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Gaming Forums => Nintendo Gaming => Topic started by: Chozo Ghost on June 26, 2012, 05:46:13 PM

Title: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on June 26, 2012, 05:46:13 PM
The other topic made for some interesting discussions, but what about the N64? How well did that console stack up to the Gamecube (or even the Wii, if you want to compare it to that as well)? In terms of 3rd party support both consoles seem to have been more or less on par, but the N64 was more commercially successful, and I think it had more high calibur A+ 1st party games, but that is totally a matter of opinion.

Anyway, discuss!  :P:
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Kairon on June 26, 2012, 05:50:23 PM
N64. Hands down. I think of it as a Nintendo Golden Age.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Evan_B on June 26, 2012, 05:59:59 PM
The N64 had wonderful platformers and a slew of games that transitioned into the 3D era very nicely.

But the Gamecube had a better variety. AND ROGUE SQUADRON 2 LOL.

In all seriousness, though. The N64 is one of the best platforming consoles, ever. Other than that, Goldeneye, and maybe a few other games, it didn't do much for me.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Stogi on June 26, 2012, 06:47:31 PM
Huh Zelda OOT and MJ was on the N64. Nuff' said.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Louieturkey on June 26, 2012, 07:14:59 PM
I liked them both.  I owned more cube games.  Does that mean I liked it more?  Or that I had more money to spend during the cube era?
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Stogi on June 26, 2012, 07:16:55 PM
Considering that some N64 games costed upwards of $70, it could mean neither.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: lolmonade on June 26, 2012, 07:18:27 PM
I was primarily a Sega Genesis and Playstation 1 gamer at the time that the Nintendo 64 was in its prime.

That being said, I have a fondness for the Nintendo 64 if just for the sake of first seeing Ocarina of Time at Electronics Boutique as a youngin.  I remember walking in there to see their demo case, and flipping my **** when the person playing walked out into Hyrule field.  It just seemed endless when I saw someone walking around in this 3D space!

That and fond memories of playing the original smash bros with my cousin, endless 4 player MarioKart 64, and getting whopped in multiplayer Goldeneye because my cousin memorized the respawn pattern comprise so much of my youth that I'm too biased to say anything but Nintendo 64.

As a side note, who wants to start the thread "Which was better, Super Nintendo or Nintendo 64?"?  :D
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Ian Sane on June 26, 2012, 07:23:37 PM
The N64's third party support was crap for largely the same reason the Wii's was.  But Nintendo's first party output was never stronger.  I think the SNES is Nintendo's best system but the strong third party support is part of that.  The best games on the N64 are virtually all Nintendo games.  Super Mario 64, Goldeneye, Star Fox 64, Banjo-Kazooie, Ocarina of Time, Super Smash Bros., Perfect Dark, Majora's Mask, F-Zero X, Paper Mario, Conker's Bad Fur Day... should I go on?

The N64 had lousy third party support but it was like Nintendo KNEW they had to support the system themselves and stepped up to the plate.  When you're it, you have to try to deliver with every game.  Nintendo's Cube and Wii output feels more like the sort of output Nintendo would have done if they had good third party support.  It's like they just pretended the third party support was fine and continued on their way.  On the N64 it really felt like they were busting their ass trying to fill the void.  "Quality over quantity" is just PR speak but if there was ever a time where you might think Nintendo tried to fulfill that, the N64 was it.

The switch to 3D really helped.  They pretty much got to reboot every one of their existing franchises.  I feel like a lot of Nintendo's older franchises started to feel stale during the Cube era.  Sequels are easier to do early in a series.  You can put in the ideas that were left on the cutting room floor into your sequels.  In those days the hardware boosts also helped.  A Link to the Past and Super Metroid get praise for being some of the greatest games ever.  But how else would you make those games?  They have the exact enhancements over the NES games one would expect from the new options the SNES would provide.

