A Review/ Shout-out of Smash Remix (ROM hack of Smash 64): The Most Impressive Ode to the N64/ 90s Gaming Out There
When I first got into retro gaming and started replaying my favorite childhood games, one of the most underwhelming revisits was original Super Smash Bros for the N64. The 1P Classic mode was repetitive, the other content was barebones, and it only took me about 2-3 hours to unlock/ do everything in the game. It just wasn't the endless amount of fun I remembered it being with my friends growing up.
Smash Remix is a hack of Smash 64 that aims to make your childhood nostalgia of it being the ultimate N64 crossover fighting game a reality, by adding in a bunch original/ newer-Smash features while focusing on retaining the 90s charm of the original. The new content is MASSIVE, but the general TLDR rundown is this:
29 additional fighters (18 "base" fighters, plus 11 boss/ alternate fighters), including later Smash veterans like Sonic, Banjo, and Marth, and even some never-before-seen N64 favorites like Conker or Slippy Toad, all unlocked from the start
85 unique stage locations, including all of Smash 64's locked stages, popular later Smash stages like Hyrule Castle/ Pokemon Stadium, and even some completely originally maps based on popular N64/ 90s era games. Everything from Mario Kart to Doom to the freaking Virtual Boy is represented here. Many of these stages have different toggleable variations and layouts, allowing for tons of customization/ replayability
11 new items, including original items like 007's Golden Gun
a better 1P Classic Mode called Remix 1P; AllStar Mode, Multiman Mode, Home-Run Contest from Melee as well as customization of basically everything
new music/ toggleable playlist function in the pause menu
despite all this added content, it still works on ACTUAL HARDWARE (albeit only with the expansion pack)
While all this extra content is impressive, the intentionality and level of thought/ detail is what takes Smash Remix from a good hack to a great hack. Outside of a few future-game clone fighters/ stages added early in development, the Remix team worked really to make this an authentic tribute to 90s/ N64 gaming, even if it meant changing some of new veteran fighters movesets or adding in new original fighters from that era. Young Link, a generic clone in Melee, has a new look with his Majora's Mask sword/ shield and Bombchu's to make him to stand out to OG Link. Wario's moveset is mostly inspired by his Wario Land abilities. As mentioned above, Conker and entire Star Fox team (including Slippy and Peppy) as well as several other newcomers from the 90s make their Smash debut, many of whom have their own unique movesets/ strengths/ weakness/ quirks and don't feel derivative at all.
This level of care is apparent in more that just the fighters. Not only does each stage have its own unique playlist of songs, also many have little design features that make them feel legit. The Mario Kart levels play the Ready, Set, Go beeps at the start of a match. On the Pokemon Stadium maps, the Pokemon Stadium announcer will actively respond and commentate on the fight. Dracula's Castle has a variation that is just the stage upside down in reference to the Inverse Castle from Symphony of the Night. Heck, even their Update videos on their YouTube channel are always framed around a specific N64 game and riddled with Easter Eggs (a fun watch if you have time).
As far as criticisms go, the only major complaint is that somes Stages with high levels of movement/ changes (i.e. Pokefloats, Big Blue, etc) are probably best played versus mostly human players or with the movement turned off against CPs, as the CPs can sometimes struggle to navigate all the moving pieces. However, I feel this is more of a limitation of the base game/ N64-era AI being asked to do more than it was programmed to do, rather than a fault of the hack itself. Other than that, despite how expansive and deep this hack is, the gameplay has always been smooth and I've never had had a major glitch or bug happen in all my hours of playing.
All in all, Smash Remix is one of the best N64 ROM hacks out there and is one of those enhancement hacks that genuinely leaves you no reason to return to vanilla. I would highly recommend giving Smash Remix a shot, especially if you grew up/ are a fan of the Smash 64/ Smash series, are a looking for a fun party game for a retro game night/ 90s nostalgia night, or just intrigued by this new take on a old classic.
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