Nintendo 64

[plumpan]

A very weird console. I'll spare you the wikipedia page, but maybe you'd be interested in the Copetti article about it? Then again, most people have seen the N64 dev videos on youtube and already have an understanding of the hardware.

Here's my Top N64 Tips:

It looks best via composite. S-video is ok, but I think everything past that makes the output look worse. The console which benefits most from having a CRT TV, but that "composite best" thing extends to capture/HDMI as well, in my opinion. Plus it's the cheapest option!

Please do not heavily use a stock N64 controller if you can avoid it. Not because of the shape, but because of the control stick. They wear out easily and are just uncomfortable for extended use, in my experience. Various replacements and third party versions with "gamecube style" sticks exist but probably ask someone else which one is good unless you're prepared for a huge rabbit hole. If you don't mind mapping things to a gamecube controller, Raphnet makes an adapter that works very well, in addition to having memory card functionality built in + the ability to copy those saves onto a PC. The Hori Mini pad is the best third party option, but those are expensive.

N64 emulation still stinks. I don't know how good the MiSTer does but the N64 is rife with funny edge cases and I'll assume it's also buggy until proven otherwise. If you're the kind of person that doesn't care much about "small bugs in emulation but the game is playable", you might not be too bothered.

There's a lot of good N64 games out there. Most people don't actually dig that deep into the library but there's tons of, for lack of a better term, "hidden gems" out there. Just do yourself a favor and get an everdrive, a lot of N64 games are expensive now.

[NovaSquirrel]

I appreciate the Nintendo 64 and love the vibes surrounding it, but never got super into it; I got mine for Pokémon Puzzle League which I've played a ton (and it completely avoids any problems with the sticks because it's best with a d-pad), though Smash Remix has given me a good reason to bring it out and play it more often.

As weird as the N64 is tech-wise it does seem like maybe the most "normal" 3D-wise that generation, having a concept of a Z coordinate when drawing polygons (unlike the PlayStation) and inverse texture mapping (unlike the Saturn).

[plumpan]

Most similar to 3d that came after it, albeit just lacking all forms of hardware power to do it.

But I grew up with it so such things do not bother me, I get to enjoy all of the N64 games without headaches. Weirdly, a lot of 3D PC games of that era do give me headaches! I have sympathy to those who get headaches from the N64.

Physical stuff aside, it's really interesting as a kind of missing link for sure. Would have been way better if it came out "on time" in 94 or 95. Historically looking back, knowing the Dreamcast came out in 98 makes it look kind of bad.

But all of that is academic, all that matters is if the games are fun or not. Lots of them are!

[Mixi Blacksand]

Please do not heavily use a stock N64 controller if you can avoid it. Not because of the shape, but because of the control stick. They wear out easily and are just uncomfortable for extended use, in my experience. Various replacements and third party versions with "gamecube style" sticks exist but probably ask someone else which one is good unless you're prepared for a huge rabbit hole. If you don't mind mapping things to a gamecube controller, Raphnet makes an adapter that works very well, in addition to having memory card functionality built in + the ability to copy those saves onto a PC. The Hori Mini pad is the best third party option, but those are expensive.

If you're going to go the real hardware route, DO keep an OEM controller on hand though. Most of the third party ones have analog sticks that send signals outside the OEM range. Usually this is fine, but some games aren't programmed to handle out of spec signals and do strange things. The ChoroQ games for instance, your car instantly rolls over if you turn harder than you're meant to.

[DustStar]

N64 emulation still stinks. I don't know how good the MiSTer does but the N64 is rife with funny edge cases and I'll assume it's also buggy until proven otherwise.

I can confirm that the MiSTer actually runs nearly identically to original hardware with most N64 games. Even with games which typically have issues with emulation like Bomberman and Star Wars Rogue Squadron. I think there's only a small handful of games that have any issues. The rest run nearly perfect from what I've seen and played.

Outside of that, the Ares emulator is also a really good option to consider.

[plumpan]

If you're going to go the real hardware route, DO keep an OEM controller on hand though. Most of the third party ones have analog sticks that send signals outside the OEM range. Usually this is fine, but some games aren't programmed to handle out of spec signals and do strange things. The ChoroQ games for instance, your car instantly rolls over if you turn harder than you're meant to.

