N64 Mini
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| Games are in chronological order of purchase. A second date is the sold date. Games with no date were either rented or borrowed from friends. | |
N64 Mini
|
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| Games are in chronological order of purchase. A second date is the sold date. Games with no date were either rented or borrowed from friends. | |
| Games - 12 1997 |
Game play |
Con- trol |
Gra- phics |
Sound | Over -all |
Comments |
| Mario 64 01/03/97 |
9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | At the time, the greatest game ever created (still one of them), but as a non-fan of this genre, and despite the graphics, control & variety on offer, I lost interest before completion. Still, it is great fun, and still has no real competitor, anywhere. Maybe it is perfect? |
| Wave Race*1 01/03/97 |
10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 10 | Launch title that broke, and maybe defined, a genre with its exquisite control, gameplay and breath- takingly realistic graphics. Introduced new skills to create most satisfying racing experience ever. Still rate this the most impressive N64 title to date. Superlative. |
| Pilot Wings 22/03/97 |
8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | Multiple vehicles and objectives (hang-glider anyone?) make for a fun and excellent game. Lack of pace and action, may thwart some. Heavy borders don't help. |
| Fifa64 27/03/97 25/07/97 |
2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 2 | This year's (Fifa 97) version was the pits of the series. Traditionaly slug-like and floaty controls got even worse for this first 3D version. Crap. |
| Shadows of the Empire 01/04/97 |
7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | Very early title that while doing nothing brilliantly, did everything quite well. No other game has even tried. Great Star Wars feel. Those new to games will love it. |
| Crusin USA 16/05/97 |
6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | Heavily criticised, but I find the control very good, and the game quite fun. While the simplistic car physics are its main drawback, the hills and sensation of speed are excellent. Close to arcade perfect too. |
| Mario Kart *1 21/05/97 |
7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | Ruined by lack of challenge and random gameplay in SP. MP saves it. Bombs and weapons make for much fun (and generally lucky wins) but the inability to turn them off means mastery of the innovative controls on the fab tracks unnecessary. Famed battle mode from the SNES dissappoints as arenas are too large. Simply lacks any customable options, and that sucks. |
| ISS 64* 27/06/97 |
9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | Wowed the world like no other sports game, and only really superseded by ISS 98. Over-responsive controls and loose AI in defence makes it too offensively biased for the purists. |
| Starfox/Lylat Wars 12/09/97 |
9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | Great sequel to SNES original, but tunes not as good. Frantic action, and 2 fab tank levels. Major cutscenes and voices add atmosphere. Perfect if not for poor cockpit mode and no level select for completed missions. 2 to 4-player is ok - better with 4. |
| Top Gear Rally 14/11/97 |
6 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 7 | Under-rated game with exquisite car physics (though some may find control too responsive) along the lines of Wave Race. The 5 tracks allow a bit too much air, hurting gameplay, but are still most satisfying and the game really livens up when faster cars, reverse tracks and weather conditions are unlocked. Fab replays, and a comprehensive paintshop gets a bonus mark! |
| Diddy Kong Racing 21/11/97 |
9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | Initially seems slow, but soon ingratiates with quest style gameplay, scenic tracks, and memorable characters and bosses. Great challenge and longevity, 3 vehicles (car, plane, hover), 20 tracks and excellent MP that, whilst not matching Mario Kart in terms of tracks, exceeds it in fairness. Overall, beats MK. |
| Extreme G 28/11/97 |
5 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 5 | Average control, foggy & narrow tracks, conspire to make an average game. The weapons induce some random elements in this futuristic cycle racer, which I am not so sure is a good idea. Activating them often sees yourself blown around. Thankfully, they can be turned off. Good music, though. |
| Games - 5 1998 |
Game play |
Con- trol |
Gra- phics |
Sound | Over -all |
Comments |
| 1080 Snow Boarding *1 30/05/98 |
