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Looking back I think PS1's graphics aged better than N64's (used to think opposite)
- Thread starter enigmatic_alex44
- Start date
Lack of subpixel correction (watch the video).
TGO
Hype Train conductor. Works harder than it steams.
A game with pre-rendered background running at a higher res? for some reason I don't think it had the REmake HD treatment and with the N64's filters I'm sure it was blurry compared.
It certainly didn't look better. The cut scenes were uglier too.
With the RAM pack the N64 version was almost unquestionably the better looker with the drawbacks being only the FMV and audio.
Tidus_Great
Banned
most of the games that use pre rendered backgrounds hold up well. The ps1 just had awful character models. Overall it's a negligible difference, both generations hold up poorly graphically. I f i go back to a ps1 game it's for gameplay like SOTN or the story like xenogears, FF and MGS
Yeah, that's pretty much it. From stills I'd agree with OP, the poly count on 64 games just makes everything look barren, but in motion PS1 games are horrible to look at.
The RAM pack only upped the resolution the game could run at. It couldn't somehow add texture detail that the N64 cart simply could fit.
makingmusic476
Member
N64 image quality >>> PS1. I much prefer the look of games like SM64 and OoT to similar ps1 titles like Ape Escape.
Also, I'm a fan of N64 fog in certain games. In SM64, yeah, the game could benefit from removing it, but I always thought it added to the atmosphere of places like Kokiri Forest in the Ocarina of Time. I assumed it was there intentionally as a kid.
Also, I'm a fan of N64 fog in certain games. In SM64, yeah, the game could benefit from removing it, but I always thought it added to the atmosphere of places like Kokiri Forest in the Ocarina of Time. I assumed it was there intentionally as a kid.
Low poly assets with pixeled textures is an aesthetic I really like.
N64's texture blurring is to me akin to modern emulator sprite filtering and hurts the artstyle.
I wish indie devs would move into 3D games using a MML/Vagrant Story/MGS1/other good looking PS1 game visual style.
Of course, there's plenty of technical flaws in this era that should be left behind, so I mean more like "good looking PS1 game run through an emulator to increase res and fix glitches".
Huh, the PS1 version had a better draw distance too.
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NoPiece
Member
I totally agree. It is really weird how I have very clear memories of playing Battle Arena Toshinden and thinking, I can't believe how amazing this looks. I hope the same will hold true of today's games in 20 years.
Man, this was the second N64 game I ever owned.
The water effects completely blew my mind in this game.
D
Deleted member 17706
Unconfirmed Member
It totally depends on the game. Most games from both platforms look like shit today, especially when played on high-resolutions LCDs via emulator.
With that said, there are games on both platforms that are still playable from a visual tolerance perspective.
With that said, there are games on both platforms that are still playable from a visual tolerance perspective.
I think this Tony Hawk comparison shows the graphics differences fairly well.
higher resolution and framerate on the N64 version, although if I recall correctly the N64 version didn't have the full soundtrack, the songs were reduced in length
Also in motion you can see the full force of the PSX geometry popping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDQrC9zThfo
higher resolution and framerate on the N64 version, although if I recall correctly the N64 version didn't have the full soundtrack, the songs were reduced in length
Also in motion you can see the full force of the PSX geometry popping
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDQrC9zThfo
I remember seeing PS1 graphics after playing on N64, it seemed like the PS1 hardware was broken, or the game unfinished, it all looked so rough and shoddy. The AA and texture filtering on the N64 never bothered me, in fact it made the N64 seem like it was in an entirely different league.
The RAM pack only upped the resolution the game could run at. It couldn't somehow add texture detail that the N64 cart simply could fit.
I suppose I guess it wasn't unquestionably then, i retract that, but to me it was kind of night and day and the game looked better on the N64 because of the anti aliasing and higher resolution despite the compressed textures and FMV. I feel the same way about Mega Man Legends also.
To simplify my original post, I think that the classic/favorite N64 games haven't aged as well as those on PS1, mainly due to the N64's library being more dependent on traditional 3D.
Direct-comparisons between PS1 and N64 versions of the same game are a coin toss depending on what the game was trying to do. Something like Tony Hawk on N64 would look better because it wasn't as dependent on media storage space.
