Ho usato di proposito il termine "indicativo" perché lungi da me voler risolvere una questione sfruttando un'unica fonte o variabile, specialmente se si chiama Metacritic.
Il mio discorso come ho detto prende in considerazione tutte le variabili del caso, sono uno che prima di scrivere una cosa si informa in modo puntiglioso perché odio quando leggo informazioni sbagliate, e quindi evito di commettere a mia volta l'errore che tanto critico.
Puoi credermi, conosco i voti online di quasi tutti i giochi N64 perché ogni volta che ne prendo in mano uno spulcio tutto lo spulciabile su internet e sulle riviste dell'epoca.
I voti online sono solo una parte da considerare e a volte sono al netto di analisi fatte con gli occhi di oggi.
Raramente oggi viene oggi dato il giusto merito ai titoli sportivi N64, invece all'epoca i giochi di baseball, basket, football, hockey, etc che oggi tu trovi come anonimi 75% in realtà settavano nuovi standard grafici e di animazioni nel genere, e si beccavano i loro bei 90 o più.
Se tu prendi un All Star Baseball 2001 e lo metti a fianco ai migliori giochi di baseball su PS1 fatichi a credere che si tratti di titoli della stessa generazione.
Stesso discorso per gli ultimi NFL Quarterback Club, ISS2000 (PS1 non si avvicinò graficamente a ISS2000 nemmeno nel 2003 quando Konami conosceva l'hardware Sony meglio delle sue tasche), International Track and Field e così via.
VideoVideoVideoMolti in Italia fanno l'errore di pensare "a me di quella fuffa sportiva poco interessa, quindi per me non esiste, nemmeno la considero in una comparazione tra parchi titoli".
Invece quei giochi c'erano e facevano sfracelli di vendite in nordamerica (ricordo che in fatto di vendite software in nordamerica il Nintendone non era da meno della rivale Sony, anzi, oltre ad aver avuto il gioco più venduto di tutta la quinta di generarazione di console, aveva spesso la testa delle classifiche vendite e noleggi settimanali e mensili), a noi magari non interessavano ma se si vuole fare un'analisi obiettiva e completa tra due sistemi e non una superficiale lettura "made in Italy" allora è bene tenerne conto.
Quanto ho detto vale soprattutto per i titoli di wrestling, da noi apprezzati da una nicchia di appassionati, negli Stati campioni di vendite.
Se andiamo a chiedere a qualsiasi appassionato quale sia il miglior gioco di wrestling di sempre probabilmente ci risponderà WWF No Mercy; trovare una classifica dei migliori titoli del genere di sempre senza No Mercy in prima o nelle prime posizioni è inusuale, e non era certo l'unico capolavoro del genere su Nintendone.
Quindi non facciamo l'errore di pensare che ciò che a noi non riguarda e non rientri nei nostri gusti sia liquidabile fingendo che non esista, e non facciamo il classico errore (da commento su YouTube li chiamo io) di riassumere una console che fondamentalmente non conosciamo con "avrà una ventina di titoli validi, non di più" e madornali inesattezze di questo genere. Poi anche essendo campioni di arrampicata sugli specchi è difficile venirne fuori.
Ovviamente il predominio N64 si estendeva anche ai generi che noi tutti conosciamo, i più noti sono gli fps e i platform 3D, ma non solo.
Non si intenda un mio voler sminuire quella grandissima console che è la PS e i suoi capolavori. Però qui, in questo Paese, quanto sia magnifica la PS lo sanno (quasi) tutti, quanto sia magnifico il Nintendone no (leggiamo ancora frasi come la storia dei venti titoli ad esempio). Ma io mi faccio portatore del messaggio ahah, ambasciatore N64 in azione!
Aggiungo:
Il Nintendone aveva 388 titoli (301 PAL+USA), esiste anche un arcipelago che nelle mappe trovi identificato come Giappone. E pure lì c'erano parecchie esclusive di qualità (un certo Sin and Punishment magari può suggerire qualcosa, ma posso consigliarne diversi) e aveva i giochi 64DD. È d'obbligo considerare anche le esclusive nipponiche.
