r/N64Homebrew

The idea behind this project is to recreate every prerender in the game as actual N64 graphics that can run on actual N64 hardware, with as much detail as reasonably possible within those limits. Note that no AI was used anywhere in this project. Not for the graphics and not for the code. I've been working on this on and off for over a year now!

This project will be available as both a romhack that works on real N64 hardware (with the expansion pak) as well as a mod for the eventual Zelda 64 Recompiled update that will add Ocarina of Time support. It will cover ALL the 2D backgrounds in the game, every house and shop, but I started with the market precisely because it's the hardest part and I wasn't even sure if it was possible. The market is now completely seamless, meaning the entrance, market square, back alley and temple of time exterior are now all one scene with zero loading screens or transitions. (The music volume changes in the entrance, back alley and temple of time are preserved)

All the original fixed camera angles are preserved. You can press L at any time to switch between the original fixed camera, or a completely free camera so that you can explore the previously prerendered scenes from any angle.

You might notice NPC culling is quite aggressive in the footage. This will only happen if you're playing on actual N64 hardware AND you are in free camera mode. If you're playing the recomp version, or if the romhack version detects that it's running in an emulator rather than actual N64 hardware, or if you're on N64 but switch to fixed camera mode, then the NPCs will have the normal culling distance. This was a necessary concession for performance. I will try my best to optimize it to the point that it becomes unnecessary.

All the buildings also have LODs to make them lower detail at a distance. These LODs are only in the N64 version, the recomp version will feature all buildings at full distance from any distance.

As a bonus, I plan to add widescreen support to the N64 version (the recomp version already has it by default of course) since it now becomes possible for widescreen to work in the scenes that were previously prerendered. Note that enabling widescreen on real N64 hardware will reduce performance even further, although it's not a big difference.

Any feedback welcome!

Hey folks, sharing here a project I've been working on called Grandleon. It serves as an engine to create games similar to Fire Emblem, with a web editor to create the campaign with maps, units, cut scenes, etc.
It's still at fairly early stages, but I wanted to share and see if folks had any feedback. Issues, comments, contributions, etc. are all appreciated. Right now it can build a N64 rom as well as a PS1 disc, and the idea is to keep it multiplatform and possibly extend in the future. Including improvements to graphics (README has a few screenshots/animations, you can check out).
There's a sample game on the github page in the releases section if you want to test it out as well.

You probably have seen the v1 demo; now it's a legitimate game. The performance is actually decent too.

• Endless in every direction — no borders, no loading screens, no map edge
• Biomes: plains, forest, desert, jungle, highland, scree
• Oceans, lakes, rivers, mountains, cliffs, beaches, cave networks
• Day/night cycle with a tilted sun and real moon phases; moonlight actually lights the ground
• Four world shapes (classic, islands, skylands, flat)

Play

• Mine, place, and craft
• Wood/stone/iron tool tiers
• Each sword tier has a special on L + B: a lunge, a wide cleave, a shockwave
• Torches, doors, stairs, glass windows
• Hearts and hunger, fall damage, sprinting, swimming, ledge vaulting
• Hostile mobs at night that wind up visibly before they strike
• The Moon phase decides the night
• Sheep, pigs and chickens that track you, flee, breed and raise young
• Split-screen co-op for up to four players on one console
• 64MON: optional creature-collecting mod with turn-based battles

PLEASE I JUST NEED YOUTUBE ON THE N64!!!

The modretro M64 recently released some launch titles as cartridges. One of them, Xibalba 64 I am interested in but since I use a SummerCart64 I was wondering if the designer was releasing this as a digital purchase for the Rom?