The N64 had that more than any system because of the switch to 3D.  It was obvious that Mario 64 wouldn't just be Super Mario World Part 2.  The polygons are there so they're going to use them.  Each sequel could be approached with "now in 3D!"  Though that era was full of failed transitions from 2D to 3D.  Nintendo was probably the only company to NEVER **** any of them up.  That took talent and creativity and very careful design.  That was a tremendous achievement.  And it allowed every sequel to feel really fresh and new.  One of my favourite Cube games is Metroid Prime and because there was no N64 Metroid it got the same "instant freshness" the rest of Nintendo's franchises got, only a generation later.

On the Cube there were times where it seemed like Nintendo knew they had built up a reputation as the guys that make each sequel count and stand out, but the new ideas were not so obvious as they were in previous generations.  So we got stuff like the water pack in Mario and two man karts in Mario Kart and toon shading in Zelda.  They needed to be creative and innovative so they came up with kind of lame, forced ideas.  And then you get the Wii where the whole CONSOLE is a forced idea as the typical hardware upgrade did not have such obvious advantages that previous console generations offered.  For Nintendo is went rough 2D->polished 2D->rough 3D->polished 3D-> :confused;  Uh, motion control I guess?  Now let's try a tablet controller?  The obvious upgrade doesn't exist anymore for both hardware and existing Nintendo franchises.  This is why I suggest they create new IP because that's the best way for them to offer new and fresh gameplay experiences.  It isn't like the N64 gen where they can take all their existing IP and apply the same general update to all of them.

Though since the N64 is the "rough 3D" generation a lot of the games can be hard to look at now and have some wonky framerates.  Gamecube and Wii games are typically more polished, they just lack the genre-changing impact of the N64 games.  I think for a younger gamer there is a certain "you had to be there" factor.  OoT isn't specifically better than TP, it's just that OoT was groundbreaking stuff at the time and TP in comparison was very conventional.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: LOZman on June 26, 2012, 07:53:47 PM
I would have to go with the Gamecube. It had a lot more third party support worth playing, and that is yhe main reason I give it the edge over the N64. In terms of first party support, I would say the Gamecube is also better in my opinion. Of course the N64 had better Mario and perfect Zelda titles, but other than that, most other franchises had better appearances on the Cube to me. With Double Dash, both Metroid Primes, Animal Crossing, Smash Bros. Melee, both Pikmin, Wind Waker, and Sunshine to name the best, I think I'm going to go play my Gamecube now.  :D
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: ejamer on June 26, 2012, 08:46:38 PM
This is a tough choice. The Wii vs GameCube fight is easy for me: Wii wins out on nearly all counts.  But with N64 vs GameCube I'm divided... N64 has a small number of truly excellent titles, where GameCube has fewer lasting classics but much better overall support.


In general, I look at GameCube and see a more polished experience of what was pioneered on N64.  Many of the games didn't seem to have the same impact because we had seen similar designs before, but the graphics and controls and sound effects were all improved.  In the end, that's enough for me to tip my hat in the direction of GameCube... but just barely.  If N64 just offered more diversity in the games library then it could've won this fight.  Unfortunately it takes more than first party excellence to really carry a system... plus, I can't think of a single RPG that I enjoyed on N64.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Kairon on June 26, 2012, 09:31:40 PM
Quest 64. *pumps fist*

And what's this about there being no third-parties on N64? Gauntlet Legends, Turok, The Bomberman Games, Chameleon Twist, Rogue Squadron, Duke Nukem 64, Mission Impossible... okay, so there's not as much as on the other consoles, but there were still some great third party gems on it!
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Spak-Spang on June 26, 2012, 09:39:41 PM
Nintendo's Golden Age was Super Nintendo and Nintendo 64 combined.  But the Nintendo 64 had cracks and wasn't perfect...which is what lead to eventually the misconceptions the general market has for Nintendo.

