daTRUballin
Member
Yes, because PD is, in fact, better than SM64 graphically? That's what the thread title is asking. Or are you somehow trying to say that a launch title from 1996 is better graphically than a game that released 4 years later?
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What was the N64 game with the overall best graphics?
- Thread starter Alex_Mexico
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Yes, because PD is, in fact, better than SM64 graphically? That's what the thread title is asking. Or are you somehow trying to say that a launch title from 1996 is better graphically than a game that released 4 years later?
A Black Falcon
Member
You're probably right about SMB being about as good a game as you can make on its kind of cart, but I agree that the Japanese launch should be the starting date used and not the Western launches, so that doesn't matter much; the game shows how much Nintendo had learned about the system over the two years since its original release.
Oh, and I'm not sure if I'd say the GBA has a great-looking launch title either.
KingdomHeartsFan
Member
Paper Mario and its not even close. Its the only N64 game that still looks good to this day.
Voysa Reezun
Banned
Graphics or art direction?
Mischief Makers comes directly to mind. I also think that SM64, Pokemon Snap, and Snowboard Kids/SK2 both hold up really well between their art design and graphical fidelity.
On the other hand, Goldeneye is totally unplayable now between the graphics and the single-analog control.
Mischief Makers comes directly to mind. I also think that SM64, Pokemon Snap, and Snowboard Kids/SK2 both hold up really well between their art design and graphical fidelity.
On the other hand, Goldeneye is totally unplayable now between the graphics and the single-analog control.
daTRUballin
Member
I disagree.
I'm going with Banjo Kazooie.
Those layered textures looked beautiful when I ran through it in 1998.
It also runs at an acceptable frame rate.
Conker and JFG had the bigger wow factor but Im pretty sure they ran at a good 5 to 10 fps less than BK. Same story with its sequel.
World Driver Championship was seriously impressive also. High Resolution with very nice models and lighting.
The game that had the biggest initial impact was SM64... but it was more revolutionary than the game with the nicest visuals. I appreciate Nintendo creating a balanced well performing game though. Going from smooth 50fps 2D games to a jerky 15 was rough... even if I didn't fully understand what was going on. Same applies to the original Turok, fog and all. At least it was smooth.
Im going to have to discount all 2D games due to Nintendo's insane decision to mandate filtering on everything.
Those layered textures looked beautiful when I ran through it in 1998.
It also runs at an acceptable frame rate.
Conker and JFG had the bigger wow factor but Im pretty sure they ran at a good 5 to 10 fps less than BK. Same story with its sequel.
World Driver Championship was seriously impressive also. High Resolution with very nice models and lighting.
The game that had the biggest initial impact was SM64... but it was more revolutionary than the game with the nicest visuals. I appreciate Nintendo creating a balanced well performing game though. Going from smooth 50fps 2D games to a jerky 15 was rough... even if I didn't fully understand what was going on. Same applies to the original Turok, fog and all. At least it was smooth.
Im going to have to discount all 2D games due to Nintendo's insane decision to mandate filtering on everything.
Voysa Reezun
Banned
I wish that I disagreed with myself, but I've tried four times in the past year or so. I unlocked everything back in high school when this game came out, but now I just can't get past the first guard tower in the game without being like "fuck this, I'ma play some No Mercy instead." Which I then do.
minkymuskyslyoldstoaty
Member
This is what I came to post. Wave Race might not have had the best character models, but the water was absolutely gorgeous and still looks great. The scenery was nice too.
Version 3.0
Member
Wave Race 64 did come out on the Wii VC in the US, I own it. Did they take it down later or something? Or did you mean the Wii U? Not many N64 games on that one.
Jade Knight 08
Member
Zelda OOT and Star Wars Rogue Squadron for me.
Huge Succeeded
Banned
PD unquestionably looks way better than SM64
That's my vote too. In fact, Rare was AMAZING with the N64 hardware in general.
That's silly. There are much better looking N64 games than Mario 64 which run at a consistent 30 fps rate. Notably Paper Mario and Sin & Punishment.
SmokedMeat
Gamer™
Wow, I'm at a loss. I played Turok 3 but recall nothing about it.
