C3 Podcast

It's been a long but rewarding month celebrating all things Nintendo 64. From our most loved games, to recalling our first glimpse of the beast. Soundtracks that have left a lasting impression, MiA features, retro reviews and character profiles have kept the party going.

We wrap it all up by sitting together and serving up an extended edition on Nintendo's first steps into a world dominated by polygons and 3D. What are our favourite games? Who doesn't quite love Majora's Mask? What franchises were missing from the Nintendo 64? All this and more in the March 2012 issue.

Featuring Ross Marrs (Podcast Editor), Rudy Lavaux (Retro Editor), Adam Riley (Operations Director), Aaron Elias (Previews Editor) and Stuart Lawrence (Character Profiles Editor).

Produced by Ross Marrs and Adam Riley.

Introduction

00:00:00 - Adam introduces Cubed3's N64 Special podcast in Ross' absence

Retro Live Chat - Part 1

00:01:10 - The team discusses the delayed European launch of the N64 and games bought alongside the console
00:05:56 - Adam realises he's much older than the rest of the team
00:06:29 - Ross reminisces about how great the N64 was as a child and his love for the videos magazines included featuring upcoming game clips
00:08:09 - N64 games were ridiculously expensive and many still are when searching on eBay. Ross finds bargains at car boot sales
00:11:15 - Adam and Rudy realise that even though they are not racing fans, most of their favourite N64 games were racers!
00:12:26 - Stu joins the chat, catching up on his launch memories
00:13:30 - GoldenEye 007 cheats and opening up all the features via codes in various Rare titles
00:17:45 - Ross felt let down by Donkey Kong 64; Rudy reveals his dedication by collecting everything possible in it
00:20:01 - Ross shocks everyone by proclaiming The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is "rubbish"!
00:24:06 - Stu believes The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is on par with The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
00:25:28 - Ross only likes Link's front flip, the Observatory music and the 'scary moon thing...head thing' in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
00:27:49 - Ross continues on his Zelda tirade, slating The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
00:31:34 - Will it stop? Ross goes on the rip Link to the Past, calls Link's Awakening 'unplayable'

N64 Month Special Feature

00:32:41 - Character Impressions; Name that Game: Part 1

Retro Live Chat - Part 2

00:35:05 - Ross admits he basically doesn't like 2D Zelda games
00:35:46 - Discussions about how a game with a similar style to The Legend of Zelda II: Adventure of Link should be made, featuring true RPG elements
00:36:15 - Stu's first ever console was the Nintendo 64, so had to play his first ever Mario game, Super Mario Bros. 3, at his cousin's house
00:37:00 - Stu talks about his favourite Nintendo 64 games
00:37:45 - Death Race in F-Zero X was a main draw for most of us, completing it in record times. General F-Zero debate ensues
00:46:10 - A closer look at early N64 games, such as Pilotwings 64 from Paradigm Entertainment, and the merits of the N64 sequel over its SNES original
00:47:58 - Paradigm Entertainment worked closely with Nintendo on Pilotwings 64 and two F1 World Grand Prix titles, but then went solo and eventually disappeared
00:50:39 - Favourite FPS games?
00:52:47 - Yoshi's Story - a major disappointment after Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island? Az makes a case for the game
00:56:09 - 40 Winks, cancelled on N64, but released on PlayStation 2
00:58:24 - Heavily delayed talk brings up memories of Body Harvest and Space Station Silicon Valley, and how DMA Design became Rockstar
00:59:00 - Ross does a impression of Buck Bumble's theme song!

N64 Month Special Feature

01:00:10 - Character Impressions; Name that Game: Part 2

Retro Live Chat - Part 3

01:03:56 - Adam continues by talking about developers that were big in the N64 days, but have disappeared now
01:04:43 - Argonaut, StarWing developer, made Buck Bumble. Az talks about his love for hitting balls around
01:04:54 - Rudy defends Excitebots after Adam expresses his disappointment that it was nothing like Excitebike 64. Excite Truck sold people on Wii motion controls
01:09:19 - Was the Nintendo 64 actually weak or not? Why did developers jump ship?
01:12:19 - Angel Studios, the team behind Resident Evil 2, also became part of Rockstar. Random 'umbrella' pun slips in
01:12:39 - Was Operation Winback the N64's answer to Metal Gear Solid?
01:14:00 - One of the only RPGs on the N64, Holy Magic Century / Quest 64
01:15:08 - Ross brings up the topic of WipeOut 64, and Adam mentions how Psygnosis was fully owned by Sony at the time, raising the question of why it ever appeared on a non-Sony system. Comparisons to F-Zero X and the Extreme-G futuristic racers, and talk of comparing fastest times between European and US players on 50/60Hz TVs
01:19:52 - Stu and Adam talk about the fantastic International Superstar Soccer '98. Stu has been busy picking up cheap N64 games, like V-Rally
01:22:59 - Who is that character from Killer Instinct Gold? Who still has the special CD?
01:26:05 - Was the hype for Shadowman justified in the end?
01:27:18 - Much love for Conker's Bad Fur Day, despite the high price. Adam does a scary impression of Birdy...Rudy is impressed by how much voiced dialogue was included in the game. Memories of the funniest characters.
01:33:37 - Final memories of the N64. Adam talks about how he was at school, playing four-player games with friends constantly, especially Mario Tennis, Mario Kart 64, FIFA Road to the World Cup and GoldenEye 007.
01:34:26 - Recap of what readers can see during N64 Month via the N64 Hub

N64 Month Special Feature

01:36:12 - Character Impressions; Name that Game: Part 3

Until next time...

01:37:32 - Farewell from Adam. N64 Month is drawing to a close, but the N64 Hub is still accessible. GameCube anniversary coming soon. Leave us some messages!

N64 Month | Nintendo 64 Special - Zelda, Mario, Banjo-Kazooie

Speak up! You can comment, ask questions and get involved in our podcasts. We use the Skype voicemail service, it's active 24/7 so feel free to leave a message any time.


If you'd prefer to send us a message, free to send us an email instead - podcast(at)cubed3.com