Does anyone else find N64 games confusing to control?

[GagaMan]

Having never owned an N64, I'm catching up by downloading games on the Virtual Console (because I don't fancy attempting to emulate them on my PC). So far I have three games: Super Mario 64, Starfox 64 and Sin & Punishment.

While I got the hang of Mario 64 pretty well and throughly enjoyed it, I just can't get my head around the other two. What I presumed would be pretty straight forward on rails shoot em up seem to be over complicated. I'm playing using a Gamecube controller so the buttons are mapped pretty well except I can never remember where the N64's back Z button is mapped.

With Starfox 64 moving and shooting is easy enough, but then they give you all these C-stick controls for U turning, somersaulting and other things that just blow my brains out. Whenever I want to U-turn in free range mode bosses, I end up fighting with the controls trying to remember which combinations of the analogue and the C-stick do what.

Sin and Punishment is even worse, even though that game at least has more than one control scheme none of them really help much. You have to move a cursor, move your character from side to side, shoot and occasionally jump all at the same time, and it's driving me nuts. This is a game that could defiantly benefit from a Wii remake/sequel with more intuitive controls.

Can anyone heads up on any other N64 games that are like this so I can avoid downloading them in near future? I don;t mind Mario 64 using every button as it does it well and is nicely paced, but in a fast action title I don't want to be wiggling my hands all over the place trying to do four or five things at a time =S

[diehllane]

http://www.raphnet.net/electronique/x2wii/index_en.php

You can do this (either buy or build one) and use an N64 controller to make it easier and much more enjoyable.

[cloudrat7]

I'm having similar issues mapping controls thru n64 emulator, imagine doing this on a psx pad..lol, impossible. i might have to mod an n64 pad

[Droid party]

I'm having similar issues mapping controls thru n64 emulator, imagine doing this on a psx pad..lol, impossible. i might have to mod an n64 pad

Been there done that.( such a headache) Bought a n64 usb converter and found the right controller plugin (also a headache) and now it all works perfectly.

[ott0bot]

An N64 usb converter is absolutely neccessary!!! It is just too confusing otherwise.

But even using the actual N64 contoller I find most N64 games to be diffucult to control accurately. This is mostly do to the anolog stick being located in middle of the controller, which makes my hands cramp up really quickly. Also...the analog stick is on an X, Y axis made of plastic(WTF) which wears out very quickly resulting in very loose control. Trying to get a head shot in GoldenEye becomes a real challenge! I don't know what they were thinking ($)!!! The only consulation is that you can "harvest" the entire anolog control box off a dead controller and snap it into place quite easily. This is why I never re-purchased a N64 after selling it years ago. too bad...

[Droid party]

Also...the analog stick is on an X, Y axis made of plastic(WTF) which wears out very quickly resulting in very loose control. Trying to get a head shot in GoldenEye becomes a real challenge! I don't know what they were thinking ($)!!! The only consulation is that you can "harvest" the entire anolog control box off a dead controller and snap it into place quite easily. This is why I never re-purchased a N64 after selling it years ago. too bad...

Thanks for the memories.

[cloudrat7]

Man, i would get a usb n64 controller thingy but the way i am i wont even play it for long, my damn attention span is messed up because i have so many games on all my emulators. and for all my consoles!! they're everywhere!! arrghghg! I'm surrounded by games!! Cripes i had a videogame breakdown..lol

[Gamerforlife]

Yeah, Nintendo has put out some really retarded controllers with the N64 and the Gamecube, but I guess all this experimentation lead to the cool Wii controls.

I never had any trouble playing Starfox 64 though. Sin and Punishment is tough control-wise though, but you get used to it with practice.

Sony and Sega put out some awesome controllers with the Saturn version 2 six button, and Sony's dual shock, but I have no idea what the hell Nintendo was thinking during their N64 and Gamecube days.

Most of the best games for those two systems really did the best they could with those weird controllers though and many great N64 and Gamecube are quite playable, even if awkward at first. Some of my favorite games are on the N64 and the Gamecube, despite how much I hate the controllers. You just get used to them after awhile.

[elph]

With Starfox 64 moving and shooting is easy enough, but then they give you all these C-stick controls for U turning, somersaulting and other things that just blow my brains out. Whenever I want to U-turn in free range mode bosses, I end up fighting with the controls trying to remember which combinations of the analogue and the C-stick do what.

On the N64, the C-stick was not a C-stick. There were four C-buttons. I imagine that has something to do with it.

Yeah, Nintendo has put out some really retarded controllers with the N64 and the Gamecube, but I guess all this experimentation lead to the cool Wii controls.

Sony and Sega put out some awesome controllers with the Saturn version 2 six button, and Sony's dual shock, but I have no idea what the hell Nintendo was thinking during their N64 and Gamecube days.

While I must admit the N64 controller certainly was a little weird (it's actually the only Nintendo system I haven't purchased so far). The GameCube controller is pretty much my favorite controller . I love the way it fits my hands. Yes, it does have a poor d-pad. But, I still love it.

[mason]

the gamecube controller is the best controller ever-made.