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Wave Race 64 has aged like fine wine

Beer Baelly

Al Pachinko, Konami President
I can't think of any kind of graphics that have aged worse than N64 to be honest.

ply_190716_0935_metal_gear_0002.0.jpg
 

Beer Baelly

Al Pachinko, Konami President
Ah yes, back when videogames looked like videogames. Great art design and technical advancements that were there because they helped the gameplay (that water and those waves!) instesd of just wanting to chase the "realistic look" meme.


And Jet Force Gemini too! This game deserves more love.

jet-force-gemini-gif-animation-landing-crush.gif


tumblr_ovmmgzYCim1v6pzwto1_540.gifv

Still has one of the best soundtracks
 
It was impressive for consoles, but it should have looked much better than it did with the N64 coming out two years late, the Crash 3 jet ski stuff is almost comparable which shouldn't have been possible. But it's understandable Nintendo made compromises to get a lower price.

However, looking back at it now it's aged pretty poorly, but I don't have the nostalgia factor for it because I gamed years before especially on computers, so I wasn't impressed by anything 3D that came out on consoles back then as the consoles gamers did, these are the gamers that didn't mind 15fps 3D games in the late 90's. It's aged better than Mario 64 but it's still hasn't held up well compared to even other N64 games.

For water games on consoles, Wave race is definitely top 5 visually since there wasn't much competition on Jet Ski visuals. Jet Moto and its clones are harder to look at now than back then.

I can't think of any kind of graphics that have aged worse than N64 to be honest.

Some early PS1 games look horrible. Made some people think it wasn't next gen for a short time.

I'm curious of the age for folks who aren't as impressed with this game like the OP b/c this game is an absolute gem that to this day STILL plays and looks amazing. It is an absolute masterpiece control, graphics, sound, etc. The only thing I can think of is people who are too young to remember when this game came out, not playing it at the time and saying the tech looks cool but what else?

So much more than that.

It's actually more likely the people who aren't that impressed are older than you in this case.

If you showed me this video and I had never heard of or played the game I would have bet my house that this was taken from a Sega AM2 arcade cab during their hayday in the early to mid 90s.

If the money Sega spend in the later half of the 90's on arcades produced results like this, the entire team would have been fired. It's a good looking title for 1996 on the N64 but let's not act like there aren't obvious graphical weaknesses even in that gif the user posted above.
 
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sinnergy

Member
Loved it, played the Japanese version to death, was friends with a rental store .. the wait for a European N64 was long ..

Played both this and Mario 64 in Japanese.

I think I do like blue storm more though ..
 

sinnergy

Member
Have you played Splashdown Rides Gone Wild OP? I don't know how close it gets to WR64
Splash down looked good .. but hardly had waves like wave race what I remembered, very flat water surface. At least what someone showed me on PS2. Didn’t see all levels .
 
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Rodolink

Member
Really miss the variety of experiments devs could pull off at the time, now Nintendo seems to only do Zelda, Mario couple Metroid here and there, couple Kirby's dort and that's all.

edit: oh and Splatoon which I have not one bit of interest on, ARMS was dead on release but was a nice experiment
 
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Delt31

Member
Curious what games look much better than waverace b/c I want to try them out. That xbox one is good but kinect.....gross. Splashdown was fun but I would still give it to waverace as it really didn't have varying waves. What else?

For the guy that said it should have looked better when it was released, you are completely lost at this point. No chance to help you now. Sorry.
 

Aggelos

Member
Namco's Aqua Jet has also aged like a fine wine. Running on Namco's Super System 22 it was released back in 1996. And since Namco would vigorously support the PS1 console, I was begging/hoping/praying in my heart of hearts that Namco would port it on PS1 one day. But it never happened, since I also knew that Super System 22 was a pretty darn powerful hardware for its time, and much superior to the PS1 console.





JoWJJka.jpg




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And Sega's Wave Runner and Wave Runner GP have aged like a fine wine. The one running on Model 2 and the other on Sega's Naomi hardware, respectively.










BBz9S1c.jpg
C1bUfEh.jpg



76NVSBt.jpg




===========================================================================================================================================================




On the other hand, Konami's Wave Shark, that one wasn't a smooth-seamless Jet Ski gaming experience.











WHtqT2u.jpg
xes9CJS.jpg
 
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Bragr

Banned
I had a Playstation but my cousins had an N64. I used to enjoy going over to their house to check out what was new on the console. I remember being blown away by Goldeneye. I cannot say the same for Wave Race 64. I remember thinking it looked kind of meh and that it wasn't much fun to play. I know the game has its fans, but I just never understood why people adored it so much. It's a fine game, but nothing special IMO.
Who let this guy into our thread?
 

