Switch Online Is Expanding The N64 Library With Rare's Jet Force Gemini

This isn't 1080 Snowboarding...

...Of course it shows up when VC is no longer a thing.

Never played it, but I’ll be curious to try!

WHAT?!

I mean...cool, but also what?!

1080 Snowboarding, announced more than a year in advance. Jet Force Gemini, one week! Ok. I mean, I'm happy, so I won't complain, but...very strange priorities. Also this is not a game I'd expect to be big in Japan in a way that they'd not announce it worldwide all at once. Like did the entire Japanese EDF fandom go nuts for it or something?

This is pretty darn awesome. One of my favorite videos games of all time. The soundtrack is practically unbeatable and the game as a whole was way ahead of its time. I can't find too many faults with this game. Especially loved playing co-op with my brother when we were kids. Great memories.

That's one of my all time favorite games. That is a really good addition.

@Dpullam Yeah, it's an awesome game! It's really fun, original and addictive, slightly better on Rare Replay. I didn't expect Jet Force Gemini to join the service, but it's the second game purely owned by Rare to join Nintendo's subscription. Goldeneye is based on the elusive James Bond IP and it seemed almost impossible to get a re-release as it did on Rare Replay and Nintendo Online eventually. I prefer owning them on Xbox, but nice to see these classics on Nintendo Online.

The only Rare game in limbo seems to be Diddy Kong Racing. I really hope that Nintendo and Microsoft agree to remake Diddy Kong Racing for both platforms. It deserves that and more.

Nice to see Rare coming back to Nintendo in some shape or form.

Jet Force Gemini looks neat.

Here’s hoping we’ll see Diddy Kong Racing next year

JFG is a GREAT game! It's awesome. Get ready to do the collecting though - just when you think that you don't have to, you do!

"Switch Online Is Expanding The N64 Library With Rare's Jet Force Gemini"
Yay!
"Coming to Japan at the end of the month"
Oh...

I would have loved to try this. A damn shame it’s only been announced for Japan.

NoA tweeted it's coming in December for outside Japan:

https://twitter.com/NintendoAmerica/status/1727140599243911246

"Adventure calls in the galaxy of Jet Force Gemini, coming to #NintendoSwitch for #NintendoSwitchOnline + Expansion Pack members this December! #Nintendo64"

Wow, I remember this oddball game as a kid. Had fun. Co-op was nightmare though haha.

This one will be pretty funny to see people trying to play w the OG controls...

This is awesome. I rented this as a kid, but never beat it. Really stoked to play this again.

@Grumblevolcano I'm foaming at the mouth for 1080 and Golden Sun 😭.

Ugh maybe i can beat it finally. Been stuck on the final boss for like 20 years.

this is exactly the kind of game we should be getting on the service.
excited to play it for the first time.
damn those Rare guys were prolific back then.

@BrianJL And take note of where you can't go on your first run. If there's water, lava, or a large gap to cross, then it's likely that you won't be able to collect everything without a specific character.

inhales deeply YEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Endless complaints about the controls, camera, and "lack of QOL" incoming.

this is one ive always wanted to try to get someplace with, so on the one hand im excited!

on the other....

...

1080?

@LikelySatan Yeah, I really hope they're planning some special control hacks like the Xbox version has, or people will be in for a rude awakening! The Goldeneye workaround doesn't apply here, as the issues go too deep for simple remapping to fix.

Yay. I get to suffer making sure none of these panda ewok things die throughout the campaign.

ABSOLUTELY. NONE.

@Banjo- And Blast Corps

I'm guessing it's being done to tie into Japan finally getting Goldeneye but it does feel like they just plain forgot about Harvest Moon and 1080 Snowboarding.

Nice surprise. Though I’ve been hoping for blast corps.

Very nice. Thinking around the Video Game Awards....?

Not interested in nso, but if I could buy the games, different story

Wow, so I guessed right in that there would be other Rare games and figured JFG had a chance-- Guess that soft confirms Donkey Kong 64. I only sampled this game, but I couldn't come to grips with it as I didn't have much time to play it.

This is one that is really served best by the original N64 controller, though I did play through it on Rare Replay and after Rare patched it, it was very playable then as well. Great game for its time (loved as a kid), still has some fun to be had now.

Ahh. I can't wait to behead my enemies and collect their heads as trophies again.

Well, that certainly is a game I wasn't expecting to see on the service.

Never played it but cartridges on sale pop up every now and then around here, might play it here and then track a decent copy.