Dire che più di 250 giochi su 400 siano validi è tutt'altro che un'esagerazione. Non ho scritto capolavori assoluti, ho scritto validi. Quindi nella peggiore delle ipotesi roba che è stata stroncata da qualcuno ma apprezzata da altre riviste e che in più occasioni si è spinta oltre l'80 o addirittura 90.
Copio anche qui un mio lungo post, sfortunatamente in inglese, che spiega alcune ragioni del perché io ami il Nintendone. Tuttavia ne mancano davvero tante altre.
"These are just my opinions and considerations. The best console ever doesn't exists as every gamer got a different one for different reasons, it depends by gaming culture, memories, tastes, etc...
So please don't read this as a console war post, are just my opinions.
I'm going to try to explain why N64 is my favourite console ever and why is the best console of the fifth generation in my opinion.
I decided to do this listing the reasons in not particular order.
-N64 was the first console with analog stick on controller
-N64 was the first console with rumble pak
-N64 got the game wich is considered by the larger number of gamers the best game ever, Ocarina of Time, the only game in the world with the average of 99 in reviews
-Ocarina of Time introduced the Z-Targeting
-Super Mario 64 was the bigger change in videogame history in my opinion. The most famous videogames character for the first time in 3D. All the gamers was amazed and still today remember the first time they seen that stunning 3D graphic.
-Super Mario 64 is considered by a lot of gamers the best 3D platform ever
-N64 was the first console with 4 ports for controllers, this fact favourited the development of a lot of 4 players games.
-The controller is my favourite controller ever
-Z-Trigger
-Goldeneye is the best FPS of all times, a lot different than all the other fps, with a fantastic four players mode and it wasn't on PC. A revolutionary game.
-No loading times. I hate loading time, on N64 you turn on the console and after 40 seconds or less you're playing. Gameplay is not fragmented.
-Banjo-Kazooie is my favourite platformer ever
-Zelda Ocarina of Time got the best soundtrack ever heard
-The console has a graphic the seems half generation ahead than his rivals (Saturn and PS1)
-WWF No Mercy is the best wrestling game ever made
-N64 has the best wrestling games of the generation (and ever?), no PS1 wrestling games can be compared.
-ISS2000 is my favourite soccer game ever, you can't find a PS1 or Saturn game with its animations and his graphics.
-F-Zero X is one of my favourite racers of all time
-You can't find a PS1 or Saturn baseball games with best graphics or animations of the All Star Baseball games on N64
-Same above for the lately NFL Quarterback Club games (especially 2001 and 2002)
-N64 got the peaks in every sport genre in 5th generation.
-N64 has the first Paper Mario, an incredible game, one of my favourite RPG ever.
-N64 has Majora's Mask, probably the most loved 3D Zelda game after Ocarina of Time, another masterpiece.
-N64 has the firsts Mario Party games, very funny, especially in 4 players
-N64 got one of the best multiplayers game of all time Mario Kart 64
-Perfect Dark is beautiful, a Goldeneye with a crazy graphics, one of the graphics peaks of the 5th generation.
-Banjo-Tooie, the fantastic sequel of Banjo-Kazooie
-No PS1 or Saturn F1 games can stand in front of F1 World Grand Prix 1 and 2.
-I prefer World Driver Championship than GT
-Rayman 2 is one of my favourite platform ever, the graphics are almost at the DC and PC versions level but without loading times. The game is a lot better than the PS1 port wich is a downgraded version.
-All you've read about Rayman 2 is 100% valid for Shadowman
-007 The World is not Enough on N64 has 4 players mode, more levels and better graphics than the PS1 version, which is downgraded.
