Sin & Punishment is a Nintendo 64 game well known among Nintendo enthusiasts, but there are also likely to be a number of Switch owners that see the logo for the game in the N64 app (for those that opt to get the Expansion Pass) and won't have that flash of familiarity. It's no wonder, too, as despite Nintendo co-developing it with Treasure it remained a Japan-only title when it launched in 2000.
It would be 2007 before players outside of Japan (and non-importers) could officially enjoy the game via the Wii Virtual Console, and later on the Wii U Virtual Console. The VC version drew in plenty of curious players, and then we had the brilliant Wii sequel Sin & Punishment: Star Successor in 2009. Sadly the series is now seemingly dormant, with Treasure's only recent output being the port of Ikaruga that was published by Nicalis on Switch.
Now that there's another way to enjoy the game, our video team has had a rather enjoyable discussion about why as many players as possible should try it out. If you like action games it's a must-play. Of the current N64 games in Switch Online it's also one of a few that has arguably aged relatively well, too.
This scribe has had a couple of playthroughs already, and it also feels like a good time to fire up the Wii U backwards compatibility for another run at the sequel, too.
Share your thoughts on Sin & Punishment below in the comments - do you recommend it as a must-play Nintendo 64 game?
Comments 54
Everyone should play it…….just not on NSO..
I mean I have its pretty good ngl
@Funneefox too late
@Funneefox why not? its great on there
When was the last sale on Wii U eShop? 2016?
Have a 50% sale on Wii U eShop and I'll buy a bucket full of Nintendo games.
I played it years ago. It was okay. Not really into on-rails shooters but it was a fun playthrough nonetheless. I didn't really feel like playing it more than once, even though I know that these kinds of arcade-style games only get better with each subsequent playthrough.
They're both great. Especially the Wii sequel. I genuinely enjoyed replaying levels.
S&P is the only game I ever imported. I asked about it at a local store that dealt in anime and other such Japanese products. They said they would see if they could get it. A week later, they called and said my order had arrived. I had never actually ordered it, I had jsut wanted information, but their price was great, so I said sure. To play it I had to just take the back off the cartirdge to fit it in my US N64. I don't regret it either - GREAT GAME!
Damn you.. now I shall have to buy the expansion pack. If WR64 doesn't come out then I'll cancel it before it renews.
My N64 controller just came in today so I might give it a proper spin later this evening.
(assuming I don't get swept away by nostalgia and accidently do an entire playthrough of Ocarina of Time first)
Literally just added this to my Wii U wishlist, now to wait until I can do an errand to get an eShop card. This game genuinely has me curious.
No offense, but nobody should play it in the NSO. Control remap is a big deal in this game for modern controllers, and there is no option in the app to do so.
Get it elsewhere, it's totally worth it.
I'm playing through Flying Dragon on my Original N64 Offline Expansion Pak and that game surprised me how good it is.
S&P is ok, but there are other games on my 64 that I love more than that game.
Rakuga Kids is another game I really enjoyed, so too Mischief Makers.
Yes, if you have the NSO expansion this is a must-play. Such an excellent game.
I play through both Sin and Punishment games at least once a month or so. I can nearly 1CC them both on normal difficulty (S&P the stage where you have to walk to right always screws me; S&P2 it’s the 1 on 1 fistfight…)
Two of my favourite games of all time for their sheer inventiveness, excitement and all round fun factor.
@rushiosan You can remap your controls in the Switch it's own settings and just use that control scheme in the 64 app.
For those of you complaining about the controls on NSO... is it any different than playing on a Classic Controller Pro on the Wii VC? Because that's the only way I've ever played it and everything worked fine for me.
@pikku It'd obviously be nice to map them, but I have been finding the controls just fine with a Switch Pro controller.
I've never really been a fan of Treasure games. Be it Guardian heroes, Gunstar Heroes or Micehief makers. I'll watch the video though, because I want their games to finally click with me so I can see what others see.
Please bring Sin and Punishment Star Successor to Switch
@arekdougy Yeah personally i don't usually re-map controls in most games because I like to play them the way the developers intended. (ironic considering I'm making this argument about playing the game on Classic controller when it was originally designed for N64...but still) lol. But yeah I think the option should definitely be available for anyone who does like to re-map controls for sure. Just not a deal breaker for me, especially because I do plan on getting a N64 controller when they become available.
My replay of Ocarina of Time is taking a while, because I'm finally doing all the sidequests I never bothered with as a kid.
But Sin & Punishment is next on the playlist. Tried it out for a couple of hours and it felt awesome.