Direct-comparisons between PS1 and N64 versions of the same game are a coin toss depending on what the game was trying to do. Something like Tony Hawk on N64 would look better because it wasn't as dependent on media storage space.
Uncle Rupee
Banned
I think they're both good. Obviously the PS1's textures, both in terms of size and quantity that could fit on CD, were better. In a lot of games, especially on an SD television, you didn't even notice the pixelation all that much. But the N64's 3D is obviously superior - had it been a CD-based console with more texture RAM it would have absolutely stomped the PS1 in terms of visual quality.
baphomet
Member
PS1 has absolutely aged better. PS1 has tons and tons of 2D games that still look amazing. N64 has maybe 2 or 3?
Even 3D has aged better on PS1. Mostly because of the blur filter applied to every N64 game. If it didnt have that awful filter over everything it would be the other way around. Especially if youre going off real hardware, PS1 outputting RGB and N64 modded to output RGB, and run through a high quality scaler, the PS1 still looks much better.
Even 3D has aged better on PS1. Mostly because of the blur filter applied to every N64 game. If it didnt have that awful filter over everything it would be the other way around. Especially if youre going off real hardware, PS1 outputting RGB and N64 modded to output RGB, and run through a high quality scaler, the PS1 still looks much better.
LegendofDragoonLives
Member
Look at it this way, ask anyone to name their favorite PS1 games and then their favorite N64 titles. I'm going off the top of my head here, but this is what you're likely to hear:
Popular N64 Games:
Popular PS1 Games:
The differences between these two lists are that the N64 library had more open movement, bigger environments, and the like. The PS1's hardware forced a more conservative approach to game design, leading to more fixed angles, "2.5D," and the like. I think something like Final Fantasy VIII holds up better in 2015 than Ocarina of Time due to the pre-rednered backgrounds and occasional kickass FMV. N64 had a hard time with pre-rendered backgrounds and FMVs due to limited storage capacity, so it played to its strengths (3D, polygons).
3D gaming circa 1996 certainly hasn't aged super well from both consoles, though. The PS1 has the benefit of having simply more games that were released on it on top of the conservative approach I'm blabbing about here, so I think its library holds up better these days.
Popular N64 Games:
- Mario 64
- Ocarina of Time/Majora's Mask
- Goldeneye
- Perfect Dark
- Mario Kart 64
- Wave Race 64
Popular PS1 Games:
- Final Fantasy VII
- Resident Evil 1/2/3
- Castlevania SotN
- Tekken 1/2/3
- Metal Gear Solid
- Crash Bandicoot 1/2/3
The differences between these two lists are that the N64 library had more open movement, bigger environments, and the like. The PS1's hardware forced a more conservative approach to game design, leading to more fixed angles, "2.5D," and the like. I think something like Final Fantasy VIII holds up better in 2015 than Ocarina of Time due to the pre-rednered backgrounds and occasional kickass FMV. N64 had a hard time with pre-rendered backgrounds and FMVs due to limited storage capacity, so it played to its strengths (3D, polygons).
3D gaming circa 1996 certainly hasn't aged super well from both consoles, though. The PS1 has the benefit of having simply more games that were released on it on top of the conservative approach I'm blabbing about here, so I think its library holds up better these days.
JordanN
Banned
I use to be a N64 fanboy and thought the graphics were always better, but then I played more of the PS1 and N64 over the years and realized N64 just barely passes as a 3D console.
Naughty Dog described the system perfectly. The N64 was capable of nicer looking polygons, but it never had enough of them.
The graphics of the N64 were extremely poly starved, followed by the crippling cartridges and 4kb cache limitations meant extremely low res textures that later got blurred by the texture filtering.
PS1 graphics, while presented as rough, could still output a lot of geometry while having textures that were 4x bigger. And while the jiterring vertices and warping textures were an eyesore, developers on the PS1 were actually able to counter it.
It usually meant covering a large surface with flat geometry and then applying a texture to it.
Naughty Dog described the system perfectly. The N64 was capable of nicer looking polygons, but it never had enough of them.
The graphics of the N64 were extremely poly starved, followed by the crippling cartridges and 4kb cache limitations meant extremely low res textures that later got blurred by the texture filtering.
