Nintendo 64
FAQ and a list of good games (KEEP BUMPED!)
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This topic will answer basic questions about the N64 and its library of games. It will also answer the question "what games should I get?". This was compiled by myself, Alxbly, and various people on this board. Frequently Asked Questions about the N64: Q: What are all the American games released for N64 in the US? A: http://www.nintendo.com/doc/n64_games.pdf Q: What is the N64 DD? A: The N64 DD was disc add-on for the N64 that was never released outside Japan. It also had the ability to go online. For various reasons, it didn't work out. N64DD games and the addon itself now sell very high prices. More information can be found at http://64dd.emedian.net/64dd.net/modules/news/ Q: What are the rarest games for N64? A: Excluding N64DD games, Ogre Battle, Harvest Moon, and Paper Mario are among the rarest. And they don't cost that much compared to rare games on other systems. Q: What RPGs are available for N64? A: None. There are some almost-RPGs, but there are no games in the tradition of console or CRPGs on N64. The closest you can get are Ogre Battle 64, Paper Mario, Quest 64, Aidyn Chronicles, Harvest Moon, and Hybrid Heaven. Q: What was the last game released for N64? A: Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3. Q: Why is my control stick so loose? A: The joint of the control stick is made of plastic. As you move it around, the plastic rubs together and grinds away. This is what produces that white powder at the base of the stick. Think of the control stick as a wheel and the controller as a tire. Because it is grinding away, the control stick shrinks. Now, if you try to put a tire on a wheel that is too small, the tire is loose because there is empty space. That's what happens with the controller. Q: Is there a way to fix the control stick? A: No. There are ways to temporarily reduce the effect of a loose control stick and to slow the damage, but no one has formulated a simple and reproducible method for fixing the problem. You can replace the control stick itself by purchasing a new control stick at lik-sang.com or on eBay. You can also buy a new control. It is also worth noting that many 3rd party controllers have a metal control stick. Unfortunately, most 3rd party controllers have their own problems. The best way to slow the damage is to lubricate. Instructions can be found at http://codebook.potchgult.com/stickrepair/stickfix.htm. Q: Was there ever a Final Fantasy 64 in development? A: No. There are screenshots and videos of a demo video that showed characters from FF6 in combat using the N64's graphical power. This was a demo Squaresoft made to show how they felt a next-generation RPG combat should look like. It was never a game that was planed or in development. Q: Do video cables for the Gamecube work with N64? A: Yes. S-video cables, composite cables, etc etc made for the Gamecube will work with the N64. --- "Dave Goss is right" - alxbly "Dave Goss really IS right" - nacogdoches | |
Alxbly says... Q: What games need the expansion pak? A: Only Donkey Kong 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask actually NEED the expansion pak. Perfect Dark needs the expansion pak if you want to play the single player story missions. All the other games use the expansion pak to enable a high resolution display mode, and in rare cases, extra levels. Q: Can I play import games on my N64? A: If you have a US N64 it's easy to modify the console to be able to play JPN games, as both use the same TV system (NTSC). This won't work for European (PAL) games, though. A great site for console modifications is: http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/index.htm Q: Okay, so what if I want to play PAL games on an NTSC machine, or vice versa? A: Simple, use a device called an N64 Passport. The best version is the Passport Plus III, which can convert most N64 games. Q: My N64 game doesn't work, what should I do? A: Clean the connectors on the cartridge. Dip a q-tip in some rubbing alcohol, wipe off any excess liquid (you want to use as little as possible), and rub along the copper connectors on the bottom of the cart. Use the other side of the q-tip to dry off any excess moisture left on the connectors. There are different solutions that also work including nail polish remover, windex and just plain water, and as long as you dry the cart afterwards there doesn't seem to be any ill effects from these. Make sure to not get the solution near the label on the cart, as it will make the ink run. Q: Where can I buy N64 games? A: Your local videogames store would be a good place to start, but also try garage sales, pawn/thrift stores, ebay and online videogames retailers. Q: How much will I be able to sell my N64 games for on ebay? A: It depends on the game, whether you have the box and instructions, what condition the game is in, how much you charge for shipping, etc.... The best way to find out is to search for the game on ebay and price your copy accordingly. Q: What were the Nintendo 64 launch games? A: In the US there were only two; Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64. Q: Isn't the N64 really old and rubbish? A: *SLAP* Q: What accessories are available for the N64? A: The official Nintendo ones are the controller pak (a memory card), the transfer pak (for transferring info from GBC games, and can also be used to play specific games like Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow on your TV), and the rumble pak (adds vibration to games). Nintendo also released a special glove for use with mario Party to prevent injury (seriously). Also worth looking at are non-official products like the Dex Drive (for transferring saves to you PC) and the Gameshark and Action Replay cheat cartridges. There are also unofficial memory cards and controllers, but most of them are rubbish. Q: What games were compatible with the transfer pak? A: Perfect Dark, Mario Golf and Mario Tennis were all compatible and connecting the GBC games with the N64 game would unlock cheats. Connecting Pokemon Stadium or Pokemon Stadium 2 to the GB games enabled them to be played on your TV and you could also transfer your Pokemon. --- "Dave Goss is right" - alxbly "Dave Goss really IS right" - nacogdoches | |
Other people have said... Q: When I buy an RGB cable for my Gamecube that says on the box/website compatible with NGC,N64 & SNES I get an RGB picture out of my N64? A: No, the N64 cannot output an RGB picture without modification. When used with the N64 you will either get a black screen or a composite video picture. The box/website provides false information. Q: So, how do I modify it to output RGB then? A: Only some NTSC N64 models are known to have the possibility for such a modification. For more info I suggest visiting: http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/index.htm & http://www.gamesx.com/index2.htm or just google it. Q: When I buy an s-video cable for my NTSC Gamecube will I be able to use it on my PAL N64? A: No, Nintendo thought it was really cool to slightly change to output on all of their consoles in every region since the SNES days. The cable will work fine on NTSC N64 and SNES machines but it will give a distorted picture when used with PAL models. When used with an N64 the picture will be too bright and will have ghosting around white colors on the screen. Since only NTSC Gamecubes output s-video, there is no easy way to find such a cable specially suited for PAL machines anymore. Q: Do N64 games or controller paks use batteries? There's so much contradictory information out there, I'm confused... A: Understandable, unless you have the special screwdriver to open your stuff. Thanks to emulation though, we know the answer! http://n64.icequake.net/mirror/www.elitendo.com/n64/usa_boot_save_faq.html#s1 All US release games listed by save type. Only 12 games have batteries in them, and some of those also allow you to save to controller pak (Ogre Battle 64, for instance). The other types of internal cart save, EEPROM and Flash RAM, won't die over time like batteries do. There is one important note, however: it seems that controller paks use batteries. Yeah, I was surprised to find this out, but it appears to be true... I'm not certain if they all do, but some do for sure and until proven otherwise it's probably best to just assume that they do. So those are a concern; if you're worrying about your controller pak dying, look into a Dexdrive perhaps, to back them up to your PC. My note: Some games, such as Waverace and Perfect Dark, are able to copy game saves from one control pak to another. This is the exception, not the rule. --- "Dave Goss is right" - alxbly "Dave Goss really IS right" - nacogdoches | |
