The news that Pokémon fans have been waiting years to hear has arrived: New Pokémon Snap is in development for Nintendo Switch. The N64 original was an on-rails ride through the Pokémon world, interacting with the various wild critters and taking photos, in pursuit of interesting shots that would please the brilliant Professor Oak at the end of each stage.
While some Pokémon spin-offs have been better than others,Snap is highly regarded by fans as one of the best. So much so, in fact, that it’s got us looking at the wider N64 catalog wondering which other classics could be revisited on Switch. Here are some other excellent titles from the console that are more than worthy of a remake.
10 Mario Golf
Being the gaming icon he is, Mario has tried his hand at just about every genre possible over the years. From kart racers to puzzlers, from party games to the fantastic platformers he’s so famous for, it seems there’s really nothing Mario can’t do.
Along the way, of course, he’s starred in a glut of sports games. One of the most beloved was Mario Golf, which hit the N64 in 1999. It was a fun, arcade take on the sport littered with Mushroom Kingdom elements, which was both accessible for new players and deep enough to reward experienced ones. A feature-packed title (take that, Mario Tennis Aces) which its GameCube sequel Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour couldn’t really top. Golf titles are rare on the Switch, so a remake of this N64 hit would fit nicely.
9 Jet Force Gemini
Speaking of titles that are a little sparse on Switch, the system isn’t exactly the home of the third-person shooter. These sorts of titles have never exactly been Nintendo’s wheelhouse, but this isn’t to say that their consoles haven’t boasted fantastic examples of the TPS. The first that will spring to mind for many N64 fans is Jet Force Gemini.
Rare brought a variety of quality games to the system (including the much-beloved Banjo-Kazooie), with this shooter being something a little different. Jet Force Gemini casts the player as the titular galactic police team, as they battle against the evil villain Mizar and his army. The game is fondly remembered for its freeform approach to tackling levels, the variety offered by the characters and their special abilities, and its equally solid singleplayer campaign and multiplayer deathmatch components. Though it’s unlikely Rare would ever actually be able to work on a remaster, it could’ve been a great opportunity to iron out certain gameplay niggles (such as all the Tribals).
8 GoldenEye 007
With Nintendo being Nintendo, it’s painfully clear that we’re never going to get to see Mario popping a cap… well, anywhere, really (unless we’re counting Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle). The FPS genre is probably even harder to come by than TPS titles on their systems.
For a stellar example of an N64 FPS, though, we need look no further than another Rare effort: GoldenEye 007. This title’s reputation speaks for itself, though as with all early 3D title, it looks… well, more than a little ropey today. It’s already been reimagined with 2010’s GoldenEye 007 (Wii), which was subsequently remastered on other systems the following year (in the form of GoldenEye 007: Reloaded). Nostalgic Nintendo fans around the world would be thrilled to see it again.
7 Pilotwings 64
Pilotwings is one of those quirky franchises that just has Nintendo’s fingerprints all over it. A familiar genre, given a unique something that only the Big N seems to deliver. Flight sims with a lot of heart, collectibles, and silly missions, the Pilotwings series struck a chord with many fans.
Pilotwings 64 launched in 1996, six years after the SNES original. Competing with only Super Mario 64 as a launch title (outside of Japan), the game performed well but had its thunder completely and utterly stolen. After the fun but rather barebones Pilotwings Resort in 2011, perhaps a fully-featured take on Pilotwings 64, expanded with new content and boasting a stunning game world, would do the series justice?
6 Super Mario 64
Super Mario 64 was the game that saw our hero take his first brave steps into the world of newfangled 3D gaming, and he pulled it off with aplomb.
For some franchise fans, Super Mario 64 has never been bettered. It had that wow factor from the player’s very first dash across the lush lawns of Peach’s Castle, and the mechanic of leaping between paintings to access different worlds was inspired. So many iconic Mario moments, from being terrified by a living piano to escorting an adorable penguin baby, came from this very title. If rumors are to be believed, some remastered Super Mario classics are on their way to Switch, and we’d love to see this one make the cut.
5 Body Harvest
From this title’s very name, it’s clear that it’s going to offer something very different to the familiar Nintendo fare. True enough, it’s one of the most unique and violent games in the system’s library. DMA Design’s Body Harvest was quite the controversial game, being pushed back from its initial slot as a launch title after Nintendo took issue with its content.
It’s set on a dystopian Earth which is periodically invaded by aliens, who place a sort of energy shield around a certain region before harvesting the trapped human population within it. In this TPS, the player takes the role of a cloned Earth warrior, Adam Drake, who travels between the shielded areas in an effort to fight back, protect the residents and destroy said barrier. There was nothing else quite like this on the system. A remade version that opened up the world a little could be fantastic.
4 1080° Snowboarding
Sports games have always been super popular. Fans of basketball, soccer, football, and more flock to buy the latest rendition of the sport they love, with each new edition of FIFA Soccer and the like being a surefire hit. More obscure sports tend to be more niche, naturally, but 1080° Snowboarding was an exception to this rule.
One of the most beloved racing games on the system, 1080° Snowboarding was a visually impressive game with tight controls and fun trick mechanics. The CPU racers’ rubberbanding made things very difficult, but it’s a game we’d love to see in full HD splendor. Sadly, the 2003 GameCube sequel 1080° Avalanche didn’t quite live up to the original’s reputation.
3 Paper Mario
Now, it’s no secret that the Paper Mario franchise seems to have lost its way a little of late. Paper Mario: Stick Star and Color Splash disappointed, with the excessive backtracking and altered combat system being huge bugbears among the fanbase. The jury’s still out on the upcoming Paper Mario: The Origami King, too.
With that in mind, it’s probably time to return to the series’ roots. The original game was lauded for its creativity and accessibility; we’d love the chance to revisit Mario’s classic companions like Goombario and Lady Bow on Nintendo Switch.
2 Sin And Punishment
If there’s one thing Treasure is known for, it’s that classic back catalog of truly brilliant and innovative shooters. From Radiant Silvergun to Gunstar Heroes, their resume speaks for itself here. Another fantastic example? Sin And Punishment.
This 2000 rail shooter was jointly developed by the team and Nintendo. It’s set in the near future (2007 being near future at the time), revolving around a conflict between humanity and the species they attempted to develop to serve as food to solve the hunger crisis. The relentless blasting action never lets up, and sequel Sin And Punishment: Star Successor launched for the Wii ten years later to similar success. Perhaps a Switch twin pack to celebrate another decade?
1 Diddy Kong Racing
In the world of kart racing, it seems that Mario Kart has developed quite a monopoly. Crash Team Racing is an excellent challenger, though, and another name many would throw into the ring is Diddy Kong Racing.
Another stellar Rare effort, this 1997 release boasted excellent presentation for its era, not to mention a robust racing package including a fun story mode. The only thing that really let the game down was its obscure character roster. It was already remade in 2007 with Diddy Kong Racing DS, but there’s still huge potential for a Switch version. This is Rare, but we can dream.