This makes me hopeful we'll see Perfect Dark one day, though.

I rented this once and really enjoyed what i played but it was a rental so i never finished it. Now maybe i can finally rectify that. Nice surprise!

That's cool, but I'm still waiting on Banjo-Tooie, Mischief Makers, and the Mystical Ninja games.

Holy *****! I wouldn't have expected that game, but I am very happy because this is one of my favourite Rareware games! Excellent gameplay with very memorable boss fights, a great sense of exploration with beautiful stages, and an incredible soundtrack composed by Robin Beanland.

Played this a few years back on Rare Replay. I enjoyed more than I thought I would.

This is a welcome surprise! I wonder if the ending will have been changed to remove the Jimmy Saville impression?

1080 then Blast Corps next yeah?.

Great game, but I already have in Rare Replay

YO, UM, YOU DON’T JUST DROP JFG AND NOT HAVE IT RELEASE EVERYWHERE.
Seriously this better come west!

YESSSS FINALLY!!! I hope this means more Rare titles to come. I just want to play DK64 on Switch gosh dang it!

@smoreon just give us Rare Replay on Switch.

Does this mean we can get Rare's Perfect Dark and Diddy Kong Racing at some point... Please?

I love this game so much. One of my top 5 N64 games. The soundtrack is tied with DKC2 as my favorite soundtrack ever.

This didn't play as intuitively as I would have liked, but their was a decent game to be had behind the awkward controls once you get used to them.

This is one of the best action adventure games I’ve ever played. A highlight of the N64 library and Rare’s output.

@ChromaticDracula

Yup, it is. Already confirmed for North America.

I never liked this game...

I really hope we get Donkey Kong 64 soon.

@Ryu_Niiyama The final boss is impossible if you don’t maximise the homing missle capacity for Juno..

I see Microsoft rather do this and just slowly put them Rare games on NSO one by one over collecting free money by releasing the entire Rare Replay collection on the eShop. I guess after this we should be expecting Battletoads, Diddy Kong Racing, Perfect Dark, Blast Corp, Conker, and Killer Instinct soon.

@Boston_J I think it does!!! 😳😱😱🤎🤎🤎

Diddy Kong racing at least since it's an n64 exclusive! Think of the help save states could give against those impossible races!! 🤎🤎🤎😁

Always wanted to try this one. The emulators really couldn't fully nail this one so I'm super hyped about this one!! Time to get out that strategy guide I've read about 40 times!!

And 1080° must be one hell of a game, everyone seems to be waiting for it. Can't wait till that inevitably comes!

(Along with Golden Sun! Because the gba people are STARVING while it's one of the best libraries they've ever had! 😂)

Come on, bring RC Pro Am home!!!!

To all those yet to play it, make sure you get all the koala things along the way or be prepared to backtrack!

Great game though, the only thing like it now is the Ratchet and Clank series on PlayStation.

Really loved this game as a kid. I still have my N64 but I lost all the games, so recently cleaned it up, got a CRT and began collecting them again. This gem is one of the ones I still need.

I'm surprised nobody is pointing out (from what I can tell) that the Japanese N64 Switch app will get a second version that will be 18+ which apparently Goldeneye will appear in. This will also open the door for Conker's Bad Fur Day. Wonder if we'll get something similar outside Japan or if they'll just stick with the one.

EXCUSE ME NO FREAKING WAY!
There is hope brothers and sisters! Hope that Nintendo actually thought things through about what to do with N64 NSO next and did NOT think they could get away with no Rare titles at all.

The fact that they start with a title which is not an absolute blockbuster is also a pretty good sign because if they thought of Jet Force chances are they also thought of bigger titles like Diddy and the one that we're all waiting for, Perfect Dark.

Excellent news but I've got to say they kept us waiting. I was seriously starting to lose faith.

Also, Jet Force is an awesome game but I wonder how the controls are going to translate. We might come up with new custom config for our pro controllers just like we had to come up with for Goldeneye. Or it might be the first title that REALLY requires an N64 NSO controller. The control scheme in that game is really special. But it's worth working on it, the game is great.

I am all over this! Brilliant game!

I thought everyone here hated the thought of being considered part of the “xbox community”! Good to see that has changed

@mlt Well… this is the third Rare game on the service

@K1LLEGAL not me, Rare games were a huge part of my childhood and I am excited to see these games back on a Nintendo console.

On topic: One step closer to having Banjo Tooie and Perfect Dark on the NSO.

Tried it on Rare Replay and it was a bit rubbish with awful controls.

