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I think the N64 is Nintendo's worst machine and era
- Thread starter enigmatic_alex44
- Start date
Wow! Finally caught up on this massive thread and it seems that general consensus agrees with me on the N64 being Nintendo's worst.
I knew people would try to toss the Flop U under the bus but truth is, the Wii U simply has a better library with some of Nintendo's best 1st party entries and better 3rd party support despite it's short lifespan and is a sleeker looking machine, unlike the Fisher Price design of the N64 imo.
Surprised at the Banjo stans coming out of the woodwork. Were the Banjo games ever considered anything but a stale Mario 64 ripoff? Nuts and Bolts is the first good Banjo game because it tried something new, had a unique art style and wasn't a pale imitation of a better game that played like molasses. So glad was got Nuts and Bolts instead of "Banjo Threeie".
?
Is it not common to throw away old, unwanted systems? I almost don't want to tell you about the perfectly working Dreamcast I threw in the trash in 2015 when I was clearing out my closet to get rid of old clutter...
I dont know what thread your reading...
Seeing as the thread title mentions "era" as well as machine, the Gamecube controllers wouldn't even have existed yet.
I always find it a bit suspect when criticism of a product is met with a suggestion for the users to DIY themselves a fix (same with the DualShock 4 these days). I mean, it should be non-crap when you buy it.
Spukc
always chasing the next thrill
WOAHHH... easy mario kart snes was good.
And mario kart 64 blockfort batllemode was insane.
But yeah diddy kong racing has to be the greatest karting game all time for me.
Spukc
always chasing the next thrill
enigmatic_alex44
Whenever a game uses "middleware," I expect mediocrity. Just see how poor TLOU looks.
Mario Kart SNES and GBA were both pretty bad honestly. The flat tracks and slippery controls felt like you were driving on soap.
Diddy Kong Racing is up there but I'd have to place Mario Kart 8 and Crash Team Racing above it (and maybe Sonic All-Stars Transformed).
Do people actually care about Battlemode in Mario Kart though? Not really a point in Mario Kart 64's favor...
DrROBschiz
Member
My fondest memories of the N64 era were all related to local multiplayer
Star fox, mario kart/golf/tennis/party
San Franciso rush made us laugh till we cryed
Goldeneye.. Nuff said there plus perfect dark turrets and bots
Starcraft 64 lol.
Rpgs? Well one stood out for me among the rest. Ogre Battle 64
Dude if N64 is their worst era than they have had an amazing run in the business. Sure im not playing many N64 classics with my buddies now.
Yeah n64 hasnt aged well and id much rather have remakes of those old games (and thats exactly what we got for the most part) but im not about to shit all over all the positive memories it gave me at the time and pretend its the worst era
Star fox, mario kart/golf/tennis/party
San Franciso rush made us laugh till we cryed
Goldeneye.. Nuff said there plus perfect dark turrets and bots
Starcraft 64 lol.
Rpgs? Well one stood out for me among the rest. Ogre Battle 64
Dude if N64 is their worst era than they have had an amazing run in the business. Sure im not playing many N64 classics with my buddies now.
Yeah n64 hasnt aged well and id much rather have remakes of those old games (and thats exactly what we got for the most part) but im not about to shit all over all the positive memories it gave me at the time and pretend its the worst era
the hori minipad released when the n64 was available in stores
Had to Google that. It's hard to implement a solution that you don't know exists.
And I still believe you shouldn't have to.
AGRacing
Member
Perhaps it's my age ... but even though I had only a small handful of games for the N64, I can't call is the worst Nintendo generation. Can't even call it the second worst.
I think if you weren't at least in your mid-late teens when Mario 64 was first playable in stores - you could never understand how ridiculous that game was. How 'new frontier' it felt. The rest of the system library never really held to that promise - but that single game still redeems it all. For me it was nothing like what Wii brought with Wii Sports - it was way beyond that. I was a die-hard Sony PlayStation convert from SEGA in those days - but I got an N64 right away to play that game. For me to concede Mario 64 was that incredible at that time was a really, really big deal. There may never be a game like that again.
