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It’s hard to imagine that the n64 fighting games has been around for 21 years.

When it came out, the industry was opened to a new generation of 3D gaming. That meant every type of game was able to be distributed with 3D technology, elevating graphics for the time. With this new technology came new games that would go on to redefine the genres they represented.

One genre that is often overlooked, when thinking back on the N64, is fighting. Everyone always seems to remember the big RPG’s such as Zelda: Ocarina of Time, racing games like Mario Kart 64, or the industry-altering shooters Goldeneye 64 and Perfect Dark.

But the N64 was home to some great fighting games, and if you’ve happened to forget, here’s a good reminder.

The Best N64 Fighting Games Comparison Table

Sure, it may seem like a tall task to talk about the best games on N64, for any genre, but it can be done. There were plenty of different titles released for the N64 that paved the way for the future of the console, and their respective titles. Many games on this list should spark some memories of long sessions with friends, provided you’ve played them.

N64 Fighting Games Were Unique

While there were plenty of fighters to choose from on the N64, the biggest takeaway here is that there were some unique, truly special titles released during this time. Sure, other games may be interesting fighters, but our list combines high level play with lasting appeal. Many games may not hold up over time, but we feel the titles above do.

So that’s our list of the best fighting games released on the N64. We may have missed your personal favorite, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be your favorite fighter. It may not even be considered a fighting game, by some.

So, it finally happened.The earth shattering, life-changing event that everyone dreads: your Atari Jaguar controller broke. What does that mean for you? No worries, as the standard controller will set you back a couple bucks. 

But what happens if it was a coveted Pro controller? Most likely you’ll have to fork over some cash to find another one. No one wants to do that though.

Why are the controllers so expensive? It really has to do with production.

The Atari Jaguar is a home console that, to most people’s surprise, didn’t sell well. The problem wasn’t the hardware itself, which was advanced enough to warrant purchase. The issue stemmed from lack of marketing and no third-party support. Selling only 250,000 units in its lifespan, the console was a failure.

What does that do to the aftermarket price then of peripherals? It sky rockets them, specifically the ones you need to play Nintendo N64 Racing Games or any other games.

Replacing an Atari Jaguar Controller Can Be Tricky

While the name of the Atari Jaguar was catchy, the controller wasn’t. Often credited with the title of “Worst Controller Design of All Time,” the Atari Jaguar controller didn’t look amazing, mostly due to having a lot of buttons. The plastic was light, but solidly constructed, proving to have a long lifespan if it was taken care.

But if it does break, the options are straightforward: buy a new one, which can cost a lot of money, or fix it yourself. Even if you want to open the controller up and see what’s not working anymore–which we’ll discuss later–there’s no guarantee the issue is fixable.

The parts are often not available anymore, or the problem may take more time to solve than is warranted. What that means is that replacement is pretty much the only option,

So How Can You Get a New One?

This part may be easier than you think. Nowadays, in the time where anyone can make something if they put their mind to, plenty of people have been cooking up ideas to make another Atari Jaguar controller. You can buy another standard edition of the Best SNES RPGs of All Time, but where’s the fun in that?

If you aren’t partial to the standard controller, then the good people over at AtariAge have revived the Pro version with its own production campaign. That’s right, for a couple of bucks, this new version of Atari Jaguar Pro controller can be yours.

It looks practically identical to the old one and will sport new parts and molds. If you’re looking to order one, all you must do is reach out via email and your name is put onto the list for them. The products won’t ship until production is complete, and nothing will be charged either.

If you need the real deal, though, it’s possible to obtain one with a box, just keep in mind the price you will be paying for it.

If You’d Rather Fix It Yourself, You (Potentially) Can

If you’re a hands-on type of person, or a machinist looking for a bit of a challenge, there are ways to open and repair your controller. If the problem has to do with movement, you’re probably going to have to replace the whole thing, as a critical pin, one that controls movement or button presses, is probably broke.

However, if it’s a connection issue then the problem could be attributed to the cable which connects the controller to the system. If this is the case, it’s possible to buy a simple cable and remove the old one, with some finagling of course.

If the issue has to do with the buttons, the controllers are malleable in terms of the buttons you can put in them. Seriously, lots of players would replace the standard buttons with other console’s controllers, such as the Sega Saturn. It’s a cheap, easy fix, or can be, but not recommended for everyone.

Don’t Lose Hope If Your Atari Jaguar Controller Breaks

It’s always a bummer when something you’ve enjoyed or cherished malfunctions after some time. Most video game collectors and retro players often take care of their stuff, but in the off event that an issue arises, you have options.

Thankfully prices are cheap on the standard Underrated PS2 Games and Atari Jaguar controller, and there are newfound options for the Pro variant. If you find yourself needing a replacement Jaguar controller to keep playing Tempest 2000, don’t fret.

The Nintendo 64 may just have some of the best racing games a console can offer. Yes, we said it. The N64 racing games is worth a lengthy review. 

The N64 housed plenty of great games, across multiple different genres, but racing was one of its biggest draws. The definitive party console, at the time, no one loved anything more than hunkering down for the night with some friends and a racing cartridge.

