The Nintendo 64 turned 15 a couple months ago and with it brought some amazing gaming memories, embedded amongst a thickest of disappointing and frustrating moments. The Nintendo 64 had far more potential than the Playstation despite not switching to CDs because of its incredible second-party lineup, its multi-player capabilities, and its awesome new controller which was the first to abandon the D-Pad. While the N64’s controller seems dated when compared to the likes of the XBox 360 and the PS3, it was quite a marvel back in 1996. Sadly though with a plethora of third-parties switching over to Sony, an abundance of delays, and a good variety of disappointments, the Nintendo 64 got its arse whopped by the PSOne.
In my opinion the N64 was a far superior system because of its superior list of awesome and timeless games, but gamers went with the Playstation because of Sony’s undeniable list of games to choose from, better prices, easier accessibility, and lastly because of its rising reputation as the go-to place for good sports games. Nintendo’s downfall with the N64 would directly lead to the disaster that was the Nintendo Gamecube. But we are not here to discuss the 9-year downfall of Nintendo, we are here to discuss the N64’s lineup of games, which remains the most interesting in Nintendo’s history. Why you ask? Because there were a variety of great games with potential of building a franchise but never came about for one reason or another. I am going to list 10 N64 classics that most desperately needs a sequel. Now, some of these games have sequel, but were so abysmally far from the formula of the N64 original that I deny its existence. Before we start though I am going to deliver some honorable mentions:
1) Star Fox 64
Yes, there has been Star Fox games after Star Fox 64, this is true. But, Star Fox Adventures was a Zelda-wannabe with very-very-very-very little aerial combat, Star Fox Assault was a shooter wanna-be with also minimal aerial combat, and Star Fox Command became more a strategy game that a flight combat simulator. A true-blue sequel to Star Fox 64 would be the perfect way to kick off the WiiU, and Nintendo knows that the last gem in the Fox franchise was the N64 classic because they are constantly re-releasing and remaking the darn thing.
2) Goldeneye 007
Let’s get this out of the way: this sequel will never happen. After Rare lost the licensing, dozens of developers and companies ran through the Bond license, creating dozens of uninspired games, and practically ran the franchise to the ground. The only good Bond game will forever be Goldeneye 007 and until Rare combines with Free Radical Games and unites the core group of developers that made the N64 masterpiece, this face will forever remain true.
3) Superman 64
Totally kidding.
And now, on to the Top 10:
#10: Banjo-Tooie
Yes, there was a Banjo-Kazzoie third installment for the XBox 360. But that game was so far off the deep end and so far away from everything that made the Banjo games on the N64 great I deny its existence. The N64 Banjo games were platforming works of art as they combined fun puzzles with excellent level design, plenty of hidden goodies, and some nice British humor to wrap it all together. I think if banjo comes back to Nintendo we’ll see hopes for a revival. Because if there is a company that can revive platform franchises from the dead (Sonic Rush, New Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby’s Epic Yarn) it would be Nintendo.
#9: Super Mario 64
I have argued this on another article, but in my opinion we have not gotten the open-air freelance sequel to Mario 64 just yet. I want a Mario 64 sequel, one that gives Mario over 30 moves to perform, doesn’t limit him to a smaller controller (Mario Galaxy) or adds some massive item on his back (Mario Sunshine). I wonder what Mario would be like if he had the space of your typical Zelda game. Now that would be interesting.
#8: Blast Corps
Your mission was to blow up **** throughout the game. How can you possibly deny this game a sequel? One of Rare’s unsung classics, Blast Corps is a very creative, explosive, and fun treat as you blow up buildings to pave the way for trucks carrying nuclear missiles. I seriously think Nintendo dropped the ball by not even attempting a sequel on the Gamecube or the Nintendo DS, which would have been a perfect platform for this type of game.
#7: Space Station Silicon Valley
One of the cleverest video games of the 90s is one you’ve never heard of. Made by the same team that eventually worked on Grand Theft Auto, Silicon Valley is about a robot that uses the bodies of animals to collect pieces necessary to rebuild yourself and find a way out of the planet you crashed in. Wouldn’t you love to see an HD 3-D platform game about controlling an arsenal of animals and run around wreaking havoc in a separate planet in the future? I think Rockstar should jump on that after Grand Theft Auto 5.