I hate the Nintendo is kiddie and casual line...that was always marketing by the competition and people eventually believed it.  Which is just stupidity in the highest.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: ejamer on June 26, 2012, 09:58:02 PM
Quest 64. *pumps fist*

And what's this about there being no third-parties on N64? Gauntlet Legends, Turok, The Bomberman Games, Chameleon Twist, Rogue Squadron, Duke Nukem 64, Mission Impossible... okay, so there's not as much as on the other consoles, but there were still some great third party gems on it!


Ogre Battle is the closet thing to a real RPG I could think of, but I never played the game during the N64 years.


As for third-party games, BattleTanx is all I need to say. That game - and its sequel - was epic fun with a full complement of people playing.  (Ok, maybe The New Tetris needs to be mentioned too.)
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Kairon on June 26, 2012, 10:01:40 PM
Oh man, how could I forget The New Tetris? I LOVE that game! I also wish I'd gotten to play Battletanx, I never did get a chance to...
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: rlse9 on June 26, 2012, 10:40:32 PM
That's a tough question, both were really good systems and it's hard to choose.

Pro N64
Mario 64 is one of the greatest games ever made
OOT was obviously an amazing game
The N64 really introduced great mutliplayer gaming
Harvest Moon 64 was the best game in the series
Wave Race was an amazingly fun game
The AKI made wrestling games were amazingly fun
The Rush games were a blast

Pro Gamecube
Wavebird was innovative at time
Controller in general was most comfortable of any controllers in my opinion
Wind Waker was highly underrated and in my opinion more fun than OOT
Resident Evil 4 was amazing
Animal Crossing was the most addictive gaming experience in a long time
Pikmin was brilliant, both the first and second game
Eternal Darkness had such a great mix of atmosphere, story, and gameplay
The first Super Monkey Ball was a blast, both the challenging single player and frantic multiplayer

N64 negatives
The controller just wasn't comfortable
Price of the games
As amazing as Mario 64 was, it seemed like a shame not to have a sequel in the same generation

Gamecube negatives
I just couldn't get into Mario Sunshine
Harvest Moon games were a disappointment after how great Harvest Moon 64 was
As great as many of the games were, none of them had that "wow" moment like playing Mario 64 for the first time

It's basically a tie for me, both were great in their own ways and both had definite weaknesses.  If I had to choose just one I'd probably give N64 the slight edge but it's very close.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Kairon on June 26, 2012, 10:46:56 PM
Oh geez how could I forget HM64... I'm ashamed of myself.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on June 26, 2012, 11:54:00 PM
As far as RPGs go, how about Paper Mario?
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Kairon on June 26, 2012, 11:58:32 PM
As far as RPGs go, how about Paper Mario?

Man, I played the 64 version when I was in the hospital, so it has a place in my heart. Strangely enough I NEVER got into any of the sequels...

I give up. My memory is horrible.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Kytim89 on June 27, 2012, 01:00:33 AM
The N64 was better because it had more games developed by Rare. ;)
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Chozo Ghost on June 27, 2012, 01:23:56 AM
The N64 was better because it had more games developed by Rare. ;)

But conversely, it has zero developed by Retro, so maybe it balances out?
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: ejamer on June 27, 2012, 08:44:11 AM
As far as RPGs go, how about Paper Mario?


I know people love the Mario RPG games, but I can't get into them. They are just too easy and too boring... even though the writing is clever and they have some fun ideas, they always fall flat for me.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: S-U-P-E-R on June 27, 2012, 08:53:16 AM
I think I spent more time playing the N64 than any other system, mostly because of GoldenEye, Mario Kart 64, Smash Bros, Bomberman 64, Killer Instinct Gold and well, lots of other stuff. Yeah, Rush 2! And like every game Rare put out that wasn't DK64.

Seriously, N64 probably still has the best local multiplayer lineup in history.
 