PS1 graphics, while presented as rough, could still output a lot of geometry while having textures that were 4x bigger. And while the jiterring vertices and warping textures were an eyesore, developers on the PS1 were actually able to counter it.
It usually meant covering a large surface with flat geometry and then applying a texture to it.
Chubzdoomer
Banned
Those are some pretty bad comparisons. For the most part, N64 games looked better than PS1.
This is just about how I feel about the whole thing.
Stallion Dan
Member
God no. The characters and enemies have worse textures. While higher rsolution the backgrounds were lower quality, making them look uglier.
Yeah, it was like taking vaseline off the lens, basically.
While I think the OP isn't spot-on, I do think there's a fair argument that the PS1's visuals have aged better than the N64s. I don't think you can discount Crash Bandicoot because it used 2.5D angles either- if it looks nice it looks nice.
thelastword
Banned
PS1 games have definitely aged better, you can also access quite a bit of the library on many current devices to keep the legacy going. I just hate blurry images and the N64 thrived where blurry was concerned. I believe Tekken 3, Soul Blade, Toshinden, Croc, Klonoa and Chrono Cross looked better than anything on the N64.
Trevelyan9999
Banned
The N64 had Turok 2: Seeds of Evil which used the expansion pack and has definitely helped the game age better than most N64 games. Overall I would think N64 wins this debate:
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Rogue Squadron:
http://2-game.be/games/Star Wars Rogue Squadron 1.jpg
Star Wars Episode 1 Racer:
Rogue Squadron:
http://2-game.be/games/Star Wars Rogue Squadron 1.jpg
Star Wars Episode 1 Racer:
It's sadden me that most of the time N64 is talked about the only games cited are by Nintendo and Rare (well mostly).
Iguana, Factor 5 and Boss Game Studios were among the top developers on the system.
Banjo Kazooie? Goemon's Great Adventure?
Iguana, Factor 5 and Boss Game Studios were among the top developers on the system.
And what games have you played on N64?
Banjo Kazooie? Goemon's Great Adventure?
CircleOfFire
Member
I maintained this when they were originally released, but I mostly remember N64 owners saying that the cheese wedge slopes of the hills in Mario 64 levels looked better than the way more natural levels in the Crash Bandicoot games.
Stereogatari
Banned
OP isn't wrong, at least according to my personal experience. Comparing the flagship games of both consoles, the art design and technical wizardry involved with Crash allowed it to sustain itself as technology improved over the years. Mario 64 looked way more blocky and primitive as graphics improved. Of course if Nintendo had developed a Crash style Mario 64 platformer they probably would have been able to focus on the graphics due to freeing resources from the open world.
Tom Nook Sawyer
Member
Great post. Some others:
Those (albeit faked) reflections looked amazing back in the day)
thelastword
Banned
It just doesn't hold up well today, the textures are awful and porridgy, ps1 games had grain and detail.
Neff
Member
Touché, but RE2 was never a game ideally suited to N64 (I believe it was the biggest cart ever produced for it), and it suffered several sacrifices in the transition.
Tom Nook Sawyer
Member
Sure, I was just pointing out that the system had--with relatively few sacrifices FMV-aside and even some improvements--a near-exact port of a "jaw-dropping" game.
And all this for a game that wasn't even designed to the console's strengths.
Rats Off To Ya
Banned
lol, not even. If anything, RE2 is a testament to the technical superiority of the PS1.
About 4
Salty Hippo
Member
What an embarrassing thread.
Tom Nook Sawyer
Member
Each console had its strengths. It's not exactly a great surprise that a game dependent on gigantic media assets would look slightly better in some areas than a console that didn't use CDs
Conversely, it seems doubtful the PlayStation would have been able to handle Perfect Dark, OoT, or any number of more open games without major sacrifices.
But yes, when it came to pre-rendered media, it was ahead of the game. Different consoles, different priorities.
Neff
Member
I don't remember many N64 games running at 60fps besides F-Zero, and much less at Tekken 3's 480i mode. It was a really amazing conversion.
Trevelyan9999
Banned
The N64 version had better character models and higher resolution backgrounds with the expansion pack. The PS1 had longer load times, lower quality image and worse character models. It did have higher quality FMV, but that was it.