007: The World Is Not Enough
Grade: B
Publisher: Electronic Arts (2000)
Reviewed: 2016/11/30
Rating: Teen
Save mechanism: controller pack
1 to 4 players
1080 Degree Snowboarding
Grade: A-
Publisher: Nintendo (1998)
Reviewed: 2004/2/18
Rating: Everyone

Clearly the best snowboarding game for the N64, 1080 Degree Snowboarding also beats the pants off of anything you'll find on the Playstation. This game does just about everything right! There are a nice variety of modes including match races, time trials, slalom events, long jumps, half pipes, and "contests" that mix up the challenges. The graphics are superb, with awesome mountain backdrops, icy ridges, and blowing snow that looks so real you can feel the chill! I actually had to wear a hat, ski pants, and ski boots just to review this game. Most of the six courses are fairly realistic, and even the more unusual courses never go completely over-the-top like those in
SSX (Playstation 2, 2000). The trails are more narrow than other snowboarding games, but it's not a problem since analog stick provides just the right degree of control. The sound of crisp snow crunching under your board is awesome, and I like the way snow flies as you slice through it. One negative aspect of the game is the soundtrack, which dishes out some of the most repetitive
crap I've ever heard in a video game. Also, I noticed that some characters have trouble nailing their landings even after performing simple tricks. Otherwise 1080 is a phenomenal title that's hard to put down. A nice two-player split screen mode is included and the cartridge automatically saves high scores. Before SSX came along, nothing could touch this. © Copyright 2004 The Video Game Critic.
All-Star Baseball 2000
Grade: C+
Publisher: Acclaim (1999)
Reviewed: 2006/5/24
All-Star Baseball 2001
Grade: C+
Publisher: Acclaim (2000)
Reviewed: 2006/5/24

The tagline of All Star Baseball 2001 is telling: "The
only new Nintendo 64 baseball game this season!" When that's the best thing you can say about your game, that's
not a good sign! With little incentive to innovate, it's not surprising that this 2001 edition is practically identical to the year before, albeit with updated rosters. The graphics are
exactly the same, with zero effort made to improve the stilted animation or questionable collision detection. You'd think they could have at
least incorporated overrunning first base! The most substantial difference is the red color of the cartridge. I did take a slight interest in the new "easy pitching" and "easy batting" options, hoping they would make the game faster and more arcade-like. But instead they made the batting feel more like a guessing game, and it wasn’t long before I returned to the old, tedious cursors. All Star's pace is slow, and games take too long to play. The commentator constantly refers to home plate as "the dish", which is about the most annoying expression I've ever heard. All Star Baseball 2001 is clearly a case of Acclaim "mailing it in", making this a highly questionable "upgrade" for owners of All Star Baseball 2000. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.
Army Men: Sarge's Heroes
Grade: F
Publisher: 3DO (1999)
Reviewed: 2007/6/12
Rating: Everyone
Asteroids Hyper 64
Grade: D
Publisher: Activision (1999)
Reviewed: 2005/1/22
Rating: Everyone
Publisher: Nintendo (1998)
Reviewed: 2003/6/19
Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker
Grade: C
Publisher: Ubisoft (2000)
Reviewed: 2009/12/15
Find Batman Beyond Return of the Joker on
eBay,
YouTube1 player
Beetle Adventure Racing
Grade: B+
Publisher: Electronic Arts (1999)
Reviewed: 2011/7/26
Rating: Everyone
Save mechanism: Controller pack
1 to 4 players
Big Mountain 2000
Grade: C+
Publisher: Imagineer (2000)
Reviewed: 2016/4/24
Publisher: GT Interactive (1998)
Reviewed: 2005/1/22
Rating: Mature (animated blood and gore)