Also, I liked N64's controller better than the GameCube's. More face buttons meant more Killer Instinct flexibility.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Adrock on June 27, 2012, 08:57:32 AM
This is a bit more complicated than the other thread, mostly due to time. I'm trying to remember how I felt back then. Again not counting absent franchises, N64 did almost everything first but more importantly, better even if they don't hold up as well. It's the only generation I've been a part of where the technical limitations of the hardware were noticeable and didn't contribute its games' charm. There is probably only 1 game could go back an play unaltered: Paper Mario. I would add Ocarina of Time in there but the 3DS version kind of ruined it. I know how contradictory that sounds because of what i said in the other thread about RE4. I think it has to do with the fact that I can play the original RE4 on Gamecube and I don't feel the same about Ocarina of Time on N64. The touchscreen made that much of a difference. It's the only Nintendo remake/update that renders the original obsolete to me.

I remember trying to go back and play N64 games back in the middle of the GameCube years and it was hard to get into them. I would attribute it mostly to the frame rate. Maybe the graphics too because they don't have that retro chic look that NES titles have. N64 games just look bad by today's standards. Judging the consoles strictly by the era in which they were released, I'd probably give the edge to N64 for 1st party titles. GameCube had better 3rd party support but in terms of Nintendo games, it only really did Smash Bros. better. GameCube games hold up way better and are more refined, but the games were better on N64 at the time. For example, Double Dash runs extremely smooth and still looks nice but it's almost unplayable to me. All that extra processing power and the AI is 1000 times more infuriating.

Overall, I would still give the edge to GameCube. I bought more 3rd parties games. And while 1st party titles were generally better on N64, they were still good on GameCube (Double Dash not withstanding).
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Tanookisuit on June 27, 2012, 09:10:36 AM
Cube.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Sarail on June 27, 2012, 09:16:22 AM
The N64 is home to my favorite game of all time - Jet Force Gemini.

So, yeah. That console holds a really special place in my being. I think my imagination was most expanded during the N64 years... 3D graphics blew my freaking mind. And the multiplayer.... !! So good. Never will there ever be another era with AKI/Asmik's wrestling games, the awesomesauce that was Killer Instinct Gold, all of the sleepless GoldenEye/Perfect Dark multiplayer nights, and fascinating, unique experiences like Diddy Kong Racing and Majora's Mask.

Plus, the N64 has Body Harvest. One of the most ambitious games of its time. And I loved it. :)
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: BranDonk Kong on June 27, 2012, 10:48:46 AM
Any console that has the best game ever is #1 - and that game is WaveRace 64, so N64 wins.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Ian Sane on June 27, 2012, 12:18:34 PM
One thing that made the N64 years a little more tolerable was that although the third party support was frustrating, I saw it as Nintendo making one big mistake by going with cartridges but otherwise doing things right.  We had crap third party support entirely because of the cartridges and Ninendo would get back on track next gen.  Of course that didn't happen and I learned just how clueless and stubborn Nintendo really is.  At the time the N64 was an anomoly but during the Gamecube generation it became clear that this was the norm now (and it continued with the Wii).

It is much easier to deal with a difficult situation when you believe it to be temporary.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Adrock on June 27, 2012, 12:35:46 PM
It wasn't just cartridges. Yamauchi intentionally had the hardware be difficult to program for to deter bad developers but that was a major **** you to ALL developers. Why should they work harder just to make games for Nintendo hardware?

Nintendo does learn from their mistakes. Yamauchi intentionally had GameCube hardware be easy to develop for. Damage done, but they try. Nintendo can be stubborn but not everything was stubbornness. Nintendo has always forged their own path rather than try to one up their competition. Sometimes, it works. Sometimes, it doesn't. I don't think it's fair to say that everything they due is because they're stubborn and clueless.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Kairon on June 27, 2012, 12:37:40 PM
Plus, the N64 has Body Harvest. One of the most ambitious games of its time. And I loved it. :)

Yet another N64 Gem I've forgotten. Man I loved DMA... even Space Station Silicon Valley!
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Ian Sane on June 27, 2012, 02:30:03 PM
It wasn't just cartridges. Yamauchi intentionally had the hardware be difficult to program for to deter bad developers but that was a major **** you to ALL developers. Why should they work harder just to make games for Nintendo hardware?