RAIDEN1

Member
Why is it that the Japanese version only supports rumble feedback, but the other versions don't? Also if you were to play this via emulation on the series X could you get the rumble to work as well?
 

Osaka_Boss

Member
Aggelos Aggelos Wave Runner GP was released for the Dreamcast as Power Jet Racing 2001 (JP) / Surf Rocket Racers (US) for whatever reason. And SEGA didn't publish neither versions, CRI published the japanese one themselves
 
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RoadHazard

Gold Member
It's a cool game that was very impressive at the time, but lol at "Nintendo hasn't made anything as good since". They most definitely have.
 

RoboFu

One of the green rats
Namco's Aqua Jet has also aged like a fine wine. Running on Namco's Super System 22 it was released back in 1996. And since Namco would vigorously support the PS1 console, I was begging/hoping/praying in my heart of hearts that Namco would port it on PS1 one day. But it never happened, since I also knew that Super System 22 was a pretty darn powerful hardware for its time, and much superior to the PS1 console.





JoWJJka.jpg




====================================================================================================================================================


And Sega's Wave Runner and Wave Runner GP have aged like a fine wine. The one running on Model 2 and the other on Sega's Naomi hardware, respectively.










BBz9S1c.jpg
C1bUfEh.jpg



76NVSBt.jpg




===========================================================================================================================================================




On the other hand, Konami's Wave Shark, that one wasn't a smooth-seamless Jet Ski gaming experience.











WHtqT2u.jpg
xes9CJS.jpg

Huh that’s not even close to same level of waves and physics. 👎
 
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MrMephistoX

Member
Curious how the GC version holds up? I mean this and FZGX plus Ridge Racer 64, Cruisin USA and Diddy Kong make it one of the best arcade racing consoles of all time and they really don’t make anything close anymore: Forza Horizon is way too simmy and Burnout is basically dead along with Ridge Racer.
 
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CAPSOL

Member
If you weren't gaming when Wave Race released you just wouldn't understand.

There was nothing like this racer on consoles at the time when it came to the overall feel and wave physics. The game utilzed the N64 controller and rumble pack phenomenally
 
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Dural

Member
Curious how the GC version holds up? I mean this and FZGX plus Ridge Racer 64, Cruisin USA and Diddy Kong make it one of the best arcade racing consoles of all time and they really don’t make anything close anymore: Forza Horizon is way too simmy and Burnout is basically dead along with Ridge Racer.

I love Blue Storm, I know some don't like the different feel but I didn't have any issues with it. The visuals are great, especially if using an emulator, and the wave physics are quite a bit better than 64.

 
Namco's Aqua Jet has also aged like a fine wine. Running on Namco's Super System 22 it was released back in 1996. And since Namco would vigorously support the PS1 console, I was begging/hoping/praying in my heart of hearts that Namco would port it on PS1 one day. But it never happened, since I also knew that Super System 22 was a pretty darn powerful hardware for its time, and much superior to the PS1 console.





JoWJJka.jpg




====================================================================================================================================================


And Sega's Wave Runner and Wave Runner GP have aged like a fine wine. The one running on Model 2 and the other on Sega's Naomi hardware, respectively.










BBz9S1c.jpg
C1bUfEh.jpg



76NVSBt.jpg




===========================================================================================================================================================




On the other hand, Konami's Wave Shark, that one wasn't a smooth-seamless Jet Ski gaming experience.











WHtqT2u.jpg
xes9CJS.jpg


All this arcade babble and you dodges Midway entirely. lol
 

Aggelos

Member
All this arcade babble and you dodges Midway entirely. lol

Yes because I'm here to praise and extol the Japanese companies of the '90s, and what they did on the Jet Ski frontier (and how they depicted water with 3D graphics and polygons), which is Nintendo, Sega, Namco, and Konami.
If you're implying Midway's Hydro Thunder that was trash, that's why I dodged it.

Back in 1996-7, for me, the Holy Grails were Namco's Aqua Jet, Sega's Wave Runner, and perhaps Konami's Wave Shark. And Nintendo would provide the player with some excellent jet ski experience in their living room with Wave Race 64.



Aggelos Aggelos Wave Runner GP was released for the Dreamcast as Power Jet Racing 2001 (JP) / Surf Rocket Racers (US) for whatever reason. And SEGA didn't publish neither versions, CRI published the japanese one themselves


Oh shoot, I didn't know. Thanks for the heads up.
Graphics seem to be water-downed when compared to the arcade Wave Runner GP. I don't seen Yamaha Wave Runner jet skis in that game, so Sega-CRI might have fallen out with Yamaha before the game came out on Dreamcast.







