I'll Give It Another Go... [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

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Ascending Wordsmith

12-02-2006, 10:32 AM

I bought a Nintendo 64 off Ebay recently for the sole purpose of giving the console another try. I'll admit that Super Mario 64 turned me off completely as did that thing attached to it Nintendo called a controller. But I did play some pretty good games like Goldeneye on it at a friend's house back in the day. The first Mario Party was a blast with three other people, as was Smash Bros.. San Francisco Rush was a good racer to pass some time with and, for some strange reason, Battletanx actually amused me too.

That ridiculous controller I've always loathed without mercy will HAVE to grow on me. Hell, I might (just might) even get used to it.

.Goomba24

12-02-2006, 10:39 AM

I think most of us think the same about the N64 controller. Nintendo has always taken chances with things like that. I never really cared for it either, so I usually got a cheap third-party controller.

You played some good games, especially Goldeneye and Battletanx (I haven't ever played San Fransisco Rush). Battletanx is very obscure game, like its sequel, but both are great games.

You should play Pillotwings. It was my favorite launch title for a classic system. It is very entertaining, too.

dylan0228

12-02-2006, 11:47 AM

I could never get used to those controllers either. I just dealt with it since some of the games were pretty fun.

Xizer

12-02-2006, 02:02 PM

s1lence

12-02-2006, 02:12 PM

The N64 controller owned. Way better than the PS1 controller. Both the analog stick and d-pads were in comfortable positions; and the d-pad actually didn't feel like a complete piece of shit.

The Z trigger kicked ass for first person shooters.

Yeah like the awesome 5200 controller O_o. The N64 controller isnt worth a crap compared to the dual shock. The analog sticks break all the time as well, especially after a Mario Party game session.

.Goomba24

12-02-2006, 02:22 PM

Yeah like the awesome 5200 controller O_o. The N64 controller isnt worth a crap compared to the dual shock. The analog sticks break all the time as well, especially after a Mario Party game session.

I think I went through two first-party controllers because I played too much Mario Party 2 and Super Mario 64.

GarrettCRW

12-02-2006, 02:28 PM

I've never had issues with the N64 controller (like, say, Flack), but there's no way I'd call it the best controller ever. As for the system, be prepared to buy games by Nintendo and Rare, because the licensee support was largely horrible (as in, the most prolific licensee was Acclaim).

s1lence

12-02-2006, 02:37 PM

Yeah and most of the Acclaim titles were HORRIBLE.

Lothars

12-02-2006, 03:00 PM

The N64 controller owned. Way better than the PS1 controller. Both the analog stick and d-pads were in comfortable positions; and the d-pad actually didn't feel like a complete piece of shit.

The Z trigger kicked ass for first person shooters.

Well we know your completely against Sony's Systems but wow that's even a stretch for you.
I think your just messed up if you even think the N64 controller is even in the same league as the dual shock.

I did enjoy the N64 Controller for the most part especially for Smash Brothers and Perfect Dark but it was a horrible controller in general

Rogmeister

12-02-2006, 03:18 PM

Regarding Acclaim, I did enjoy their All-Star Baseball for the N64. Overall, though, I would say they did deserve their rather low reputation.

Damaramu

12-02-2006, 03:23 PM

Xizer

12-02-2006, 03:27 PM

Well we know your completely against Sony's Systems but wow that's even a stretch for you.
I think your just messed up if you even think the N64 controller is even in the same league as the dual shock.

:roll: Perhaps you can explain to me what is so great about the DualShock then? The cheap feeling buttons? The broken up, hard, and imprecise d-pad? The analog sticks in the wrong place?

The N64 controller is the only controller I can think of where it is comfortable to play both 2D and 3D games. You obviously don't know how to hold the thing if you're having problems. Here's a little tip, son:

You put your left hand on the middle prong and your right hand on the right prong for 3D games; for 2D games, you put your left hand on the left prong and your right hand on the right prong.

It's not that hard. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure it out. There is no game for the N64 that requires that you have three hands. In the 3D position or the 2D position either the d-pad or the analog stick is in the primary thumb position, which is the main reason why it's so comfortable.

If you're having a hard time with the 64 controller then you're being retarded and holding it wrong, because it was designed to be comfortable if you use it correctly. Note how it is curvy and fits your hands.

s1lence

12-02-2006, 03:56 PM

How about that the dual shock sits in your hands correctly? How about the analog sticks being RIGHT where your thumbs are? How about not having a third "wing" hanging out? How about shoulder buttons that are RIGHT where your fingers end up?

IMO the D-pad on the N64 controller is the worst one on any nintendo system. Also the C buttons on the controller are way too small on the N64 one.

mregashu

12-02-2006, 04:17 PM

I always thought the N64 controller would have been great if I had a wierd third arm growing out of my stomach. Alas, I do not.

number6

12-02-2006, 04:29 PM

I had no problems with the N64 controller. Comparing it to the 5200 controller is just silly. As a matter of fact the N64 controller inspired the Dual shock contoller for the PS so give Nintendo some credit for having Sony make a change in the PS controller design. The original PS had no analog control only a D pad. Take a look for yourself:

http://202.21.128.2/Gaming/Playstation/Accessories/photos/a-79220890/p-30971460.htm

s1lence

12-02-2006, 04:58 PM

Yeah I jumped to the Dual Shock as that is the one that is more comparible to the N64. I agree the original PS1 controller wasnt very good and the d-pad on it was terrible.

slip81

12-02-2006, 05:32 PM

The 64 wasn't that bad, but in no way was it better than anything else, the DS included.