Nintendo does learn from their mistakes. Yamauchi intentionally had GameCube hardware be easy to develop for. Damage done, but they try. Nintendo can be stubborn but not everything was stubbornness. Nintendo has always forged their own path rather than try to one up their competition. Sometimes, it works. Sometimes, it doesn't. I don't think it's fair to say that everything they due is because they're stubborn and clueless.

Not everything they do is because they're stubborn and clueless, just the stuff they screw up that we all spot a hundred miles away.  Unfortunately that's a little too frequent.

At the time I was unaware that the N64 was intentionally difficult to work with.  I just saw that most of the formerly loyal third parties like Square and Capcom had moved to the Playstation and cartridges cost more for LESS space.  That was just such an obvious justfication for a third party to bail that I never assumed anything else would be a factor.  I don't know if the difficult nature of the hardware alone would have driven third parties away.  It was clearly the cartridges that was the deciding factor.  The cost difference is just insane.  Nintendo was essentially asking third parties to accept significantly smaller profits... and for what?  So Nintendo can sell more systems and make more money off of third party licencing?  There was ZERO benefit for the third party.  Nintendo could have been the most friendly and accomodating company to work with in the world and third parties would still have bailed because of the cartridges.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Louieturkey on June 27, 2012, 03:30:38 PM
Am I also the only one who liked Double Dash more than MK64?  Adrock mentions the infuriating AI, yet I found it the best of all the Mario Karts and much less infuriating than the 64 AI.  Am I the only one who enjoyed playing Double Dash?  It was so smooth and easy to feel the game.  The only MK that comes close is the DS version.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Kairon on June 27, 2012, 03:32:44 PM
Am I also the only one who liked Double Dash more than MK64?  Adrock mentions the infuriating AI, yet I found it the best of all the Mario Karts and much less infuriating than the 64 AI.  Am I the only one who enjoyed playing Double Dash?  It was so smooth and easy to feel the game.  The only MK that comes close is the DS version.

I'm starting to think that for every Mario Kart game, there is a subsection of Nintendo fans ardently in love with it over the others.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: NWR_insanolord on June 27, 2012, 03:46:48 PM
I loved Mario Kart 64 at the time, but it really hasn't aged well. It had a lot of good tracks and battle courses, but most of those have been included in more recent games that played a lot better.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Louieturkey on June 27, 2012, 03:48:22 PM
I loved Mario Kart 64 at the time, but it really hasn't aged well. It had a lot of good tracks and battle courses, but most of those have been included in more recent games that played a lot better.
I think the battle courses are the only things I liked about it.  They were definitely better than the vs courses on DD or MKW I think (though I haven't played enough of the MKW ones, so I'll hold judgement on those).
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: NWR_insanolord on June 27, 2012, 04:15:50 PM
Block Fort beats anything the series has done since.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Ian Sane on June 27, 2012, 04:29:47 PM
Mario Kart 64 as a technical achievement was very impressive at the time compared to Super Mario Kart.  Remember that SMK is only two players and its tracks are completely flat.  MK64 had four player splitscreen multiplayer and since it was the first to use polygons the tracks actually could go up and down and such.  SMK doesn't even let you see the whole screen in single player.  Visually it was looking dated before the N64 was even released.  Also the N64 having four controller ports standard was a big deal and MK64 was the first game that really showed that off.  For many MK64 was the first time they ever played a four player racing game!  The game could have been very average but that alone would have made it an instant classic.

Unfortunately out-of-context MK64 is less impressive so playing it now, when the conventions it introduced or popularized are cliche the games comes across as rough and the cheating AI is REALLY noticable.  I've realized that SMK has become my favourite Mario Kart because I love the battle mode and because it lacks annoying power-ups like the Blue Shell.