Paper Mario is a fantastic pick, as is Banjo Kazooie. How does Rogue Squadron hold up?
Paper Mario is a fantastic pick, as is Banjo Kazooie. How does Rogue Squadron hold up?
Trigonometrize.
Member
The SM64 answers are honestly baffling. That game's visuals are not redeeming in any way outside of Mario's animations. Unless you value that like 10x over everything else, I'm actually confused at that answer.
daTRUballin
Member
Depends on who you talk to, I guess. Some people have an easier time getting used to the controls, and some people have a harder time. I feel like the people saying it hasn't aged well are just spoiled by modern FPS control schemes and don't want to take the time to learn (or in your case, re-learn) Goldeneye's control scheme to be honest.
It's kind of funny to me since you were in high school when the game released, and I was barely just born then, and I can still play and have fun with the game while at the same time enjoy modern FPSs like COD. Everybody's different, I guess. *shrug*
MisterHero
Super Member
I want to say Waverace 64. I like that the beautiful, turbulent waves ARE the gameplay.
???
Forsaken on the N64 is an entirely different game. That's like saying Doom 64 is "missing content" because it doesn't have the levels from other Doom games in it.
Ninja Scooter
Member
I feel like EAD's stuff has aged better than Rare's in terms of visuals. WaveRace, Mario 64, Zelda and Star Fox 64 all still look great to me. Even FZero at 60 FPS is nice. Rare's stuff is too framey now, with the possible exception of Conker.
Voost Kain
Banned
Crash Bandiccot 1 has better graphics than M64 Imo.
MasterMongoose
Member
I feel like it's a "Pick your RARE game vote" for first, and then we can squabble after we discount RARE.
Those Paper Mario screens are slick.
I also agree that Pokemon Snap worked well (being on rails helps a lot of course).
Those Paper Mario screens are slick.
I also agree that Pokemon Snap worked well (being on rails helps a lot of course).
SocomPlayer
Neo Member
I thought WCW/NWO Revenge looked nice. Really, all N64 games hold up decent enough if you use the right TV. Like if I play Zelda Orcania of time on a standard def 19 to 20 inch screen it's compressed enough where you don't see all the flaws, jaggies, etc. so it's still visually appealing. But now if you try to put it on anything larger then a 25 inch standard def or any flat screen 32 inches or larger, the games look like trash because the images are stretched out enough to see every single imperfection/ shortcoming of the graphics.
This debate won't ever end (btw Perfect Dark 
) but anyway I really miss my N64 .
My personal list:
All the Rare games period.
Zelda Games
Turok 2,3
Quake 2
Rayman 2
Rocket Robot on Wheels
Rampage Universal Tour
Paper Mario
Smash Bros
Orge Battle 64
Some I didn't see posted: (to me they look good)
Yoshi Island Story
Mace
MK4
Star Fox
Tiggers Honey Hunt(art style). A lot of the Disney movie games look decent tbh.
) but anyway I really miss my N64 . My personal list:
All the Rare games period.
Zelda Games
Turok 2,3
Quake 2
Rayman 2
Rocket Robot on Wheels
Rampage Universal Tour
Paper Mario
Smash Bros
Orge Battle 64
Some I didn't see posted: (to me they look good)
Yoshi Island Story
Mace
MK4
Star Fox
Tiggers Honey Hunt(art style). A lot of the Disney movie games look decent tbh.
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire
Not a pretty game or anything but I felt they did a great job of recreating the look and feel of the Star Wars Universe on pretty limited hardware. I don't remember the frame rate being too much of an issue although there were dips and chokes when a bit too much was going on at once.
Yoshi's Story
Do I really need to make a case for this game? So beautiful and charming. I don't have the same negative feelings towards this game as most others do so it was pretty awesome for me.
Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
This game is the love of my life. One of the few games that is still playable to me on the 64 even though it has frame rate issues. The graphics in this game did so well to set the setting and really set itself apart from Ocarina of Time.
Not a pretty game or anything but I felt they did a great job of recreating the look and feel of the Star Wars Universe on pretty limited hardware. I don't remember the frame rate being too much of an issue although there were dips and chokes when a bit too much was going on at once.