Frequently Asked Questions about this List Q: What is this? A: A list of good N64 games divided into 3 tiers. The list was composed by myself and people on this board. It exists to answer the far to common question "What games should I get?" Q: Is group 3 bad? A: Absolutely not. These are "good" games, however not everyone has the same taste in games. Some games may also be good but faulted in some way by a bad camera or awkward controls. Therefore the universal appeal of the games decreases as you move from the first list to the third list. And none of the lists are really set in stone. There is some mobility here and every person would probably change it to reflect their personal taste. Q: Are there good games not on the list? A: Yes. Contrary to what tell people, I don't know everything. Q: Why are there no Pokemon Games? A: Pokemon is a very niche series. You either like it or you don't. The people that like Pokemon are probably more than aware of the games available for that series on N64. Q: Where are the imports? A: These games are North American releases only. I don't play imports, I don't know much about imports, I shouldn't write on the subject. Those who play imports would be more informed to the matter and it is a topic that should be discussed on the message board. Q: Where are the sport games? A: Originally, I included a separate list exclusively for sport titles. For various reasons, I removed it. If you want any opinion on a certain game or games without a sport, ask on the message board. Q: I disagree with you! How can I vent my rage? A: Don't. Unless you have a good reason to disagree, don't tell me about it. I don't need to hear "Perfect Dark is crap" or "Quest 64 should be a must have" or some other completely subjective statement. Not everyone can be pleased. --- "Dave Goss is right" - alxbly "Dave Goss really IS right" - nacogdoches | |
Games that all N64 owners should own: 007: Goldeneye (FPS) Banjo-Kazooie (Platform/Adventure) Diddy Kong Racing (Racing/Adventure) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Action/Adventure) Mario Kart 64 (Kart Racing) Perfect Dark (FPS) Star Fox 64 (Shooter/Fantasy) Super Mario 64 (Platform/Adventure) Super Smash Bros (Fighting) Good Games you should own, if you wish: Aero Fighters: Assault (Flight/Shooter) Banjo Tootie (Platform/Adventure) Blast Corps (Idiosyncratic) Body Harvest (Shooter) Bomberman 64 (Puzzle/Adventure) Bomberman 64: Second Attack (Puzzle/Adventure) Conker's Bad Fur Day (Platform/Shooter/Racing/Adventure) Diddy Kong Racing (Kart Racing/Adventure) Donkey Kong 64 (Platform/Adventure) Dr. Mario 64 (Puzzle) Excitebike 64 (Racing) Extreme G (Racing/Fantasy) F-Zero X (Racing/Fantasy) Harvest Moon 64 (Simulation) Jet Force Gemini (Shooter/Platform) The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Action/Adventure) Mario Golf (Party/Sport) Mario Tennis (Party/Sport) Mario Party 1, 2, or 3 (Party) Ogre Battle 64 (Strategy RPG) Paper Mario (Idiosyncratic RPG) Pilotwings 64 (Flight) Resident Evil 2 (Survival Horro) Ridge Racer 64 (Racing) Shadowman 64 (Action/Adventure) Snowboard Kids (Racing/Fantasy) Star Wars: Episode I Racer (Racing/Fantasy) Star Wars: Rogue Squadon (Shooter/Fantasy) The New Tetris (Puzzle) Turok: Rage Wars (FPS [Multiplayer only]) Vigilante 8 Waverace 64 (Racing) Wipeout 64 World Driver Championship Games that are enjoyed by many, but you may not enjoy them: Aidyn Chronicles: The First Mage (RPG) Bomberman Hero (Platform/Adventure) Castlevania 64 (Platform/Action) Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness (Platform/Action) Crusin' USA/World/Exotica (Racing) Duke Nukem: Zero Hour (FPS) Flying Dragon (Fighting) Goemon's Great Adventure (Platform) Hybrid Heaven (RPG-like/Adventure) Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards (2.5D Platform) Mischief Makers (2D Platform) Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon (Platform) Space Station Sillicon Valley Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (FPS/Flight/Racing/Adventure/Action) Tetrisphere (Puzzle) Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (FPS) Turok 2: Seeds of Evil (FPS) Turok 3: Shadow of Oblivion (FPS) Winback (Stealth Shooter) Yoshi's Story (2D Platform) Credits Myself, for being right all the time -- every time. Alxbly, for being right most of the time. A Black Falcon, for some contributions WMJ87, for some contributions Everyone who helped contribute to the list of games Everyone that's repeated asked the same questions of this board, this inspiring this topic. --- "Dave Goss is right" - alxbly "Dave Goss really IS right" - nacogdoches | |
:( Add too, if you want. --- "Dave Goss is right" - alxbly "You [...] are [...] invaluable to so many new members [...] of Gamefaqs" - Kerr Avon | |