I have played this on the Wii eShop and now on the Switch, and the controls are just fine on both.
The way the Switch maps the controls for this game is so simple, and I don’t get why anyone would say it’s an inferior way to play this.
Absolutely people should play S & P. It’s the game I’ve played most so far on NSO. Was I the only one disappointed by the Wii sequel.
I bought the Wii one after playing the demo GameStop had up way back when. It is so fun, I'm happy I have the chance to play the original now.
Great game for sure. I want the Wii sequel and a new game now.
I tried this game out on NSO and it didn’t click with me at all there no introduction into the game your just thrown into a level that never seemed to end. Maybe I just haven’t given this game a chance but it was boring and disappointing in my initial experience
Shame there isnt a way to own this game on modern consoles.
I did play it back in the day, and pretty much just dropped it after 5 minutes. Just wasn't into it!
Sin & Punishment is my second favorite N64 game and Star Successor is my favorite Wii game.
Such fantastic games, legitimately bought the N64 Switch controller just for this game.
been playing through it again with a friend online. its just the oddest game lol. the story is truly just...late 90s japan but the gameplay is sensory overload lol.
for something of on rails shooting, though, its really just the only of its kind. you just don't see things like this anymore.
Have to agree, probably one of the best on-rails shooters out there.
And a tip to first timers: Remember your melee attacks!
Super easy to forget and probably one of your most important tools.
It is one of my all time favorites yes, but saying that something is "must" play is something I do find a bit pretentious. That's a good way to turn me off of ever trying the product being recommended.
@Bustacap Too bad the other games are running on a shoddy emulator
i already own this on Wii U. should get back to playing more of it. i've enjoy of what little that i've played.
Playing it on NSO and love it!
It's glorious on NSO, don't let the sheep persuade you otherwise.
I've had the pleasure of playing through the 1st one on Wii U! I don't know if I'll try the other difficulties with how tough the game got on the normal one, but I definitely want to grab Star Successor when I can.
Couldn't get into its aiming controls somehow. Back in original N64 times I wouldn't have minded as there were way more weird controls all over the place but nowadays it somehow crashed with my muscle memory of how aiming should feel according to what I'm used to.
But the 2nd one used the Wiimotes right? would love to try that one day.
@Dazzle
>Just too bad Nintendo didn’t emulate them very well.
emulation is absolutely fine on this one. there're no glaring issues I am aware of.
if you criticize then be kind to provide what is actually wrong with it.
@mikegamer and im sure you tried it yourself and arent just repeating what the internet told you to think
@Hinade Problem is, it affects all games, not only Sin & Punishment. And you gotta keep changing back and forth whenever you want to play. It works but it's far from being the ideal solution, on top of paying for an overpriced expansion pass.
I feel early 3d era games aged horribly. I happily play most SNES Area games (not much love for 8 bit), they even got a retro revival.
But N64/PS1 and even PS2 era games to some extent are just unplayable to me. The graphics are just to horrible, not from an artistic point of view, but just from plain "seeing what is even going on on the screen" point of view.
Both games are superb I have the original on my wii VC and the sequel on physical disc.
Treasure where an incredible software house, I own all of their games and don't dislike a single one. This is a brilliant example of their quirky ingenuity couple with bold and exciting design. I wish they still existed in a productive sense.
@Bustacap Keep thinking it's a good emulator then
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ounQZv1MFNA
@mikegamer ah yes, only showing one example in one game, truly terrible emulation 🙄
guess youve never played any of the prior rereleases either, cause the handwaving by him of earlier problems is STRONG
@Bustacap Keep being a sycophant to Nintendo's bad services
@mikegamer you didnt refute anything of what i said, so you agree with me, great
@Bustacap NSO N64 emulation sucks. Can't defend it.
@mikegamer again, you cant refute so you deflect instead, sad
@Bustacap That's nice
@Bustacap https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx4IURmHjV0
There is double the lag input compared to the Wii VC, double the Wii U VC, there is missing fog emulation. But sure, try to defend it more.
No button remapping
No Memory Pak support for games that require it (Operation Winback)
Improper fog emulation
Stop thinking the NSO is a good deal, it's not.
@mikegamer so much bs in your post, lol xD
its not double wiiu vc, its about the same/better. its not missing fog emulation, the fog is displayed differently in this ONE game. you have button remapping on a system level, memory paks have never been supported in vc but dont need to be for the games included because save states exist, repeat of your fog point.
if thats all youre complaining about then i wonder why youre making such a fuss about it
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