Topic: Perfect Dark (N64app) sucks.

I freaking loved this game back on the N64, but with that said I cannot say the same for the N64 NSO+ app version. All I have to say about this game is, did Nintendo, Rare, or whoever actually playtest this game before releasing it? If the did how in the blue hell did they not discover that the control options SUCK and make it very different to control Johanna Dark.

@RygelXVIII That's unfortunate to hear. This was one of my favs from the N64 days. As a left handed person, I'm curious how I'll find the controls. Will give it a whirl later today.

I’ve been generally weary of the online aspect as a whole. Heard 007 sessions were pretty unplayable.

Oh, dear. Really? Was looking forward to playing again. I loved JFG in 1999/2000, but could only manage 30 mins on NSO due to the controls. Hope it is not like that...

Doesn't even seem to be available here (UK) yet. What the hell? Edit: Ohhhhhh the N64 mature thing is a whole seperate app? Okay...

In any case, I expected the controls to be god-awful. They were in Goldeneye. Why don't Nintendo just produce the most logical controls (standard twin stick controls in this case) for each game or provide a button remapping option within the emulator for each game? It's annoying.

@RygelXVIII Yeah, I just noticed. That seems a bit nonsensical, but I guess it helps keeps these "mature" games seperate for those of us with kids... Isn't Goldeneye "mature" rated though? Lol

So I just tested both PD and Turok, the button mapping is just insane. I cannot grasp the C-buttons being mapped to the right analogue stick - it’s actually impossible to play personally. So I just loaded up Nightdive’s port of Turok and..wow. The amount of care that was put into this port - I genuinely didn’t appreciate it too much when they released it initially. Nintendo should be ashamed of themselves with these emulations. Like why not the HD version of PD on the Xbox?! Couldn’t we have that instead?!

Oof… unfortunate to hear the controls on the games are bad. But, given that the games are just straight up ports and not remasters, it isn’t surprising, though they could have at least made the games more playable on there…

I think I did have some issues with the controls on Banjo-Kazooie when it was released on there and there was some slight jankiness on Mario 64, but I didn’t know it was worser for other titles. That’s disappointing.

I have no idea why they've never implemented button mapping for NSO specifically. Just a baffling decision, especially for N64, where a bunch of games tried to figure out 3D gaming while working with a controller that no one would replicate again. Recipe for disaster trying to play some of them on joycons in 2024 (Star Fox 64 in handheld was miserable).

Makes me thankful I was eventually able to get an N64 controller.

Ok, so I played and as long as you choose control options 1-2 and switch the analogue sticks and ZL and ZR buttons in the control remapping options, the game plays great.

It takes like 5 seconds. Don't get me wrong, you shouldn't have to. Nintendo really should be providing the most logical control options for these games as default and providing the option to remap within their emulator app, but it really doesn't take too long. It's just annoying having to change it before and after each time you play.

@RygelXVIII I see. Hopefully they don’t map the buttons weird with their next future releases on the N64 service. It would be so disappointing to have a game you really want on there get added only to have it play terribly and lack button mapping.

I have heard that all the games the service currently has are far more playable if you use the N64 NSO controller rather than the Switch Joy-Cons and Pro Controller, but I kept hearing for years on this site that every time they are restocked, they immediately go out of stock, so that doesn’t help either…

I suppose it’s one of those games that will play better with a proper n64-style controller.

@RygelXVIII I don't really blame you. I will say if someone wants to give it a go, it really does only take a few seconds. But to be honest, I think the best way to play the game is with a N64 controller (two preferably). It just doesn't feel right with anything other than the N64's analogue stick imo. I still have my N64 hooked up and Perfect Dark, and my preferred way to play is with the dual controller set up.

Thought about renewing my subscription and getting the expansion. Yikes at how bad it is.

Guess I’ll stick to emulation.

I was able to figure out a good control style! I just used the preset from goldeneye I made.
ZL>R
ZR>ZL
also Swap the positions of the L and R sticks
Then go into the game's control settings, turn off reverse pitch and select control style 1.2
Hope this helps!

Yeah, this is what people need to do if they want to play the game.

@RygelXVIII I'm ambidextrous so I should be fine, but still unfortunate to hear that the controls aren't good for most people...

What I don't understand is why I can't cope with the left handed method on a modern controller with two sticks, but I can play FPSs on the N64 that way - using the C buttons for movement and the stick for aiming - just fine 😅

Reprise is right, it takes 5 seconds to fix (cheers for posting the steps). What are y'all whining about?

@Sobek You have to remember this specific combination or look it up, change it before playing, and then change it back when you want to play something else. And all of that definitely doesn't take 5 seconds. It's not just this game that you have to do it with, too. It just makes no sense that this is the default mapping for this game.