Going back and playing N64 games

Lately I have been going back and playing through some of my old N64 games and I was noticing that games were a lot better on the N64 and PlayStation. The graphics weren't as cutting edge and the engines were a little more restrictive but the stories were undoubtedly better and the game play was more fun. Games like Donkey Kong 64 and Banjo Kazooie, yeah I am favoring Rare, may have been a little lower quality in the graphics and engines, but compared to the amount of cookie cutter FPS games and gimmicks that flood the markets these days these games were gems. I would much rather play Ocarina of Time, over Halo any day. jrn1994

I've always thought that the 32-bit JRPGs were far better than the ones out now. Final Fantasy VII was an epic adventure; Final Fantasy XIII is a really long movie with linear walking.

Funny, lately I've been playing older games as well. Anyways I agree with you as well.

Also welcome to Gamespot. :)

Funny, lately I've been playing older games as well. Anyways I agree with you as well.

Also welcome to Gamespot. :)

gamefree2

I love older games and new games. I think every generation of gaming has had some amazing games, including the current gen. Amnesiac23

Lately I have been going back and playing through some of my old N64 games and I was noticing that games were a lot better on the N64 and PlayStation. The graphics weren't as cutting edge and the engines were a little more restrictive but the stories were undoubtedly better and the game play was more fun. Games like Donkey Kong 64 and Banjo Kazooie, yeah I am favoring Rare, may have been a little lower quality in the graphics and engines, but compared to the amount of cookie cutter FPS games and gimmicks that flood the markets these days these games were gems. I would much rather play Ocarina of Time, over Halo any day. jrn1994

N64 was probably one of the greatest consoles ever and certainly better than the 360. OOT, SM64, DK, Goldeneye, Pokemon stadium.... there were loads of brilliant games that are still a joy to play todayMuscles16

lots of the old systems/games are like that, it seems nowadays graffix its the most important thing,

id rather spend 60 bucks on a great story,long, low graffic game then on one that lasts 4 hrs and looks amazing.

Well, another thing about that is that you were likely more impressionable and younger during the N64 days, so you have fonder memories and views of those games that had bigger impacts on you than you do of games that you see these days (being older and less impressionable)

I'm the same way as you TC, though. It almost seems as though as the graphical quality increases, my interest and rating of the quality decreases.

I can't get past the controller. I FREAKING HATE THE N64 CONTROLLER! It is the worst monstrosity of a controller known to gaming, not counting the Atari 5200. But for certain games, like Paper Mario and the Zeldas for example, I can get past my frustation with the controller. And if there are games that do that, that is a merit to how good they are. I personally enjoyed all the other systems from that era more (Saturn, PS1, Dreamcast), mostly because they just had more good games than N64. But the few good games that were on the N64 were dang good game (Super Mario 64, Paper Mario, Zelda Games, Super Smash Bros., Goldeneye: 007, etc.).Emerald_Warrior

I can't get past the controller. I FREAKING HATE THE N64 CONTROLLER! It is the worst monstrosity of a controller known to gaming, not counting the Atari 5200. But for certain games, like Paper Mario and the Zeldas for example, I can get past my frustation with the controller.Emerald_Warrior

Yeah, it's awful. The analog stick is so bad that I've actually downloaded some N64 games I already owned copies of onto the Virtual Console so I could play them with the good old Gamecube controller.

I can't get past the controller. I FREAKING HATE THE N64 CONTROLLER! It is the worst monstrosity of a controller known to gaming, not counting the Atari 5200. But for certain games, like Paper Mario and the Zeldas for example, I can get past my frustation with the controller. And if there are games that do that, that is a merit to how good they are. I personally enjoyed all the other systems from that era more (Saturn, PS1, Dreamcast), mostly because they just had more good games than N64. But the few good games that were on the N64 were dang good game (Super Mario 64, Paper Mario, Zelda Games, Super Smash Bros., Goldeneye: 007, etc.).Emerald_Warrior

Were you around upon the N64 release? Or did you more recently pick up the system? Because if the controllers are taken care of properly, the analog sticks are just fine--I always prefered the to the ps1 dual shock, and still do to this day. They were just far more accurate and supplied just the right amount of give. It is actually one of my favorite controllers ever made. A good analog stick, a really good dpad, and SIX face buttons? Really good layout imo. Obviously its missing the second analog stick, but some games let you then use the dpad for movement and analog stick for aim, while others actually let you use two separate controllers.

[QUOTE="Emerald_Warrior"]I can't get past the controller. I FREAKING HATE THE N64 CONTROLLER! It is the worst monstrosity of a controller known to gaming, not counting the Atari 5200. But for certain games, like Paper Mario and the Zeldas for example, I can get past my frustation with the controller. And if there are games that do that, that is a merit to how good they are. I personally enjoyed all the other systems from that era more (Saturn, PS1, Dreamcast), mostly because they just had more good games than N64. But the few good games that were on the N64 were dang good game (Super Mario 64, Paper Mario, Zelda Games, Super Smash Bros., Goldeneye: 007, etc.).Heirren

Were you around upon the N64 release? Or did you more recently pick up the system? Because if the controllers are taken care of properly, the analog sticks are just fine--I always prefered the to the ps1 dual shock, and still do to this day. They were just far more accurate and supplied just the right amount of give. It is actually one of my favorite controllers ever made. A good analog stick, a really good dpad, and SIX face buttons? Really good layout imo. Obviously its missing the second analog stick, but some games let you then use the dpad for movement and analog stick for aim, while others actually let you use two separate controllers.