My biggest beef with Mario Kart DD is that it was clear that it was time for online Mario Kart and Nintendo basically threw a hissy fit and refused to join the rest of the world.  That was the logical progression of the series.  Instead we got the two-people-per-kart mechanic that came across as really forced.  It was like Nintendo realized without online play Mario Kart for the Cube would just be prettier Mario Kart 64 so they came up with same contrived idea to give the game so purpose for existing other than releasing some Mario Kart product for the Gamecube.

Deep down I've realized that Mario Kart has been a pretty damn broken series from the get go with its cheating AI.  The trend to handicap in favour of the people in last place has made it worse.  It's a series that seems like it should be good (it's Mario racing, who wouldn't like that?) but I find I never enjoy playing it as much as it seems like I should.  It seems every game in the series has some frustrating flaw to it.  F-Zero is more up my alley.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: rlse9 on June 27, 2012, 06:13:56 PM
I agree about Mario Kart 64, it may not be that impressive looking back but at the time it was something really special with it's 4 player mode.  Regardless of how it plays now, at the time it was innovative and exciting and was one of the best multiplayer experiences of its generation.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: NWR_insanolord on June 27, 2012, 06:25:59 PM
I agree. I also agree with whoever said it that the N64 may still be the best console for local multiplayer to this day.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Louieturkey on June 27, 2012, 06:46:48 PM
I agree. I also agree with whoever said it that the N64 may still be the best console for local multiplayer to this day.
I'll agree with this as well.  Though the Wii definitely is giving it a run for its money.  My wife and I have played more games together on the Wii than any other system (though we were married in 2006 so that probably has a little something to do with it :P: ).
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Ian Sane on June 27, 2012, 06:50:55 PM
You know how some of us get on Nintendo's ass for not having their own FPS series and how they probably should get Retro doing it?  The N64 is a big reason for that.  Goldeneye was undoubtably one of the most popular games on the N64.  In America is might have been THE most popular.  Perfect Dark didn't sell quite as well but critically was considered one of the system's best games.  The N64 was the FPS console of its gen.  The Rare shooters were the main reason for it but it also had Turok and later EA made their own Bond FPS.  All of those were N64 exclusive.  In comparison the Playstation had dick all for FPS games unless you wanted to play scaled down ports of PC shooters (and the N64 had those as well anyway).

That had become a key part of the "Nintendo experience" and Nintendo completely pissed that away on the Cube.  They got rid of Rare and failed to provide any sort of replacement for Perfect Dark.  Years later we got Geist from the Olsen Twins games guys as if THAT was ever going to be a suitable replacement and then nothing since.  Nintendo went from having the best console for FPS games to having the WORST.  It was like if after all the success of Mario on the NES Nintendo just abandoned platformers completely on the SNES.  They took one of the trademark hits of the N64 era and just ditched it.

You suggest the idea of Nintendo FPS and get all sorts of grumbling "FPS games suck are all brown" responses.  That's total revisionist history.  Nintendo had the first console FPS that anyone thought was worth a ****.  This wasn't some niche title, it was easily one of the top three most beloved games on the system (Mario 64 and OoT being the other two).  This was one of the few games that Playstation owners felt deprived of.  Now the only userbase that feels deprived of the sort of experience Goldeneye provided are Nintendo fans.

And I think that's a real problem Nintendo has: they don't really stop and think "what did people like about our previous system?"  The SNES is THE RPG system and the N64 not only is a barrent wasteland for RPGs but Nintendo spends a fair bit of effort trying to convince their fanbase that RPG's suck.  How do you possible expect anyone but the most dick sucking fanboy to buy that?  There were SNES owners for which their favourite games were the Final Fantasy series and they all left and Nintendo deserved to lose them.  The N64 was the FPS system and the Cube was incredibly weak in that regard.  That's just handing sales to the Xbox with Halo.  If Nintendo was actually in touch they would realize they were missing key genres that used to be identified with their systems and they would make an effort to address it.  But they don't and they pay for it.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Spak-Spang on June 27, 2012, 07:22:29 PM
The thing about Mario Kart 64 is that is perfected the formula.  The blue turtle shell was perfect in that game.  The multiple shells, and holding a shell back for defense everything was perfect...so even with cheating AI and giving last place better items, it was pretty balanced.

