Nintendo’s first leap into the world of 3D gaming, the Nintendo 64 had its share of points within the transition. However, it’s residence to a few of the most revolutionary video games of all time, like Tremendous Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which modified the best way we take into consideration gaming.
What it additionally has is a tremendous share of some extraordinarily uncommon and costly titles. Much more so than the rarest video games on different Nintendo platforms, buying copies of those video games in any capability — new or used — will take a large quantity of funds out of your pockets. Listed below are 12 of the rarest and costliest Nintendo 64 video games that may set you again a couple of bucks to get.
All listed costs are courtesy of PriceCharting. All used costs are based mostly on the “Unfastened Value” itemizing, whereas additionally new costs are based mostly on the “New Value” itemizing. Moreover, entries will likely be listed from lowest to highest so as of their respective “new” value.
12. Conker’s Unhealthy Fur Day
$589 New | $118 Used
Often known as a lot for its high quality as its monetary bombing, the event story of Conker’s Unhealthy Fur Day is broadly identified. As soon as one other 3D platformer supposed for a younger viewers alongside the traces of Banjo-Kazooie, Uncommon determined to alter it into an adult-skewing platformer to assist it stand out from the gang. It labored for the sport’s total high quality, however not for its funds.
Nintendo definitely received colourful with its advertising and marketing marketing campaign (they even did promotions with Maxim and Playboy, of all issues), however in doing so, went by means of each avenue attainable to make sure the sport was solely bought by older audiences. Nintendo Energy wasn’t allowed to speak about it, Nintendo of Europe wouldn’t even publish it, and KB Toys (keep in mind them?) refused to promote it. The sport field boldly emphasised that it was just for players 17 and older, as did the official technique guides, which had been even offered in black polybags.
Couple this with a launch simply months earlier than the GameCube in 2001, a time when most older Nintendo audiences had moved on to the PlayStation 2, and Conker was sure to flop. Nonetheless, its standing as a cult gem and one of many Nintendo 64’s greatest video games made it a scorching commodity, one thing that it nonetheless occurs to be regardless of available re-releases.
A used cartridge may land you round $118, whereas a brand new copy asks you for $589 proper off the bat. That’s a stunningly steep value to pay when you’re in search of an genuine expertise. It might in all probability be greatest to seize the Xbox remaster, Conker: Reside & Reloaded (which is backward suitable with fashionable Xbox consoles), or to play the unique model by means of the Uncommon Replay compilation.
11. Ogre Battle 64: Particular person of Lordly Caliber
$665 New | $118 Used
One other sport launched late within the lifespan of the Nintendo 64, Ogre Battle 64: Particular person of Lordly Caliber was a tactical RPG that acquired an American localization a yr after its preliminary Japanese launch. Misplaced amidst a wave of different massive Nintendo 64 titles, like The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Masks, it didn’t obtain an enormous promotional marketing campaign and shipped in restricted qualities, inflicting it to fall by the wayside.
Very similar to Conker, although, it didn’t appear its American writer, Atlus, realized the sort of high quality it had with this sport. Ogre Battle 64 proved to be a positively acquired sport, greater than sufficient to succeed in hidden gem standing on the Nintendo 64. Consequently, costs shot up for gamers trying to purchase one of many small variety of copies of this old-school RPG.
A used copy alone places you down $118, however when you’re in search of a brand new copy, you’ll must pop $665 on that. The sport was re-issued on the Wii U eShop in 2017, that means players did have a method to play the sport without having the unique cartridge. Satirically, that very eShop is now itself a factor of the previous, placing us again in no man’s land for availability.
10. Goemon’s Nice Journey
$1,195 New | $98 Used
Konami’s Goemon sequence is a cult franchise, and Goemon’s Nice Journey was one other title that offered effectively inside its area of interest however didn’t land too far previous that. It could have additionally been a sufferer of releasing on the incorrect time within the gaming panorama, given its deliberately old-school platforming design on a console with loads of boundary-pushing experiences.