[QUOTE="Heirren"]

[QUOTE="Emerald_Warrior"]I can't get past the controller. I FREAKING HATE THE N64 CONTROLLER! It is the worst monstrosity of a controller known to gaming, not counting the Atari 5200. But for certain games, like Paper Mario and the Zeldas for example, I can get past my frustation with the controller. And if there are games that do that, that is a merit to how good they are. I personally enjoyed all the other systems from that era more (Saturn, PS1, Dreamcast), mostly because they just had more good games than N64. But the few good games that were on the N64 were dang good game (Super Mario 64, Paper Mario, Zelda Games, Super Smash Bros., Goldeneye: 007, etc.).Emerald_Warrior

Were you around upon the N64 release? Or did you more recently pick up the system? Because if the controllers are taken care of properly, the analog sticks are just fine--I always prefered the to the ps1 dual shock, and still do to this day. They were just far more accurate and supplied just the right amount of give. It is actually one of my favorite controllers ever made. A good analog stick, a really good dpad, and SIX face buttons? Really good layout imo. Obviously its missing the second analog stick, but some games let you then use the dpad for movement and analog stick for aim, while others actually let you use two separate controllers.

The only analog stick to better the N64 in terms of playability was the Xbox Controller S, and the current 360 pad. The Dreamcast controller is probably the cheapest feeling thing I've ever used(though I do like it), and the ps1/ps2 and even ps3 need an improved analog stick BAAAADD!!!! I don't understand why sony doesn't change it. It has been a complaint among gamers since the original dual shock.

[QUOTE="Emerald_Warrior"][QUOTE="Heirren"]

Were you around upon the N64 release? Or did you more recently pick up the system? Because if the controllers are taken care of properly, the analog sticks are just fine--I always prefered the to the ps1 dual shock, and still do to this day. They were just far more accurate and supplied just the right amount of give. It is actually one of my favorite controllers ever made. A good analog stick, a really good dpad, and SIX face buttons? Really good layout imo. Obviously its missing the second analog stick, but some games let you then use the dpad for movement and analog stick for aim, while others actually let you use two separate controllers.

Heirren

The only analog stick to better the N64 in terms of playability was the Xbox Controller S, and the current 360 pad. The Dreamcast controller is probably the cheapest feeling thing I've ever used(though I do like it), and the ps1/ps2 and even ps3 need an improved analog stick BAAAADD!!!! I don't understand why sony doesn't change it. It has been a complaint among gamers since the original dual shock.

[QUOTE="Heirren"]

[QUOTE="Emerald_Warrior"] I never said my controller was broken or worn out. I said I hate the controller. It has a very awkward shape, and you pretty much have to have 3 hands to play it if you want to use the L trigger and D-Pad as well. And that analog stick is laughable. Look at a Dreamcast, PS2 (or PS1 Dual-Shock), or Xbox controller for a proper analog stick.Emerald_Warrior

The only analog stick to better the N64 in terms of playability was the Xbox Controller S, and the current 360 pad. The Dreamcast controller is probably the cheapest feeling thing I've ever used(though I do like it), and the ps1/ps2 and even ps3 need an improved analog stick BAAAADD!!!! I don't understand why sony doesn't change it. It has been a complaint among gamers since the original dual shock.

Well believe it or not, but I still have N64 controllers that work just fine. If you don't abuse it, it will last. On the other hand, I can tell you that the controllers that actually showed the soonest wear, were in fact the Dreamcasts. Creaky L/R button, and the analog area would sometimes "click" or "jump" positions. The construction of the xbox controllers is IMMENSELY superior to the dreamcasts. I don't think anybody would argue that. I also really liked the octagon shape the stick was put in, on the n64 pad.

I'm not BSing you either, as I have no reason to argue this point. This is all from my experience with the controllers.

While the N64 did have some good games back in the day, it is probably the most overrated system of all time. The PS1 had a lot more quality games on it and didn't suffer from the atrocity that was the N64 controller. It doesn't help that N64 games have aged HORRIBLY.

I really dislike the controls (not the controller) of N64 games. They haven't aged well. TheKI04

While the N64 did have some good games back in the day, it is probably the most overrated system of all time. The PS1 had a lot more quality games on it and didn't suffer from the atrocity that was the N64 controller. It doesn't help that N64 games have aged HORRIBLY.

metswonin69

QFT. The N64 is a bright flash of childhood nostalgia for me, but I have to agree with this. The blurry texture filters don't help. It's why a PS1 game with low-poly count like Crash 2 looks better than a high-poly game like Banjo-Kazooie (two of my favorite games ever; I'm not knocking either one), the textures are just so much better.

Something about N64 just feels so stiff and clunky these days. I can still pick up Spyro and have no issue, but picking up Banjo makes me feel like I'm all thumbs. I used to play through Star Fox 64 once per year around my birthday, didn't for a year, went back to it, and couldn't get past that last dogfight with Wolf's squadron. Can't play it anymore.

Really looking forward to the Ocarina and SF64 3DS releases. Now if only Rare could somehow break its chains to Microsoft... I want DK643DS. :)