The Longest Journey: Uncovering the Nintendo 64 Game That Takes the Longest to Beat
The Nintendo 64 (N64), a cornerstone of 90s gaming, is fondly remembered for its revolutionary 3D gameplay and iconic titles. Among its impressive library, some games offered sprawling adventures that could keep players engaged for dozens of hours. So, which title demanded the most time commitment? The crown for the longest N64 game to beat goes to StarCraft 64, clocking in at an estimated 87.5 hours. This real-time strategy port, while a technical marvel for the console, proved to be a time sink for those dedicated enough to see it through to the end. While other games certainly offer deep experiences, none quite matched the sheer length of StarCraft 64 on the N64.
Understanding Game Length on the N64
While StarCraft 64 takes the lead with its considerable playtime, it’s important to acknowledge the varied nature of game length. Some titles, like Harvest Moon 64 (44 hours) and Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber (40 hours), offer gameplay based on intricate systems, requiring significant time investment to master and complete. Others, like Donkey Kong 64 (29 hours), are lengthy due to their large worlds and numerous collectibles. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (26.5 hours), though shorter than some, still offers a substantial adventure with side quests and puzzles. It’s clear that a ‘long game’ on the N64 could mean various things: a deep strategy experience, a world full of collectibles, or a story rich with side content.
Beyond the Main Story: Completion Time and 100% Runs
When we talk about game length, it’s crucial to differentiate between completing the main story and achieving 100% completion. Many games on the N64 featured numerous secrets, hidden items, and optional objectives that significantly increased playtime. For example, while Donkey Kong 64 has a notable 29-hour average for a regular playthrough, obtaining every golden banana, collectible, and finishing every mini-game would vastly extend that time. Games like Ogre Battle 64, even if just beating the main story takes 40 hours, provide a tactical playground with multiple endings that might draw players into multiple playthroughs.
Why StarCraft 64 Is So Time-Consuming
StarCraft 64‘s substantial playtime is a result of several factors. Firstly, the game’s intricate real-time strategy gameplay demands careful planning, resource management, and strategic thinking. The campaign mode itself is quite long, especially for a console game of that era. The need to build bases, amass armies, and manage resources can quickly add up to long sessions. Furthermore, StarCraft 64 includes both the original Terran, Zerg, and Protoss campaigns, creating a vast amount of content. The difficulty of the game, particularly when played on harder settings, contributes to the lengthy time required to see the final credits. Its complexity compared to the other titles, made it an outlier.
A Technical Triumph and a Time Sink
It’s worth noting the technical achievement that StarCraft 64 represented on the Nintendo 64. The port was known to be quite difficult, due to having to fit such a complex PC game onto a cartridge-based system. This complexity was a large part of why it takes so long to beat. For those willing to invest the time, StarCraft 64 was not just long, but also offered a deep experience that was relatively unique for the platform.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the longest game on the N64?
StarCraft 64, with an estimated 87.5 hours of playtime, is the longest game on the Nintendo 64.
How long does it take to beat Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber?
Ogre Battle 64 typically takes about 40 hours to beat, focusing on completing the main story.
How long to beat Donkey Kong 64?
Donkey Kong 64 has an average completion time of approximately 29 hours, though 100% completion will take significantly longer.
How long does it take to beat The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time?
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time takes, on average, between 26 and 37 hours to complete, depending on the number of side quests players undertake.
What is the largest N64 game?
The largest N64 game cartridges were 64 MB (512 Megabits) in size. Resident Evil 2 was one of the first games to use this large cartridge size.
Was there ever a Nintendo 64 game that sold for over $1 million?
A pristine, sealed copy of Super Mario 64 sold for $1.56 million at auction, making it the first game ever to break the $1 million mark.
How many games did the gamer Acegamersam beat on the N64?
Acegamersam played through and beat an astonishing 296 different games on the Nintendo 64.
What was the last first-party N64 game ever released?
The last first-party games were Dr. Mario 64 in North America on April 8, 2001, and Dōbutsu no Mori in Japan six days later.
What was the last licensed N64 game ever released?
The last licensed game for the N64 was Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 in North America on August 20, 2002.
Is it possible to 100% Donkey Kong 64?
Yes, it is possible to achieve 100% completion in Donkey Kong 64. It’s important to know that the game itself calculates completion percentage differently, but a completed file will always show 100.00%.
What was the average size of an N64 game cartridge?
N64 cartridges ranged in size from 4 MB (32 Mbit) up to 64 MB (512 Mbit), depending on the game’s complexity and content.
Why were N64 games more expensive than PlayStation games?
N64 games were generally more expensive due to the higher production cost of cartridge-based media compared to CD-ROMs used by the PlayStation.
What was the original retail price of the Nintendo 64?
The Nintendo 64 launched at a price of $199.99 in the United States, as Nintendo priced the console for an “impulse buy” to compete with the PS1 and Saturn price drops.
Which game had the hardest boss on the N64?
Among the hardest boss fights on the Nintendo 64, Mizar from Jet Force Gemini, Bowser from Super Mario 64, and Hard Mode Andross from Star Fox 64 are frequently cited.
Was the N64 or PlayStation 1 more powerful?
While the N64 had more raw computing power, the PlayStation often had superior graphics and larger games due to its reliance on the cheaper and higher-capacity CD-ROM format.