Monday, 09 November 2009

• My Favorite Nintendo 64 Games List!

  
  

  
  Editor's note: Minor edits made for flow and clarity. Enjoy!
  
  The last home console with a cart based format was the Nintendo 64, and it was heavily criticized for this one thing. I was one of the oddball gamers that was very thankful that Nintendo remained faithful to the cart format. I hope that someday things would get cheap enough so we can go back to the format and throw out those DVD and CDs. Why? I love cart-based gaming. I love holding that big ugly globby piece of plastic in my hands. It is really very hard to explain. I like the instant data access that the console has verses the data media type disc consoles. But with the advancements in technology, we will never have anything big again: any new carts would probably be something the size of a Turbo Grafx Hucard. And with that, I wouldn't mind. The only thing that would stop this is the fact that, in our present culture, everyone seems to want a multimedia player instead of a dedicated gaming console. Nothing but games go into any console that I have ever owned. Hardcore here? Yes!

  I was thinking about the time that I have been spending on my Nintendo 64 lately, and I finally decided to make a “most played games” list. I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 50+ games for the system, and that library is always growing. I take it that if you play certain games more often on a system than others, they have to be your favorites, right? These are games that when I pull out my Nintendo 64, I go right to them and begin playing. When I have one of those “system days,” I usually play several games throughout the day as a marathon. So remember, this is not a top game list for the system, this is a “MY favorites" list. Many may totally disagree with this list, but that's okay, go make your own list. This one is mine!

  
  

  Star Fox 64: This is easily my favorite game on the Nintendo 64, and in my opinion is the best in its genre or class. I still remember my first experience with this game, when I entered the planet with the tower in the middle and that countdown with that big spaceship floating over it. The dogfighting there is true 3D done just right. I thought I was in shooter heaven. What a joy this game is to play! I cannot get enough of it. I keep coming back for more year after year from the first day it hit the store shelves and ended up in my hands.

  Ridge Racer 64: The arcade racer is my favorite type racing, no simulation stuff for me. I love the fact that I have a Ridge Racer game on a cart. It has great graphics, smooth animation, and fantastic gameplay. I keep coming back to this game, can't get enough.

  Cruis'n Exotica: Cars bouncing all over the road crashing into each other, over the top arcade racing, and smooth frame rate puts this game on top for me. This is the most fun that I have ever had with a Cruis'n title. I laugh and chuckle as I play this game.

  Dark Rift: I almost feel that I have a different game than what everyone has reviewed. This is the most underrated game that I know of. Sure, it has a vague shallow plot, but it does give you a “cause” and that is enough for me to play the game. The story element never really mattered in two player mode anyway. It has slight blockiness in the graphics with a lot of detail, great smooth animation and 60fps frame rate, and tight intuitive spot on controls. Love the special effects. Fun, deep weapons-based gameplay with a mixture of VF and Tekken makes this the best fighter to me on the N64. The only thing that holds this game back is the N64 controller. This game would greatly benefit from an arcade style controller for the N64.

  Star Wars: Episode I Racer: I love the Tatooine level and I could play it forever. Nice graphics, love the feel of the pods. This thing runs smooth with a nice sense of speed. If you own a N64 you must own this game.

  
  

  Wipeout 64: I love the hover craft racing of the Wipeout series. I love the fact that I have it here on cart and I feel that this is the best that the series produced.

  Hydro Thunder: Wild arcade power speedboat racing that is almost a Ridge Racer on water. I love the booster power ups and jumps. A great faithful Midway port from the arcades.

  Robotron 64: This is retro. It's a little souped up in its graphics and not really the same as the original, but it still stands as a good game on it own.

  Bust-A-Move 2 Arcade Edition: For me this is a very addicting puzzle game. Love the little voices saying, “Leeeeetttsssss go!”

  Paper Mario: This the best RPG for the N64, in my opinion. Love the graphics and the whole design of the game. It is one of those must own games for this system.

  
  

  Disney's Tarzan: I know that this is one of those games that they categorize as a kiddie game, but I like the simplicity in the gameplay and find it fun.

  Goemon's Great Adventure: The very Japanese cultural feel in this game is very weird and wacky to American gamers, but that is why I like it. Other than, it is a good side scrolling 3D-ish platform game.

  WCW nWo Revenge: I do not like watching wrestling on TV and I am not a fan. However, this game has me hooked. It is lots of fun and one of the best games I have played of this type.

  Rayman 2: This is a well designed 3D platform game. I like the mood and play mechanics put together here.

  Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards: I have always been a fan of Kirby, and I am glad that they stuck to the old 2D side scrolling gameplay elements. That makes this game excellent.

  
  

  Beetle Adventure Racing: This is wild, over the top racing that has a lot of power ups, jumps, and secrets to be found. Easily the best racer on the N64.

  Donald Duck Goin' Quackers: This is another one of those games that they categorize as a kid game. For some reason I find the simple gameplay very enjoyable and hey, I'm controlling Donald Duck here. I'm a fan of that bird.

  Zelda: Ocarina of Time: This game seems to be the special "favorite son" on this system, and it deserves being there. It is a very good action adventure RPG-ish type gameplay. The game draws you in and doesn't let go. Great story elements too. I play this when I want to sit back and enjoy an afternoon immersed in a game.

  Castlevania: I never really got deep into the old Castlevania games. The only ones that I own, other than this one, is the one for the Genesis and PS1. I really did not expect this one to be any way like those old games and I had not formed any bias opinion. I'm saying this because I think that it is important to be able to enjoy this game. And I think this game is a great and enjoyable game. I love the atmosphere and moodiness that has been created here. The environment and gameplay elements, from the puzzles to the giant boss-like characters, make this one good 3D game for the N64.

  Mischief Makers: This is one of those Treasure games, and that in itself makes it great as they are known for good game design. This is a unique 3D side scroller with some new gameplay elements that are fresh and fun.

  You may have noticed that there are some games that are always on top ten lists that suspiciously missing here, like some of the darlings of the system. Like I said, this is my list. The games on this list I just seem to like more.
  

  Do you have some favorites for the N64? Are any of those game titles ones that don't normally make it on top ten lists?
  

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