive options than what I chose, but I wanted it to look similar to the original game, with just crisper textures and some of the 2D objects replaced with 3D ones. The movement of Mario still feels amazing all these years later. His move set is brilliant with all of his moves (minus the special hats) available from the get-go, it’s just a case of learning it and figuring out the best way to move. Most people will start off doing taller jumps by doing the backflip, but then transition to the quick turn jump to get up to the tall platforms. Even now, it’s an absolute joy to control. The camera from the original game is the main part of the game that now feels clunky. It was pretty amazing when the game came out, but it’s one aspect of games that has improved over time. Luckily, the version I played lets you turn on a more modern analogue camera, which (along with widescreen) is really all Super Mario 64 needs to feel modern. The levels are small, but it’s a style that really suits the game. They’re packed full of secrets, with six stars to find in each one (plus an extra star for collecting 100 coins). Once you collect a star, you’re thrown out of the level, which does mean you have to re-do parts of levels multiple times, but there are sometimes changes to the level depending on which star you collect. There is a mod that lets you remain in levels, but I feel like this alters the game too much, and is itself fiddly as you need to work out when you need to manually leave the level. Each level has a very distinct feel to it and I enjoyed every level in the game, except for two of the water levels. While some have generic themes (lava, water and ice), the levels are still built in unique ways, and even matching themes (like the two snow levels) don’t feel like a reuse due to the level design. Other than a couple of stars that include the wing, metal and invisible caps, you can also complete levels before moving on, or just do a couple of stars and try somewhere else. You only need 70 out of 120 stars to complete the game (far fewer if you choose to do glitches), but it’s enjoyable collecting them all. To unlock different sections of the castle (and access more levels), you need to complete Bowser’s levels. There are three in total (the last one being to save Peach) and these are much more linear platform challenges, which creates a nice change of pace. At the end of these you have to face off against Bowser, grabbing his tail and spinning him to throw him into bombs, and I’m still absolutely dreadful at aiming my throws. The final section of the game has some outstanding levels. Wet-Dry World is the third water level of the game, but this one stands out much more due to the mechanic of raising and lowering the water levels. There are different ways to move upwards depending on the water level, and you’ll need to make use of these to collect all the stars. Tiny-Huge Island has you using pipes to swap between a giant Mario and a mini Mario. You get to see cute tiny goombas or have to fight ones that are much larger than Mario. It’s not Mario’s size that actually changes, but the level itself. It’s an absolutely adorable level full of joy. Tick Tock Clock is actually a lot smaller than I remember, but is focused on well timed jumps. The unique aspect of this level is that the level entrance is itself a clockface, and where the minute hand points alters the speed of the objects in the level, or even stops them completely. I have quite strong memories of trying to figure out what was happening when this happened as a kid. The final main level, Rainbow Ride, is more linear than most levels, with different segments connected via magic carpets. You’ll need to jump off the carpets to avoid obstacles, but if you take too long, the carpets will vanish. This level requires you to have learnt how to master Mario’s moveset. Super Mario 64 is still an absolute joy to play, especially so with an updated camera. I think a full remake would alter the game too much, as the level design and movement is integral to its identity. It just needs a bit of sprucing up, and I really hope we get an official version that does this at some point. This was an amazing start for the Nintendo 64. Not only was this game integral to the development of 3D games as a whole, but the gameplay and levels still hold up today. Games keep trying to be bigger and better, but smaller and varies levels are also a great approach. Remake or Remaster? As the fan-made PC version shows, Super Mario 64 still holds up really well and just needs some basic improvements. A remastered Super Mario 64 would be perfect. Official Ways to get the game There is no way to buy a new copy of Super Mario 64, the only official way to play is to rent it via the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pak. Re-releases 1997: Super Mario 64 Rumple Pak Version (Japan Only) 2003: iQue (China Only) 2006: Wii Virtual Console 2015: Wii U Virtual Console 2020: Super Mario 3D All Stars (Switch, temporary release) 2021: Nintendo Switch Online (subscription only) Other versions 2004: Super Mario 64 DS. This version featured altered levels, more stars and extra playable characters. The extra content was well received, but forcing previous stars to certain characters was frustrating. The controls also don’t work very well on the DS. The touch screen minigames were a brand-new addition and were well liked.

Dude. Wot. Name em and shame em. Off the top of my head this thread could be part of: Official Mario 64 Thread (if still around from N64-Europe) Official Mario/ Mario 64 Appreciation Thread Mario 64 Retrospective Thread N64 Appreciation (good times) Mario 64 Wii VC Thread Wii VC General Discussion Applicable Wii U equivalent Could bump the Mario 64x4 thread for the bants Mario 3D All-Stars Official Thread A game mod thread Failing all that and anything else not brainstormed, the holy grail: teh megathread of Cubes choosing Avenues aplenty!