I think if you weren't at least in your mid-late teens when Mario 64 was first playable in stores - you could never understand how ridiculous that game was. How 'new frontier' it felt. The rest of the system library never really held to that promise - but that single game still redeems it all. For me it was nothing like what Wii brought with Wii Sports - it was way beyond that. I was a die-hard Sony PlayStation convert from SEGA in those days - but I got an N64 right away to play that game. For me to concede Mario 64 was that incredible at that time was a really, really big deal. There may never be a game like that again.
Wow! Finally caught up on this massive thread and it seems that general consensus agrees with me on the N64 being Nintendo's worst.
I knew people would try to toss the Flop U under the bus but truth is, the Wii U simply has a better library with some of Nintendo's best 1st party entries and better 3rd party support despite it's short lifespan and is a sleeker looking machine, unlike the Fisher Price design of the N64 imo.
Surprised at the Banjo stans coming out of the woodwork. Were the Banjo games ever considered anything but a stale Mario 64 ripoff? Nuts and Bolts is the first good Banjo game because it tried something new, had a unique art style and wasn't a pale imitation of a better game that played like molasses. So glad was got Nuts and Bolts instead of "Banjo Threeie".
?
Is it not common to throw away old, unwanted systems? I almost don't want to tell you about the perfectly working Dreamcast I threw in the trash in 2015 when I was clearing out my closet to get rid of old clutter...
What's wrong with you? It's never ok to throw away electronics. At the very least, recycle it. Or if you don't want to be an asshole, give it to someone.
D
Deleted member 74300
Unconfirmed Member
This. Goodwill stores were made for just such a thing.
iconoclast
Member
I'd say the Wii is by far the worst major console of all time, so I disagree.
enigmatic_alex44
Whenever a game uses "middleware," I expect mediocrity. Just see how poor TLOU looks.
Honestly, between Mario 64 and Final Fantasy VII, I'd argue FFVII was the bigger deal and more revolutionary. Nintendo losing Square was a death blow and FFVII was probably even more iconic and popular at the time, plus it's made a bigger impact over the years. Final Fantasy VII received countless spinoffs and now a full on remake, yet all Mario 64 received was a shoddy DS port with busted controls.
Both were generation and genre defining moments but FFVII > Mario 64.
evilromero
Member
Just want to point out that you called the console a machine like an old person. That kind of invalidates your argument because old people don't know how to have fun.
tylerh1701
Member
What?!?!?!
You must be joking, right?
N64 is the console where i spent most of my time, it was just AMAZING
Mario 64, Mario Party, Golden Eye, Diddy Kong Racing, Turok, Mystical Ninja, Star Wars Shadows of Empire, Zelda OOT, Perfect Dark, Pokemon Snap, Castlevania 64, Banjo & Kazooie, Jet Force Gemini, Hybrid Heaven, Majoras Mask, etc...
N64 is the console where i spent most of my time, it was just AMAZING
Mario 64, Mario Party, Golden Eye, Diddy Kong Racing, Turok, Mystical Ninja, Star Wars Shadows of Empire, Zelda OOT, Perfect Dark, Pokemon Snap, Castlevania 64, Banjo & Kazooie, Jet Force Gemini, Hybrid Heaven, Majoras Mask, etc...
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
Indeed it was. I remember my local Toys R Us had N64 machines lined up with Mario 64 playable. For its time it was incredible.
enigmatic_alex44
Whenever a game uses "middleware," I expect mediocrity. Just see how poor TLOU looks.
In plain English: Nuts and Bolts is the best (and only good) Banjo game. I know others will agree.
Get it now? Or do I need to construct a diagram.
lifeexpectancy
Member
I cant believe what I'm reading. I havent prchased a nintentdo console since the gamecube, but no way is the 64 their worst console. Goldeneye was groundbreaking for console FPS, M64 was revolutionary in taking a 2d series into 3d space, perfect dark, zelda... hell even if the system ONLY had those 4 games it would automatically stand head and shoulders above a lot of consoles. The controller was the precursor to our modern twin stick controllers. The only dept I really found it lacking was RPGs, but other than that it was a great system. What it lacked in quantity it made up for in quality. TBH I think the Wii is their worst system, even if it sold an insane amount of units. So many Wiis were dust collectors as soon as the holidays were over.