When it was launched in 1999, Goemon’s Nice Journey’s standing as a 2.5D platformer made it a bit much less adventurous to some than titles like Tremendous Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie. With these video games including new dimensions and innovation to gaming, a side-scrolling platformer was not practically as glamorous because it had been within the 16-bit period. However, Goemon’s Nice Journey turned a little bit of a hidden gem, main to an enormous improve in value.
Whereas a used copy lands at $98, a brand new one will go for as a lot as $1,195. That’s an extremely hefty value for this cult-classic platformer. Nonetheless, if you will discover it for an inexpensive value, it is perhaps value getting your arms on. In any case, it doesn’t seem to be Konami is doing a lot with Goemon lately (exterior of letting him cameo in Tremendous Smash Bros. Final).
9. Daikatana
$1,650 New | $79 Used
It’s truthful to say that with Daikatana, John Romero didn’t make anybody his bitch. Following the success of influential first-person shooters like Wolfenstein 3D, DOOM, and Quake, Daikatana was Romero’s first sport introduced after leaving id Software program. It suffered a protracted improvement cycle, earned loads of unfavorable reception for its promotional cycle (that half about John Romero making you his bitch? Yeah, it was on a poster for the sport), and lives within the annals of gaming as one of many largest disasters of all time.
However the low high quality of the sport doesn’t make it any much less uncommon. In any case, the Nintendo 64 was the one console it noticed a launch for (a PlayStation model was scrapped), that means it was your solely possibility when you weren’t a PC participant. Nonetheless, between the PC model being a business failure and a launch on the tail-end of the Nintendo 64’s life, it’s straightforward to see why it didn’t transfer items.
That rarity, although, has helped jack up its value at the moment, going for $79 used and $1,650 new. Not solely would you be paying top-dollar for a foul sport, however you’re paying that a lot for the more serious model of it. When you’re that curious, you possibly can seize it on Steam for $7… or simply discover a higher first-person shooter to play.
8. Rat Assault
$2,124 New | $75 Used
Typically, the record of uncommon and costly video video games brings you to some… fascinating territory. What on this planet is Rat Assault? Effectively, apparently it was a puzzle sport the place Scratch Cats are trying to cease an invasion of genius lab rats bent on world domination. If that sounds unusual to you…I imply, hey, it’s not not like Nintendo to permit some actually unusual video games on its methods.
This sport lingered in improvement hell for a very long time, and by the point it was lastly accessible, players appeared to not care. Its aged gameplay didn’t really feel that particular, and it didn’t assist that it was launched late in 1999 up towards flashier titles like Resident Evil 3: Nemesis, Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater, Crash Workforce Racing, and Pac-Man World. Even on the Nintendo 64, video games like Jet Drive Gemini and Rayman 2: The Nice Escape took up extra time from Nintendo followers.
Consequently, it received misplaced within the pack and doubtless didn’t fly off of cabinets. This will have added to its mystique, as whereas a used copy will already set you again $75, a new-in-box copy goes all the best way as much as $2,124. Finally, it might not be value hedging your bets on such a dated puzzler, even when its quirky idea sounds fairly hilarious.
7. Bomberman 64: The Second Assault!
$2,573 New | $243 Used
The Bomberman franchise didn’t make the smoothest transition into 3D, although whereas Bomberman 64 appeared to be tremendous sufficient, Bomberman 64: The Second Assault! didn’t fare practically as effectively. Very similar to many different video games on this record, The Second Assault! got here out in 2000, close to the tip of the console’s lifespan, and Hudson Comfortable did little to promote it. It might be truthful to suppose that some gamers didn’t even know of its existence, and on condition that the reception was pretty mediocre, perhaps some gamers didn’t need to know.
Nonetheless, that each one added to the mystique and curiosity of the sport, therefore why its cartridges went means up in value. A used copy sells for about $243, whereas a brand new copy lands at as excessive as $2,573. That’s a fairly hefty price for a mediocre Bomberman sport. Maybe your effort and time are higher put into one of many extra fashionable video games, like Tremendous Bomberman R or its sequel, Tremendous Bomberman R 2.
