Fish
11-29-2007, 11:10 PM
One of the paradigm shifts that came with the advent of the N64 was the prospect of fully 3-D environments, and adventures to have in them. The Playstation did this to some extent, but since I didn't even own one until practically the release of the PS2, This article is about N64 games. Moreso, about adventure games, and why I love them so much. Unlike many other genres, the staple aspects of the 3-d adventure are a) multiple levels or varying difficulty and design b) things conveniently left all over said levels for you to pick up and c) some (but not too much) "character improvement," that is, you might get a few new items or moves, but no stat managing or "leveling up" is required. And so, in my top 3:
1. Super Mario 64
For me, this was more or less the first console game that I ever really owned and completed, as the N64 was the first console I ever owned. What strikes me as beautiful about this game is that there are 15 levels of varying difficulty and terrains, and a variety of different tasks to perform. Even on the tasks that were repeated between levels (8 red coins, anyone?), the levels varied enough in structure and layout that by the time you really got tired of a level, you were either done with it, or good enough to finish it easily. Overall, a superb example of level balance.
More than level balance, however, was game balance. Getting further in early levels unlocked later levels, but you were never required to "finish" anything completely to unlock anything but the highest awards. Furthermore, there wasn't an overuse of power-ups. Three hats, that was it. Nothing complicated, noting requiring hours of work: the entire game boiled down to perhaps 20 hours to unlock the essentials, and then just playing until you decided you were done (or got all 120 stars).
Is it back? YES! One of the launch titles for the Nintendo DS was Super Mario DS, a port of this not-too-old classic. Added features like mini games, four extra characters, and extended levels (and 30 more stars) give it replayability for veterans of the game without detracting from the original simplicity of the game. I would argue, however, that switching from an analog joystick to a digital d-pad (with a "run button") has made the game's controls a bit difficult for me to adapt to. I've got about 45 stars right now, and I still periodically die simply because I have a hard time getting my character to run straight! Ow well...I can now play it on the freakin' subway, so I guess it all evens out in the end.
2. Banjo-Kazooie
In some ways, this game was exponentially better than Mario 64. What Mario64 lacked in replay value and complexity, Banjo-Kazooie makes up for with learnable moves, numerous pick-up items, and a variety of "gatherables" both within lavels and between levels. Not to mention level design, music, graphics...DAMN! I wanna play this game NOW. but back the the review...
Basically, all the things that would have bogged down a game like Mario 64 are utilized here, except with such grace and tact that they don't weigh it down at all, but rather, make it better in numerous ways. Learnable moves means that there's always a reason to return to older levels and access new areas, plus, there's stuff to collect (like jinjos) that are spread across multiple levels. In short, this game has much more to it than Mario64, which means I can hardly explain all the subtleties of its awesomeness in timely fashion. I can, however, recommend that you play it as soon as a port comes out to a new system. You won't be disappointed. Oh, and P.S. - there was a sequel to this game on the N64, which was pretty damn awesome. However, the original was awesome in so many ways that it holds a special place in my heart.
Is there a port? Maybe. Googling "Banjo-Kazooie DS" brings up a handful of hopeful seeming results, though it mostly looks like rumours. However, it was such a popular game (and sequels are still coming out), and so a port with new features to the DS or Wii seems more than likely. Here's to hoping!
3. Donkey Kong 64
Doing away with the typical 2-d layout of the SNES games, DK64 bore a strong resemblance to Banjo-Kazooie. However, this time, there were multiple characters, and more than a handful of simple items and powerups. Overall, I wish I had played this game more, but it was precisely the over-abundance of things in the game that made this game number 3 instead of number 2. Essentially, Banjo-Kazooie took the Mario 64 idea and ran with it into the light. Then, DK64 took it a few steps further, and the light got a little too bright: the awesomeness of the 3-d adventure was dragged down a bit by the almost oppressive amount of collecting one had to do to use any of the character's abilities even a moderate amount. Plus, having numerous characters meant that you had to collect and earn items and moves for each one seperately. Had they done away with that one aspect (made it so that collecting ammo for one collected ammo for all, etc.), I think that this game would have had a bit more of the streamlined-ness that made numbers 1 and 2 so awesome.
However, the level design of the game was pretty sweet, and despite having to collect a ludicrous amount of stuff off of the ground and ledges of every level, the game was pretty cool, and provided a good amount of playtime for those interested in getting everything.
Port? Again, maybe. Banjo-Kazooie was massively popular and spawned sequels, whereas DK64, for many gamers, was merely a less-inspired sequel to a franchise with other notable titles. A "group-port' of the DK-country games from the snes to the ds seems more likely, but I'd still like to see the N64 titles ported, if only to give me another shot at playing through it, and them another shot at bringing it up to the level of Banjo-Kazooie.
