Games Happy

Video games are made to be performed. If somebody needs to play a recreation that got here out a decade or two in the past, they need to be capable to with out a lot trouble. Whereas it has grow to be a lot simpler to play some traditional video games as a result of emulation, compilations and ports, much more have been left behind within the digital period, leaving players with few choices to play their area of interest favourite or a recreation they’re solely now simply listening to about. It is robust on the market for a recreation like Ogre Battle 64, which as of this writing is presently solely obtainable on bodily media because the digital variations had been obtainable on now-shuttered Wii/Wii U eShops – an out of print recreation for {hardware} approaching its thirtieth birthday.  

Whereas the latest development of HD remasters and ports have principally been nice for customers and publishers alike, it’s the extra obscure or poorly obtained video games that proceed to be missed. The place is the justice for the little guys, like Quest 64, a novel footnote in historical past of the console – and RPGs at massive – that needs to be obtainable for gamers to expertise, even when for nothing greater than curiosity. Whereas it’s removed from an ideal, and even nice, recreation, it’s an exhibit from the pages of online game historical past that’s often the butt of jokes (even our personal). A full-fledged remake or perhaps a remaster is perhaps asking an excessive amount of, so how a couple of 1:1 port to the Nintendo Swap’s N64 on-line choices?

Developed by Imagineer, Quest 64 was the primary RPG launched for the Nintendo 64 when revealed within the west in June 1998. The sport has gamers assume the position of Brian, an apprentice mage who units off from the monastery to search out his father, who left the month prior with the intention to seek for the Eltale guide, a magical tome. The story is naked thread, as Brian is shortly tasked to recuperate crystals that characterize the world’s major components earlier than battling towards the antagonist. The story is linear and the sport itself is lean, with gamers capable of end in lower than 12 hours.

As Brian travels, he comes throughout enemies in random encounters. Fight takes place inside a fenced space, with Brian and enemies given their very own smaller circles to display their vary of movement. Throughout Brian’s flip, gamers can transfer throughout the circle to place him to strike along with his employees or deploy a magic spell. Fight jogged my memory a little bit of Parasite Eve, as Brian can try and evade assault as he strikes round his sphere. If Brian just isn’t utilizing his employees, he can select a spell from his arsenal of elemental spells and skills, together with offensive spells, buff/debuffs, therapeutic magic, and extra.  The precise fight itself generally is a bit boring, however the variety of spells provides some depth of technique, even when the balancing is considerably askew in order that just a few spells are utterly overpowered. It is an attention-grabbing mechanic that could possibly be rebalanced in a remaster or port.

Throughout Brian’s journey, he’ll encounter spirits both within the subject or as a battle reward. When obtained, gamers can funnel the spirit into one of many 4 components, strengthening talents and studying new ones to make use of out and in of fight. This can be a nice little bit of customization which permits for gamers to develop Brian as they see match, though neglecting any of the weather will preclude or delay procurement of some highly effective spells. 

As with fight, the unconventional leveling mechanic provides an attention-grabbing wrinkle. It isn’t wholly unique – it jogs my memory of Ultimate Fantasy II and the SaGa collection – Brian’s core stats every have their very own expertise meter that positive aspects with use (ie, a spell is used or Brian is struck). When the meter fills,, that core stat is elevated – even in the midst of battle. Just like the magic system, it might underwhelm at first, particularly throughout the opening battles the place Brian is under-powered. But there may be nonetheless a palpable and fulfilling sense of development, even when Brian’s progress just isn’t represented by numbered ranges.

In some methods, Quest 64 seems like an awesome recreation for youthful gamers, particularly in case you had been new to RPGs in 1998 or simply thirsty for one just a few years into proudly owning a Nintendo 64. The execution of those programs is the place issues begin to get rickety. The excessive encounter charge is annoying, particularly on the onset when Brian has few talents and low well being. Worse, it is extremely straightforward to get misplaced after battle because the digital camera reorients itself, inflicting gamers to proceed within the mistaken course. As soon as I found out I used to be going the mistaken course, I’d be rewarded with one other random battle. There isn’t a forex within the recreation, and gadgets are both given to Brian or present in a city or dungeon. Whereas I used to be by no means hurting for restoratives, the tight in-game economic system provides one other irritating aspect to the gameplay. 

All of those points are obvious on the onset, ensuing within the recreation placing its worst foot ahead. Brian is with out therapeutic magic or a lot well being throughout the first open zone. Whereas it is a linear path, the journey to the primary primary city is hardly straight-forward due to the finicky digital camera. I imagine that is a part of the rationale the sport has such a nasty repute – many players recall enjoying this recreation at a younger age, and giving up very early as a result of frustration with fight, leveling, and even sustaining a way of course. 

Maybe these pissed off early-quitters aren’t lacking out – even again in 1998, this recreation appeared destined to be forgotten because it got here after Ultimate Fantasy VII and simply months earlier than Ocarina of Time.  Even then, Quest 64 is far more than its notorious repute suggests. The fight and magic programs have benefit, and they’re complemented with a really on-brand Nintendo 64-era graphical method, at occasions charming and bland and at all times a bit blocky. The enemy designs are a vibrant spot, with some cleverly named and designed enemies in addition to some particular results. It is all bolstered by a nice but unremarkable soundtrack that matches the sport’s generic plot and Western title.

Let’s face it: a full-blown remake or perhaps a full-throated HD remaster of Quest 64 is unlikely. But this piece of gaming historical past – warts and all – may have a second life as a shock launch on the Nintendo Swap’s on-line providing of Nintendo 64 video games. With some marginal effort, we may even see the Japanese model launched right here with its presentation tweaks and extra story content material. Quest 64 won’t have been that iconic first RPG for the Nintendo 64 we deserved, however it’s the one we received. Newcomers to the style (or longtime RPG masochists) ought to be capable to simply expertise it for themselves, with out an costly journey to a interest store or eBay.