6. F1 Racing Championship
$2,973 New | $297 Used
You would possibly see a racing sport on a Nintendo platform and attribute any business failings to the sport being trampled by the behemoth that’s Mario Kart. To be truthful, although, F1 Racing Championship’s increased value on the Nintendo 64 was not the results of its high quality, as the sport appeared to be fairly respectable. No, it seems the problem right here pertains to the discharge technique from Ubi Comfortable (yeah, keep in mind when Ubisoft’s title was two separate phrases?)
Whereas F1 Racing Championship was launched throughout a bevy of platforms, American players by no means acquired the Nintendo 64 model. At launch, this model was unique to European areas, whereas the Americas acquired the sport on the PlayStation, Sport Boy Shade, and finally the PlayStation 2 and PC. Between its launch close to the tip of the Nintendo 64’s life (in 2000) and its inevitable next-generation launch, it’s onerous to think about it could’ve made an enormous dent had it gotten a stateside launch.
Nonetheless, that makes it a fairly uncommon (and costly) collector’s merchandise. A used copy alone will run you about $297, whereas a brand new copy will go over 10 instances the worth of that at $2,973. You’d in all probability be higher served sticking to Mario Kart… or discovering the sport on a special console… or simply taking part in a contemporary F1 sport if you really want your repair.
5. Worms Armageddon
$3,090 New | $250 Used
Usually cited as the most effective within the franchise, Worms Armageddon might be present in abundance on different platforms. The PlayStation model was added to the PlayStation Plus Premium library on PlayStation 4 and 5 not too way back. The PC model even continues to get updates to at the present time; it looks like it’s simply the Nintendo 64 model not getting sufficient love, even when manufacturing on it was not precisely “restricted.”
A used copy of the sport will promote for $250, however a brand new copy is the place the worth actually goes up, touchdown at about $3,090. It’s peculiar {that a} sport like this has such excessive pricing on the Nintendo 64 alone, on condition that it doesn’t land a lot increased than $35 on different platforms.
The excellent news, although, is that the Nintendo 64 iteration is a robust model of the sport in its personal proper. When you really feel the necessity to blow some huge cash on this explicit launch, you possibly can at the least discover consolation in realizing that you simply’re paying for a robust model of an amazing sport.
4. Rampage 2: Common Tour [Big Box]
$4,650 New | No Used Value Listed
It might’ve felt incorrect to get by means of this whole record with out mentioning some sort of Restricted Version. They’re known as “Restricted” for a purpose; only a few copies are produced, and as soon as these provides are gone, good luck looking for one other one. Rampage 2: Common Tour had a Restricted Version of its personal, and it’s develop into one of many rarest finds on the system.
PriceCharting doesn’t mark down a “used” model of the sport (understandably, as that won’t embrace the entire Huge Field’s content material), however a brand new copy goes for as a lot as $4,650. So what made this version so particular and so costly? It got here with a Rampage plush keychain… yeah, all that cash for a keychain. Granted, there have been solely about 10 or so plush keychains made, so that may jack up the worth, however simply know that’s all you’re getting.
It’s additionally not such as you’re getting a high-quality sport on this package deal, both. Whereas the Nintendo 64 will not be the worst method to play this, the sport itself will not be practically memorable sufficient to be value your time. Until that keychain seems like one thing you completely can’t resist, suppose twice earlier than paying over 4 figures to purchase this Huge Field launch.
3. Tremendous Bowling
$6,231 New | $640 Used
Now for the enjoyable half; entering into the video games most have in all probability by no means heard of. Tremendous Bowling for the Nintendo 64 was… simply that: bowling. It’s a enjoyable exercise, but it surely makes for little greater than a novelty in a online game (until it’s Wii Sports activities, in fact). Initially a Tremendous NES sport again in 1992, the Nintendo 64 model wouldn’t hit North American retailer cabinets till 2001.
