N64

Mischief Makers

Coded by the talented Japanese codeshop Treasure, Mischief Makers was perhaps destined to be a relative unknown in the UK. A fusion of old-school design briefs fused with esoteric, colourful sprites and backdrops, it's a real joy to play. It could be its eccentricity that led to Mischief Makers' downfall - the tastes of Western gamers are becoming increasingly sober - but it didn't enjoy a fraction of the recognition it deserved.

Yoshi's Story

'Brilliant... but not quite as good as we expected' was the general critical consensus when Nintendo released Yoshi's Story. Beautiful to look at, and immensely fun to play, Story was a mark short of the ingenuity we've all come to expect from the big N. It's surprising, though, that it didn't sell half as well as you might expect for an 'own brand' Nintendo game.

Mystical Ninja starring Goemon

There are perhaps two reasons for why Mystical Ninja has found its way into so few homes. The first is its price. At around £60 a shot on first release, it was a mite expensive. Furthermore, when Nintendo announced near-universal price cuts last year, Mystical Ninja dropped to a still-hefty £50. Nonetheless, it's a game that should have fared better - prior to the release of Banjo-Kazooie, it counted only Mario as a rival in the 3D adventure stakes.

Silicon Valley

Original, packed with detail and wonderfully playable - that's Silicon Valley. Aesthetically, it's acceptable, and occasionally charming. Rarely, though, does it look any better than most first-generation N64 games you care to mention. Could that be the reason for its poor showing in a games store near you? Or is its Paradroid-like remit a mite too complex and surreal for the fickle modern gamer? We should be told.

Body Harvest

Last week, Gremlin announced a variety of price cuts on selected titles in their inventory. Shockingly, Body Harvest was dropped to a mere £30 price point. The reason? People just weren't buying it - or, at very least, not to the extent Gremlin would hope for. It's a damn shame. Like DMA stablemate Silicon Valley, Body Harvest is one of the most refreshingly unique videogames released in recent years. If you own an N64, you really should own this game, too. It's ace.