Nintendo has been an influential force during the console wars that continue to rage on today. Nintendo’s latest console efforts may not have the same hardware power asSonyand Microsoft’s offerings, but Nintendo has been able to make its mark in other ways and they’re still one of the most important names in the video game industry.
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Two of Nintendo’s most popular consoles are theSuper Nintendoand its follow-up, theNintendo 64. Both consoles featured some of Nintendo’s more memorable video games, but there are actually a number of N64 titles that originally started in development for the Super Nintendo.
10Star Fox 64
Star Fox 64is a beloved title on the N64 and it features such a simple formula that other games have attempted to emulate.Star Fox 64followed the success of the Super Nintendo original, which heavily pushed the console’s hardware capabilities.
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AStar Fox 2was fully completed for the Super Nintendo, but with the release of the Nintendo 64 growing closer,Shigeru Miyamotothought it would be more effective to redevelop the sequel for the new console. While not an identical game,Star Fox 64uses the SNES’Star Fox 2for its framework.
9Killer Instinct Gold
Rare’s fighting franchise,Killer Instinct,disappeared from the spotlight for a while, but it’s since been rebooted in a big way. The title originated inarcadesbefore being ported over to the Super Nintendo as one of its most mature fighters.Killer Instinct’ssuccess led to Rare developing a port of the sequel for the Super Nintendo.
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However, the release of the Nintendo 64 was approaching and it was decided to be more prudent to shift priorities and aim to make the game a launch title. The Super Nintendo’sKiller Instinct 2becameKiller Instinct Goldin the process.
8Mortal Kombat Trilogy
TheMortal Kombatfighting franchise is not only still going strong, but it’s arguably at its most popular and ambitious.Mortal Kombat 3was a pivotal entry in the series and several updated versions were released. The Super Nintendo saw the first of these,Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3,with the second,Mortal Kombat Trilogy,also initially seeing development on the console. Hardware limitations made shifting development over to the Nintendo 64 a more logical decision, but even that version had to make concessions, like a condensed fighter roster.
The Nintendo 64 has a number of memorableracing games, but there are plenty that blend into the background and don’t bring anything interesting to the genre.Off Road Challengeis one of the more regrettable early racing games for the console and the title’s poor reception slowed down theOff Roadseries.Super Off Roadwas the first entry in the series and it was released on many consoles, the Super Nintendo included. There’s early evidence to suggest thatOff Road Challengeinitially started as a sequel or expansion to the SNES game, before moving over to the N64.
6Pilotwings 64
The Nintendo 64’s launch featured sequels to many of Nintendo’s most popular franchises, albeit on the impressive and new 3D hardware.Flight simulatorshave always been a tricky genre to find an audience, but the Super Nintendo’sPilotwingsadds Nintendo’s playful aesthetic to the format to create something special. The update,Pilotwings 64,was one of the N64’s launch titles, but at one point development went back even further with the sequel following suit on the Super Nintendo. Once Nintendo knew the power of their new console, it just made more sense to showcase the sequel on that.
5Banjo-Kazooie
Rarewas one of the most influential developers for both the Super Nintendo and the Nintendo 64, with the former’sBanjo-Kazooiebeing one of the most celebrated platformers on the console.Banjo-Kazooieactually started as a Super Nintendo RPG titledProject Dream. The game had a fairy tale aesthetic and involved pirates as enemies, but Rare’s interests slowly changed and the title shifted into a platformer with a bear for the main character. Rare continued to refine the project and it would ultimately turn intoBanjo-Kazooiefor the Nintendo 64.
4Donkey Kong 64
The Super Nintendo has many great games, but it’s titles like Rare’sDonkey Kong Countrytrilogy that really highlight what the console could accomplish. Rare’sDonkey Kong Countrytrilogy was such a triumph that it’s not surprising to hear that Rare was beginning development on a fourthDonkey Kong Countryentry for the console. The game would have apparently added a swan to the mix of characters, too. The game didn’t get too far along before development radically shifted to the much more ambitiousDonkey Kong 64,but it’s likely trace elements from the SNES game still carried over.
3Goldeneye 007
It’s practically impossible to talk about Nintendo 64 games without touching onGoldeneye 007.Video game adaptations of feature films are typically a lost cause, butGoldeneye 007isn’t just a pleasant surprise, but it’s still considered to be one of the best shooters and multiplayer games of all time. The N64 game is iconic, which makes it so strange to learn that the title started as a sidescroller for the Super Nintendo. The game would have been radically different and likely entirely removed the multiplayer aspect.
2Resident Evil 2
To be fair, it’s the original version ofResident Evilthat started development on the Super Nintendo and while it’s not available on the Nintendo 64, its sequel is. The SNES take onResident Evilwas still frightening, but it was more in tune with old point-and-click adventure games. Moving development off of a 16-bit console allowedResident Evilto properly evolve as a horror franchise. The N64’s version ofResident Evil 2is viewed as one of the most ambitious video game ports ever made and it’s truly shocking that they could make it work with so little compromise.
1Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
Kirby 64markedKirby’ssolo debut on the Nintendo 64 and while it’s not the franchise’s peak, it’s a satisfying game that pushes the lovable character into 3D. Kirby has remained an important figure on Nintendo consoles, butKirby 64was initially developed for the N64’s Disk Drive peripheral. The failure of the 64DD led to development switching over to the N64 proper. However,Kirby 64’sdevelopment started in 1997, beforeKirby’s Dream Land 3was even released for the Super Nintendo. Due to this crossover, it’s likely the title might have briefly been considered for the SNES.