Yep nuts and bolts is interesting at the very least. Old banjo and dk64 were terribe
I don't see that being the consensus at all.
kunonabi
Member
I still see Wii's hooked at people's houses hooked up right next to their ps4s and in use. Lots of the mainstream audience skipped the Wii U because they were content to just keep playing the Wii.
lifeexpectancy
Member
That's great for the wii, but I've seen the opposite. It's all anecdotal anyway, but I dont personally know anyone who kept using it past the first 6 months once the novelty of wii sports wore off.
dreamlongdead
Member
No, there is no consensus here. Opinions were very divided among N64, Cube, Wii, WiiU. I personally didn't find much merit in the Wii opinions, but the other systems did have major flaws.
I criticized the N64 controller, and that is the one which almost everybody agrees is Nintendo's worst. The software library is a different story.
I criticized the N64 controller, and that is the one which almost everybody agrees is Nintendo's worst. The software library is a different story.
Spukc
always chasing the next thrill
tell me how mario 64 would play without the triwing of greatness?
Diddy Kong Racing was awful. I got it as a birthday present, played it once and never again.
Pokemon outside of Diamond/Pearl was great on the DS. Platinum, Heartgold/Soulsilver, Black/White, and Black2/White2 are all among the series' best titles.
Jubenhimer
Member
Last I checked, the Wii had an 8.89 attachment ratio. True, some lost interest, but to say everyone tossed it in a closet is a gross generalization.
Neff
Member
I'm not really into Pokémon (I've only played X and I haven't finished it), but I heard the DS ones were good.
Lynd7
Member
I played it properly for the first time a couple of years ago and had a blast with the single player. Once you get into it and learn the mechanics it's really addicting.
Chezzymann
Member
Nah. GameCube and ps2 have bearable graphics and lots of games still look good. N64 era graphics are just bad even when accounting for the time period.
Honestly I think they should have waited 5 years before going 3D
plentyofmilhouse
Member
It's DS for me. Huge library of games that never really hooked me in. I should note I was struggling to enjoy Pokemon by that point and could never enjoy the DS Zelda control scheme.
The 3DS by comparison, in my opinion, is spectacular.
The 3DS by comparison, in my opinion, is spectacular.
Spukc
always chasing the next thrill
Wow this is a terribl post. All games mentioned here are masterpieces and have aged tremendously. And thats coming from a guy who did not own a Snes growing up but have bought and played them all as a grown up, often instead of contemporary offerings. Simply because they are more enjoyable.
Ammogeddon
Member
I recall when I had an N64 and went over to my mates who had a PS1. I was a bit of a Nintendo fanboy and had been quite dismissive of Sony bringing a console into the market. But once I spent the day playing a few PS1 games I was pretty impressed. I think I finally made the jump over for Vagrant Story. The PS1 had a massive games library, some great some bad.
The release of the PS1 changed the console gaming landscape and sadly this and the wii made me stop loving Nintendo. I'll always look back on the N64 as being a great console with great games though.
My words exactly!
Member
Νo that would be the Wii U.
Seriously, the N64 had holes in it's library but the N64 highs were on another level compared to PS and Saturn at the time. More than that, games like GoldenEye or Mario 64 or OoT radically changed videogames and laid the groundwork for genres to evolve.
Seriously, the N64 had holes in it's library but the N64 highs were on another level compared to PS and Saturn at the time. More than that, games like GoldenEye or Mario 64 or OoT radically changed videogames and laid the groundwork for genres to evolve.
ViperVisor
Member
This is my thinking as well.
When you are a kid only 4 or 5 games a year you wanted was still probably more than you would get.
N64 from launch to Dreamcast is as fun and amazing as gaming has ever been. Fall '99-01 the N64 still had many games come out but the magic of Mario 64, GoldenEye and Ocarina of Time was near impossible to rebottle.