That all changed after the blue turtle became explosive, and became worse with the more outlandish special weapons.  I think Nintendo needs to go back to the original formula, and just make a new Mario Kart following the exact same formula of the Mario Kart 64, but adding better tracks, HD graphics, simplify the weapons.  Keep the drifting and boosts from the other games, and perhaps even the hang glider stuff, but make the weapons balanced again. 

Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: BranDonk Kong on June 27, 2012, 08:53:10 PM
I like Mario Kart 64 better than any others (though the DS game is pretty great too). Ever since Double Dash the games just feel slow and not very fun, the Karts are all too loose or something, it just doesn't feel right.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: LOZman on June 27, 2012, 09:05:46 PM
Am I also the only one who liked Double Dash more than MK64?  Adrock mentions the infuriating AI, yet I found it the best of all the Mario Karts and much less infuriating than the 64 AI.  Am I the only one who enjoyed playing Double Dash?  It was so smooth and easy to feel the game.  The only MK that comes close is the DS version.


I completely agree! I often feel like I am the only person who values Double Dash above every other Mario Kart. Maybe it's just me, but I had no problem with the AI in the game. The idea of two players teaming up in one kart really excited me, even if the person in the back could only throw items. I would actually like them to bring the mechanic to the next MK, even though I doubt that would ever happen.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Kairon on June 27, 2012, 09:10:39 PM
My brother always drove in DD and I was the back-seat player. It takes real finesse to do a side-attack at just the right moment to avoid item attacks or help with turns.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Shaymin on June 27, 2012, 09:37:59 PM
My brother always drove in DD and I was the banana bitch. It takes real finesse to do a side-attack at just the right moment to avoid item attacks or help with turns.

Fixed that for you.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Spak-Spang on June 27, 2012, 09:41:39 PM
I think the track designs and speed of Mario Kart series have been getting, better and better each game.  I like Double Dash a lot...specially the track design.  However, that said...Nintendo just kept on screwing up the weapons making them worse and worse...and less fun. 

Nintendo needs to realize that weapons NEED to be balanced.  You can have more powerful weapons, and giving them to last place makes sense...but the blue turtle shell explosion is stupid.  Let it be on the ground, and potentially hit all players...make it be avoidable.  Let the game be more about skill please.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: NWR_insanolord on June 27, 2012, 09:46:33 PM
There should be options. Weapon distribution the current way, a more balanced way, completely random no matter what place you're in, or off entirely. Preferably with the ability to play that way online, unlike the weapon switcher in recent games.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: LOZman on June 27, 2012, 09:48:08 PM
My brother always drove in DD and I was the back-seat player. It takes real finesse to do a side-attack at just the right moment to avoid item attacks or help with turns.


That's exactly how it was with me and my brother!
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Kairon on June 27, 2012, 09:50:26 PM
My brother always drove in DD and I was the back-seat player. It takes real finesse to do a side-attack at just the right moment to avoid item attacks or help with turns.

That's exactly how it was with me and my brother!

It's great! I honestly would not be averse to seeing this make a return in future MK games.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: gojira on June 27, 2012, 11:20:55 PM
It's really close for me.  I love both systems and they have a lot of amazing games.  But I'll give the edge to Gamecube just for Metroid Prime.  I love the Metroid series and the N64 not having one is a shame.
Title: Re: Which was better: Nintendo 64 or Gamecube?
Post by: Spak-Spang on June 27, 2012, 11:50:34 PM
I loved the dual character aspect...and I think it could be made better.  And in fact...it did add to some strategy...being last getting a good weapon and switching drivers, so you could keep a good weapon for longer...totally an awesome strategy.