Topic: Games that make the 64 the 64

I got access to NSO again, and I've been enjoying the N64 classics with my 8bitdo analogue 64 controller (it's almost perfect.)

While I am thoroughly enjoying what is, I can't help but notice some glaring exclusions: the Cruis'n games, the top gear rally games, and the Rush games!

to me, these games are symbolic of the experience of renting games on N64, as an early adopter, especially the first of each in their series'. I loved these games and I often pine for them when I just want an arcade racer to kind of lose myself in.

how do you feel about these games? any other games that y'all feel are still missing from NSO 64?

@The_Nintendo_Pedant Its odd that Nintendo hasnt brought the rest of the Crusin games to NSO especially since they got the rights from Midway when Midway went bankrupt. As for the Rush games that's a bit harder cause Warner Bros got those from Midway but they arent interested in the video games they just want the IP to make movies with hence where Rampage came from a few years ago.

As for arcade racers on Switch, there's Horizon Chase Turbo and the Top Racer Collection both are excellent arcade racers.

@Tasuki

I had a brief time with HCT, and I like it, but I hit a wall with and so to speak and just never went back. good week there though I turned it on every night after work, that's just how it goes for me with certain games. 👍

I'm interested in top racer collection!

I guess "my era" of racers is mode 7 style, and early "32/64 bit" 3d style. the pre mode 7 ones are good but kind of don't actually feel like driving per se, and after about PS2 the "realistic" racers just aren't fun. but I constantly want to play all the racers I played in the 32 bit era!

anyway there's my story 😅 I'll report back if I randomly decide to get top racer this weekend 😆✌️

Tbh, the only major games that feel weird to not be on it are Rayman 2, Glover and the Star Wars games. To some extent the Bomberman games and Toy Story 2. Obviously for licensing reasons I'm not shocked by some of these not being here.

Maybe Chameleon Twist, since that game feels like it existed to be rented, not bought, and thus should be on the service that isn't a permanent game purchase.

It's sadly not weird Mischief Makers isn't on it, partially because SE owns it and they hate putting out old games at non-premium price even more than Nintendo.

@kkslider5552000

"Tbh, the only major games that feel weird to not be on it are Rayman 2, Glover and the Star Wars games."

oh, great picks. though I personally think of Dreamcast for Rayman 2, there are no wrong answers here lol. as you say, different reasons for these games not being on NSO in the present climate. 👍 I'd love to play rogue squadron and even shadows again, just for completeness.

"To some extent the Bomberman games and Toy Story 2."

OHH bomberman 64 seemed HUGE when it came out. probably the "HUGEST" bomberman ever "felt" in the collective consciousness. very "early N64" vibe for me.

btw should I be looking out for toy story 2? what's the deal, there?

"Maybe Chameleon Twist, since that game feels like it existed to be rented, not bought, and thus should be on the service that isn't a permanent game purchase."

I love this category of game and I also love just having access to them. Like, when I first got ZSNES back in the 90s, and I could finally play Boogerman without having to waste a weekend rental on it 😆 it's a low level of interest but it is interest.

"It's sadly not weird Mischief Makers isn't on it, partially because SE owns it and they hate putting out old games at non-premium price even more than Nintendo."

It's a trend I'm not so fond of. I've gotten really used to the "retro" end of the market be also the affordable end. makes me wish for high quality AAA games for the normies again. keep retro small! 😂✌️

(great picks, Mischief Makers has been elusive my whole life, but as a treasure fan I've always been intrigued by it. I didn't realize SE was the owner, what's up with that?)

I dunno, Enix published it back in the day. That is literally all I know, I'm not Japanese and thus know very little about 90s Enix except certain games they put out (mostly Dragon Quest).

It's definitely not as weird as SE also owning the Gex license, because I'm fairly certain they did not when Gex games were coming out.

One of my favorites is Hey You Pikachu, but I know that would be nearly impossible to port to Switch

There were so many great N64 games, I just remember truly loving the console and its games. Apart from the classic Nintendo games I loved all the early first person shooters on it like Duke Nukem 64. I used to play 4 player death matches with friends and it was an awesome experience. Still back then every 3D game seemed amazing after the 2D super Nintendo and mega drive etc. It was a whole new reality. I did have a 486 PC though and was used to playing Doom etc but still the N64 was amazing. I used to love the Ready to Rumble games too but perhaps that was on Dreamcast when I played them.