The Nintendo 64 is an icon of the mid to late 90’s. The console is home to numerous multiplayer gems. Goldeneye, Mario Kart 64, Perfect Dark, Super Smash Bros, and Pokemon Stadium are just some of the titles that meant that the N64 was the best multiplayer console of its generation. The PSone won the console war of that generation in terms of sales, but it only accommodated two players out of the box (while the N64 had four controller ports). Many people used the PSone primarily as a CD player. I have so many memories of late-night, sugar-filled hijinks with friends as a child playing N64. The occasions had us all huddled around a CRT TV, engrossed in a race of Mario Kart 64, or a last-man-standing battle in Smash Bros. Unsurprisingly, Krickzz has decided to bring Everdrive to the N64. I have now extensively used the Everdrive 64 X7. Read on for my thoughts on the device and playing the N64 in 2024.
The N64 and Quality of Life Additions
The everdrive 64 X7 uses the same familiar layout and font as other Everdrive products such as the Everdrive GB X7. This clean presentation is easy to navigate and effective. In terms of the N64 hardware itself, one issue that has repeatedly reared its ugly head is how poor old hardware seems to perform compared to the Switch and PS5. Whether it’s getting a signal to form a picture on the Sega Megadrive, to flickering screens with the N64, we have a rose-tinted view of the old hardware. After much toil with a cheap N64 to HDMI converter, I decided to invest in purchasing an EON Super 64 Plug and Play HD adapter for £119. The Everdrive works well as a complimentary device to the EON HDMI converter. The Everdrive X7 allows easy access to your games and softens the blow of no quality-of-life improvements in regard to the old N64 and its archaic TV connection options.
Once you have gotten the N64 into gear and are greeted with a grainy, faded image (welcome to the 90’s), its easy to switch and load games from within the everdrive. I’ve been playing a lot of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and F-Zero X. The grainy look is how we all experienced cutting-edge games a few decades ago, and there is something quaint and authentic about the effect. The games are fun. Zelda is a great, sprawling adventure, while F-Zero X is an exhilarating, adrenaline-fueled futuristic racer. The Everdrive also offers the option to use cheats from the menu. I didn’t use the option but it could be useful if you wish to experience 100% of a game and are stuck at a certain point. A good feature of using a device like the Everdrive is that it allows us to play rom hacks on traditional hardware. So, fan-made Zelda games based on Zelda Ocarina of Time can be played on Everdrive.
Performance and Options
The Everdrive 64 X7 saves automatically as you save in the game. So, there’s no need to dive in and out of menus to save. This is a great addition, as it is similar to how the original N64 operated as you saved to a cartridge and then replaced the cartridge to play a different game (some games used the game memory pak but that’s a whole other issue). Also, unfortunately, the Everdrive 64 X7 does not support save states. The implementation of save states, which allow access to previous points in a playthrough, is a feature that exists on many other Everdrive products including the Everdrive GB X7. It is a huge disappointment that the feature isn’t available on the premium N64 Everdrive. Save states help players finish games by allowing them to have (in essence) infinite attempts. However, in terms of having a good collection of classic games that you can access at any time, and build your saves across multiple games, The Everdrive 64 X7 is the best device available for N64.
Classics
The N64 had a rather limited array of games available compared to its rivals (380 on N64, over 4000 on Sony PlayStation, and over 1000 on Sega Saturn), which was possibly due to the focus on 3D games on N64 which took longer to develop than 2D games. However, the system’s best twenty games are some of the most fun, polished, and impressive games to release on any system, ever. The Everdrive 64 X7 uses micro SD cards, and in theory, you could fit the whole N64 library on a 32 GB card, so you won’t need one bigger than that. The Everdrive supports both NTSC and PAL systems. I haven’t tried it with a Japanese console and I know some groups sell refurbished Japanese Nintendo 64 so be aware that the Everdrive might not work if you use a Japanese N64. Also, to play expansion-exclusive games (such as Donkey Kong 64 and Majora’s Mask) you will need the expansion pack inserted into the system. The emulation doesn’t conjure a way to play these games without the required expansion pak unfortunately.
Overall, the Everdrive will allow you to easily access classics like Super Mario 64, Goldeneye 007, and Zelda: Majora’s Mask at the click of a button, with the possibility of playing homebrewed games. If you can look past no option for save states and want a flash cart for your N64 to get into authentic retro gaming, then the Everdrive is a device that will crack open the library of a groundbreaking console and comes strongly recommended.
BongoBongo123 is an avid Zelda fan who also likes the odd game of Smash. His interests in gaming are broad but he loves a good Metroidvania or action RPGs.
Great advice!
wow, thanks