I remember being so pumped up for the N64 after having had a SNES and seeing Mario 64 in action on early TV previews... I then followed its progress through the Japanese launch (June 23rd?)... through the US release (Sept 30th)... and then being one of the first in line at Dixons on the 1st March 1997 (they only had 5 N64s anyway, and I got one).
I then a bit later got Waverace and my friend got Turok, and we swapped for a bit... I love Turok and was well disappointed with Waverace tbh... I'd only gotten into it after reading NMSs reviews. It was only a few months (or years?!) later when I played it again and realised just how bloody good it was, I don't know what I'd been expecting.
Just about every game I had was standout - I'll forego mentioning the obvious Nintendo titles, but I had every Rare title barring BT and DK64 (recently picked up Mickey's Speedway USA :P)... and they were bloody brilliant.
Now, seeing as I was what, 15 when I got the N64 - this was truly my golden era of gaming, and while nowadays, I get a game play it a bit and forget it - every N64 game for me is like a song that captures a [more carefree] moment in life in history in emotion and nostalgia terms.
For example, I got DKR in like June-July 1998 and remember coming home early from secondary school, walking through sunny fields, and then switching DKR on after having my tea and the upbeat music came on, and the true adventure feel of it... it's class. I sometimes fire up the ROM and the music puts a smile on my face, as do my mastery of the courses that once upon a time caused me muchos problemos.
And Goldeneye... I seriously don't even have to say anything here. It's still my favourite all-time game, partly through nostalgia... but even playing it now it's brilliant. One area PD did fall down on was its colour palette - I much preferred GE's grey bevelled concrete with hazard stripes over the multi-coloured areas and blinding lens flares in PD, although PD is still a good game.
I recently went back and played JFG, and though I love(d) it, the framerate was appalling, I really don't know how I played this back in the day... but it was brill, plus had Mizar the hard-as-nails boss, and a Jimmy Saville impression in the ending.
And Asmik's wrasslin' games were amazing... slow-paced but brill... I *really* have to pick up Def Jam to see if it's as good.
And to the people dissing Turok... did you actually play it when it was released? I mean, c'mon, it was the first 3D FPS for consoles (beating GE by a few months, March T
H, August GE), and in terms of enemies and weapons imho owned Quake which - correct me if I'm wrong - was the only other 3D FPS in the world at the time.
One final thing; someone on like page 6 of this topic said the games are dated and have been superceded... however, I have to strongly disagree:
-I don't think GoldenEye was superceded by Perfect Dark in enjoyment (although it was in technical prowess and number of features), and although Halo is like my 2nd favourite game, GE is unique. And King.
-To my knowledge, there's not been a game like Blast Corps since. Certainly not superceded if you can't get a gameplay experience like it today.
-Same with Pilotwings 64. OMG how good was that game? Launch title, too.
-I don't think there's been a more fun karting game than DKR yet.
-There's something about it, but I still seem to like FZero X more than GX :S
-Mario Sunshine wasn't as fun as Mario 64. And that hasn't been topped by other platformers.
-Same with Ocarina and Wind Waker.
I then a bit later got Waverace and my friend got Turok, and we swapped for a bit... I love Turok and was well disappointed with Waverace tbh... I'd only gotten into it after reading NMSs reviews. It was only a few months (or years?!) later when I played it again and realised just how bloody good it was, I don't know what I'd been expecting.
Just about every game I had was standout - I'll forego mentioning the obvious Nintendo titles, but I had every Rare title barring BT and DK64 (recently picked up Mickey's Speedway USA :P)... and they were bloody brilliant.
Now, seeing as I was what, 15 when I got the N64 - this was truly my golden era of gaming, and while nowadays, I get a game play it a bit and forget it - every N64 game for me is like a song that captures a [more carefree] moment in life in history in emotion and nostalgia terms.
For example, I got DKR in like June-July 1998 and remember coming home early from secondary school, walking through sunny fields, and then switching DKR on after having my tea and the upbeat music came on, and the true adventure feel of it... it's class. I sometimes fire up the ROM and the music puts a smile on my face, as do my mastery of the courses that once upon a time caused me muchos problemos.
And Goldeneye... I seriously don't even have to say anything here. It's still my favourite all-time game, partly through nostalgia... but even playing it now it's brilliant. One area PD did fall down on was its colour palette - I much preferred GE's grey bevelled concrete with hazard stripes over the multi-coloured areas and blinding lens flares in PD, although PD is still a good game.
I recently went back and played JFG, and though I love(d) it, the framerate was appalling, I really don't know how I played this back in the day... but it was brill, plus had Mizar the hard-as-nails boss, and a Jimmy Saville impression in the ending.
And Asmik's wrasslin' games were amazing... slow-paced but brill... I *really* have to pick up Def Jam to see if it's as good.
And to the people dissing Turok... did you actually play it when it was released? I mean, c'mon, it was the first 3D FPS for consoles (beating GE by a few months, March T
H, August GE), and in terms of enemies and weapons imho owned Quake which - correct me if I'm wrong - was the only other 3D FPS in the world at the time.One final thing; someone on like page 6 of this topic said the games are dated and have been superceded... however, I have to strongly disagree:
-I don't think GoldenEye was superceded by Perfect Dark in enjoyment (although it was in technical prowess and number of features), and although Halo is like my 2nd favourite game, GE is unique. And King.
-To my knowledge, there's not been a game like Blast Corps since. Certainly not superceded if you can't get a gameplay experience like it today.
-Same with Pilotwings 64. OMG how good was that game? Launch title, too.
-I don't think there's been a more fun karting game than DKR yet.
-There's something about it, but I still seem to like FZero X more than GX :S
-Mario Sunshine wasn't as fun as Mario 64. And that hasn't been topped by other platformers.
-Same with Ocarina and Wind Waker.
Comment