So...N64 & framerate

I've noticed that a lot of n64 games have very poor framerates. Other games like BK sometimes have massive fps drops in some particular areas (i.e. when I enter the castle room with the jump pad circling a pot).

Anyone else experiencing this as well? Is it true that NTSC versions run usually 'smoother' than PAL versions? Initially I thought something was wrong with my old tv or with the game itself, but it seems the system's lack of power is to blame for this.

Funny I would see this thread tonight, of all times. Until yesterday and today, and hadn't played N64.. pretty much since it was a current console. Didn't particularly remember bad framerates, but then again, I was like 10 years old at the time, and wouldn't have even known how to interpret that. But yesterday at my friend's house, we dug up his old N64, and have been playing THPS1 and Conkers Bad Fur Day. I actually had to stop playing Conkers after like 10 minutes, because I felt like my eyes were bleeding and my head was exploding. It's only barely smooth enough to not be a slideshow. Couldn't be more than like 12 fps.

Yes, it's true, a lot of N64 games have terrible, choppy framerates.

It's the biggest problem of the system from my perspective.

I've heard it's because of Z-buffering, which killed performance in most games. (examples of N64 games that don't use Z-buffering are World Driver Championship and Indiana Jones and they both manage a steady framerate even in their high resolution modes)

NTSC games run smoother than PAL and generally speaking you should avoid PAL releases unless they are your only option.

I remember perfect dark having horrible frame rates. Other games I am sure had some problems. AutoPilotOn

That game was way ahead of its time and puashed its graphics too far. I never noticed that much of an issue when it first came out, but now it is borderline unplayable :P.

[QUOTE="AutoPilotOn"]I remember perfect dark having horrible frame rates. Other games I am sure had some problems. NaveedLife

That game was way ahead of its time and puashed its graphics too far. I never noticed that much of an issue when it first came out, but now it is borderline unplayable :P.

Try perfect dark if you think golden eye was bad. I used to play tons of goldeneye 4player split screen and it seemed fine. Perfect dark made my eyes hurt even back then. AutoPilotOn

Then turn on only N Bombs :P and put bouncy mode on. PURE CHAOS!

You can try to over-clock your 64 for better performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXesXdk6Atg

Don't forget the RGB mod and EverDrive 64 while your at it...

The crappy framerate is nostalgic, imo :P

Banjo tooie was doing way too much with the N64, and I think Majora's mask actually capped at 20fps.

Conker may have had an even worse framerate than tooie though.

I noticed it, didnt know what it was at the time but playing n64 made me dizzy.

You can try to over-clock your 64 for better performance:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXesXdk6Atg

Don't forget the RGB mod and EverDrive 64 while your at it...

nameless12345

Nah, most games run smooth but with noticeable framerate drops here and there. Overall there is not really game which I would considering as unplayable duo the framerate.

Also the PS1 and Saturn have framerate problems, go play Driver 2, Quake 2, Colony Wars 3 for example..... Playing Conker or Banjo Tooie after that is really relaxing.

Nah, most games run smooth but with noticeable framerate drops here and there. Overall there is not really game which I would considering as unplayable duo the framerate.

Also the PS1 and Saturn have framerate problems, go play Driver 2, Quake 2, Colony Wars 3 for example..... Playing Conker or Banjo Tooie after that is really relaxing.

Stefan91x

It had some framerate issues on planetside missions, but they're nowhere near as bad as Conker, Goldeneye of Perfect Dark

[QUOTE="Stefan91x"]

Nah, most games run smooth but with noticeable framerate drops here and there. Overall there is not really game which I would considering as unplayable duo the framerate.

Also the PS1 and Saturn have framerate problems, go play Driver 2, Quake 2, Colony Wars 3 for example..... Playing Conker or Banjo Tooie after that is really relaxing.

rilpas

It had some framerate issues on planetside missions, but they're nowhere near as bad as Conker, Goldeneye of Perfect Dark

[QUOTE="Stefan91x"]

Nah, most games run smooth but with noticeable framerate drops here and there. Overall there is not really game which I would considering as unplayable duo the framerate.

Also the PS1 and Saturn have framerate problems, go play Driver 2, Quake 2, Colony Wars 3 for example..... Playing Conker or Banjo Tooie after that is really relaxing.

rilpas

It had some framerate issues on planetside missions, but they're nowhere near as bad as Conker, Goldeneye of Perfect Dark

[QUOTE="rilpas"]

[QUOTE="Stefan91x"]

Nah, most games run smooth but with noticeable framerate drops here and there. Overall there is not really game which I would considering as unplayable duo the framerate.

Also the PS1 and Saturn have framerate problems, go play Driver 2, Quake 2, Colony Wars 3 for example..... Playing Conker or Banjo Tooie after that is really relaxing.