9 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | Again, genre breaking and defining. Again, exquisite controls. So realistic and leaves all competition for dust. Snow and environmental effects augment already great courses and animation - virtually flawless. Slight let downs: 6 tracks only, horizontal split option missing, not enough play- modes. A turn-based MP Contest mode should have been included. |
| ISS 98* 01/10/98 |
9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 9 | Best ever sports game on any system, period. Control may need to be slightly tightened further - just. Tackles need minor work - ball spillage and too much scrimmaging. Real player names and fully customable tournaments would basically make it perfect. |
| F1 WGP 02/10/98 |
9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | Almost perfect, but not quite. Occasional frame-rate drop and no training mode stops that. All courses; plenty of modes inc ISS-inspired scenarios; detailed, almost fog-less graphics with replays; fully authentic with the most realistic control ever, especially in Champion mode. The screen shakes realistically when hitting bumps, which adds further. Controls and tracks have high learning curve, but once mastered, rewards with a highly accurate, fun and satisfying game. Great sound, especially the comments from your pit manager adding to the realism. Under- rated and the best car -based game on the system; up with the best ever. Certainly the best F1 sim ever. |
| F-Zero X* 21/10/98 |
10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | Fast and fabulous in both SP and MP, disappointingly let down by a lack of options. With not much learning curve (re control and tracks), it's probably a bit too easy for experienced gamers. Too many extra men too, and only 3 laps per race, regardless of class, don't help. Fast, though bland, ultra- smooth graphics. 30 cars, 24 tracks with random-track generator, fab gameplay, and exquisite control, still makes this game a blast. |
| TopGear O-Drive* 05/12/98 26/01/99 |
6 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 5 | Oh, the graphics are probably the best on the system, but the jump-crazy track design ruin the good driving experience. Dreadful music and no options don't help. |
| Games - 6 1999 |
Game play |
Con- trol |
Gra- phics |
Sound | Over -all |
Comments |
| Zelda* 25/12/99 |
9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | Objectively, it really is perfect. Just a bit slow for me. |
| Rogue Squadron 22/01/99 |
9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 9 | Puts you in a Star Wars film with planet based original objectives that put a whole new spin on SW flight games. RAM enhanced graphics and best N64 sound ever add to the experience. Occasional frame -rate drop in first -person mode, and fog, and couple of crap missions are only slight issues. |
| Wipe Out 64 30/01/99 |
8 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 8 | N64 controller shines again with this F-Zero opponent. FZ wins - just. Better 4-player, while WO's 2-player is better (with CPU cars). WO is more challenging in SP with its intricate tracks and control that have a nice learning curve. Speed increases, as do the laps, as you race faster classes. Only 7 tracks & weapon allocation that can induce random elements to some races, hinder it. Smooth & fast gameplay with great sound - some of the best on N64. Minor pop-up, but no fog. |
| Ep1 Racer* 28/05/99 |
6 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | Ruined by poor track design. Graphics excel at times, but sound quality poor. 2-player mode is good. |
| Mario Golf 02/11/99 & 22/11/99 |
9 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Wow! I hate golf, yet this game has it all. Great characters, flawless design and control and so playable. 4P too. How can golf be this much fun? I don't think it should have been called Wario Golf, but Wario is right about one thing: you're gonna love it! This game got stolen and I re-bought it! |
| World Driver 13/11/99 |
9 | 8 | 10 | 5 | 9 | While the control is great once you get to grips with it, I am not convinced the copious slide physiques are the best way to go. Best flares ever highlight the great graphics. Heaps of tracks. Rock-guitar music is woeful - generic themes are less offensive - and should be turned off, especially as the effects come out in full surround. Not quite a Gran Turismo beater, but real close. |
| Games - 5 2000 |
Game play |
Con- trol |
Gra- phics |
Sound | Over -all |
Comments |
| Perfect Dark 18/06/2000 |
