So I finally went N-Gage

[DaytonaUSA]

I feel like I've been there done that with nearly every console that interests me. Not to say that I'm bored, I love the plethora of games and systems that I own. But it's hard for me to go into a used game store and be surprised by much these days.

 

But today that changed. I ended up finding a sealed/new copy of Colin Mcrae Rally 2005 on the N-Gage at one of my local stores today. I know enough about the N-Gage to know it's one of the harder to find titles, but what really got me interested was that I love this series (before it became "Dirt" and subsequently sucked...) and is one of my most prized games on my original Xbox despite the fact it's not rare on that system... it's just so fun.

 

Rally games are something I grew up with, and after I whipped out my phone and looked at some gameplay footage (extremely good racing game for the N-Gage!) I asked to see the game. It didn't have a price sticker on it, and I asked what it was priced at and the clerk told me it would be $10. I worked him down to $8, and went to my Jeep all excited about my purchase, only shortly thereafter realizing I had nothing to play it on.

 

So ... I've gone on a bender. I've bought a new N-Gage QD, and several games. These include Sonic N, Pandemonium!, Tony Hawk Pro Skater, System Rush, Atari Masterpieces I, MotoGP, PuyoPop, Tiger Woods, and Fifa 2005.... all new and sealed.

 

System Rush looks amazing (I love Tron and Wip3out), Pandemonium! was one of my favorite Saturn games, and Atari Masterpieces have such titles as Battlezone and Lunar Lander... two of the best Atari games ever produced!

 

I can't wait to play the system, and it's fun to be able to get into a system that I know enough about, but never bothered owning. I kinda regret not gobbling up these games at GameStop when the system went under, but most of these games were dirt cheap and I got great deals even on the more expensive ones.

 

The ones I want the most now are King of Fighters Extreme, Asphalt, Bomberman and Crash Nitro Kart. I hope I'll find copies soon, but until then I really can't wait to play these games.

 

 

 

I'm the type of gamer who thinks early 3D graphics are the best, so a handheld that has this "look" to it, really speaks to me. Oh, and thanks to previous N-Gage posters who helped me with their old posts. Helped me figure out what games to look into for my game tastes.

[Austin]

MotoGP is garbage. Sorry, had to get that out of the way first.

 

With Sonic N, remember to hit the # key to make the game full-screen, otherwise it only takes up about half the screen. I think it's the # key anyway.. it's been a while since I've played it.

 

Pandemonium is good but it lacks the in-game music and FMV of the Saturn and PS1 versions. Kind of underwhelming in that regard, but it looks and plays well.

 

Tony Hawk is really solid. Decent framerate and it has all the music and visuals from the PS1 game. It may take a little while to get used to the controls (four tiny number keys smashed next to each other) but you'll eventually be pulling off long chains just like in the console versions.

 

Colin McRae is a fantastic game. It has excellent visuals, great physics, and is addictive if you like rally games. It's one of the best games on the system.

 

System Rush looks quite good but I can't comment because it's one of the few N-Gage titles I haven't actually played.

 

As far as some others you want, they are a mixed bag. King of Fighters Extreme looks good but runs at a choppy framerate compared to the Neo Geo ones you are likely familiar with. Asphalt is great but the DS version runs at a much smoother framerate and it's easier to get. Bomberman feels like a quick cell phone port unfortunately and isn't anything special at all (shame, I was hoping for Super Bomberman quality here, which the N-Gage could have easily pulled off). Crash Nitro Kart is solid, looks good and plays well but ultimately falls short due to the vertical screen orientation of the N-Gage's display.

 

Some games you'll want to look out for are Glimmerati (top-down racer), Mile High Pinball (late release so it's very rare, but it's good), Super Monkey Ball (it's a little choppy but it's super fun), Tomb Raider (shares some of the same issues as Pandemonium, i.e., no music and FMV, but it looks and plays well), Ashen (at least, if you want a good tech demo; it looks great), and probably a lot more if I put more thought into it (just sort of doing this all off the top of my head).

 

Oh, and buy a MMC card and find the free game "Snakes". It is a classic/retro remake in the same vein of games like Tempest 2000. It's one of the best games on the system and was 100% free back in the day. You can still find it on the web and transfer it to a MMC card to play on the system.

[Austin]

I'd like to add, if there is anything else you are thinking of buying you might want to ask here first. There are a lot of N-Gage games that look great in screens, but ultimately play like ass (*cough* Red Faction *cough*). Get a second opinion first.

[BillyHW]

Does it still work as a phone?

[DaytonaUSA]

It should still work as a phone, but I'm not really looking to downgrade haha. For games though it'll be fun.

 

Yeah, I'm definitely aware of the issues you brought up. Lack of music, choppiness, etc. Maybe its the box art, who knows, just want to try it. Thanks for the snakes reference. I love tempest. Speaking of which I really hope the Atari masterpiece game runs well. There's like two reviews out there, which make it sound good, but really no videos. We shall see!

 

Grimmerati didn't look good, but if it's fun ill give it a shot. I really want monkey ball but held off because it looked very choppy and I was afraid that meant it wouldn't control well. If it controls well though ill buy it. I love pinball, but its over 80 bucks. It really is a shame. I'd love to try it, but I don't see me ever spending that much for ANY pinball game.

 

System Rsh looks amazing and has great reviews. And yeah, Colon Mcrae ....cant wait to play it! Being the Sega guy I am I so desperately want Sega Rally, but it is just so bad! I know it's rare, but you'd think its suckiness would drive the ridiculous price down.