Stefan91x

It had some framerate issues on planetside missions, but they're nowhere near as bad as Conker, Goldeneye of Perfect Dark

that's true, Colony Wars 3 runs at an overall lower framerate then the first two games, I'm guessing it runs at 20FPS.

Though, for the most part the Framerate is fixed so it's a bit easier to get used to it

Oh my god, Turok 2 with the expansion pack had to be the worst. Had to be no higher than 5fps alot of the time in hi-res mode.AlexKidd5000

I've noticed that a lot of n64 games have very poor framerates. Other games like BK sometimes have massive fps drops in some particular areas (i.e. when I enter the castle room with the jump pad circling a pot).

Anyone else experiencing this as well? Is it true that NTSC versions run usually 'smoother' than PAL versions? Initially I thought something was wrong with my old tv or with the game itself, but it seems the system's lack of power is to blame for this.

Nude_Dude

Well duh.

Thank goodness we have things like VC & PSN in modern times.

Also [spoiler] emulators [/spoiler]

:)

[QUOTE="Nude_Dude"]

I've noticed that a lot of n64 games have very poor framerates. Other games like BK sometimes have massive fps drops in some particular areas (i.e. when I enter the castle room with the jump pad circling a pot).

Anyone else experiencing this as well? Is it true that NTSC versions run usually 'smoother' than PAL versions? Initially I thought something was wrong with my old tv or with the game itself, but it seems the system's lack of power is to blame for this.

GreekGameManiac

Well duh.

Thank goodness we have things like VC & PSN in modern times.

Also [spoiler] emulators [/spoiler]

:)

Rare had this philosophy of "pushing the hardware to the max" hence their games looked better than anything else on the system but the price were choppy, inconsistent framerates.

Same goes for both Zelda games which were capped at 20 fps which is playlable but not exactly smooth.

Going from the SNES where most games ran silky-smooth (except the Super FX games which were slow and choppy) it was a bit of a cold shower for me when I noticed how inconsistent the framerates in some of the most graphically intensive (and the crappily coded ones too) games were but I never considered them unplaylable because of it. (I can see why some, especially newer generation, gamers, would think so, though)

The framerate issues were simply a matter of console limitations at the time but not so much because of lack of power (because the N64 did have a better CPU, GPU and RAM than PS1 and Saturn had) but various hardware and software bottlenecks which limited the overall performance of the machine.

Although games like PD, Majora and Conker are pretty much pushing the system to the limits and I don't think it could be pushed past that. (maybe if Conker would use the memory expansion but that's about it)

Also, it should be noted that the so-called "high-resolution mode" that some games allow if you add the memory expansion also impacts performance.

The best use of that memory expansion was in the games that didn't use it simply for increased resolution but rather increased detail. (i.e. DK64, PD & Majora)

Rare had this philosophy of "pushing the hardware to the max" hence their games looked better than anything else on the system but the price were choppy, inconsistent framerates.

Same goes for both Zelda games which were capped at 20 fps which is playlable but not exactly smooth.

Going from the SNES where most games ran silky-smooth (except the Super FX games which were slow and choppy) it was a bit of a cold shower for me when I noticed how inconsistent the framerates in some of the most graphically intensive (and the crappily coded ones too) games were but I never considered them unplaylable because of it. (I can see why some, especially newer generation, gamers, would think so, though)

The framerate issues were simply a matter of console limitations at the time but not so much because of lack of power (because the N64 did have a better CPU, GPU and RAM than PS1 and Saturn had) but various hardware and software bottlenecks which limited the overall performance of the machine.

Although games like PD, Majora and Conker are pretty much pushing the system to the limits and I don't think it could be pushed past that. (maybe if Conker would use the memory expansion but that's about it)

Also, it should be noted that the so-called "high-resolution mode" that some games allow if you add the memory expansion also impacts performance.

The best use of that memory expansion was in the games that didn't use it simply for increased resolution but rather increased detail. (i.e. DK64, PD & Majora)

nameless12345

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

Rare had this philosophy of "pushing the hardware to the max" hence their games looked better than anything else on the system but the price were choppy, inconsistent framerates.

Same goes for both Zelda games which were capped at 20 fps which is playlable but not exactly smooth.

Going from the SNES where most games ran silky-smooth (except the Super FX games which were slow and choppy) it was a bit of a cold shower for me when I noticed how inconsistent the framerates in some of the most graphically intensive (and the crappily coded ones too) games were but I never considered them unplaylable because of it. (I can see why some, especially newer generation, gamers, would think so, though)

The framerate issues were simply a matter of console limitations at the time but not so much because of lack of power (because the N64 did have a better CPU, GPU and RAM than PS1 and Saturn had) but various hardware and software bottlenecks which limited the overall performance of the machine.

Although games like PD, Majora and Conker are pretty much pushing the system to the limits and I don't think it could be pushed past that. (maybe if Conker would use the memory expansion but that's about it)

Also, it should be noted that the so-called "high-resolution mode" that some games allow if you add the memory expansion also impacts performance.