And don't forget the 64 Zeldas.

MrRoboto19XX

12-02-2006, 05:32 PM

The N64 controller, like the Gamecube controller was great for nintendo games. Nintendo did a great job of utilizing the controller to the highest degree. However, often the 3rd party controller mappings were less than spectacular.

The problem with the N64 controller is not so much the fact that its oddly shaped, but that it came after the glory that was the SNES pad, which was amazing imo.

Personally, Ive got nothing against the thing, it always felt right in my hands, and felt great for Goldeneye.

Ascending Wordsmith

12-02-2006, 05:57 PM

I remember back in the day, my friends and I would have blast-a-thons featuring Goldeneye. We would play for hours on end, especially when we found the codes that unlocked pratically everything. Fun times.

Same here. Those were some damn good times to be had.

With regards to the controller, I guess I'll eventually get used to it after using it for extended periods of gaming. For others who can't stand the controller, I must ask how long you actually used the thing. Other than a weekly session of Mario Party and Goldeneye bonanzas that lasted for a few hours, I never played with the controller on a daily basis for extended periods of time. Perhaps someone who used it at length and still hates it could tell me what was the greatest challenge of playing with it.

Pilotwings 64? Okay, I'll bite and add that to my list of N64 'gettables'.

NES_Rules

12-02-2006, 08:56 PM

If you don't like the N64's controller, check out the Super Pad 64 Plus by InterAct. It moved all the buttons around to give you better access to them. I bought mine used at EB Games for $10 and I haven't gone back to a normal controller yet.

PDorr3

12-02-2006, 09:25 PM

I really dont mind the n64 controller, however I did find myself enjoying 3rd party, oddly shaped controllers more than the 1st party one.

Xizer

12-02-2006, 09:30 PM

Super Pad 64 Plus? You mean this deformed piece of shit?
http://cgi.ebay.com/NINTENDO-N64-GAME-SYSTEM-CONTROLLER-SUPER-PAD-PLUS-64_W0QQitemZ130053489581QQihZ003QQcategoryZ41054QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosti ng

You must have some fucked up hands if you think that is comfortable.

VACRMH

12-02-2006, 11:12 PM

Add me as another hater of the N64 controller. But my main gripe is the C buttons. The controller just feels like it was made for Mario 64 only.

But back to the topic, good luck :) It's hard for me to find anything that I really enjoy on the 64, but there are some goodies. I hear Pokemon Puzzle League is good, and I love Mario Tennis.

Now i'm off to check out some 3rd party controllers.

NES_Rules

12-03-2006, 10:30 AM

tholly

12-05-2006, 08:44 PM

i always like the first party n64 controller....i had 4 of them and me and all my buddies had no problem playing goldeneye for hours on end with them....they were very comfortable controllers.....really easy to use too....

NinjaJoey23

12-06-2006, 05:09 AM

I enjoyed Ogre Battle 64 a bunch, granted it was really the only RPG worth playing for the system. Also, Star Fox 64 is a personal favorite, and my girlfriend and I still play Pokemon Snap at least once a week.

Snapple

12-06-2006, 01:44 PM

The official Nintendo 64 controller is quite possibly the greatest controller ever created. Never has something fit so comfortably in my hand, and never have I had so much control and precision with a joystick.

If the 3D games are driving you crazy because of the controller, give Mischief Makers a whirl. That's a fun title.

Vectorman0

12-06-2006, 02:19 PM

To get back on topic, I'll give you some game suggestions.

Diddy Kong Racing is a great game for one or two, same with Mario Kart 64. Perfect Dark has a much more customizable multiplayer than Goldeneye, but it is much harder on the eyes. Mario Party 2 is my favorite of the three, so I suggest that if you were to only get one. Get Conkers Bad Fur Day, it's worth a try even if you aren't a fan of the genre. Pokemon Puzzle League is great, but it is exactly the same a Tetris Attack and the GBC version. Pokemon Snap is a cool unique game where you have to take pictures, for the cheap price it demands I highly recommend it to anyone. Both the 3D Zelda's are great, but get Ocarina of Time first. Starfox 64 is good, same with Excitebike 64. Rush 2 is good if you like the first. I wouldn't recommend Rush 2049 though, because the DC version is so much nicer. If you like platformers, try some of Rareware's like Banjo-Kazooie and Jet Force Gemini. There are also many unique games you don't see on other systems that are quite good such as Blast Corps, Rocket Robot on Wheels, Buzz Bumble and Space Station Silicon Valley.

I think that covers most of the popular games, and should be a good start for games you should look out for.

PS - Don't think of Super Mario 64 as a Mario game, just pretend it is some other franchise if you associate Mario with 2D.