Lé Blade Runner
Member
In retrospect, I kind of understand N64 being lambasted a bit these days. But damn if my nostalgia-goggles ain't as pink as a monkey's bottom. N64 was the lifeline of our broken family back in the day - me, my sister and my dad would play Mario Kart 64 regularly, helping us have fun amidst the divorce. Then I would take the console to my mom's place and we would have weekend-long Goldeneye marathons with a few good friends.
Add to that the phenomenal Mario 64 and Lylat Wars, not to mention the two Zeldas, Doom 64, the Duke 3D port ( dat multiplayer ), Turok ( fog and all ), F-Zero X and so on... For me, it was a glorious console.
Add to that the phenomenal Mario 64 and Lylat Wars, not to mention the two Zeldas, Doom 64, the Duke 3D port ( dat multiplayer ), Turok ( fog and all ), F-Zero X and so on... For me, it was a glorious console.
Playing Mario 64 for the first time is still the most mindblowing experience I've had in my nearly 30 years of gaming..
Plus it had Waverace 64 which is pretty much the best racing game of all time.
It might have lacked in quantity of good stuff to play all the time and there were some long droughts.. I still feel it was a special console though and the best games on were just amazing for the time.
Plus it had Waverace 64 which is pretty much the best racing game of all time.
It might have lacked in quantity of good stuff to play all the time and there were some long droughts.. I still feel it was a special console though and the best games on were just amazing for the time.
Castef
Banned
mr_sockochris
Member
Mario 64
Zelda OOT
Goldeneye
Majora's Mask
StarFox 64
Perfect Dark
Waverace 64
Banjo Kazooie
Conker
F-Zero X
Mario Kart 64 (my least favourite MK but battle mode was amazing)
Smash Bros
Diddy Kong Racing
WWF/WCW games from AKI
Blast Corps
Paper Mario
ISS'98
I'm not really one for list replies but damm I can't understand how anyone could slate a console with the above games on it, especially when I would say most of those have aged well too.
Zelda OOT
Goldeneye
Majora's Mask
StarFox 64
Perfect Dark
Waverace 64
Banjo Kazooie
Conker
F-Zero X
Mario Kart 64 (my least favourite MK but battle mode was amazing)
Smash Bros
Diddy Kong Racing
WWF/WCW games from AKI
Blast Corps
Paper Mario
ISS'98
I'm not really one for list replies but damm I can't understand how anyone could slate a console with the above games on it, especially when I would say most of those have aged well too.
Because (ignoring how Conker, MK64, GoldenEye and Perfect Dark have aged)... it's rather easy to create a list at least that long (and likely with better genre flexibility) on pretty much any console worth its salt (so not stuff like Jaguar obviously).
Ryouji Gunblade
Member
Huh, now that I think about it, the DS was pretty weak. It had mostly good Pokemon, Castlevania, Metroid Prime Hunters, and TWEWY though.
rexpro
Neo Member
I was going to post a constructive opinion but after seeing this
Now i know the OP is trolling.
Now i know the OP is trolling.
Not true at all because Nintendo usually sold the hardware at a profit and software/accessories related to the home console generate profits too.
If , as you state, home consoles after the SNES were financial failures then you would see a sharp fall in the profits and revenues from the SNES years to the N64 years but this didn't happen (the two gaussian bell are roughly comparable):
(as you can see the only troubled era from a financial point of view is the current one with 3DS and WiiU).
The high margin products in the videogame industry are software (first party software is obviously more profitable than royalties) and accessories.
Historically home consoles sold more software and accessories on average per system.
For example GBA sold about 81 million units while N64 just 33 million units however Nintendo sold much more first-party software on N64 compared to GBA:
CaptainCook
Member
Nah bro, Wii U is significantly worse. I haven't touched mine sense about a week after Mario maker. Nintendos output on the console is just weak all around. Obviously this is just my opinion and nostalgia might be factoring in. But I've had every Nintendo system sense Nes and have good memories with all of them but the Wii U.
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