My parents were eccentric young adults when I came on the scene. I was an only child for the first eight years of my life. Therefore, I spent much time hanging around the adults. What did hip young people do in the mid-90s? They played Nintendo 64 (N64), of course. So, I was a Nintendo kid, and I am here to tell you which titles deserve a modern-day reboot. If you are interested in other games to check out, read kallynlagro’s article on their favorite N64 games here.
The History of the Nintendo 64
According to Engstrom (2018) of GameTyrant, the N64 hit North America in September 1996. After being wildly popular in Japan, the launch was anticipated to be a smashing success. By the end of the holiday season, 1.5 million units were sold. Despite the fact, only two games were available upon launch. Those are Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64. However, after the launch of the N64, more titles began streaming, such as Mortal Combat Trilogy, Star Wars Shadows of the Empire, and Wayne Gretzky’s 3D Hockey. As time passed, bigger and better systems came out. In 2002 the Nintendo 64 was discontinued. The final game made for this console was Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. With a bit of history out of the way, now we can move on to more pressing matters. Below is the list of N64 games I believe deserve a reboot.
Games That Deserve a Reboot
Yoshi’s Story
Basic Plot: Baby Bowser got grumpy and stole the Super Happy Tree. He then cast a spell on Yoshi’s Island, turning it into a picture book. The remaining Yoshi must eat fruit and throw eggs at their opponents to stop the evil Baby Bowser. Thus, restoring happiness to the world.
- Thoughts: Yoshi’s Story traumatized me ever so slightly. I always played pink or yellow Yoshi, my favorite colors then. When you die, your Yoshi cries and is carried off to Baby Bowser’s castle. So, my favorite little pals would get carted off in tears because I suck at platformers. It was dark and sad, and yes, it still deserves a reboot.
Harvest Moon 64
Basic Plot: It is a typical Harvest Moon game, your beloved grandfather passed away, and you inherited his farm. You have about two years to make a name for yourself before your dad evaluates your progress. Progress is based on your relationship with the townsfolk, farm development, and lifestyle.
- Thoughts: As the farming sim junkie, I am ashamed I do not have a copy of this game. Every time I hit a used game store, I look for a copy, but so far, no luck. However, I love the idea that your dad comes and checks on you. Pete’s life seems pretty lonely in most games, and knowing someone else in his family is still alive is a neat addition.
Quest 64
Basic Plot: Brian is an apprentice mage from the Melrode Monastery in Celtland. He is sent to find his father, who is searching for Eletale’s Book. It was stolen, and the thief plans to use it to cause mass destruction. During the journey, Brian must also find four elemental gems used in defeating the big bad.
- Thoughts: I never played Quest 64, but it was the first N64 RPG. While the reviews are not great, I think it has potential. From what I have seen, the graphics were fun for the time and could only improve with today’s technology. Overall, it seems like it has good bones.
Super Mario 64
Basic Plot: This is a classic Mario title that many gamers look back on fondly. Bowser kidnaps Princess Peach and holds everyone hostage in her castle. Additionally, Bowser steals all the Power Stars and gives them to his goons hiding in paintings. Mario needs to retrieve these stars by magically hopping between paintings. Then he can save the Princess and receive a smooch.
- Thoughts: This game was revolutionary for its time. I do believe it was the first 3D open-world game in the series. It felt great to run around and not worry too much about platforming. Plus, this is by far the most fabulous Princess Peach castle. Seeing her stained glass silhouette for the first time was breathtaking. Capturing the nostalgia in this reboot would be challenging, but I think it would do well.
Odds & Ends
There were a few Nintendo 64 titles I wanted to mention, but it felt wrong to do so. First, Goldeneye 007 multiplayer was excellent. However, I think the game itself gets a lot more coverage than some of the others. Secondly, the Rare titles Conker’s Bad Fur Day and Banjo-Kazooie. Nintendo has reportedly severed ties with Conker, and both titles did get reboots on Xbox. In the end, I stand by my list. Let me know if there are any titles I need to replay, and I will try to find a copy!