10 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | Has to be the best FPS shooter for ANY system. Not just the outstanding 1P mode, the Combat (Bot) mode (with heaps of missions too), the weapon training, which makes it the best ever. Plus there's the best MP FPS on any console, complete with many varied MP modes and heaps of options (take note PC Quake 3). It's certainly the most complete game ever, with some truly memorable weapons, especially the ability to disarm. Make no mistake, beats Goldeneye hands down. Can walk of ledgers now, and framerate is similar if not better. Only slight downer is that it deserves better than the N64 and it's less than perfect controller. Mouse please. |
| Excite Bike 64 21/08/2000 |
9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | Unbelievable re-make of the NES classic. Fast, smooth beautiful in places, and challenging. MP does not let up either, complete with an excellent soccer mode on bikes! The NES original is there too, in normal and updated 3D mode. Whilst still excellent, controls seem to have room for improvement - often it's difficult to keep off the track boundaries. |
| Mario Tennis 07/10/2000 |
9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | The best tennis game ever. Only issue is that the d-pad can't be used (even though the stick is fine) and volleys at the net are not hard enough and lobs not deep enough (though, pushing the stick up helps). Sometimes it's hard to finish off points, especially on clay, which can see some monotony. |
| ISS 2000* 27/10/2000 |
9 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | ISS 2000 is better than ISS 98. Whilst a tad slower, the clearing slide tackles, forsaking 98's flying karate kicks for more realistic headers and chest-downs, and extra moves make it more balanced. But still, step-in tackling needs refinement as the scrimmage still remains and I'd like to see less manoeuvrable players. While it's tightened a bit, still too responsive. |
| F1 Racing Championship 2000 20/12/2000 |
8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | A merge between the F1 WGP and Monaco series. Sadly, the gameplay and presentation is more Monaco; F1 WGP seems just to have provided the license. I miss the realistic screen shake on road bumps and the pit chief chatter. It seems a tad to easy to spin out too. Still, fast and smooth and better than the Monaco. But I wanted F1 WGP 2000. Poo. |
| Games - 2 2001 |
Game play |
Con- trol |
Gra- phics |
Sound | Over -all |
Comments |
| Battle For Naboo 27/04/2001 |
9 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | Better in every department than Rogue Squadron, except for one: it just does not feel like Star Wars! The extra vehicles and space battles certainly make the missions more varied (blasting Battle Droids through Theed is awesome), and the presentation is better than Rogue. Minimal fog. |
| All Star Baseball 2000 15/09/2001 |
9 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 | After the rave reviews, I concur. Got this one cheap and it's outstanding. Only repetitive commentary lets it down. Quicker cursor movement during pitching would be nicer too - gets tiresome. Pity I don't like baseball either. |
| Game | Game play |
Con- trol |
Gra- phics |
Sound | Over -all |
Comments |
| Fifa 98 (WC) | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 6 | Some responsive control at last, but still a bit floaty. While playable, muddling gameplay still remains. |
| Golden Eye | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | In terms of sales, popularity and critical acclaim, probably the best game on the system, and certainly one of the best FPSs ever. PC players may not be used to the slower pace (not being able to walk off ledges sucks too), but the depth and innovation on offer makes it a must-play for FPS fans. SP invigorated a jaded genre and forced traditional developers to concentrate more on gameplay enhancements rather than technological ones. Fab MP mode also quashed the notion that split-screen death-matches can't work. |
| Quake 64 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 3 | A mere port of the PC original which had a noted flawed SP game. Now obsolete on the N64 with the PC version's only saving grace - the MP - reduced to a windowed 2-player slug-match. Goldeneye beats in every conceivalve facet |
| Quake 2 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | A much better game, but sadly the SP still lags behind current standards. 4P MP rocks. Reasonably fast too |
| Turok | 5 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 5 | "Atmospheric" graphics and great sound highlight this game, but spawling levels with platform elements do not. It gets tiresome. No MP. Launch title showed, at least, that that N64 can do this type of game well. |
* Full reviews are available.
*1 Rated within F-Zero X review.
SP: Single Player.
MP: Multi Player.
1P, 2P, 3P, 4P: One player, two player, etc.