But which ones to choose?

That was the question many players often had to ask themselves. Having such a robust library can, sometimes, lead to these first-world type problems, but it also is a blessing. Not every console is gifted quality games like the N64, especially in the racing genre.

Top 7 N64 Racing Games : Comparison Table

All N64 Racing Games are Not Created Equal

Before we start the list, it’s worth noting that there are going to be a few different-styled racers on board. For us, a racing game is defined as grabbing a cart, truck, or even jet ski, and taking it through the turns. Be it by land, or by sea, if you’re racing a clock, A.I., or other players, we consider it a bona fide racer.

Our list will include some of the most popular games for the console, as well as titles that you may not have heard of. That’s fine, as there are always games that may have missed your radar, but hopefully shining some light on them can help you if you’re ever looking to revisit the N64.

What are some of our favorite N64 racing games? Let’s take a look.

Best N64 Racing Games: Final Thoughts

While Nintendo was home to some amazing games during its time, the genre of racing found a unique home on the console. They totally stepped up to having the best N64 racing games. 

In an era where graphics and gameplay were becoming king, the N64 developers found a way to crank the most out of the system, all while producing quality racing games that were fresh. Between the combination of sequels and new, challenging games, the racing category was squarely in Nintendo’s court.

Finding your favorite racing game also wasn’t too hard, as plenty of people valued different styles of gameplay. This meant that even if you weren’t a fan of Excitebike 64 or the elegance of Ridge Racer, there was something for you. That makes a console special, and racing with the N64 controller never gets old.

Get out there and throw some bananas.

More on finding the best video games not just from Nintendo: The 10 Best SNES RPGs of All Time | The 17 Best Atari 2600 Games | Best Dreamcast Games | Console Spotlight: Intellivision Flashback: Rare Video Game (Review)

Homebrew: a term that defines a video game Battle Kid Fortress of Peril that was created for a specific platform, by an individual or team of developers.

Some homebrew games can be great, while others fall squarely short of expectations. Most of the joy, though, for the developers comes from simply completing the project. Think about it: if you’re just an average person, or video game hobbyist, wouldn’t it be neat to make your own game and see others play it?

Indeed, the homebrew community has never been stronger, and we’ll be seeing more games for the years to come.

But today, we’re going to be talking about a specific title that was created back in 2010. That game? Battle Kid Fortress of Peril. Before we dive into our review though, let’s take a brief tour on the history of homebrewing.

Battle Kid Fortress of Peril is a Special Homebrew Title

One look at the game’s box art and it’s safe to say that the game belongs on the NES. Let’s be honest: when a game is titled something odd like Battle Kid Fortress of Peril, you know it calls home on a retro console.

The original release of the 2D platformer was back in February 2010. Instead of the standard digital release onto an emulator-based file, the game did something a little different: a cartridge-only release. The team behind it was developer Sivak Games, and publisher Retrozone for NES, with the box art being designed by the popular YouTube personality Larry Bundy Jr.

The flip side of this is that the actual cartridge is a translucent green, paying homage to the days when Nintendo would manufacture different colored games for specific titles. This also makes the game highly-collectible to any NES completionist.

Of course, there has been demand for the game to be released via a downloadable version, but the developer has stated that it probably won’t happen due to a contractual obligation Sivak has with Retrozone.

What started as a passion project quickly became much more for Sivak. Will the first major platformer released for the NES since 1995 be a hit, or will it fall at its own expectations?

The Standard Story of Find and Defeat

The overview of the game makes it seem like a very intimidating adventure from the start. Totaling 550 rooms, 30 enemy types, and eight bosses, there is a lot to do within Battle Kid’s walls. That might sound tough, and honestly, it is.

Plot wise, the game centers around an old building that an unknown group has gained control of. Timmy must infiltrate that fortress–Fortress II’Akab, nicknamed the Fortress of Peril– to stop the group’s plans of developing a “supermech” from the magical properties. All of this is presented as text at the beginning of the game and gives a reason for the madness.

Even though there are five different difficulty settings, the game should be played on its normal difficulty. Sivak mentioned that, while being an avid NES collector and gamer himself, harder games were something he held dear to his heart. So, crafting a game where death is one hit by anyone made sense. The difficulties, when stepping up to harder gameplay, take away continues, and the Unfair difficulty is particularly, well, unfair, giving you no continues and no password saves.

He tried to alleviate some of the hardship by giving players save states to load from, and this does help. There is also a password system in place to access secret levels, and the saves are easily accessible when needed, which is quite often.

Just make sure to write down your save, or else you may not remember it!

Timmy Versus Everything Else

The gameplay mechanics are designed around a main character, named Timmy, who possess a projectile weapon that enables you to defeat enemies. Through all the different rooms, you’ll have to guide Timmy around in typical 2D platformer fashion, making sure to time your movements are the different enemies. Some may shoot at you with a secret eye socket, while others are simply there to force you into a different area.

In order to advance through the game itself, you must find different keys to unlock specific areas within the fortress. The keys you can find also provide enhancements to Timmy, which are necessary to overcoming specific obstacles. This was nice, as forcing the player to explore is always a plus.

