For many gamers who grew up in the ’90s, the Nintendo 64 will forever be the pinnacle of gaming youth. It was a major part of the ’90s and 2000’s transition from 2D to 3D – even though it was a pioneer of 3D video gaming, some of the releases on the Nintendo 64 still stand up tothe test of timemore than two decades after the system’s final entry.
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Games from the Nintendo 64 have seen sequels and continuations on other systems, but there are few that have been outright remade or remastered. Although the graphical capabilities of the Nintendo 64 created the system’s iconic polygonal look, some of the system’s classic titles could be refreshed with a more modern approach.
10Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64has seen a few iterations over the years, but each version released has been a near-carbon copy of the original game.Super Mario All-Starsfor the Nintendo Switch andSuper Mario 64 DSfor the Nintendo DS gave the game a slight bit of graphical polish, but neither revitalized the game’s appearance to the modernSuper Mariostyle.
While part of thecharm of the originalSuper Mario 64is its low poly graphics, there could be an opportunity to include both the original graphics and the updated ones with the same game. Players can then switch between the two, akin to the systems present inHalo AnniversaryandHalo 2 Anniversary.
9Banjo-Kazooie…
Banjo-Kazooiehas had a rough go of it in recent years. Until their inclusion inSuper Smash Bros Ultimate, the duo hadn’t been in a game since the critically-pannedBanjo-Kazooie Nuts and Boltsfor the Xbox 360.
The appearance of Banjo and Kazooie inSuper Smash Bros Ultimatehad fans wondering if a remaster was in the works for the Nintendo Switch. Nothing’s been announced yet, but it would be awelcome return to form.
8…And Banjo-Tooie
Banjo-Tooieis the sequel toBanjo-Kazooiethat most fans of the franchise agree is the superior game. They’re both good, butBanjo-Tooiejust has more to do and more interesting gameplay. There was supposed to be a third entry in the series, aptly calledBanjo-Threeie, but it was delayed and eventually turned intoNuts and Bolts.
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Remasters of both originalBanjo-Kazooiegames could be shipped together in one pack, much likeSuper Mario All-Starswas – as long asNuts and Boltsisn’t included.
Conker’s Bad Fur Daywas one of the most unique games on the Nintendo 64, and one of the raunchiest titles ever made. The sequels, though,strayed from the formulato appeal to younger kids with less mature humor.
Put yourself in the shoes of innocent ’90s gamers who didn’t expect Conker to urinate on his enemies or to bounce on the chest of a sultry sunflower.Conker’s Bad Fur Daystill holds up as one of the funniest games ever made, and it deserves to be exposed to a new generation. This classic was already remade intoConker: Live & Reloaded, but that Xbox title implemented certain changes that made it a worse experience than the original. A new remake should stick closer toConker’s Bad Fur Day.
6Diddy Kong Racing
Racing games surged in popularity when 3D gaming started to become mainstream. AlongsideMario Kart 64was another racing game with spades ofcharm and more challenge,Diddy Kong Racing.
WhileMario Kart 64is all about chance,Diddy Kong Racingdemands its players learn the game to a T. Its vibrant color palette and distinctive characters would look amazing with current-standard graphics, and it might remind gamers of how hard kart racing games can be.
5Star Fox 64
Star Fox 64was one of the most popular games released on the system for its iconic 3D space and game-changing fast-paced gameplay. Star Fox has been in a few games sinceStar Fox 64,namelyStar Fox Command,Star Fox Assault,andStar Fox Zero, but each entry pales in comparison to the iconic Nintendo 64 one.
Star Fox 64 3Dfor the Nintendo 3DS came out in 2011, but the graphical improvements were minor and mostly related to the 3D capabilities of the handheld system. A proper remaster could revitalize interest in the franchise beyond its inclusion inSuper Smash Bros.
4Yoshi’s Story
Yoshi’s Storywas an extremely stylized kids game for the Nintendo 64 that had a lot of the same elements asolder 2DSuper Mariogames, albeit with Yoshi characters and a very different art direction.
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The only thing that makes this game hard to play nowadays is the low fidelity of the game’s art. A remake ofYoshi’s Storyshould change nothing about the game and instead aim to improve the art direction with modern computing power – a Toy-box look, like the recentLink’s Awakeningremaster, could be perfect.
3Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
The first 3D entry in theKirbyfranchise wasKirby 64: The Crytal Shards, which successfully brought the game’s mechanics to the 3D space. There have since been other 3D Kirby games, and plenty of well-received 2D ones, but theoriginal Nintendo 64 titlewas never remade.
The game is noticeably pixelated and fuzzy on the Nintendo 64, so a remaster of this game would hopefully makeKirby 64much easier to look at.
2Star Wars Episode I: Racer
Star Wars Episode I: Racerput players in the seat of a Podracer fromStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menaceto take part in a variety of races on a handful of different courses. It was recently re-released on several systems, but it wasn’t much of a graphical improvement at all.
A proper remake ofStar Wars Episode I: Racerwould make driving a Podracer more fluid and bring the texture details and special effects to a modern level. There are just too many polygons!
1Cruis’n USA
The theme song forCruis’N USAis forever ingrained in the minds of those who played this classic racing game on the Nintendo 64. It was originally an Arcade game that was ported to the 64, and its fast-paced driving and rocking soundtrack deserves to see another iteration.
Classic arcade racers, likeCrazy TaxiandDaytona USA, are a genre all of their own that encourage a one-more-race mentality. The races are quick, destructive, and unlike any modern driving-oriented game, save for perhapsGrand Theft Auto.
