Video game archaeologists can rejoice, because Assembler Games forum user 10ahu has dumped and released the three known working prototypes of the infamous Die Hard 64, a game that would try to give the revered GoldenEye 007 a run for its bullets.
Canned mid-development by Fox Interactive, this Bits Studios-developed licensed game would bring us the adventures of New York cop John McClane in his fight for righteousness. As previously explained by 10ahu (who was working at Bits Studios at the time) upon first reveal of the game's existence, each of the three ROM files contain about 8 different levels with about 3 being fully playable (but with the occasional glitch). All the standard late '90s FPS rules apply, including bullet time shenanigans mimicking The Matrix and Max Payne, making sure the game screams 1999 rather then 1988, the original date of the action masterpieces début. Being a Nintendo 64 game also means fog, lots of it.
Due to the game's early development status emulators seem unable to run anything at all with the exception of Cen64, a Nintendo 64 emulator that aims for complete accuracy with the real hardware. If you happen to have your Nintendo 64 hooked up and some sort of flash card these will work just fine. The following gameplay video by Ten Shu is what you can expect.
Don't be sad, all this work was not wasted, as the game was eventually released on next generation hardware (including the GameCube) under the name Die Hard: Vendetta. Thus another piece of video game history is now forever preserved for generations to appreciate. Old school gamers still have the 8-bit NES Die Hard if we ever feel the need to be the fly in the ointment, the monkey in the wrench, or the pain in the behind of some classical educated terrorist group with impeccable taste in clothing.
[source assemblergames.com]
Comments 25
Yaaay, I do like knowing that pieces of gaming history are safe and sound. Though, was this lost and then found or did we already have it and then they dumped it?
I started to put on my glasses because the images were so blurry, then I remembered that's what all N64 games look like. Some games are really great, but I do not miss SGI's graphics chip.
Looks good for some laughs. Would buy.
Low ploy Bruce Willis hype
Put up your dukes lol
@Kalmaro It was found/revealed last year, dumped yesterday.
@AirElephant Not SGI's fault. The system VI adds that extra layer of vaseline.
@Shiryu Ahhh, I see, thanks.
I could look at SNES game art all day, but man the characters and textures in N64 games are generally ugly.
That's not how the expression goes.
Hillarious that the bullet in slow motion fired with the entire shell casing.
I loved the die hard trilogy on the psone and I personally feel like it's one of the best hidden gems on the system. It was one,of the first games I ever bought on launch and i can remember highly anticipating the game because I loved the die hard films as a kid.
@RandomNerds - That was great. During bullet time, I was waiting for the bullet to disengage from the casing like a space shuttle from its rockets. And the kill shot was apparently a nick on the elbow. Good stuff.
Nice thumbnail. Makes feel like the prototype was in fact rescued from a burning building by Bruce Willis.
@Linked2thaPast I played the hell out of this game to. I was also a huge Die Hard fan so I loved this game. The fact that each movie was a different type of game was cool at the time.
@RandomNerds That was the first thing I noticed too! The very next thin I noticed was that both the floor and ceiling in the opening sequence appears to be a pool of green goo...
I love the rejected 80's porn music soundtrack. Awsome.
I'm still hoping the rom for Conker's Twelve Tales gets released one day.
Should have made a Bruno the Kid game instead...
@RandomNerds There was a high profile Fantastic Four comic book drawn by Bryan Hitch that had the same error. I was thinking, "What, are they throwing them at the FF?!"
Waiting for the cries of "piracy."
Ew
I would have bought it.
I was going to say something about how this doesn't look nearly as good as Die Hard Trilogy, but then I noticed that everyone else who mentioned that game is talking about the PS1 version, not the Sega Saturn version. That's cool, I'll just share my precious childhood memories with... myself, I guess.
Very interesting. I think Die Hard Vendetta would have been a touch more forgivable if it were released on N64. Obviously not as good as Goldeneye, but could have still been fun!
I've been wanting to explore this game since I first heard of it last year. Now I can. Yay
Tap here to load 25 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...