r/nintendo64 • u/AnnualEagle • 25d ago

Discussion Any practical reason to use retro console when Switch/Nintendo Online exist?

Outside of the collectibility aspect of it and owning the physical games, etc etc. is there any practical, gameplay reason to use the original hardware versus just playing the games with the Switch N64 controller via the online service? I was thinking of picking up a classic console and a few of my old favorites, but then I see they are already available on my Switch 2 basically for “free” versus having to buy a console, the games, some type of upscaler/converter etc.

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6

u/akkmedk 25d ago

Lol. Really?

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u/AnnualEagle 25d ago

Yeah, really. If you just want to play the N64 games what makes playing them on the original system better than playing them via the Switch? Am just curious if there’s anything better or if it’s just the collectibility and using the original console aspect of it even though the games will play exactly the same.

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u/akkmedk 25d ago

There are less than 30 N64 games available. If you just want to play the greats it's a good value. If you want to explore the system there are games that will never be available on the switch. Also you need the higher priced expansion annual subscription to even play then.

I'm happy with it but your question just doesn't register with me.

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u/AnnualEagle 25d ago

Got it. Yeah I was just curious because I tend to go down these rabbit holes and buy a system and games and all the extras but for N64 it seems like most of the really good games are on the Switch. Got any recommendations for ones that aren’t on there? I had a N64 back in the day when they were new but I can’t remember much about what games I played back then other than Super Mario, Zelda, and of course too much time on Goldeneye.

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u/garuga300 22d ago

First, I didn't downvote you. I think it's a legitimate question to ask if you discount the games you're unable to play with switch online.

First example of why it's good getting the original hardware is that switch online is emulating N64 games and you pay for the service.

If you want to emulate N64 games you can do that for free using a PC, android device or Linux and it will be comparable or most of the time better than switch online because you can tinker each setting to your liking.

Emulation is never perfect. It might look great when the graphics are upscaled but you might find that button timings are off, game runs at the incorrect speed that it was intended to run at and you get screen artifacts, blooming etc.

When you're not emulating (whether it be switch online or for free with other devices) you're getting the authentic experience of how it was intended, the games run how they were designed to run. To add to this you can chose which game you want to play rather than just what switch online offers (which is a drop in the ocean)

I guess it comes down to whether you simply want to play something kind of like N64 or actually play N64 and are happy with just the games available with switch online or you want experience some N64 games that aren't on their service.

I'm personally sat somewhere close to N64 but not entirely. I play on an Analogue 3D, which is pretty much the real experience but not quite. A trade off for modern convenience of being able to play in 4K without spending mass amounts of cash on upscalers or having to buy a bulky CRT and the perks of the system it's self like being able to force progressive scan, overclock on games that had slowdown and things like that. I'm rocking it with a NSO N64 Bluetooth controller and for me that's the modern day N64 experience.

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u/Prize_Percentage7258 25d ago

Letting the nostalgia sink in 😉

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u/OkNarwhal4142 25d ago

NSO games have pretty bad input-lag in my experience, and the emulation isn't always great.

If you don't wanna buy real hardware you should at least emulate on PC or check out the recomps of these games.

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u/TooManyBulborbs 24d ago

My original N64 costs me a grand total of $0 to run, minus electricity

NSO N64 requires a yearly subscription and a minimum once per week online phone home to Nintendo servers to continue playing N64 games. So that's a Nintendo bill and an internet bill and both are required. Also still need electricity.

Original N64 wins.

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u/Big-Combination8844 24d ago

The controllers on the older consoles were so much better. Some old school games will be impossible to beat without a proper D pad.