Q: Can I clean the connectors that are in the N64? A: Yes! The best way is with a cleaning kit, which you can usually find on ebay. Failing that, you can use compressed air and/or a clean (preferably new) toothbrush, rubbing alcohol (surgical spirit for anyone in the UK), a strong thin cloth and a credit card, or something of a similar size. If you have some, use the compressed air to blow any dust out of the contacts. Be careful not to point the can downwards as you might end up getting the liquid from the can in your N64, which is not good at all. It’s wise to experiment first. Secondly, use the toothbrush on the connectors. Dry will work, but you can also dip the bristles in rubbing alcohol for better effect. If you do use an alcohol solution remember to remove any excess liquid by wiping the toothbrush on a sheet of clean paper (DONT use water on the N64 contacts, as they are very difficult to dry properly). Carefully scrub away at the metal contacts. If they’re dirty you'll see it on the toothbrush. Lastly, wrap the cloth around the credit card. You’re going to insert the credit card and cloth into the slot where the game would normally connect, so make sure the cloth is strong enough not to tear, but thin enough to actually fit in. Dab a little rubbing alcohol on the base of the cloth, wipe off any extra liquid on a piece of paper, then careful insert and remove the cloth and card. Dirt or dust still inside your N64 will now be on the cloth when you pull it out. Q: How much data storage did the 'biggest' N64 game cartridges have? A: Most early games (Super Mario, Mario Kart and Pilotwings, for example) were only 64 megabit/8 megabyte. Later games were 128mb/16MB and 256mb/32MB. However, the largest carts were Conker's Bad Fur Day, Resident Evil 2 and Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, which were all 64 megabit/512 megabyte carts. Q: What is N64 'overclocking'? A: Overclocking your N64 means altering it's circuitry to enable a "high speed" mode, at which games run approximately one third faster. It also allows some games (Perfect Dark and Turok 2 for example) to run without the framerate issues that you would normally experience. There are various websites that show how this is done, including this one: http://www.epicgaming.us/n64_oc/howto.php --- http://photobucket.com/albums/y70/alxbly/ | |
Q: What colours did the Nintendo 64 come in? A: There was: The standard black edition, and a range of controller colors: standard grey, black, red, green, blue and yellow. A limited edition Gold N64 packaged with Goldeneye and only ever sold through Toys R Us. There was also a black Goldeneye N64 packaged with a gold controller. The Color Editions: Smoke Grey, Watermelon Red, Atomic Purple, Jungle Green, Ice Blue and Fire Orange, all of which were transparent. There was also the Donkey Kong edition (basically just the Jungle Green N64, but included DK64 and an expansion pak) and an atomic purple controller which is a lighter color than the console edition. The Pokemon Stadium edition, which was blue and yellow, with Pokemon text and pictures of various Pokemon on the console. The Pikachu Edition, which was mainly blue and yellow, wider than normal N64's with a huge Pikachu sculpted onto the right hand side of the console. And a Pokeball on/off switch. The Aqua edition: only released in Europe (to my knowledge), and is half transparent ice blue and half transparent white. Q: Did any N64 games come packaged with accessories? A: Yes: Starfox 64 (called Lylat Wars in Europe) was packaged with the Rumble Pak. Donkey Kong 64 was packaged with the Expansion Pak. Pokemon Stadium and Pokemon Stadium 2 were packaged with the Transfer Pak. Hey You Pikachu was packaged with the Voice Recognition Pod and Microphone *sorry, I forgot to mention this accesssory in my earlier post*. --- http://photobucket.com/albums/y70/alxbly/ | |
i still think killer Instinct Gold should be on that list somewhere --- http://users.ign.com/collection/norther666?objType=1 http://photobucket.com/albums/a331/amyrocks13/NES | |
Q: What is the iQue? Is it a Nintendo 64? A: The iQue was released in China in 2003, and it is basically a redesign of the N64. Nintendo didn't want to release the standard Nintendo 64 because of the heavy piracy in the Chinese games market. The technology is actually quite different to the N64 as there is no central console, just a controller that plugs into the TV. It also doesn't use carts: instead you download games from special vending machines to a flashcard. Games availble include Mario 64, Mario Kart, OoT, etc. There's photo's of the iQue here (scroll down): http://photobucket.com/albums/y70/alxbly/Stuff/ --- http://photobucket.com/albums/y70/alxbly/ |
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