-Turok 2 was an amazing FPS, stunning hi-res graphics (no other consoles had a better fps than this but on N64 it wasn't the best)
-Jet Force Gemini is another Rareware masterpiece, high standard graphics, one of the best soundtrack ever and innovative things like coop mode without split screen
-Resident Evil 2 was best on N64 than PS1 (and without loading time), please don't believe the YouTube video comparison. Play both the versions on CRT and judge by yourselves
-Beetle Adventure Racing
-N64 had the best RTS in the world (and still today one of the best), Starcraft. The only Starcraft ever made for console. Brood War expansion included and with the multiplayer mode
-Gauntlet Legends was better on N64 than PS1(and with 4 players mode)
-Donkey Kong 64 is my favourite Donkey Kong game ever.
-Diddy Kong Racing was incredible, stunning graphic, fabulous soundtrack, adventure mode, three types of vehicles, bosses, lot of things...in 1997
-Conker's Bad Fur Day, in my opinion the best game of the decade. Genial game, no words for describe it. His graphic is the best of the entire generation.
-N64 got the first Animal Crossing
-Mario Tennis is funny as hell
-N64 got the first Super Smash Bros, epic.
-Mario Golf
-Wave Race 64
-Excitebike 64
-N64 was better than its rivals in Platform 3D, first person shooters, racing games, third person shooters, real time strategy, soccer games, baseball games, wrestling games, football games, hockey games, F1 games, "Mario Kart style" games, basket games, "F-Zero" style games, jet-ski games, 3D platform in 2D dynamics, puzzle games, Pokémon Games (they are a genre? Ok PS1 doesn't got them), "Zelda type" games, "space shooters", party games, tennis games
-1080 Snowboarding
-Bangai-O
-Blast Corps
-Starcraft 64 two players mode
-Donald Duck's Quack Attack was a lot better on N64 than PS1
-Duke Nukem Zero Hour
-Glover
-Mystical Ninja
-Mystical Ninja 2 (Goemon's Great Adventure)
-N64 was the unique home console where people could play Pokémon games, the fantastic Pokémon Stadium games, Snap (very original) and others
-Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
-N64 got my favourite soundtracks: Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Goldeneye 007, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, Super Mario 64, Diddy Kong Racing, F-Zero X, Paper Mario, Donkey Kong 64, Kirby 64, and a lot of others...was incredible not only the quality of the soundtrack (this aspect is common in a lot of masterpieces outside N64) but above all the quantity. Every game I mentioned got at least 12-15 memorable soundtracks.
-Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
-Ridge Racer 64
-Rocket Robot on Wheels
-Transfer Pak
-Rush 2049
-Sin and Punishment
-Star Wars Rogue Squadron
-Lylatwars (Star Fox 64)
-Yoshi's Story
-Killer Instinct Gold
-Low amount of shovelware present on the system
-"Even Superman 64 and Carmageddon are the best; they're the best worst games of all time!"(Cit.)
N64 is my favourite console ever for a lot of other reasons, but I can't list them all, are too many.
I often mentioned the graphics not because it's fundamental, I don't care about the graphics too much if a game is very good, but when we talk about tastes is one of the few objectives parameters.
I enjoyed even bad graphics N64 games like Body Harvest and Mission Impossible.
Yes, probably imaging Ocarina of Time, Banjo-Kazooie or Goldeneye with the pixellated and unstable PS1 graphics can be very bad, but graphic is not the most important thing in a game for me.
I loved the N64 power also because I appreciate real 3D games and I don't like too much prerendered backgrounds games.
Yes if someone loves 2D platforms, RPGs, survival horror and arcade games (above all beat 'em up) N64 doesn't offer too much. Yes it has his masterpieces of these genres but very few if compared than the rivals masterpieces. However I prefer the N64 best games genres than the PS1 and Saturn best genres, if not probably I wouldn't love the N64.
Cartridge system was also bad in fact of audio, yes it has the CD quality but often the commentaries and music was cutted.
However God bless the cartridge choose, the idea of loading times in Ocarina of Time is very sad.
Advice: On YouTube N64 gameplay video are often very bad because they don't capture the real N64 graphics that you would see on CRT.