The best use of that memory expansion was in the games that didn't use it simply for increased resolution but rather increased detail. (i.e. DK64, PD & Majora)

Heirren

[QUOTE="Heirren"][QUOTE="nameless12345"]

Rare had this philosophy of "pushing the hardware to the max" hence their games looked better than anything else on the system but the price were choppy, inconsistent framerates.

Same goes for both Zelda games which were capped at 20 fps which is playlable but not exactly smooth.

Going from the SNES where most games ran silky-smooth (except the Super FX games which were slow and choppy) it was a bit of a cold shower for me when I noticed how inconsistent the framerates in some of the most graphically intensive (and the crappily coded ones too) games were but I never considered them unplaylable because of it. (I can see why some, especially newer generation, gamers, would think so, though)

The framerate issues were simply a matter of console limitations at the time but not so much because of lack of power (because the N64 did have a better CPU, GPU and RAM than PS1 and Saturn had) but various hardware and software bottlenecks which limited the overall performance of the machine.

Although games like PD, Majora and Conker are pretty much pushing the system to the limits and I don't think it could be pushed past that. (maybe if Conker would use the memory expansion but that's about it)

Also, it should be noted that the so-called "high-resolution mode" that some games allow if you add the memory expansion also impacts performance.

The best use of that memory expansion was in the games that didn't use it simply for increased resolution but rather increased detail. (i.e. DK64, PD & Majora)

Darkman2007

[QUOTE="Nude_Dude"]

I've noticed that a lot of n64 games have very poor framerates. Other games like BK sometimes have massive fps drops in some particular areas (i.e. when I enter the castle room with the jump pad circling a pot).

Anyone else experiencing this as well? Is it true that NTSC versions run usually 'smoother' than PAL versions? Initially I thought something was wrong with my old tv or with the game itself, but it seems the system's lack of power is to blame for this.

GreekGameManiac

Well duh.

Thank goodness we have things like VC & PSN in modern times.

Also [spoiler] emulators [/spoiler]

:)

The only games I ever played that had framerate issues were Perfect Dark and Resident Evil 2, and those were very visually demanding games.

The only games I ever played that had framerate issues were Perfect Dark and Resident Evil 2, and those were very visually demanding games.

WiiCubeM1

[QUOTE="WiiCubeM1"]

The only games I ever played that had framerate issues were Perfect Dark and Resident Evil 2, and those were very visually demanding games.

Darkman2007

Well, in sections that had a lot of zombies. The game 90% of the time was fine.

That's just my experience with it.

[QUOTE="Darkman2007"][QUOTE="WiiCubeM1"]

The only games I ever played that had framerate issues were Perfect Dark and Resident Evil 2, and those were very visually demanding games.

WiiCubeM1

Well, in sections that had a lot of zombies. The game 90% of the time was fine.

That's just my experience with it.

all n64 games are unplayable

they run at 10 fpsJigglyWiggly_

Lol what?

OoT N64 can't decide if it runs on 15fps or 20fps.

:S

+ 1 on Perfect Dark and Majora's Mask. Goldeneye got a golden pass, thanks to not having anything like it at the time, but atleast it's not as bad as PD's performance issues.

Also, Mission Impossible. Love that game but it really hurt my eyes.

+ 1 on Perfect Dark and Majora's Mask. Goldeneye got a golden pass, thanks to not having anything like it at the time, but atleast it's not as bad as PD's performance issues.

Also, Mission Impossible. Love that game but it really hurt my eyes.

Aero5555

The only N64 games I still like to play from time to time are OoT, MM, Mario 64, and Paper Mario. Paper Mario is smooth as butter, but OoT and MM feel like they run at 25fps.

The only N64 games I still like to play from time to time are OoT, MM, Mario 64, and Paper Mario. Paper Mario is smooth as butter, but OoT and MM feel like they run at 25fps.

Lost-to-Apathy

Lol they run slower than that.

Lol. Mission impossible has some of the best voice overs--get hit by laser, "yeowh.....those lay-zers."Heirren

It was cumbersome but its scope was incredible for its time. The piano tune at the embassy party is legendary in my book. So many memories.

If you're all going to whine about framerate you might as well not play legacy games and stick to pc games only.

I remember buying F1 World GP and the framerate was terrible .

Either bad framerate or tons of fog so you could only see a couple of feet to hide the pop up and up the framerate .

Remember Turok 1?, they didn't call it the fog machine for nothing !

If you're all going to whine about framerate you might as well not play legacy games and stick to pc games only.

Platform_King

This was from January dude! Amazing how noobs find these old ass threads! Sad thing is Ive gotten to the point where I can read a title and say "bet thats old and got bumped by a noob, lets check it out......YEP!"