Nintendo 64 Graphics [RANT MODE]

The Parvinator revives the RANT MODE segment to tackle a persistent narrative about the N64's graphics being unintentionally 'scary' or 'liminal,' or any other cliché descriptors used by KZbinrs and creepypastas.
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This is an excerpt from a live, unscripted GAMER NEWS segment aired on April 17, 2024. You can find the full gaming/podcast stream here: kzbin.info2WWMotKl9bU?...
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The Parvinator, America's No. 1 Online Video Game Personality, can be found streaming on Twitch and KZbin (M, W, F, Su: 7:30 EST / 4:30 PST).

[@Caun-88]

This is like me growing up in the 90s finding 1970s cartoons weird and "off".

[@the_parvinator]

Oh, that's an interesting analogy, and one that hits home. I'd like to hereby apologize to my uncle for telling him that I thought Hannah Barbara cartoons were weird. I was a kid, sure, but that's no excuse. Maybe what I'm feeling now is what he felt in 1997 on that dark night at Mr. Gatti's Pizza.

[@scottoleson1997]

I think liminal spaces are fascinating, mostly because they really started from the early 3D games and trying to find out of bound areas and exploring outside the map. Halo 2 has a really interesting one in the first level, where you go outside in low gravity, you can jump around and go way outside the intended areas. Perfect place for a skull

[@LOS_NEGRITOS]

low poly graphics are scary my brother in christ and all of what is holy on this earth universe and realm of existence, WHAT IN THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN

[@therobotandjj]

“Some of it’s supposed to scare you” [low angle shot of low-poly Bowser double chin]

[@ChaosAttorney]

liminal spaces are more of just a familiar feeling place that feels off, like an empty school hallway, it’s off because you’re used to people filling the halls of that school… some people however have misused the name so badly… so with that being said, N64 doesn’t have much of a liminal space feel

[@scottoleson1997]

The PS1 had “dirtier” graphics, but I think they look better as a whole. The Driver series still looks good today. I never grew up with them, but playing them in 2018, I had no nostalgia but just loved it. Gran Turismo 2, MGS, Colin McRae Rally, NFS Porsche Unleashed… these games still look pretty good in 2024, considering they’re all ~25 years old.

[@the_parvinator]

Oh absolutely, there are some fantastic graphics on the PS1. I think Final Fantasy IX is the first that comes to mind for me, but you listed some great examples. I was definitely a Nintendo fanboy during that generation of games, and would've never admitted this to some of my friends/rivals, but I always respected the PSX. And I grew to love it once I eventually bought one (might've been around the time of the PS2 launch).

[@scottoleson1997]

@@the_parvinator yeah same. I wasn’t reading yet when I was playing SNES, but for me the Xbox was so realistic, so impactful, and the strange green hell void… the 360 and One UI never came close. Dreamcast is amazing as well, but I never tried one until 2020. I’m 26, so I never got to play systems like the Saturn, but love the PS1 era because those are the first 3D games I played after SNES.

[@jurassicarkjordanisgreat1778]

I feel like alot of people are just tricking themselves into thinking the past is scary because they don't understand it that well. fear comes from the unknown. I never found liminal spaces or old graphics from early 2000s games scary or uncanny. I always felt comfort around them. Maybe its because I grew up playing halo 3.

[@Mentherex]

Its more accurate to compare n64 graphics to atari graphics instead of snes. N64 was the very beginning of 3d and snes was the very end

[@the_parvinator]

That's a good point. The SFC/SNES was pretty much the pinnacle of the old 2D sprite styles, but the N64/PS1's 3D art was akin to a total aesthetic reset. A lot of the devs and artists were having to learn to design 3D games on the fly. The Gamecube and PS2 really benefitted from the strong foundation built by the previous generation. That foundation didn't come easily, though, and it didn't always look beautiful. Some generation of games/devs had to be the first to really focus on 3D, and I'm thankful that I got to experience that transition as a kid.

[@scottoleson1997]

I’ll definitely say the first time I played Mario Kart 64, I was in 8th grade, thought the game was eerily quiet especially with the huge amount of reverb with the voices. Somehow I managed to beat everyone in the tournament, and I’m not that good at Mario Kart games lol. I play racing games, and Mario Kart 64 handles way differently than the other games.

[@the_parvinator]

I had forgotten until somewhat recently that the game won't play music during 3 or 4-player races. Just voiceover, SFX, and with everything dripping in reverb. I could understand how many folks would find it creepy, but it's also kinda meditative. And as much as I love the music from that game, it's nice to be able to hear the panic in your opponent's voice or hear them huff and puff as they missed a powerup or fell off the track.

[@scottoleson1997]

@@the_parvinator playing that game is like hitting duster and trying to drive. Not recommended, unless you’re a sadomasochist lol

[@RayRay-Sagan-Tank]

This guy.. what a bro. I discovered you today, such a chill channel.. keep it up bruv.

[@the_parvinator]

Thank you for watching! My schedule's a bit funky this week since I have some family visiting, but I'm really looking forward to getting back to streaming / clipping. Should have some more stuff on the way soon!

[@hardyjoe4278]

I remember going to a local boys and girls club and getting to experience most of these games with the other kids there. Of course I use to sneak my games in there to play, lmao! I was scared to go underwater in some of the games such as Banjo Kazooie. Rusty bucket bay was the scariest.

[@the_parvinator]

Thanks for sharing those Boys & Girls Club memories. I remember going with a friend to a similar after-school program in town and I was blown away because they had a game room with a Nintendo 64 (Goldeneye!), Playstation (1), and the just-launched Dreamcast. And as a kid from the country/burbs, I thought the folks there were so cool and punk. I didn't want to go home!

[@step2058]

Some of the best graphics and best innovation of any console second only to the Playstation 1.

[@crestofhonor2349]

Innovation and graphics? I'd say no to both. More experimentation that worked on the PS2 and Gamecube with 3D than the PS1 and N64

[@Tofuuuuuu]

read your name as the pervinator don't know why you didn't go with that name in the first place tbh

[@crestofhonor2349]

I don't find early 3D graphics scary or any more scary. If anything I find them goofy for some of the things they were doing. Personally I don't care for the look of many 3D games of this era, especially on the N64. They don't carry that charm that people say they do to me because I didn't grow up with them. I see these games as looking overly dated. I much prefer 2D graphics of this era

[@lucetubegplusstillsux2678]

I always liked the 64 over the PS1 since due to a lower polygon threshold and almost no texture filtering the PS1 just looked jagged and twitchy which can add to the horror vibes in the right context. 64 aged worse though due to not being really compatible with modern TVs and looking super blurry in an era where we love crisp pixels. I love both for being experimental since by the PS2/Gamecube they really figured out what worked and stopped experimenting as much.

[@InsideOutAnus]

PS1 could push just as many polygons in practice as the N64; devs just wasted a lot of it on subdividing surfaces.

[@AtticusJacksonASMR]

Grew up with N64 and never found anything about it scary. Maybe people should just stop watching so many "liminal" analog horror youtube videos.

[@3dsduck]

yeah, nice