So here's some link where the graphic is near the CRT quality:
(Non mi fa copiare l'intera lista di link YouTube per via del limite dei tre video)Here's a list with the best N64 games. Unfortunately I didn't play a lot of Japanese exclusives (I will surely do in future) so forgive me if I didn't write some Japanese very good games:
Super Mario 64
Banjo-Kazooie
Conker's Bad Fur Day
Donkey Kong 64
Rayman 2 The Great Escape
Banjo-Tooie
Rocket Robot on Wheels
Kirby the Crystal Shards
Mystical Ninja 2: Starring Goemon (in USA: Goemon's Great Adventure)
Mystical Ninja 2 Starring Goemon
The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask
Shadowman
Gauntlet Legends
Resident Evil 2
Sin & Punishment
Lylatwars (Star Fox 64)
Yoshi's Story
Star Wars Rogue Squadron
Jet Force Gemini
Goldeneye 007
Perfect Dark
Turok 2 Seeds of Evil
007 The World is not Enough
F-Zero X
Diddy Kong Racing
World Driver Championship
Mario Kart 64
Beetle Adventure Racing
Excitebike 64
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Wave Race 64
Tony Hawk's Skateboarding
Star Wars Episode I Racer
1080 Snowboarding
Blast Corps
Super Smash Bros
Killer Instinct Gold
Fighters Destiny
Starcraft 64
Paper Mario
Harvest Moom
Ogre Battle 64 Person of Lordly Caliber
International Superstar Soccer 98
International Superstar Soccer 2000
WWF No Mercy
Mario Tennis
NHL 99
Mario Golf
Mario Party
Mario Party 2
Mario Party 3
NFL Quarterback Club '99
NFL Quarterback Club 2000
NFL Quarterback Club 2001
Pokémon Stadium
Pokémon Stadium 2
F1 World Grand Prix
F1 World Grand Prix 2
Ridge Racer 64
All Star Baseball 99
All Star Baseball 2000
All Star Baseball 2001
Major League Baseball ft. Ken Griffey jr
Good Games:
Turok Dinosaur Hunter
Turok Rage Wars
Turok 3 Shadows of Oblivion
Quake 2
International Superstar Soccer 64
FIFA 98 Road to World Cup
World Cup 98
FIFA 99
WWF Wrestlemania 2000
WWF Attitude
Micro Machines 64 Turbo
Neon Genesis Evangelion
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine
NBA Courtside 2 Featuring Kobe Bryant
Snowboard Kids
Snowboard Kids 2
Tonic Trouble
WCW vs. NWO World Tour
WCW/NWO Revenge
Bust-A-Move 2 Arcade Edition
Bust-A-Move 3DX
The New Tetris
Pokémon Puzzle League
Pokémon Snap
Pilotwings
Star Wars Shadows of the Empire
Star Wars Episode I Battle for Naboo
Castlevania 64
Castlevania Legacy of Darkness
Duke Nukem Zero Hour
Extreme-G
Extreme-G 2
Mickey's Speedway USA
Fushigi no Dungeon: Fuurai no Shiren 2
Ready to Rumble Boxing
Ready to Rumble Boxing Round 2
Monaco Grand Prix Racing Simulation 2
F1 Racing Championship
International Superstar Soccer 64
NFL Blitz 2000
NFL Blitz 2001
Dezaemon 3D
Wipeout 64
Roadsters
Rush 2049
Buck Bumble
Glover
Getter Love
Nightmare Creatures
Fighting Force 64
Re-Volt
NHL Breakaway '98
NHL Breakaway '99
Spider-Man
Disney's Tarzan
Good games with poor graphics:
Body Harvest
Mission: Impossible
Space Station Silicon Valley
Rainbow Six
Doom 64
Duke Nukem 64
Shadowgate 64
Aidyn Chronicles (give him a chance)
Ok I finished. Please give me your reasons that explain why N64 is your favourite console ever and tell me which good games I forgot to mention."