Give me Diddy Kong Racing! And SNES Killer Instinct!

Also the release schedule for these classic games is painfully slow.

@Arkay exactly and i’m sure many people here would say the same. Just a shame they couldn’t see that it was a good thing and not a bad thing; but everything has to have hate thrown at it these days. Anyway enjoy - hopefully the other Rare Snes/N64 releases do come over. I don’t see why not now!

Fantastic news but I’d absolutely love dk64.

@Dpullam yet nobody ever mentions Robin beanland the composer 🤷🏻‍♂️

@K1LLEGAL Having Rare games on Nintendo console doesn't really mean it's part of the Xbox community for Nintendo, these games were always associated with Nintendo from the beginning. If Microsoft really care about bringing the Xbox experience to Nintendo players then they would go all out and give us the main gourmet from their catalog such as the Halo, the Gears of War, the Forza, the Sudeki, the Lost Odyssey, the Blue Dragon, etc.

@Serpenterror sure but Xbox could completely ignore Nintendo’s consoles (outside of COD, since they have agreed to that) and choose not to release anything. They own the IP now so it’s upto them. The Minecrafts and the Call of Duties; and I assume most other activision games will continue to release on Nintendo consoles. But the Rare IPs are upto them. Banjo in smash was upto them… didn’t have to happen. Obviously they get the revenue from it too which is fair; but thats still them including the Nintendo community as part of their line-up.

Maybe you get some of those Xbox Game Studios releases on the next Nintendo console who knows. Sea of Thieves and Grounded would be great releases on a Nintendo consoles.

@kkslider5552000
Well maybe they figured out that one year of party and sport games was not going to cut it.

Charging for an extremely limited collection of lazily emulated roms continues just shows how little respect nintendo has for their customers. Nintendo charge you for a worse experience than you can get for free with emulation.

Sorry but I have never heard of it or seen it before now

I’m not sure where my JFJ cartridge is, so I would be interested in replaying. But forking out €50 for an N64 controller that I may not be able to use beyond switch (+ whatever NSO costs) is not appealing.

@Banjo- Both platforms? Do you think Nintendo will allow their characters on a non-Nintendo platform?

NintendoLife users rank it the #43 best N64 game.

I’m actually pretty psyched for this one, NGL. Hope the controls don’t drive me crazy

Nice!

I could never beat this game due to how hard it is)

It has to be played with N64 Controller. It's unplayable without it, the game was designed for that 6 button controller ! Like GoldenEye is Ddfficult to play now (and Perfect Dark probably too, if it comes). The controls are not awful, but not adapted to modern controllers, and sometimes, our use of FPS/TPS controls became different because of the second Joystick.

Great news I thought at first, but this is currently only for Japan... It's like Nintendo is teasing us 🙄

If they’re working with Rare to release this, I’ve still got my fingers crossed for Banjo Tooie at some point….

😳😯😲🤯😃😄😁😆🤩😍💥

It probably hasn't aged well, and the three characters thing kinda got annoying, but this game was amazing. One of the best soundtracks Rare ever did. Was hoping for a remake one day, but I'll take this for now. This is unexpected and delightful.

@Hank_Scorpio They probably won't remove it, and besides, only a handful of people will even get such an impression. Only Brits mostly, and then not even everyone.

And this is the reason that Nintendo should have never got rid of rare
because rare was and still is a big presence in Nintendo

@Dringo
Yes I know that, I should have said I was talking about the rare games apart from Banjo and Goldeneye but let's face it these two are the ones that they can't even reasonably do an n64 app without them.

And I was worried that they would consider it was enough and call it a day which of course would have been not only a disservice to their fanbase but also to the legacy of the n64 itself. Rare as so much better games to offer and they absolutely can't do an n64 app without them and consider it even represents the console well. People reasonably expect more rare games when they sign up for an n64 app. Rare was objectively as important as Nintendo's own software for the n64.

So it's reassuring to see Jet Force there. Banjo is definitely one of the very best n64 games but Goldeneye really is overrated, I would not even put it in a best n64 games list personally. I was not too worried about Diddy and Donkey since they are Nintendo properties, but it would have really been a waste to miss on jet force, conker, perfect dark, banjo tooie, killer instinct and blast corps. Now they are all in the realm of possibilities! And as I've said if they do bother about jet force, which is one of their mildly successful games, that means they almost certainly have plans for a blockbuster like Perfect Dark. There is also hope for Conker with this 18+ n64 app that got released in Japan.

