In remembering the N64, it is easy to overlook some very amazing pieces of software. More often than not, these games were subject to harsh reviews, or just didn’t get the success they deserved.

I now present to you my 10 most underrated N64 games. Please note, these are merely opinions of mine, these choices are not determined by anything or anyone else. You may agree, and you may not, so read on.

This all-new Duke Nukem game featured our hero Duke battling through over 30 levels throughout different eras in time. The defining feature was that it played using a 3rd person perspective, but controlled very much like Turok. The game featured quite simply, stunning visuals. Eurocom utilized the N64 expansion pak to it’s fullest to produce a great “high-res” mode. Zero Hour suffered from some amazingly huge levels and lack of save points, which may have very well signaled the end for many gamers sanity. But look past other obvious annoyances, have patience and you will find a very well crafted shooter. Not to mention a bad-ass soundtrack.

Shadowgate is series that appeals to a very select group of people, it always has. It’s kind of a wonder that Kemco even wanted to resurrect the series. Shadowgate 64 is a game like no other. The game is played through a first person perspective. There was absolutely no combat in the game. Instead your enemies were the countless puzzles you encountered. It featured average visuals and sound, but had an atmosphere that couldn’t be matched. The game gave you that feeling of hopelessness as it tossed puzzles your way at every step. If you stuck with the game, however, it quickly became addictive in a way. Hard to explain, but play the game with an open mind, and don’t expect an action packed game and you’ll probably get immersed in the world of Shadowgate.

Killer Instinct games have a very cult following. Many mainstream and hardcore fighting game fans find the style of KI games very dull and un-skillful. When this game was released on the N64 it was shunned for it’s outdated sprite-based visuals. And that was pretty much a killer (no pun intended) for a game that was supposed to look great. Underneath the sprite graphics (which I actually love) the game was a godsend for followers of the series. There was just something about it that appealed to me more than any other game at the time. It was easy enough that rookie players could wiggle the control stick and mash buttons to complete a 20 hit combo, but balanced enough so that a skilled player could still kick some ass. Add to the gameplay a fucking great soundtrack and you’ve got something good in my books. It’s a shame the series will probably never see a new game.

The easiest way to describe this game would be to call it Mario Kart on snow, complete with powerups and frantic action. I think the game was overlooked because it wasn’t a big name franchise. It did however feature clever and exciting level design and some uncharacteristic (at that time) very colorful visuals.

If there ever was a game that has been deemed mediocre by many people for strange reasons, it is this game. Bomberman 64 took the series in a new direction, arguably focusing more on a single player adventure than it did on it’s tried and true classic multiplayer modes. People saw this change as huge mistake, and the end result is the game making it onto this list.

The truth is, people complained about the multiplayer mode in Bomberman 64, but they apparently never even played it. Sure, it was different (some 3D graphics) but it remained largely the same. I’ve had many frantic battles with friends, some of which could never have happened if the game had retained its “classic” multiplayer mode.

Short and sweet. The reason body harvest didn’t bode well with the mainstream audience is that they were unwilling to look past the first generation visuals. (The game saw several delays from back in 1996) What made the game special is the gameplay. The ability to hop into any vehicle on the landscape, ranging from cars, motorbikes, planes and even boats, it was truly innovative and pushed the game from the pits of mediocrity. Also, this game had a very, very nice soundtrack, punctuated with pianos and violins. Very unique.

This is sort of a weird one. Castlevania got very mixed reviews, and I mean very. Underrated usually means that a game isn’t well known, but not in this case. Castlevania is one of the biggest series ever.

Why did this game get such mixed opinions? It marked the series first entry into full 3-D. Many people saw this as a saving grace, a breath of fresh air. Others saw it as blasphemy and cash in on other 3-D games. One thing is sure; the game itself (forget all the hype and negativity) was great. Just plain fun to play, minus the hedge maze level (Frankenstein with a chainsaw, chasing you) IF you ask me, it’s a highly entertaining adventure, and a worthy successor to those games that came before it.

I can guarantee that a lot of people don’t even remember the name of this game, or even that it exists. It was developed by the now defunct Boss Games studios (they fucking rule) and was toted as the N64’s answer to Gran turismo. That was a mistake; I don’t think Boss really wanted the game to be seen as such.

What they created however is, in my mind one of the best racing games ever made. Easily the best the N64 ever saw. It showcased amazing visuals with incredible track designs. The main game was a career mode in which you could switch teams (each team with a personality and different cars) as you progressed. The game took a lot of patience to master and even more to get any fun out of it. I think that’s why it “failed”. I also think that’s why I consider it one of the best N64 games out there.

Ogre Battle 64 got solid reviews from the all kinds of magazines and sites and fans of the series absolutely loved it. But it still didn’t achieve the success it rightfully deserved. Why? First, I’d say it’s safe to say that Ogre Battles games aren’t exactly conventional or built for the mainstream gamer. They don’t appeal as much to regular consumers. Secondly, even if they did, this game was released rather late in the N64’s Lifespan, which could have very well affected it. Also, I’ve read a lot of stories that state this game was incredibly hard to find, right from the get-go.

What we have here, though, is arguably the best N64 game ever made (It’s SO close to Zelda in my eyes) the storyline is vast, and intricate as hell, so to make it simple, the game places you in control of an army. It plays a little like an RPG and even more like a strategy game. It’s a delicate mixture in which the end result is something god-like. I spent over 60 hours on the massive campaign and I was still hungry for more when the game ended. It has so much depth and so much character, it’s actually overwhelming. In a good way.

I’ll probably catch some guff for this. Hybrid Heaven, to me, is the most underrated N64 game. Its originality can’t be beat. The story revolves around the president and a secret underworld of clones (that’s all you need to know, the rest unfolds in the game).

What’s so great about this game? The battle mode for starters, is awesome. It’s a mix between real-time and turn based. And instead of swords, you relied on your body, using pile drivers and such is just great. Also cool, is the way that character development was implemented. Using specific body part would cause it to grow in strength and what not. Add to the gameplay, the previously mentioned X-files esque story line and some stunning music and sound effects, and you’ve got Hybrid Heaven. On the N64 it was an RPG fan’s dream. It was my dream and I loved every second of it. I’d recommend playing this game at any cost. In the meantime I keep my fingers crossed that someone, somewhere in Konami says, “Hey, let’s do a sequel to Hybrid Heaven!” Let’s all hope so.

When I first started this list, I thought that figuring out 10 games would be hard. I was wrong. It was actually very hard. There were many games that should be included, but I decided to stand by my choices. So, below you will find some VERY close calls. I mean it.

Editorial By Dan Chubaty