Do you remember the first time you experienced the N64 Rumble Pak? In 1997 I walked into EB Games to find the manager demonstrating his imported Starfox 64 (due in the States two months later). I joined the line of customers eager to give it a whirl, and soon found myself flying over Corneria and grinning as the controller shook, buzzed and rattled with every hit. The effect was great fun, and the store sold a lot of pre-orders that day.
The Rumble Pak (included with Starfox 64) changed the course of console controller design for both Nintendo and its rivals. Many N64 games supported the add-on, but I only recall three titles in which the rumble effect added a huge amount of impact to the gameplay: Top Gear Rally, 1080 Snowboarding, and–of course–Starfox 64. In each case, the tactile element–wheels on gravel, different snow types, a ship on the verge of destruction–played a major part in the experience and actually gave you constant useful feedback.
Starfox 64 is, no question, a wonderful game with or without the rumble effect. When I bought the VC edition for Wii, however, I played a few levels and then never returned; for me, the lack of rumble removed half the game’s fun.
I’m buying Starfox 64 3D to experience the improved visuals and new gameplay features. I’m looking forward to it, and hoping my one concern–that I’ll again greatly miss the rumbling feature–will be quickly forgotten. I certainly don’t want rumble added to a handheld game; remember the tiny DS rumble pak? It was ridiculous, and made playing Metroid Pinball feel like it was taking place on an angrily buzzing cell phone.
I can’t wait to play the 3DS edition, but I’m facing the fact that Starfox 64 will–most likely–never again be the complete sense-rattling, revolutionary ride it began as.
How about you? Do you think the improved graphics of Starfox 64 3D will make you forget the Rumble Pak?
Well I only played the original for like 10 minutes back when it came out on N64, so I won't miss it at all. 🙂
Just dug out my old 64 today and thought about this exact problem. Weird. No way will I buy the new Starfox. The lack of a rumble feature is disappointing, but I purchased OoT for the 3DS, and even though its my favorite game, I do not think seeing updated visuals was worth the 40 bucks. Honestly, I kinda liked the 64 presentation better. The darker environment made the game seem so much more dramatic. So unless there is a remake of a game I never played, I'll be sticking with new games only.
I will probably get it after a long while when it gets a price drop. I loved it in N64, the rumble feature is not that important but I just can't pay full price for a game I already played.
Hopefully, they'll pack in a buzzer in the cartridge, so it'll be roughly the same as the DS vibrating pack. (/sarcasm)
Nah, I won't miss it. ….Cuz I've never played the N64 version. I've only played the SNES Starfox. Can't wait to play this one, though!
I would buy Kid Icarus instead of the StarFox remake… but Kid Icarus is nowhere in sight. So, I guess I have to buy StarFox just because there's nothing else?
I'm just being cranky, but that's kinda how I feel.
But I won't miss the rumble because I never owned a N64. I downloaded the StarFox 64 game on Wii though and thought it was pretty good but kinda annoyingly nearly identical to the original StarFox on SNES.
Yes, I sure will miss the rumble. The 3DS COULD have had rumble included but it would have meant that the battery wouldn't last at all.
yeah i'd miss it… it added a lot of fun to the game!
I have never played Star Fox 64 and am looking forward to playing it on 3ds. (I also never played Ocarina before 3ds, and now I am a Zelda addict! Can't wait for Skyward Sword!)
Rumble was the reason I bought Star Fox 64! Had to have that peripheral.
No, I want Rumble Pak!
Why? Can't I just plug in my DS rumble catridge on the 3DS?? Oh, wait…