This is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best N64 games in existence. A broad exaggeration, I know, but the first time I played as a teen I was blown away by it. The voice acting may seem cheesy by today's standards, but back in the day they added a lot of atmosphere and character to the game. The rumble pack was truly amazing back in the day, and while I experienced many games with the rumble pack, Star Fox 64 remains the best game to use it.

I played the original game on the SNES and while I liked it, I still prefer the N64 game better. It plays smoothly and I love the voices and the rumble pack. It just adds to the whole experience.

I still haven't played this game, despite its popularity, and owning it for maybe... seven years now. With how much everyone talks about enjoying it around when it was released, when they were a kid, I'm hesitant to try it because I can't help but wonder if I missed my opportunity to enjoy it. When it comes to older systems, it's often the case that if I didn't play a game during its time when I was younger, I have a hard time getting into it.

I've always thought it was one of the best games of the n64 playstation era.  I put only Ocarina of Time on a higher pedestal, I must've beaten Star Fox 64 close to 1000 times when I was a kid... ahhh fond memories.

I wouldn't say it's an exaggeration.  Wouldn't pretty much an first party N64 game be one of the best?  It isn't like there is much competition.

As a kid my only beef with this game was that it was the same story as the SNES game.  I was hoping for a sequel and this is more  of a "retelling" like Super Castlevania IV is to Castlevania.  But when you play it you get why Nintendo went with the same story.  It just improves on the original so much that Nintendo probably felt the need to "do it right".  The SNES Star Fox is a great game but it feels kind of rough, which makes sense considering the hardware at the time.  You get the feeling playing Star Fox 64 that this is what Nintendo WANTED to do but couldn't.  I think you could compare it to Super Metroid or A Link to the Past in that sense.  This is when they got Star Fox right.

Of course the sad truth is that Star Fox has gone nowhere but down since then.  The series peaked so soon in only its second entry.  But I would say that a lot of Nintendo franchises peaked long ago but they have not dropped as low as Star Fox.  The newer Star Fox games are actually not good which is something few Nintendo games can be described as.

The fall started with Star Fox Adventures which is you think about it is probably one of the saddest games for a Nintendo fan.  Not only does it mark the start of Star Fox's decline but also Rare's.  You coule argue that Star Fox 64 and Rare's games were a big part of what made the N64 special.  Take those away and the N64 lineup takes a huge hit.  And yet with this game that is exactly what happened to the Gamecube.  Nintendo fans lost two of the big reasons for owning an N64 and they were not replaced at all.

Though thankfully unlike Rare's games, Star Fox 64 is readily available on the VC and can still be enjoyed.  I hope Nintendo can somehow bring Star Fox back to prominance.  There is no reason why the series has to suck now.  They COULD make it good again.

I actually understand that feeling. I tend to avoid games and even movies that are highly regarded by friends and family, because I fear it might not live up to my expectations, especially when it was so hyped as the IT thing of the moment. What I've learned from this, though, is that when I do check it out, I do it because I want to experience it, not because everyone else told me to. I find that I tend to be a better judge of the product because I experienced the product based on my own feelings, not someone else.

If you are actually curious about the game, just play it. Forget it has a legacy, forget it has fans and just try and enjoy it on your own accords. It will help you creating an opinion on it.

You forgot to mention the awesomely bad promo video. I think I have to watch that again now.

Spy 1: Is this game on PSP? How about NGP?

Tech Guy: No, only on 3DS!

Spy 2: How about iPhone, can you get this game on iOS?

Tech guy: Nope, only on 3DS!

Also, I think it's spelled "Rumble Pak".  ;)  Otherwise great.

I rented the game from Blockbuster Video (and it actually included the Rumble Pak with it, which shocked me), I don't remember anything about it though.

The map branch is screwed up, sector x branches to sector z, macbeth or titania... and you can't get to titania from macbeth or vice versa.... also i'm a geek for pointing this out, it's probably a map from 1997

Gonna have to concur, this is maybe the game I've replayed most of anything, ever. There's something incredibly addicting about the medal system and skill-based path-branching that hasn't been matched to this day. I was hoping the new Sin and Punishment would get there, but unfortunately it was a little too hard/J-core for my tastes. I will always regret never being able to get the medal on Sector Z.

HELL YES! That video was part of the experience. It is silly now, but back then after the bullsh*t Nintendo experienced from Sony and Sega they needed to retaliate somehow.

XD

Sending the train into the ammo depot = best use of the Rumble Pak ever.

I never did reach every single stage in the game. Always missed at least one of those blasted signal buoy things & thus never saw Sector Z.

I remember reaching Sector Z at my daycare in 2nd grade. Though I have to admit, it took the combined efforts of 15 grade-schoolers to reach that feat.

I remember it being pretty tough (at first) to even get to all the levels. But the game was so much fun, before I knew it, I could make it through any path I wanted. As I kept playing I eventually got some medals and with more effort, I got them all. It didn't seem that tough because it was so much fun. (It's possible I used Nintendo Power or a guide or something to help me out some, too.)

I like the system it uses, because it gives you a reason to keep playing for many tens of hours (or more). But once you're good at it, you can also beat the game in one sitting and feel satisfied with that.

I believe I still have the VHS of this around my house!

I still have the VHS as well. It is also on YouTube so it should be easy to find.

For me this typically applies to the current IT thing.  But for older stuff I find I'm usually safe.  Because no one is really wrapped up in "Star Fox 64 mania" anymore, if they're saying it's a good game still then it probably is.  I get burned by the current hot videogame of the month but rarely get burned by older titles that have acheived legendary status over time.  If Star Fox 64 was not a great game, no one would be raving about it today.

Even then, I try to not overhype stuff for anyone, hence why I said early that perhaps it was an exaggeration to call it the best N64 game in existence. I played the game to death, especially recently, and I think it still holds up pretty well, but again, don't want to overhype it for anyone that hasn't played it.