The Nintendo 64 isn't known for its one-on-one fighting games, so Nintendo must have been pretty desperate to allow this butt-ugly button masher onto their system. Bio Freaks is a futuristic brawler featuring fighters more machine than human, with metal spikes, buzz saws, jet packs, and machine guns jutting out all over their bodies. The eight combatants include the aptly named Zipperhead, a Duke Nukem-wannabe named Bullzeye, the flame-throwing Purge, the minotaur-like Minoteck, a vomiting monster named Ssapo, and an obligatory, scantily clad hottie by the name of Delta. The character models look fairly chunky, and their animation is equally unimpressive. Fighters seem to glide when they walk, and action is choppy. The enclosed stages have got to be the most boring arenas I've ever witnessed in a fighting game - there's really nothing to see. On a positive note, there are an ample number of moves, and the game comes with a handy special move sheet (all fighting games should come with those!). The fact that all the fighters can hover with jetpacks seems to have potential, but adds little to the gameplay. What's most surprising about Bio Freaks is the excessive gore. The blood isn't particularly heavy, but you can actually
dismember your opponent (although you probably won't even notice until the dust settles). Bio Freak's audio is painfully weak, with generic grinding guitars and voice samples I could barely discern. I've played worse fighting games in my time, but I try not to. © Copyright 2005 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Nintendo (1997)
Reviewed: 2000/7/30

When it comes to guys, there's only one thing we like better than building stuff, and that's blowing stuff up! Thank goodness Blast Corps gives us guys an outlet for our primal urge to unleash destruction and mayhem. Each stage begins with a large truck carrying explosive materials slowly crawling up the screen. If it touches anything, it's game over, so you must obliterate all obstacles standing in its way. There are a variety of vehicles at your disposal, including a bull-dozer, dump truck, train, and an Ultra-man style robot. The buildings tend to crumble easily like they do in old Godzilla movies, which is satisfying. Alarming sound effects add a degree of tension as they increase in intensity as the truck approaches an obstacle. Blast Corps' control is generally good, although it can be clumsy when it comes to intricate operations like pushing TNT crates. What
really makes Blast Corps a riot is its incredible explosions. Sweet! Although most levels are well designed, you'll occasionally find yourself asking "What the heck am I supposed to do now?". All in all, Blast Corps is a highly original game that will satisfy real men with an appetite for destruction. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.
Save mechanism: Controller pack
1 player
Publisher: Hudson Soft (1997)
Reviewed: 2018/8/4
Rating: Kids to Adults
California Speed
Grade: C+
Publisher: Midway (1998)
Reviewed: 2002/1/26

California Speed features so-so racing action but awe-inspiring scenery. There are sixteen tracks in all, and what they lack in detail they make up for in sheer creativity. Most of the major California cities are featured, and each track is loaded with surprises. You'll be zooming down a normal stretch of highway and suddenly find yourself whizzing through a mall, giant computer, or UFO. You'll speed over aircraft carriers and around roller coasters. How in the world did they fit all of this crazy scenery into a cartridge? The attractive graphics and smooth frame rate make for an enjoyable ride, particularly the first time through. The racing aspect of the game is less exciting. The cars don't look so hot, and the roads are wide open with few obstacles (although there are a few shortcuts). The controls are limited to accelerate and brake, with no speed boosts or power-ups. The single-player mode is fun but limited in play value, and the two-player split screen mode is only fair. At least you get to see a picture of a fabulous babe when you win. © Copyright 2002 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Software Creations (1999)
Reviewed: 2017/3/5
Rating: Mature 17+ (blood, gore, animated violence)
Publisher: Konami (1999)
Reviewed: 2003/6/19

Castlevania's transition to 3D was a little bumpy, but it's still a very respectable game (despite what most critics say). In the proud tradition of the series, the game features a vampire hunter storyline, better-than-average graphics, and haunting orchestrated music. You'll battle monsters with your whip, hit torches to reveal items, and make death-defying leaps. Castlevania gets off to a rip-roaring start in a forest outside of Dracula's Castle, where a violent thunderstorm knocks down giant trees in your path. Skeletons crawl out of the ground, and it's crazy fun to snap their heads off with your whip. The first boss appears unexpectedly behind the first gate, and his appearance is startling. He looks like the skeleton of King Kong, running around like a giant ape! It's pretty scary. Castlevania's gameplay drew me in immediately, but my enthusiasm waned as I was forced to deal with poor camera angles, deadly water, and control problems (especially around ledges). Your enemies are the usual suspects of skeletons and werewolves, but there are some bizarre surprises like skeletons on motorcycles. There's a lot of game packed into this cartridge, and Castlevania fans should at least give it a chance. © Copyright 2003 The Video Game Critic.
Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness
Grade: B-
Publisher: Konami (1999)
Reviewed: 2013/11/17
Rating: Teen (blood, animated violence)
Save mechanism: Battery
1 player
Command and Conquer
Grade: A-
Publisher: Westwood (1999)
Reviewed: 2001/12/15