@Fizza
My friend, I really hope Perfect Dark comes at some point and now I really think it will because it's such a cool game. It crushes the competition on this console and to some extent on other consoles too.

Like for example, something that is often not remembered or not really talked about. The multiplayer is so ahead of its time. The amount of options you get to customize your game is insane. It's got it all, varied maps, lots of them, customizable teams, bots with various types of AI on offer, you can mix and match all of these the way you want, save your custom games with custom rules and custom whatever, customizable controls like radically so, there is even a 2 n64 controllers per player control method, player profiles, unlockable skins/maps/weapons, a progression system with achievements for bragging rights, special modes in spades, fun stupid bonus party modes, crazy weapons on top of the awesome ones, entirely customizable weapon sets to make anything appear on any map in any mode, and blah blah blah. Basically you can do what you want. And all of that back in the days of good ol n64. And all of that was out of the box I might add, not patched in, not paid content. Obviously they couldn't at the time but just for comparison sake with what is done nowadays. Add to this the online through NSO and boom. Magic.

Really the state of nowadays multiplayer console fps in terms of the amount of options you get compared to Perfect Dark... well it's just sad.

@Daniel36 Someone asked this of Chris Scullion on Twitter and he believes it was removed from Rare Replay. I would imagine we’re getting a different build so we’ll have to see.

I noticed in the trailer that like Goldeneye, it is running in widescreen. Very nice.

This game, I would LOVE a full remake on. I want the game to look like the box art, or better. I want the characters to feel like they are walking on the ground.

I wouldn't even mind if they remastered the soundtrack. It was really good, but man... it could be one for the ages.

Give this game the same treatment they just gave to Metroid Prime and Super Mario RPG.

Man, this game's neat. The controls were a struggle and the framerate was atrocious, but it was a unique experience. Can't wait to revisit it.

@mlt

I'm curious about the controls, too. We'll see. I have a Goldeneye preset on my Switch and the game is more than playable with it. I actually like it more now than I did back in the day. But yeah, Jet Force Jemini is arguably more idiosyncratic. I remember when it came out, some reviewers were even confused whether to play it as a third-person action platformer or a first-person shooter.

@vio
Actually it hasn't been added. JFG just like Perfect Dark originally have widescreen as an option even on the n64. They also have dolby surround support. Perfect Dark even has a 'hd' visuals option. It sortof kills the framerate but it's there. Imagine. Options. In a Nintendo game.
Yes, Rare's n64 days were awesome.

@Beaucine
It has this double control scheme that requires a 6 face buttons layout + 2 triggers. And also the shortcuts on the dpad. So with the way they've remaped the n64 buttons on the pro controller this is never going to work. We will definitely have to remap some of the buttons. I imagine you could map A and B to the secondary triggers for example and use the pro controller 4 face buttons as C buttons. From what I can remember A and B are just for switching weapons and also they are the usual ok/previous buttons in the menus. This is just going to be a bit weird in the actual menus of the game using the triggers as A and B to navigate.

This game was amazing. İt was my fourth N64 game. Amazing characters, Juno, Vela and Lupus. Amazing good music. Awesome game. İ always wanted to play the game again.

@Dpullam Mine as well, just hated re-saving the bears every time I entered a level. I hope that is "fixed" this time around. I highly recommend this to everyone. Now if I only still had my Prima Strategy Guide for it! haha

I remember renting this one back in the day and liking it, I recall it being quite difficult.

I tried playing again a few years ago on Rare Replay, and the controls just felt really weird to me.

@K1LLEGAL i believe they said they want to view it as a handheld too. And that's not the market they're interested in themselves. So I feel like they're pretty okay with it!

Will it be possible to play co op online for Jet Force Gemini?

@LikelySatan @serpenterror Xbox 360 games make up a big part of Rare Replay, and the only reason they're included is because of emulation, as porting the games one-by-one (just to deliver them all in a single, budget-priced release) would be cost-prohibitive. Of course, the Switch has no chance of emulating the 360, so Rare Replay would end up being an incomplete package.

Or are you thinking that they should replace those games with the DKC trilogy, DKR, and DK64?

Ludicrous!
I set up my N64 for the first time in about 10 years to play this and have just got to the final level.
I assumed this was never going to come to the service!
Game is great and has held up better than I expected. The machine gun is one of the most satisfying guns in gaming imho.