That's the rabbit hole, you *can* get third party controllers and stick swaps that respect the range, but not all of them, and some are iffy. It's been a while since I tested the hori mini but I think they were a "higher range than OEM but not full range" stick? Well hang on it'd take me 2 minutes to check.

Returns

Yeah the Hori Mini only goes up to like 105, max range is 127 and typical N64 is like, 80s? Maybe 90? But it's still enough to be bugged in Penny Racers. But maybe not enough to be bugged in something like Blast Corps?

The Raphnet adapter does the correct range mapping, so that's my go-to for stick issue games. But the button layout is very different so that's not viable for every game. Then again, not every game has issues with max range. Like I said, it's a whole rabbit hole to go down. Keeping an OEM on hand just to test is helpful but for extended use they stink. In my opinion anyway.

I think all of this got fixed in emulation ages ago, but penny racers/ChoroQ is a great test short of just running a controller test utility.

I can confirm that the MiSTer actually runs nearly identically to original hardware with most N64 games. Even with games which typically have issues with emulation like Bomberman and Star Wars Rogue Squadron. I think there's only a small handful of games that have any issues. The rest run nearly perfect from what I've seen and played.

Outside of that, the Ares emulator is also a really good option to consider.

Ares I've not messed with, I should sit down and do that. I should also sit down and make a personal "list of N64 games with annoying little emulation bugs" to keep on hand for such things.

[Lolo De Puzlo]

Since the N64 core on the MiSTer ceased development because the dev didn't see any feasible way to fix some slight issues, there's only 3 games I believe that it cannot run. One is a demo, one is a Japanese-exclusive...and weirdly enough the last one is Jet Force Gemini of all things (though there is a rom patch you can use to get it to work just fine)

It's worked fairly well for me, though I did have an issue where I experienced a softlock in the first US Mystical Ninja game that meant something didn't spawn that I couldn't tell if it was software or hardware related.

Pretty much smooth sailing other than that.

[Mixi Blacksand]

I'm a massive GC controller hater so the Raphnet adapter wasn't something I messed with, but good to know it's designed with OEM stick range in mind. I feel like most were designed just to play Zelda and Smash Bros and they called it a day on testing after that.

These days I'm pretty much done with real hardware. Emulation bugs are a price I'm willing to pay to not have boxes of controllers and games taking up space.

So what are some of y'all's less popular favorites? I'll throw Shadowgate 64 into the ring. First person puzzle adventure that's a good chill time despite the risk of dying horrifically. The vibes are incredible and it's something pretty unique among games on the console.

[Foxxhoria]

The N64 feels different from a lot of consoles, certainly those which came before. It has basically no arcade titles, and mostly cutesy mascot games (most of which being platformers). More than any Nintendo console before it's understandable how it got seen as "kiddy".

However it then also has a bunch of gritty FPS games, definitely for adults (or older teens). Strange bedfellows, the two genres. Though it also has a whole lot of racing games, too!

But I think it's the controller along with the 3D capabilities which brought those FPS games to it - the controller, divisive though it is, is very thoughtfully designed to make sure the best use of the single analogue stick is always possible. You can use it with either hand, and so if you want to use the buttons for actions with precise movement for platforming on the analogue stick you can, and conversely you can in fact use the d-pad for movement, with the analogue stick being used for precise, controlled aiming in FPS games, which don't need such detail in the movement. It's the one issue with the Saturn 3D controller, and especially the Dreamcast controller.

But yeah the analogue stick does have its issues. However, I think all they ever need really is, if they're not too worn down already, to be cleaned out of the plastic dust and given some silicone grease to lubricate them. I've done that with mine, and they all feel silky smooth and responsive to use!

Not sure what my favourite game is on it as it has a lot of really fun ones and I also haven't tried out a whole lot of its library yet, but Mischief Makers is worth discussion, heheh. Beetle Adventure Racing is also a fun game with good graphics.
I think Bangai-O is also really neat on the N64 - it's its original platform, too.

Here's my collection - Lylat Wars and Pokémon Stadium are also here in a different place heh.

[Enbyeon]

You know, I've always been a bit harsh on the N64, but after playing more games for it over the past year, I've grown a smidge fond of it. I think having Ocarina of Time elevates your system significantly. It's like how the PS4 is a Bloodborne station.

