20 replies to this topic

[Geoffrey]

The N64 controller was actually quite ingenious, but its genius was never utilized. I imagine that it had three prongs so that developers could choose between making a 3D game for the analogue stick (middle of the controller) or a 2D game for the D-pad (left side of the controller). The N64 controller essentially has an SNES controller built into it. Sadly, developers seldom if ever utilized this; I've played a total of one N64 game that used the D-pad.

 

This does, however, bode well for a potential N64 Classic. If Nintendo itself doesn't take advantage of this to put games from the 8- and 16-bit eras on the system, then modders will, and we'll never have to swap out controllers in order to use a solid D-pad.

Edited by Geoffrey, 10 November 2017 - 06:26 PM.

[Anthus]

 The N64 controller essentially has an SNES controller built into it. Sadly, developers seldom if ever utilized this; I've played a total of one N64 game that used the D-pad.

 

This. I was actually using my original N64 controller with my SNES emulator, and using the d-pad, and A/B C</Cv buttons. Start was start, and Z was select, and L/R is L/R. It works like a dream, exactly as you'd expect.

 

But yeah, I don't get why more devs didn't use the d-pad, or at least offer it as an option in games like Smash, or Kirby, that are predominantly side scrollers. I'm looking at my N64, and SNES d-pads side by side, and I think they are seriously the exact same size, and everything. Before every subsequent console had to shrink the d-pad to a barely usable troll size till the Wii U.

[The Satellite]

For some reason I seem to remember Kirby 64 using the d-pad. 

[Anthus]

Oops, it does, actually. I just checked the controls online. Apparently the d-pad also works in MM's menus, but I don't remember ever trying it.

[The Satellite]

That I didn't know. That's obscure.

[Yuuki]

I think an N64 classic mini would be very successful if they released it with 8 megabytes of main memory.