I see they gave the naming guy a day off and let his kid name this board.

Can't get to a Desktop, so you'll have to cope with mediocre formatting. This week, we're playing on Woody Woods. The key thing about this board are the three signs with arrows on them. They dictate where players go and they change direction at the start of every turn, if someone lands on any happening space right in front of a sign junction, or if someone pays Monty Mole to do so at the bottom-left structure. Yes, it's very annoying. Reverse Mushrooms are immensely powerful on this board if a sign sends you in the wrong direction. The happening spaces in front of Woody lets you play a mini-game that can net you 5 coins or an extra roll. The happening spaces in front of Evil Woody at the top-left let's you play the same mini-game, but the prizes are -5 coins or a dice block that sends you backwards. See you tonight at 8pm, @S.C.G and @BowserBasher

I was never in the running for that game. Coins stolen whenever I was close to the star, @Glen-i and @Dcubed throwing a game just so I wouldn’t get the 10 coins so I could buy a star on my next turn. Grrrrr

Yup, that sounds Probotectory. More info here: https://www.konami.com/games/contra/og/us/en/

It totally matters! It'd be anarchy otherwise! Anyway, Rainbow Ride sucks. Yeah, I said it. Tick Tock Clock is a much better executed platforming test. Here's some silliness that happened when I attempted a 16 star run for the first time. You just know if a remaster happened, they'd fix the glitches. That would suck. Gimme my broken, parallel universe-ridden mess anyday.

Yeah, I'm getting freaked out how big this game is gonna be.

If you’re not using original hardware for this venture (be it via an Everdrive or original carts), I hope you’re at least using an official N64 controller (Switch or OG N64). So many N64 games are built around the eccentricities of that controller’s design that playing with any other controller would be doing a disservice to many of the games in the N64’s library (Sin & Punishment and Jet Force Gemini immediately spring to mind). But yeah, Mario 64 good! So good that it basically had to carry the console by itself for almost 3 months post launch!

There's like 10 members left on this forum. I don't think it matters where the topic goes.

I'm about 50% of the way through and it's pretty garbage. As you mentioned, the movement is very stiff and janky and the facial animations are hilariously bad. Same goes for the lighting used. The comic book look that some Telltale games used looked far better than this. The game has also bugged out on me a couple of times. So much so that I had to restart due to prompts not showing up on the screen. I was walking around for ages before I reset the game and tried it again. Some of the action sections are pretty bad as well. Piloting the shuttlecraft is very slow and boring, the phaser fights don't feel fluid at all and the less said about the stealth sections the better. The story is fine but nothing great. You may get more mileage out of it as you're a much bigger Trek fan than me.

The rule of thumb has been "current consoles here, old consoles in Retro" but then looking at the description of this forum it says "Talk about Nintendo's consoles and their games here, including the Nintendo Switch, Wii U & 3DS." which may need updating a bit! But yeah perhaps move but you can leave one of those redirect things for a week or so in order to make people aware it exists in Retro.

Thanks for the games. Here's a link to this week's stream... - - - - - N-Europe Get Together! 28/12/2023)

Soooo, you got the MGS collection or are MGS 1&2 available somewhere else?

Finished a bunch of games today. I enjoyed Lil Gator and Metal: Hellsinger so much that I went for double platinums and played them again. Next up, I played through Metal Gear 1 and 2. I've never played either of these, despite loving the series. I enjoyed both of them, with each of them showing signs of where the series would go. Metal Gear 2 is remarkably similar to Metal Gear Solid. Certain events, characters and places are pretty much what is seen in MGS. Holly is essentially Meryl, getting attacked in the elevator, climbing up a large amount of stairs, fighting a Hind D, plus more...all of these things take place in both games. The character art during codec calls is pretty similar to what we would end up with in MGS. Speaking of which, there's obviously no VA in the game but every line I read that came from Snake, all could hear is David Hayter's voice as I read along. I'm now looking forward to playing MGS. Its been a long time since I last played it. Lastly, I finally finished Kirby's Dream Buffet. It's taken over a year but its done. I bought this at launch and have been playing it on and off since then. The servers are pretty much dead but thankfully you can play against the AI. It's taken over 40 hours of racing to eventually reach the highest rank. It was a total grind but I wanted to fully complete it as I like to try and 100% Kirby games where I can.

The only New Year's Resolution I ever set myself is to play whatever dreadful tat DCubed or his family got me for Christmas. I actually lapsed on that this year, so now I have two of them to trudge through. Pray for me.

On my way...

Yup. It doesn't fix all of them, but it does remove the Backwards Long Jump I do in that video, so it's incredibly difficult to do a 16 star run on that version.

Dude has been through so much in recent years as well.

It just hurts to read stuff like this