 
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Even though I'd love to replay my fav game of all time, Ocarina, as well as check out waverace, majors, and starfox 64 again I refuse to subscribe to this service. Why can't they also offer these games for sale individually? They could still offer this service there's no good reason other than Nintendo being stingy and wanting to have a service they can milk annually.
 
Do you guys think GameCube games will ever be added to Nintendo Online? F-Zero GX and Waverace GameCube would be amazing to have. Eternal Darkness!? Maybe they could get some kinda arrangement with Capcom for Viewtiful Joe?! Paleeeeze!
 

MrMephistoX

Member
I love Blue Storm, I know some don't like the different feel but I didn't have any issues with it. The visuals are great, especially if using an emulator, and the wave physics are quite a bit better than 64.


Yeah have to say you truly appreciate what a beast GameCube was when emulated: like Rogue Squadron runs like shit but it looks better than most modern Star Wars games emulated in high Rez with FSAA.
 
Yes because I'm here to praise and extol the Japanese companies of the '90s, and what they did on the Jet Ski frontier (and how they depicted water with 3D graphics and polygons), which is Nintendo, Sega, Namco, and Konami.
If you're implying Midway's Hydro Thunder that was trash, that's why I dodged it.

Back in 1996-7, for me, the Holy Grails were Namco's Aqua Jet, Sega's Wave Runner, and perhaps Konami's Wave Shark. And Nintendo would provide the player with some excellent jet ski experience in their living room with Wave Race 64.

Calls Midway trash, lists the actual trash Konami ski game.

huh
 

Dural

Member
Yeah have to say you truly appreciate what a beast GameCube was when emulated: like Rogue Squadron runs like shit but it looks better than most modern Star Wars games emulated in high Rez with FSAA.

A small handheld that can handle Rogue Squadron at full speed is a dream of mine.
 

MrMephistoX

Member
A small handheld that can handle Rogue Squadron at full speed is a dream of mine.
Steam Deck is almost there but it seems like some levels are just about 60 fps and others tank. If someone put in the effort to patch it like Metroid Prime Hacks it would probably be great.
 

Naked Lunch

Member
Wave Race 64 and many other N64 classics still hold up.
When you look at all that godawful stuff shown at yesterday's Gamescom show - ill gladly take many N64 games over all of that modern garbo.
 
I can't think of any kind of graphics that have aged worse than N64 to be honest.

GXXjdZ4.jpg



Wave Race 64 is my favourite game from that gen, and one of my all-time top 10. The visuals still look beautiful (well, the water does, certainly not the riders) and it handles amazingly, with fantastic course design.

Blue Storm was the game I bought with my launch GC, and I've never liked it much. Worse in every way - dull visuals, tedious announcer, worse course design.
 

BlackTron

Member
Its water physics have never been beaten. This is the one game I always like to throw in the mix "just because" when in an N64 mood. Even if I only play it for 5 minutes, I'll be smiling the whole 5 minutes.

It's main title sounds like the Mary Tyler Moore music lol.
 

RoadHazard

Gold Member
What games had as good pure gameplay as Wave Race that Nintendo had made since?

F-Zero X
F-Zero GX (ok, technically made by Sega)
Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2
Super Mario 3D World
Mario Kart 8
Breath of the Wild
Super Mario Odyssey

Just a few that came to mind, there are more. Good gameplay is kinda what Nintendo is known for.
 

GigaBowser

The bear of bad news
yYtUAC1.gif


F-Zero X
F-Zero GX (ok, technically made by Sega)
Super Mario Galaxy 1 + 2
Super Mario 3D World
Mario Kart 8
Breath of the Wild
Super Mario Odyssey

Just a few that came to mind, there are more. Good gameplay is kinda what Nintendo is known for.
None of them compare to WaveRaces pure gameplay
 
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GigaBowser

The bear of bad news
What does that even mean? They all have awesome gameplay. Are they less "pure" because they aren't as simple (I would say a few of them are)?
Yes, WaveRace had that beauty where the controls were straightforward and simplistic, yet it was as deep as ocean and hard to master.

Nintendo's very best game.
 

RoadHazard

Gold Member
Yes, WaveRace had that beauty where the controls were straightforward and simplistic, yet it was as deep as ocean and hard to master.

Nintendo's very best game.

A lot of the games I mentioned are like that. Nintendo rarely makes complex control scenes.
 
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