Like Warcraft, Command and Conquer is a real-time strategy game where you train soldiers, build structures, and ultimately conquer an enemy over a series of missions. I really enjoyed this game on the Playstation, and found the N64 version to be even better. The two main flaws with the Playstation version were its long load times and tiny, hard-to-make-out objects. Both have been addressed here. Obviously, since this is a cartridge the loading time is minimal. And thanks to the N64's sharp, high resolution graphics, the tiny soldiers are much easier to make out. The only things missing are the long video clips, which I could do without anyway. The analog joystick control takes a little getting used to, but the excellent music remains intact. Command and Conquer's missions are fun and challenging, and you can choose to play either side of the conflict. If you like strategy games, this classic will keep you engrossed for hours on end. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Save mechanism: Controller pack
1 player
Conker's Bad Fur Day
Grade: C
Publisher: Nintendo (2001)
Reviewed: 2001/3/24
Rating: Mature

When I first heard the premise of this odd game, I really didn't think it would work. Cartoon characters in an adult game seemed like a really bad idea, and Nintendo seemed to be the only game company left still concerned with offering wholesome, family-oriented games. Conker's Bar Fur Day is a pretty typical 3D adventure by Rare, except it features adult themes and bad language. To be honest, most of the questionable material is more juvenile than adult, with all kinds of toilet humor, fluctuation sound effects, gratuitous violence, and various depictions of human waste. I don't see the humor in all that, but some of the dialog, especially during the cut-scenes, is well written and surprisingly funny. You'll hear some bad words, but not the F word, which is bleeped out on numerous occasions. I was a bit under-whelmed by Conker's gameplay. You don't have a million items to collect like Donkey Kong 64, but it's often difficult to determine what you're supposed to do next. It's as if the game was designed to make you buy the strategy guide (imagine that)! Conker's gameplay isn't innovative at all, but its adult theme gives its a distinct edge. The graphics and sound effects are top of the line for the N64, and the background music is near Disney quality. Conker also features a wide array of multiplayer minigames, including a racing game, a tank game, and a first person shooter. While these are a nice bonus, they won't hold your attention for long. Conker is definitely a trip, but I don't think we need any more games like this. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Midway (2000)
Reviewed: 2006/4/8
Rating: Everyone
Publisher: Nintendo (1996)
Reviewed: 2006/4/8
Rating: Everyone
Publisher: Nintendo (1998)
Reviewed: 2006/4/8
Rating: Everyone

This sequel to Cruis'n USA provides an exciting new set of tracks spanning the globe, including Hawaii, Japan, New York, Germany, Mexico, Egypt, and Moscow. New features include alternate routes, rumble pack support, turbo boost, and a four-player split-screen mode. Cruis'n World's controls feel more natural than its predecessor, with a default control scheme that actually makes sense. CPU opponents are far more aggressive this time around, attempting to bump you off the road at every opportunity. Like Cruis'n USA, the collision detection is erratic. The new tracks are colorful and attractive, but not as fantastic as I expected. Highlights include speeding through glass underwater tunnels in Hawaii, driving inside Egyptian pyramids, and careening along the Great Wall of China. Some tracks are surprisingly dull however. New York is a generic highway, Australia is a barren desert, and Kenya offers little more than dirt roads with occasional wildlife. The four-player split-screen mode is plagued by slowness and limited visibility, but at least the frame-rate remains smooth. If you enjoyed Cruis'n USA, this sequel is definitely worth your while. It's probably the best of the Cruis'n games for the Nintendo 64. © Copyright 2006 The Video Game Critic.
Destruction Derby 64
Grade: B+
Publisher: THQ (1999)
Reviewed: 2010/6/6
Rating: Everyone
Recommended variation: rookie, bowl
Our high score: 64
1 to 4 players
Diddy Kong Racing
Grade: A
Publisher: Nintendo (1997)
Reviewed: 2000/7/30