There was, originally, in with the first version of the game, a few secrets to be found. For starters, there was a glitch in the game’s code that allowed the player to become invincible. You can imagine how this would disrupt the original intentions of Sivak. The other bug had to do with sound implementation but wasn’t game breaking.

Overall, the controls felt tight, and it seems the time put in gave way to an easy-to-handle game. While certain retro games can’t hold up due to controls, being made in 2010 gives Battle Kid Fortress of Peril an edge in appealing to the new generation of gamers.

Graphically Advanced and Solid Sound Design

While it’s fine to have excellent gameplay that isn’t too repetitive, a game must have good enough graphics and sound to keep someone interested. Thankfully, Battle Kid just does that.

Attributing this to being created within the confines of modern, not archaic, technology, this NES game looks great, and clearly work went into providing a unique sound profile. The sprites used for the enemies, level design, and bosses are exquisite. All of the animation is fluid, and the game performs remarkably on either a PC, or the actual NES system.

The sound, on the other hand, is exceptional. It rattles the brain to think about how someone, by themselves, could come up with sound design for a game that all fits together like pieces in a puzzle. There are specific sounds for almost every action, and all the bosses are represented by that fact.

From the opening title screen, you know the sound is legitimate.

Are the Bosses Actually Challenging?

In short, definitely.

After navigating through a few different rooms, you’ll find yourself within the first of eight boss battles.

The game is engaging enough to take a solid amount of time too. As if the content wasn’t apparent, the length of the game is about 18 hours strong. That is a lot of gameplay and deaths thrown into a small package, only adding to the value here.

All of the bosses are unique, and truly require patience to master and defeat them. From Owlbot, a giant robotic owl, to the Seahorse Turret, they’re all different. All the bosses also have names, which is neat, meaning fans don’t have to come up with their own. Being different also requires the player to use specific moves and calculations to beat them. The bosses also have of sense of scale to them.

The more you die the more you should be able to memorize about a boss or level. This will come in handy, especially with later bosses, where you fight underwater or against multiple enemies at a time.

When it was all told, the game is a technical marvel.

Battle Kid Fortress of Peril: The Physical Game

By now, you know that the game is made in a physical, transparent green cartridge. This is done by taking all new parts of the cartridge and putting them together via a new distributor. Thus, no old cartridges are harmed in the making of the game.

This was important to Sivak, so that’s what he did. The game is still available for purchase today. At a very reasonable price, the price seems pretty good for the game you’re getting.

The Legacy of Battle Kid

Developer Sivak Games went on to make a second Battle Kid game in 2012, titled Battle Kid 2: Mountain of Torment. Taking a step up from the previous title, the new game featured 650 rooms, 13 total boss encounters, 25 enemies, and 42 handmade music tracks. Needless to say, this wouldn’t have been doable had the first game not been successful.

Of course, the game was released as a physical only copy as well, having a fully teal transparent shell. The game design is a continuation of the original, meaning the adventure carries over.

Why does this all matter? Well, to see a homebrewed release go on to receive such a high following is impressive. Moreover, the fact that the developer spent a solid amount of time–two years– polishing and finishing the game. Sivak wanted to create an experience that was like other platformers of the time it was set.

He did just that.

It has also been noted that there is a third Battle Kid game in the works, though no official details have been released yet.

Why Do People Homebrew the NES

The NES, home to some of the games that have since gone on to spawn countless iterations. There are also some games that, when released, weren’t highly thought of. It was Nintendo’s baby, and they wanted nothing more than to make most of their own games for it.

Yet frequently, especially in recent years, more developers have ramped up their game creations for the NES system. Why is that?

Simple?

The system’s architecture allows most people the simplicity of creating a game in a reasonable timeframe. Rather than take up two years of someone’s life, an NES game can be made in a matter of weeks, or even hours. The only drawback to homebrewing on the NES is that the physical cartridges are difficult to create.

Also, while it may seem interesting that a console would allow these fan-created titles to play on the system, Nintendo removed a lockout chip further into the NES’s lifespan. This made it easier for players to have games from all around the world, including the ones made in basement.

Battle Kid Fortress of Peril: Final Thoughts

While it may seem impossible to want to buy a cartridge in the digital era, Battle Kid Fortress of Peril is a fine game, and one that any enthusiast should play.

The idea that it’s a difficult-but-not-too-difficult platformer with great looking graphical animations, solid level design, an intriguing story, and just outright fun on the NES. Passion is why people get lost in video games, so it’s always good to see something come from that.

Seriously, the game holds up very well, and goes to show you the genius that some people have. The ROM is available online now for emulators, so it’s not terribly hard to find. If you’re a fan of 8-bit games, the NES era, or competitive platformers, Battle Kid Fortress of Peril should be on the top of your list of games to play next.

More on interesting list of video games: The 10 Best SNES RPGs of All Time | Best Dreamcast Games | The 17 Best Atari 2600 Games | Console Spotlight: Intellivision Flashback: Rare Video Game (Review) | GameCube Hidden Gems: 14 Top Rare Video Games (Reviews)