#6: Conker’s Bad Fur Day
Another Rare game? Conker got a game for the XBox , but it was a freakin’ remake as opposed to a sequel—and it removed much of the vulgarity that was in the N64 cult hit. The original for the N64 was fun, blasphemous, hilarious, and downright entertaining. A platformer that spoofs other games, movies, and moments of pop culture (and not named Gex) deserves a sequel and a franchise.
#5: Pokemon Puzzle League
While Tetris Attack was a very entertaining and addicting puzzle game, its presentation was a bit of a mismatch with its lame cutesy themes and uneven moments. That being said, Pokemon Puzzle League was the puzzler in the right direction, with its Pokemon theme and presentation fully intact. The Pokemon sounds ACTUALLY sound like Pokemon (which only God knows why it doesn’t happen in the RPGs and stadium games) and with exclusive animated scenes for the game, this was one of the more underrated puzzlers in gaming history. A sequel is more than necessary, with a heavy presentation and more Pokemon and trainers to choose from. And can you imagine if they provided the rock-paper-scissors RPG element of Pokemon to this game? For example, if you choose Pikachu to go against a Squirtle your attacks on the opponent increase heavily? These are just some of the tweaks that could make Pokemon Puzzle League 2 just as addicting as the original. And imagine this baby going online……..
#4: Jet Force Gemini
Take a science-fiction futuristic platform game with elements of action, adventure, shooter, and run-n-gun, add a slew of cool characters and gadgets, and present them in a creative atmosphere full of nasty bugs to kill. Sounds like a great game, right? Sounds like a game that would fit well in the world that loves Halo and Gears of War, right? Well, this actually came out in the N64 days and doesn’t even have a sequel. While Jet Force Gemini isn’t the most polished of N64 gems but its still an excellent idea that deserves an HD read through and follow-up. Come on now Rare, what on earth are you doing with all your time with Microsoft!?!?!?
P.S. Then again, Bungie would also be a nice choice....
#3: Ken Griffey Jr. Slugfest
One of the best sports games of all-time never got the follow-up after its N64 run. While most people skipped on this game because Ninty gamers just don’t play sports games (Wii Sports would be the first major million-seller sports title since N64’s Mario Tennis) and because Nintendo always forgets when the sports seasons actually start, Slugfest is an excellent blend of sports simulation with arcade sports action. The game was simple but not watered-down, and had some of the easiest controls of any sports game out there. Season mode was a lot of fun, the create-a-player section was among the best up to that point, and this game was more than inviting to rookies while testing the patience of baseball veterans.
Left Field Productions was firing on all cylinders and despite the poor graphics, had delivered some awesome sports games. Nintendo needs to revert back to its Nintendo Sports days with the WiiU with its first-party baseball and basketball video games. And one franchise that needs to continue is this one.
#2: Excitebike 64
This is hands-down the greatest extreme sports game not named Tony Hawk’s Proskater. This game had incredible graphics, an awesome soundtrack, a great trick system, superb level design, excellent sound effects, a grand amount of single and multi-player modes, and just an overall overwhelmingly charged experience that should have changed the face of gaming but because it was an N64 game, it didn’t stand a chance. By the time it came out nobody cared about the N64, by the time this came out we were already prepping for the PS2/Dreamcast era, and by the time this came out all the positive reviews fell of deaf ears.
If you have not played this game, you absolutely must. The multi-player was spectacular, and there was so much to do (from racing to playing a 3-D version of the original classic, to even playing soccer), and a lack of a true sequel is inexcusable. Recreating this type of racer and giving an HD boost would be incredible for gamers, and could definitely give Nintendo the extreme sports audience that has been sorely forgotten this past generation. Excitebike 3 has to happen, not could, not maybe, it should happen.
#1: Pokemon Snap
Of all the video games in the N64 lineup with potential to becoming a gem in the Nintendo Wii universe, Pokemon Snap sits at the top and the next couple steps over. Pokemon Snap’s concerpt was simple but engaging. The game screams for online interactivity, it screams for an expansion of its gameplay, and screams for innovative controls. Pokemon Snap had the best presentation of all Pokemon games not released in the handheld so far, and just desperately needs a follow-up. This game wasn’t perfect, because it was just too darn short and easy. But, it was mildly addicting and surprisingly deep as you compete for better scores and look for more secrets.
We need more levels, we need more Pokemon to take pictures of, and we need an online leaderboard which pits you against other photographers to see who has the best pictures. It would have been perfect with the Wiimote, and its an even safer bet with the WiiU controller. Pokemon Snap 2 has not happened, and its one of the biggest travesties in the history of Nintendo.
Seriously.