Yoshi's Story
Do I really need to make a case for this game? So beautiful and charming. I don't have the same negative feelings towards this game as most others do so it was pretty awesome for me.
Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
This game is the love of my life. One of the few games that is still playable to me on the 64 even though it has frame rate issues. The graphics in this game did so well to set the setting and really set itself apart from Ocarina of Time.
Yeah, it was developed by a different team (Iguana UK).
Probably the best looking fighting game on N64 which is ironic since it's from 1997.
Sadly the more talented development teams didn't make that kind of games for N64.
blame space
Banned
loved this gameWorld Driver Championship
Gifs from misericordia.
Shikamaru Ninja
任天å ã® å¿è
Perfect Dark is one of my favorite games ever, but World Driver Championship smokes it graphically. WDC is easily the best looking N64 game. Framerate people!
Captain Europe
Member
Paper Mario, Kirby, and Yoshi's Story.
Rare games always look great, but most of the time have FPS issues as well.
Rare games always look great, but most of the time have FPS issues as well.
Secret Fawful
Member
I'd also say Conker and Paper Mario win by a landslide-
-but this post is extremely correct as well.
-but this post is extremely correct as well.
Majora's Mask, and... Mario Golf, which is so competent, it might be the cleanest looking game on the system.
it's pretty tough to grade the N64 on graphics, because while it clearly could throw more polygons around than the Playstation, almost every game was stylistically compromised in some way. Ridge Racer was absolutely neutered on the N64. The system could not handle a 2D fighter without that, too, looking smeared (Rakuga Kids). The system could only compare to the PS2 and Dreamcast in the context of lazy design.
it's pretty tough to grade the N64 on graphics, because while it clearly could throw more polygons around than the Playstation, almost every game was stylistically compromised in some way. Ridge Racer was absolutely neutered on the N64. The system could not handle a 2D fighter without that, too, looking smeared (Rakuga Kids). The system could only compare to the PS2 and Dreamcast in the context of lazy design.
This one!Automobili Lamborghini was pretty impressive as well.
(Emulator shot)
.png)
I think it actually displayed fewer polygons than the PSX in practice. None of that horrible texture tear though.
Cow Mengde
Banned
Wave Race 64.
The water in the game was amazing. There was nothing on any other system quite like it. I don't think there's even a Dreamcast game that had water like Wave Race 64. It took the Gamecube/Xbox/PC to surpass the water effects. The game also avoided the blurry N64 look, and had incredible draw distance. The frame rate was silky smooth too.
The water in the game was amazing. There was nothing on any other system quite like it. I don't think there's even a Dreamcast game that had water like Wave Race 64. It took the Gamecube/Xbox/PC to surpass the water effects. The game also avoided the blurry N64 look, and had incredible draw distance. The frame rate was silky smooth too.
nkarafo
Member
There are too many inaccurate emulator shots in this thread. Emulators make N64 games look too sharp.
If you want to see how N64 games really look and don't have a real machine, use the Angrylion's Pixel Accurate plugin and keep DAC filters ON:
These are images from random games from this thread: http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?31145-N64-Games-Hacked-To-Remove-Blurry-Graphics-Via-Action-Replay-Or-Flash-Carts
For me, in order to declare the Graphics king on the N64, i take into account the sharpness (you can't see that in emulator shots without Angrylions and many games look too blurred in reality), frame rate (can't see that in screenshots), geometry, draw distances and art direction. It has to be a good balance between all those. With that said, these are the definite winners on the N64:
World Driver Championship
Banjo-Kazooie
Shadowman (High-Res mode)
Doom 64
If you want to see how N64 games really look and don't have a real machine, use the Angrylion's Pixel Accurate plugin and keep DAC filters ON:
These are images from random games from this thread: http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?31145-N64-Games-Hacked-To-Remove-Blurry-Graphics-Via-Action-Replay-Or-Flash-Carts
For me, in order to declare the Graphics king on the N64, i take into account the sharpness (you can't see that in emulator shots without Angrylions and many games look too blurred in reality), frame rate (can't see that in screenshots), geometry, draw distances and art direction. It has to be a good balance between all those. With that said, these are the definite winners on the N64:
World Driver Championship
Banjo-Kazooie
Shadowman (High-Res mode)
Doom 64
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