What else got here out in 2001 once more? Oh proper, the GameCube. By that time, as Conker proved, few had been actually investing in Nintendo 64 methods, particularly when it got here to third-party titles. Players had simply gotten their arms on the PlayStation 2 and weren’t actually caring about non-exclusive video games on Nintendo’s console. Consequently, few copies had been produced, and discovering one now places you down a heavy penny.
Even a used copy lands at $640, whereas a brand new copy flies in at a whopping $6,231. All this for a sport involving bowling, an exercise you possibly can exit and do with your loved ones and associates for considerably much less cash (or, when you want your bowling online game repair, Wii Sports activities and Nintendo Swap Sports activities are viable choices). You’d suppose that is the most costly it may get for the system, however we’re simply getting began.
2. Stunt Racer 64
$7,146 New | $335 Used
Wow, the Nintendo 64 was unsympathetic to racing video games that weren’t first-party titles, wasn’t it? In truth, Stunt Racer 64 had a particularly circuitous street to profitability, one which had little to do with Nintendo’s flagship racer. As a substitute, its lack of success needed to do with retailer exclusivity greater than something.
Stunt Racer 64 was solely launched to the granddaddy of nostalgic Nineteen Nineties/early 2000s shops, Blockbuster. And never solely was it launched for rental there, but it surely was additionally a totally purchasable sport solely at Blockbuster. So if this little-known racer was one thing you desperately craved again in 2000, Blockbuster Video was your solely alternative.
It’s not clear whether or not this exclusivity was a strategic plan based mostly on the success of Blockbuster on the time or the results of a writer having its arms tied and needing to make again some sort of money on a possible flop. Regardless, being a video rental retailer, not each copy of the sport was offered full within the field; usually, the containers could be used as shows on the shelf, with customers solely receiving the cartridges. Thus, discovering such an obscure sport is already onerous, and it’s even more durable to discover a full copy on condition that a lot of its containers could also be gone.
A used copy of the sport will already set you again $335, whereas a brand new copy will leap all the best way as much as $7,146. That’s rather a lot to pay for what really appears to be a fairly strong sport. Who is aware of? Possibly the final remaining Blockbuster out in Bend, Oregon has a replica of it mendacity round someplace.
1. ClayFighter: Sculptor’s Reduce
$16,120 New | $1,000 Used
Preserve Stunt Racer 64’s story in your thoughts for a minute, please; now we have one thing related right here. ClayFighter: Sculptor’s Reduce was an up to date re-release of the Nintendo 64 title ClayFighter 63 1/3. Very similar to Stunt Racer 64, this was solely accessible at Blockbuster, although maybe the wildest half is that it was solely accessible to lease. In contrast to Stunt Racer 64, you would not go right into a Blockbuster and buy the sport, as the one method to personal a replica was to win it in a web-based contest. Wow, what a distinction.
As soon as once more, a lot of the rarity comes from it being a video rental unique, one that customers weren’t capable of “personal” (exterior of the net contest). With retail containers serving extra as a show than something, lots of the containers and manuals had been trashed in some unspecified time in the future and have become even rarer than the cartridges themselves.
A used copy of the sport already runs at $1,000, whereas a brand new copy will go for… get this… $16,120. Get able to pop your yearly wage (if that) if you’d like an entire copy of this uncommon sport. The one purpose to spend money on it could be its rarity, although: Clayfighter 63 1/3 was not an excellent sport, and the Sculptor’s Reduce hardly makes it any higher. When you’re that enamored with nostalgia, simply play Tremendous Smash Bros. as an alternative. Or e book a visit to Bend, Oregon to go to the final Blockbuster; you may make it a Blockbuster evening yet one more time for old-time’s sake.
That’s only a small window into the world of uncommon, costly, and helpful Nintendo 64 video games. What are another titles that might break the bank? Tell us within the feedback.
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