What did the N64 do better than the PS1 and Saturn?

[pierrot]

I just think it gets too much credit, it is definitely not "the shmup system ever", when its only two exlusives worth mentioning, Blast Wind and Steam Heart's, really aren't that great.

Steam Heart's is actually on the PC98 and PCE also. Saturn still has other great shmups that can't be mame-d or are better than the PS1 version, though.

I have to put something to rest: The Saturn and Dreamcast have SIGNIFICANTLY stronger libraries compared to their Nintendo counterparts of the same era. I recently picked up some nintendo consoles in a lot of consoles, and consequently now own two N64s that I intend to RGB mod; and I'll admit that I'm a bit excited to start picking up the handful of games I had for the year or two I owned an N64 in middle school along with some imports that I'm interested in. That said, when all is said and done, I imagine my N64 collection will have no more than 50 games in it; 70 if I really start jonessing for lesser games. Compare that to the Saturn and Dreamcast: 100+ and almost 200 titles that I already own, respectively (and 100+ more still to get) of games that I actually want to play.

One might say that that just boils down to personal preference, but I could give a list of all the games I think are worth owning for each system, and I would think he might agree with me.

Also, I absolutely abhor the textures prevalent in N64 games. Most of them look like varying configurations of garbage pasted onto polygon renderings.

tl;dr - N64 is a decent system, but what does it do better than the PS1 or Saturn? Well, certainly not RGB. It has FIrst-party Nintendo published games. It has more party games. Outside of that, one would be splitting hairs.

[dunpeal2064]

I mentioned Steam Heart's because the Saturn version is a completely different game, nudie cutscenes aside (which also have different editing). The actual shmup is nothing like the PC Engine port. Its actually a much better game (while still not being that great of a game )

Out of curiousity, what other shmups are exclusive to the Saturn, or don't work in Mame but are better than the PS1 ports? I just like to have my shmup knowledge in tip-top shape

[pierrot]

I mentioned Steam Heart's because the Saturn version is a completely different game, nudie cutscenes aside (which also have different editing). The actual shmup is nothing like the PC Engine port. Its actually a much better game (while still not being that great of a game )

Out of curiousity, what other shmups are exclusive to the Saturn, or don't work in Mame but are better than the PS1 ports? I just like to have my shmup knowledge in tip-top shape

I don't think there are any other exclusives, and there still aren't that many, but Sokyugurentai, Cotton Boomerang / Cotton 2 (not sure about their mame status) Thunder Force Gold Pack 1 & 2, Thunderforce V and Dezaemon 2

[dsheinem]

Note that even though I vastly prefer the Saturn and PS1, I haven't parted with my N64 for all the reasons listed. In fact, this thread is making me consider pulling it out of its box again spon...

I'm curious, though: how many people here didn't have the N64 when it was current yet still think it is tops for that generation? I think nostalgia/familiarity might be shaping the defensive responses some. I had a PS1 (only) back then and prefer it, but I got into the SAT/N64 around the same time (about a decade after their respective launch) and think that the Saturn is much, much stronger.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

I had experience with the N64 as a kid. My neighbor owned one. I never liked it.

Had a PS1 as a kid, liked it, but, I like(d) the Saturn much more than either now that I'm older.

[dunpeal2064]

I had one as a kid too. In order to get it, though, I had to trade in my SNES and all the games. So its sort of a bitter-sweet nostalgia for me.

[o.pwuaioc]

Note that even though I vastly prefer the Saturn and PS1, I haven't parted with my N64 fod all the reasons listed. In fact, this thread is making me consider pulling it out of its box again spon...

I'm curious, though: how many people here didn't have the N64 when it was current yet still think it is tops for that generation? I think nostalgia/familiarity might be shaping the defensive responses some. I had a PS1 (only) back then and prefer it, but I got into the SAT/N64 around the same time (about a decade after their respective launch) and think that the Saturn is much, much stronger.

I dunno, man, I didn't have a Saturn, and I think I might get defensive about it from dunpeal's attacks.

I also didn't like it as much as a kid. To me it paled in comparison to the SNES. Didn't help that I only had a couple games for it. I was in high school when I rediscovered the N64, which I then liked only slightly more than the PS1, but mostly because I lacked all the major RPGs for it. Ogre Battle 64 for me easily beat the one RPG I did have for it - Legend of the Dragoon - even though I played LotD first.

This is a very interesting question, though, something I keep wondering about, and even posting about here. How much does nostalgia shape our opinions? I think really not much, not when you're really into gaming.

[dunpeal2064]

Ha ha, I didn't mean to attack the Saturn! I own two of them, and I play it pretty often. Honestly, its just the gaming mood I am in right now that has me preferring the N64.

When I really dug into the Saturn, all I ever heard about were they shmups, and they were so expensive that it took up most of the collecting. So, with Mame working now, I just don't find myself playing the Saturn as often as the N64. Of course, there is still Nights, Panzer Dragoon and PDS, and those staple Saturn games that I still play and enjoy, but I'm not sure they are above what the N64 has to offer.

Perhaps I need to look through some lists and find the more obscure Saturn stuff to try, as I'm sure I've only touched the surface.

[pierrot]

I think nostalgia does tend to play some role, whether or not it takes ultimate priority in people's sentiments toward retro consoles and games today.

I started out with a Saturn in the fifth gen. Then picked up an N64 and PS1 a couple years later. Sold the N64 and PS1 (and an SNES) once the DC came out. I can't really deny that there's probably a correlation to my allegiances there.

[o.pwuaioc]

^That's why I modded my Saturn. There's no way I'm paying the prices asked of some of those Saturn games. That doesn't mean I'll stop collecting, in fact I just picked up some of pierrot's Saturn games, but I can take my time and find the right prices. I'd be stuck with Sonic 3D Blast and Nights if I didn't get it modded, and I would hate the Saturn.