Loved this game. I got this and Pokemon Snap used and on sale at Blockbuster back in the day. Wasn't interested in either when they first released (I mean look at that horribly ugly promotional art), but the game is quite clever and original in its gameplay... which will probably throw people off. Music was amazing for its day, too. It's a little too long, if I remember right, but I did finish it. Looking forward to seeing how it holds up.

@smoreon oh I don't have any hope they'd actually do either of those those things. I just want all the things.

@LikelySatan Oh, I see. Well, if you're making wishes, then put in a good word for F-Zero, will you?

FINE I'll subscribe! Geez I was trying to catch up on my backlog T.T

YESSS!!! Tricky tribal part aside, One of my favourite games ever. I'm chuffed to bits.

There's not much more a satisfying moment, than you facing a group of drones in a cramped corridor, armed with the Tri-Rocket launcher, and the rainbow blood cheat on. So good.

It seems everyone is freaking out about the controls for this game and I just looked up the controls again (it's been a minute!). My Goldeneye pre-set control scheme I use will work just fine. The face buttons are switched to the C-Buttons, ZR is Z, ZL is R, L is B, and R is A. Gonna work perfectly. Very similar to what I use for SIN AND PUNISHMENT.

@mlt
That's what I use for Goldeneye and it works great. See my previous post above.

@Fizza The more, the better! I'm not a huge fan of Nintendo Online, but it would have been very nice to release a Nintendo 64 Mini after SNES.

@Captain_Toad The Tribals are a real challenge but the levels aren't huge, so I found the gameplay really addictive, once I got used to it. Granted, I played the Xbox version which has updated controls.

@Jamie64326 Nobody knows that, but they should if Microsoft does. In any case, Nintendo only owns Diddy from the Diddy Kong Racing cast. It was also created by Rare, but Nintendo was granted it by the judge along with the rest of the DK family, so it's not plural but singular in this case. It's very sad that your dislike to Microsoft wouldn't approve cooperation in both ways.

@Banjo-

Strangely enough, Diddy Kong Racing DS was released on the Nintendo DS nearly seven Years after Microsodt bought Rare:>
So nothing is impossible

@Elbarbo

Well i played through Perfect Dark last Week with the new PC Port with my 8Bitdo Controller (SN30 Pro?)
One Stick works as the C Buttons for Movement
and the other to look around.
I only changed down on the D-Pad to duck, as i hate to use L3/R3.

As it runs so smooth, i was through it in about 5 Hours.

The Auto Aim makes it easy, so i am not complaining

@Azuris That's right and I'd say that the relationship between Microsoft and Nintendo is better now.

@Azuris Ok ! What was difficulte is to separate moves; left and right on the right stick; straight ahead and back on the left stick. Sorry, I'm not fluent in English. I think that at the beginning of 3D shooters, it was easy to play, but now it's difficult to come back to old controls. I don't have PC for gaming, but I keep your message in my mind

@Elbarbo
You can remap it
So if you want, you can play it mostly like new Games do.

@Banjo- The answer is no. We won't be seeing Nintendo content on Xbox. Regarding what you're saying about DK, what the heck do you mean granted by judge? It was obvious that anything relating DKC/DK64 is owned by Nintendo. That is more than likely the extension of letting Rare use the IP.

@Jamie64326 Because you don't have a clue about it. The process was not like this is mine and this is yours. Nintendo didn't own Rare, just 49% of it. The judge split characters and properties. You said characters, when there is only one DK character in Diddy Kong Racing, that's another inaccuracy. That character was made by Rare, not Nintendo, so it's not a Nintendo character but a character given to Nintendo.

The judge during the legal process stated that Diddy would be given to Nintendo along with the other DK characters created by Rare, while the other characters created by Rare would be kept by Rare.

You also say that we won't see Nintendo characters on another system, but you don't know that, you don't have a clue, it's just a projection of your inner desires and your hate towards a cooperation that benefits both parties. We have seen Mario on Google Play and iOS already, we might see more Nintendo characters on other platforms in the future, no matter what you wish for. It will depend on their future strategies, not on what die-hard fans want.

@Banjo- Firstly I want to know where you're getting this info about a judge from. Anyway, when I said characters I also said relating to DKC and DK64. I said nothing about Diddy Kong Racing, that was you. On top of that, Diddy evolved from Rare's take on Donkey Kong Jr.

With the last paragraph, what hate are you talking about? That's just putting words in my mouth. All I said is we won't see them on Xbox. No different to saying we won't see Uncharted on Nintendo or Master Chief on Playstation. Yes we've seen Mario on mobile devices but they're not consoles, while Xbox and PlayStation are.