On the whole, I count these games as the "Big 3" of my original Console Adventuring experience. There have been later games (ratchet and clank, fr example) that have taken the formula to new and awesome heights, but these three games are a combination of nostalgia and good-old-fashioned-great, and so I recommend them to anyone who has the chance. I mean, how many games allow you to play as a bear with a bird in his backpack?
1. Super Mario 64
For me, this was more or less the first console game that I ever really owned and completed, as the N64 was the first console I ever owned. What strikes me as beautiful about this game is that there are 15 levels of varying difficulty and terrains, and a variety of different tasks to perform. Even on the tasks that were repeated between levels (8 red coins, anyone?), the levels varied enough in structure and layout that by the time you really got tired of a level, you were either done with it, or good enough to finish it easily. Overall, a superb example of level balance.
More than level balance, however, was game balance. Getting further in early levels unlocked later levels, but you were never required to "finish" anything completely to unlock anything but the highest awards. Furthermore, there wasn't an overuse of power-ups. Three hats, that was it. Nothing complicated, noting requiring hours of work: the entire game boiled down to perhaps 20 hours to unlock the essentials, and then just playing until you decided you were done (or got all 120 stars).
Is it back? YES! One of the launch titles for the Nintendo DS was Super Mario DS, a port of this not-too-old classic. Added features like mini games, four extra characters, and extended levels (and 30 more stars) give it replayability for veterans of the game without detracting from the original simplicity of the game. I would argue, however, that switching from an analog joystick to a digital d-pad (with a "run button") has made the game's controls a bit difficult for me to adapt to. I've got about 45 stars right now, and I still periodically die simply because I have a hard time getting my character to run straight! Ow well...I can now play it on the freakin' subway, so I guess it all evens out in the end.
2. Banjo-Kazooie
In some ways, this game was exponentially better than Mario 64. What Mario64 lacked in replay value and complexity, Banjo-Kazooie makes up for with learnable moves, numerous pick-up items, and a variety of "gatherables" both within lavels and between levels. Not to mention level design, music, graphics...DAMN! I wanna play this game NOW. but back the the review...
Basically, all the things that would have bogged down a game like Mario 64 are utilized here, except with such grace and tact that they don't weigh it down at all, but rather, make it better in numerous ways. Learnable moves means that there's always a reason to return to older levels and access new areas, plus, there's stuff to collect (like jinjos) that are spread across multiple levels. In short, this game has much more to it than Mario64, which means I can hardly explain all the subtleties of its awesomeness in timely fashion. I can, however, recommend that you play it as soon as a port comes out to a new system. You won't be disappointed. Oh, and P.S. - there was a sequel to this game on the N64, which was pretty damn awesome. However, the original was awesome in so many ways that it holds a special place in my heart.
Is there a port? Maybe. Googling "Banjo-Kazooie DS" brings up a handful of hopeful seeming results, though it mostly looks like rumours. However, it was such a popular game (and sequels are still coming out), and so a port with new features to the DS or Wii seems more than likely. Here's to hoping!
3. Donkey Kong 64
Doing away with the typical 2-d layout of the SNES games, DK64 bore a strong resemblance to Banjo-Kazooie. However, this time, there were multiple characters, and more than a handful of simple items and powerups. Overall, I wish I had played this game more, but it was precisely the over-abundance of things in the game that made this game number 3 instead of number 2. Essentially, Banjo-Kazooie took the Mario 64 idea and ran with it into the light. Then, DK64 took it a few steps further, and the light got a little too bright: the awesomeness of the 3-d adventure was dragged down a bit by the almost oppressive amount of collecting one had to do to use any of the character's abilities even a moderate amount. Plus, having numerous characters meant that you had to collect and earn items and moves for each one seperately. Had they done away with that one aspect (made it so that collecting ammo for one collected ammo for all, etc.), I think that this game would have had a bit more of the streamlined-ness that made numbers 1 and 2 so awesome.
However, the level design of the game was pretty sweet, and despite having to collect a ludicrous amount of stuff off of the ground and ledges of every level, the game was pretty cool, and provided a good amount of playtime for those interested in getting everything.
Port? Again, maybe. Banjo-Kazooie was massively popular and spawned sequels, whereas DK64, for many gamers, was merely a less-inspired sequel to a franchise with other notable titles. A "group-port' of the DK-country games from the snes to the ds seems more likely, but I'd still like to see the N64 titles ported, if only to give me another shot at playing through it, and them another shot at bringing it up to the level of Banjo-Kazooie.
On the whole, I count these games as the "Big 3" of my original Console Adventuring experience. There have been later games (ratchet and clank, fr example) that have taken the formula to new and awesome heights, but these three games are a combination of nostalgia and good-old-fashioned-great, and so I recommend them to anyone who has the chance. I mean, how many games allow you to play as a bear with a bird in his backpack?