Diddy Kong Racing takes the outstanding gameplay of Mario Kart and expands upon it in a number of ways. In addition to cars, you can also race planes and hovercraft! The tracks feature tropical islands (always a favorite), snowy mountains, and even a prehistoric world. These scenic courses are well-designed and mercifully short, allowing for quick, action-packed races. Diddy Kong's graphics and frame-rate are gorgeously smooth, and the waterfalls and snow drifts look particularly appealing. The airplanes handle surprisingly well, but I found the hovercrafts a bit sensitive when it comes to turning. A single-player adventure mode lets you unlock tracks to use in the multiplayer modes, and it's madly addictive but never frustrating. Catchy tunes play throughout the races, including a few that sound like Christmas carols in the snow stages. With exciting racing action that places fun over realism, Diddy Kong Racing is a top-notch title for the Nintendo 64. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Nintendo (1999)
Reviewed: 2000/1/20
Save mechanism: Battery
1 to 4 players
Publisher: Midway (1997)
Reviewed: 2012/1/31
Rating: Mature 17+ (animated violence, animation blood and gore)
Save mechanism: Password and Controller Pack
1 player
Publisher: Nintendo (2001)
Reviewed: 2001/6/2

It's hard to be critical of a game you can't stop playing. Dr. Mario 64 is so addicting, I think I could make a
full time job out of playing this! The graphics are simple, the music is so-so, and the sound effects are annoying, but tight controls and engrossing gameplay more than make up for these deficiencies. Dr. Mario is the type of game that appeals to men and women of all ages, and its four-player mode makes it an ideal party game. The gameplay is a variation of Tetris where you need to strategically place multi-colored "pills" to eliminate "viruses". It's the same Dr. Mario that's been released on the SNES (and NES), but this one contains more options and playing modes. If you enjoy puzzle games and you haven't tried Dr. Mario yet, you need to pick this up in a hurry. For the record, this is one of my wife's favorite video games of all time. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
ECW Hardcore Revolution
Grade: F
Publisher: Acclaim (2000)
Reviewed: 2001/6/2
Rating: Mature

What the heck
is the ECW anyway? I don't recognize
any of these wrestlers, but there sure are a lot of them (over 40)! ECW Hardcore Revolution certainly doesn't skimp when it comes to options. Not only do you get a huge selection both male and female wrestlers, but you can even create your own! The slew of playing modes includes a flashy "Pay Per View" mode (which requires a whole controller pack to save). ECW's matches are less impressive. The fighters are smoothly animated, but poor collision detection often causes fighters to pass through each other! The crowd noise is bizarre - either they're dead silent or going nuts. The fighters tend to repeat the same phrases over and over, usually "ouch!" or "ow!". The controls in the tag team matches are horrendous, and the matches tend to run far too long in general. This game initially impressed me with its extensive option list, but without any muscle behind its gameplay, ECW Hardcore Revolution goes down for the count. © Copyright 2001 The Video Game Critic.
Publisher: Nintendo (2000)
Reviewed: 2000/6/17

Excitebike 64 is a fantastic motorcross game, boasting superb graphics, realistically animated bikers, and a selection of both indoor and outdoor tracks. After a slight learning curve, you'll feel in total control of your jumps, wheelies, slides, and stunts. And best of all, there's plenty of big air to catch. Excitebike's framerate remains exceptionally smooth even in the four player split-screen mode. The announcer is pretty decent, letting you know who's ahead and who crashed. A fun "season" mode lets you to unlock special tracks, and hidden goodies, including the original Excitebike (from the NES). If you are a motorcycle racing fan, look no further. © Copyright 2000 The Video Game Critic.