[SnowyTasha]

Oh hey I grew up on that thing. I don't have most of my library for it anymore, but I've been slowly working on rebuilding it... emphasis on "slowly" because oh my god why is the used market like this

[plumpan]

Oh hey I grew up on that thing. I don't have most of my library for it anymore, but I've been slowly working on rebuilding it... emphasis on "slowly" because oh my god why is the used market like this

Everdrives are relatively cheap and work extremely well on the N64!

[SnowyTasha]

Oh hey I grew up on that thing. I don't have most of my library for it anymore, but I've been slowly working on rebuilding it... emphasis on "slowly" because oh my god why is the used market like this

Everdrives are relatively cheap and work extremely well on the N64!

I should get one but whenever I have the money it's always sold out

[Mandrake]

The N64 was always that console my friends always had and it was always exciting when I went round to their house and got to play with it. Lots of happy memories of playing GoldenEye 007, especially with all the cheats switched on and the Gameshark enabled so we could just blow everything up with rocket launchers. It always seemed like a magical box where you inserted these chunky cartridges and it would load almost instantly. The controller was always awkward to use and seemed designed for people with three hands, so it was a relief to know in hindsight that everybody had trouble and it wasn't just me being a clumsy child with small hands.

[Moot]

this is the point of any discussion about the n64 where i reveal i'm a genetic freak who exclusively held the controller with the left and right prongs only and had no problem using it like that

[RueAzure]

this is the point of any discussion about the n64 where i reveal i'm a genetic freak who exclusively held the controller with the left and right prongs only and had no problem using it like that

how does that make you a genetic freak, i did that too.

i remember my uncle dislocating his thumb to reach the analog stick while using the left and right prongs tho

[Moot]

apparently the done thing was holding it with the centre and right one, which just felt really strange to me in a nebulous sort of way

[Beancatte]

I think one of my favorite things about the N64 as a system is the several ABSURD ports from other systems that were totally solid ways of playing the game. RE2 is the big showstopper, but shoutouts to the THPS ports for this rendition of Ace of Spades in particular

[plumpan]

this is the point of any discussion about the n64 where i reveal i'm a genetic freak who exclusively held the controller with the left and right prongs only and had no problem using it like that

Not all of us are yinglets.

I should get one but whenever I have the money it's always sold out

I was going to say "they're cheap on ebay!" but upon looking, they're not super cheap nor available there! StoneAgeGamer probably has them in stock most of the time, assuming you've been looking at getting them directly from Krizz or something, but eh. Why aren't these $75 or less anymore?

[SlushieCat]

I both love and hate the N64, mainly because it's so hard to find a good PC controller that works was for N64 games. I'm not interested in trying to do original hardware because it's such a money sink, even for just the console, a decent controller, and an everdrive. I got my pal Rachel one when they were still $100 and they're never going to be that cheap again.

Still, there's some fantastic N64 games. My favorites, besides the absolute and highly renowned classics, are Chameleon Twist and Bomberman Hero. Chameleon Twist is such a cute and concise game that's super easy to jump into for a quick playthrough. Bomberman Hero was my favorite N64 game as a youth. I like it way more than Bomberman 64, but I seem to be in the minority on that. I just never really got the appeal of Bomberman 64. You can't even jump!

[JarylGaren]

Bomberman Hero was my favorite N64 game as a youth. I like it way more than Bomberman 64, but I seem to be in the minority on that. I just never really got the appeal of Bomberman 64. You can't even jump!

oh man, Bomberman Hero was one of my favorite games growing up! And yeah, Bomberman 64 seemed so uninteresting in comparison at the time to me too because you couldn't jump in it, lmao

I also remember spending so much time in the minigame modes on both Pokemon Stadium games with one of my brothers. Mario Kart 64 and Smash Bros too! Man, those were the days.
though funnily enough, I didn't play Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask at the time, I only got around to playing these later on, when the GameCube and Wii were already a thing.

in hindsight, the N64 controller's design is *extremely* baffling, but at the time I'm pretty sure I didn't put it any mind. It was just a different controller.

[plumpan]

I have been reminded that the N64 received an open source flashcart some time ago.

https://store.phenommod.com/?product=summercart64

[DustStar]

this is the point of any discussion about the n64 where i reveal i'm a genetic freak who exclusively held the controller with the left and right prongs only and had no problem using it like that

Meanwhile when I was a kid I held the controller in a way where I held the right prong while my left hand kinda draped over the left center of the controller from the L button with two fingers holding the control stick.