After the buzz generated by the NES Classic Mini last year and the announcement of a Super Nintendo version this year, it follows that Japanese gaming giant Nintendo would continue to drive nostalgia with a new take on its 1996 machine the Nintendo 64. But what games would it include?
A new trademark application filed by Nintendo in Europe has prompted speculation that a miniature N64 is indeed on the way. Though the application — which includes the unmistakeable image of the console's three-pronged controller — could realistically have been filed for any number of reasons, the fact that similar NES and SNES applications were filed ahead of the respective Mini launches makes it easy to draw the conclusion.
The issue is that, though remembered fondly by many, the N64 library is pretty dry when it comes to undisputed classics Nintendo could conceivably resurrect. Many developers — including Konami, Capcom and Square, whose games padded out the lineup of the two existing Mini consoles — put their more exciting games on Sony's PlayStation, not Nintendo 64.
There were 300 games total released for the machine, with many of the titles tied to major sports or entertainment brands, or featuring characters now owned by Nintendo rivals, which would make republishing fraught. This is to say nothing of the fact that many of the games are almost unplayable in 2017 owing to the early 3D graphics and strange controller.
This is not to say a revival is doomed to failure however. Using the 30 NES games and 20 SNES games included in the previous machines as a guide, here are 15 games I'd expect to see in a Nintendo 64 Classic Mini.
Body Harvest
Developed by DMA design — a team that these days goes by Rockstar North — Body Harvest is a proto Grand Theft Auto but with time travel and genocidal aliens. It's pretty bloody by 1998 standards, but practically a Saturday morning cartoon today. A fun game and a great piece of history.
Castlevania
There are probably only two good Konami games on N64, and since the previous two Mini consoles have featured Castlevania, this is a good bet. Though nowhere near as good as the top 2D games in the series, this three-dimensional take is eerie and full of secrets. As for Mystical Ninja, the other good Konami game, its predecessor was left of the SNES Mini so I wouldn't expect its inclusion.
F-Zero X
The N64 did driving games very well, and the most likely to appear here is Nintendo's own F-Zero. With dozens of cars zooming across futuristic tracks at a thousand miles per hour, the game was notable for maintaining solid 60-frames-per-second performance. A re-release could be a chance to bring the Japan-only track editor, car editor and additional content to a wider audience.
Goldeneye 007
Considered by many to be the greatest Nintendo 64 game, GoldenEye is a 1997 shooter based on the 1995 film. Noted for its innovative objective-based stages and peerless (for the time) local multiplayer, it's never been re-released in any form, and for good reason. The game was published by Nintendo, developed by Rare (which is now owned by Microsoft) and authorised by Eon Productions and MGM who, as far as I'm aware, currently have zero interest in video games following real bad experiences with Activision and Eurocom. Securing the rights to revive this one would be a near impossibility. Still, including the never-before-seen Star Fox 2 with the SNES Mini gives me hope that Nintendo understands the need to go the extra mile for these retro collections. With a few phone calls, a bit of splashed cash and some swallowed pride, I reckon the company could get it done.
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Opting to keep its linear platforming rather than go full 3D, Kirby 64 is a beautiful game with a lot of hidden depth. As always Kirby can inhale enemies to copy their abilities, but this time he can also combine multiple abilities to produce new ones with powerful, and often humorous, results. Highlights include combining ice and electricity to become a fridge, or fire and ice to become a melting ice cube.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Not only one of the best games for the system, Ocarina of Time is one of the best games ever made. Zelda was already a big deal following its popular Super Nintendo iteration, but Ocarina flawlessly translated the puzzling, exploration and adventure to a massive 3D world, writing the rulebook for hundreds of subsequent games to follow as it did so. The most miraculous thing about it is that it's still great fun to play today, almost 20 years later. Like F-Zero, a modern re-release could mean the Japan only expansion content — in this case Ura Zelda, or Master Quest — could be included as well.
Mario Kart 64
The Nintendo 64 was capable of four-player multiplayer, and no Nintendo-made game made use of that feature like Mario Kart 64. Though it's fun to race through on your own and collect all the gold trophies, splitting the screen in four for an extended Battle Mode session could provide enough entertainment for an entire weekend. It hasn't aged as well as some of the other games here, but its nostalgic appeal can't be questioned.
Mario Party 3
Though some will argue the second game is the best the series offered on N64, the third holds up a lot better in my opinion. With more modes, more mini-games and more characters to play with, the party game also refined the balance a bit so it didn't feel like the winner was decided by blind luck.
Paper Mario
This is an absolutely insane idea for a game when you think about it. An RPG starring Mario and friends, but they and all other characters are made of paper. The concept made for plenty of comedic material, and it doesn't hurt that the roleplaying chops at the core of the game are solid as well. A transition into the HD era might rob some charm from the mix of 2D and 3D elements here, though.
Pokemon Puzzle League
This is Panel de Pon (also known as Tetris Attack), but with a Pokemon theme. The integration of the famous pocket monsters is purely aesthetic, but this is a great puzzle game that can also deliver a does of 90s anime nostalgia.
Pokemon Snap
The recent popularity of Pokemon GO makes this a no-brainer. This photographic take on catching 'em all has players taking a safari through various Pokemon-filled environments, figuring out how to coax the various creatures into posing for the perfect picture. The rating system and replayable stages mean this one actually feels a bit like a modern mobile game, and it's well worth a revisit.
Sin & Punishment
Originally an Asia-only game, this popular import already features full English voicework and would be a great selling point for a 64 Mini. A stylish and fast-paced shooter, it was co-developed by Gunstar Heroes and Radiant Silvergun studio Treasure.
Star Fox 64
Called Lylat Wars in Australia, Star Fox 64 took is the most iconic game of the series, and for good reason. The Super Nintendo game was renowned for its faux-polygonal 3D look, but the 64 version was able to deliver on the original vision with actual polygons. Ironically, the extremely low-fi look actually means this game has aged a lot better than many of its contemporaries.
Super Mario 64
Mario 64 is to platformers what Ocarina is to adventure games. Translating Mario's world impeccably to 3D, this game was the first to let players run and jump around with complete freedom and have it actually feel good. Filled with secrets to find, colourful worlds to discover some of the best game music of the era, this game is as iconic as it gets. If the console only featured Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time, it would probably still be a success.
Super Smash Bros.
Bringing recognisable Nintendo characters together for an over-the-top sumo match, Smash Bros might have come to prominence among competitive players in the Gamecube era but the N64 original is no slouch. Along with GoldenEye, Mario Kart and Mario Party, Smash Bros could make a Nintendo 64 Mini a legitimate four-player party machine.
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