Nintendo 64: 10 Games That Don’t Hold Up As Well As You Remember

With the release of the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pack on Switch you can now experience a range of N64 classics. However, these titles haven’t aged well.

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With the release of the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pack on Switch, gamers everywhere have a chance to not only replay some of their favorite games but also to experience the N64 for the first time in all of its glory.

The Nintendo 64 is without a doubt a console full of classics for plenty of gamers. Since it’s been over 20 years since the console’s release, there are bound to be a few games that lose some of their shine. That doesn’t mean the games on this list aren’t worth a play, far from it, these games just may not be quite what you remember in those fond memories you hold.

10 Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire

Every Star Wars fan knows that the deep lore of the expanded universe was one of the most intriguing things pulling fans back to the series. Star Wars: Shadows Of The Empire did just that for fans of the N64.

Who could forget The Battle of Hoth? Players were able to enjoy flying around the battlefield in its full 3D glory, but the issues rear their heads when you get out of the game’s ship sections. Once you’re in full third-person gameplay, the limited draw distances and primitive aiming controls may frustrate players more accustomed to modern controls.

9 Quest 64

If you were a fan of RPGs during the era of the Nintendo 64, the meager handful of titles on hand may have come as a bit of a disappointment. The draw of playing an RPG in 3D was more than enough to entice gamers to pick up a copy of Quest 64.

While the story is ambitious, the game itself suffers from rather simple battle systems that can more or less decide which spells you work to level up. It’s an example of a well-intentioned design being mixed with the hardware limitations of the time.

8 Donkey Kong 64

Donkey Kong 64 is a collect-athon enthusiast’s dream. Gamers around the world have sunk hundreds of hours into making sure they can nab every item the game has to offer, but to many, the game goes too far and becomes busywork.

With nearly 4000 total collectible items, there is no shortage of things to do in this classic platformer. That’s without mentioning the incredible music that you’ll be more than happy to listen to even if you feel there are too many collectibles for what the game itself offers.

7 Castlevania

The Castlevania series has never been afraid to try something new. Whether the series releases its latest and greatest 2D platformer, or it dips its toes into 3D, players will be able to find a game to add to their list of all-time favorites.

The story for this entry of the series is an enthralling one, and the biggest issue modern players will have to grapple with is the admittedly rough camera controls. If that’s something you can come to grips with, Castlevania for the N64 is still well worth a revisit.

6 Earthworm Jim 3D

While Earthworm Jim may have fewer people talking about him today, there’s no denying that he had a significant impact on gaming. While he made his original debut in 2D, as the title suggests, Earthworm Jim 3D blasted into the third dimension in 1999.

One of the most common complaints about the game is just how generic it feels to play in comparison to the bombastic feel of earlier entries. It can be hard to translate 2D gameplay into 3D, and being compared to classics like Mario 64, Donkey Kong 64, and Banjo-Kazooie doesn’t help. Still, if you need your Earthworm Jim fix, it’s a solid entry.

5 Mario Party

When it comes to party games, Mario Party is the king of the mountain. It’s a series that allows people who love gaming to connect with friends or family who otherwise might never pick up a controller. However, there is a reason that most people think back to Mario Party 2 and Mario Party 3 instead of the original.

That reason simply comes down to Mario Party being the first attempt at something completely new. A few frustrating mechanics and mini-games do make a difference in the minds of gamers, and even though the formula has been done better, it’s still a great time for party game fans.

4 Super Smash Bros.

One of the games that revolutionized couch co-op, Super Smash Bros. was many gamers’ first introduction to fighting games. The reason it doesn’t hold up quite as well as the other series entries come down to the fact that it was yet another first attempt on a unique concept.

With relatively slow gameplay when compared to modern fighters and two characters, Pikachu and Kirby, that stand leagues above the others, classic smash can be frustrating for modern players. Although, if you just want a couple of hours of fun with friends you could do far worse than Super Smash Bros.

3 South Park

Nowadays, South Park games are side-splitting RPG adventures, but back on the Nintendo 64, things were a bit different. You may not think of first-person shooters when you think of South Park, but that’s exactly what this game was.

If you’re looking for a surprisingly funny experience, the game is more than worth a couple of hours of gameplay. The story and dialogue feel like it’s ripped right out of the show, but the fairly simple FPS gameplay loop won’t be likely to keep you hooked for long.

2 Mega Man 64

You’d be hard-pressed to find a self-described gamer that’s never touched the Mega Man franchise. It’s a series filled with tightly controlled action and wicked music. Mega Man 64 may have some great tracks, but it does lack those same tight controls.

Jumping from a modern platformer or shooter could have you pulling at your hair from what feels like a camera that never wants to cooperate and sloppy controls. It also suffers from a simple gameplay loop, but the game’s story is something every gamer should experience once in their life.

1 GoldenEye 007

GoldenEye 007 was one of the most unique games to be released on the Nintendo 64. It is beloved by pretty much everyone who grew up with it and its iconic couch co-op. The game itself has even managed to remain as popular as ever with its wide array of speedrunners.

Those speedrunners are the best of the best, though, and jumping back into the game may be harder than you remember. A fun single-player story and excellent music do what they can to balance out some dated enemy AI and occasionally confusing shooting controls. Grab a few friends and hop into the split-screen multiplayer for an experience that might never get old.

Link Source : https://www.thegamer.com/nintendo-64-games-dont-hold-up-today/