 

The rest ill try in time and are pretty cheap. I'll go buy Monkey Ball now. But even if it's choppy you have no idea how much I want kof. Fingers crossed I run across it!

[DaytonaUSA]

Oh and yeah. Saw red faction was horrible. Elder scrolls looks....passable, but it is too pricy to try. That kingdom game might have promise. Do you like that one? And there's a couple rpgs on the system, one being a strategy game, that people seem to love. I'm not into games like fore emblem but everyone says its the best game on the system. Figured it's worth trying at least I guess ...

[Austin]

The Atari Masterpieces collections are fine. All of the games play well in both compilations. I believe you can unlock some 2600 titles as well.

 

Elder Scrolls is pretty bad. It looks good and has a good concept, but it's just too damn choppy and sluggish.

 

Pocket Kingdom is good but it's a little tough and it's seriously cumbersome to outfit your army. Very time consuming (and not in a good way). Think of it as a poor man's Dragon Force.

 

If you like RPGs, the X-Men Legends games are good. Xanadu had potential and has decent visuals but it also has a seriously wonky combat system (half your hits don't actually connect). It's more frustrating than not, I'd avoid. Requiem of Hell is a dark Diablo-esque action RPG. I recommend it, but with a walkthrough and practice (it can be very hard if you aren't familiar with how it operates). The Roots is a Gauntlet-esque action RPG. It's a little clunky but I found it very addictive once I got used to it. There are some tactical RPGs as well, like RIFTS. Haven't played that one in particular as it's kind of rare (it's a late release).

 

Pathway to Glory is a good turn based strategy series. Both have very high production values and show what kind of quality you could get on the N-Gage. The first one in particular should be common. Not a game for everyone either.

 

Monkey Ball is choppy but it runs well enough and plays well. It may take a few moments to get used to but you should be blazing through the courses in no time.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Austin

[+atari2600land]

I have a lot of N-Gage games. I just don't have the money to buy games for $100 each. And eBay has a lot of them. But out of the attainable games, I like Puyo Pop and Crash Nitro Kart, even though it's kind of choppy. I should really play the N-Gage more, it's a great handheld.

[DaytonaUSA]

What's really weird about Atari Masterpiece is that the first volume has the best games by far, yet isn't worth as much as the second volume. I find the games in the second volume (even the 2600 games that are unlockable) to be nothing much of note.

 

Is worth on N-Gage games really only down to how late the game was released? I know release quantity makes things rare, but if the game isn't good, why would it matter? Take Sega Rally. It's a freakin' train wreck and make games like Colin Mcrae look like freakin Xbox games by comparison. Yet it commands over $300 on eBay simply because it was released late and in only one territory. WTF?

 

Yeah, Crash Nitro Kart looks a bit choppy, but I've played it on Android (was equally choppy in its port). I found it enjoyable then, so I think it would still be fun on the N-Gage.

 

I'll give Roots a looksy. Glad I picked up Puyo Pop .

 

 

 

EDIT:

 

Wait, you said I could put Snakes on a MCC card. Can I put Payload and other hard to find/unreleased games on there?

Edited January 14, 2015 by DaytonaUSA

[DaytonaUSA]

Hey, this "Payload" game, the last car combat game released, looks really interesting. One review says it was released, but I'm not entirely sure. I can't find copies for sale. Any clue what this one goes for?

[Austin]

I believe Payload was a download only. I don't think it was ever released on a card.

 

As far as copying games to a MMC, I'm not sure if it works. I'd think it would. It's something I've been meaning to look into for a while actually. I sold my entire N-Gage collection (minus my QD system) so I've got nothing to play. I'd like to bust out some N-Gage games again though but can't justify the cost of building a new collection.

 

As far as the expensive games go, yes, generally speaking the late release games are the most expensive. At the end of the line Nokia wasn't offering many of their games at retail (at least not here in the 'States). As such they were available mail order only and likely in very small quantities. That's why you rarely see games like Rifts, Cataan, Civilization, Mile High Pinball and others pop up for sale (or if they are, they are rarely cheap). The Atari Masterpieces Volume 2 was one of those later mail-only releases. The Volume 1 collection I believe came out a little bit earlier. It's a little bit easier to find but is still far from common.

 

You know how rarity works though. If a game is really rare, it's going to be expensive even if it's garbage. Collectors need it for their collections and so they will always be costly.

 

Sega Rally was an earlier release, by the way, not a later one. It was only available overseas though and my guess is in very limited quantities. It's a playable game, it's just not very good. I've owned it on multiple occasions.

 

Keep a very, very close eye out and you can find some deals.

 

As far as Crash Nitro Cart, it's not choppy, if I recall correctly. Monkey Ball is, but Crash is not. It's one of the smoother running N-Gage games, IIRC. The problem is the vertical screen, you can barely see to the left and right of you.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Austin

[Austin]

Oh.. and counting down for High Voltage's obligatory flaunting of his full N-Gage collection, in 3, 2, 1....

[DaytonaUSA]

Haha.

 

Looking into loading games on MCC cards. Not a lot of info, although it's possible. Seems you need to have the appropriate files and folders just so. I'd really like to play Payload and Snake. The rest I can buy "retail".

 

If you find more info than I do, let me know via PM, Austin. I'll do the same if I figure it out.

[high voltage]

Hi my complete N Gage collection here:

http://www.videogamecollectors.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=192136

 

Payload was indeed a d/l only, but that was for two? sample stages only. The whole game cost $10 (9.something), then you received a serial to unlock the whole game. You then had to go online with your N-Gage to register.

That's how I got the game from way back. Soon after the company shut down, so I guess I am one of the very few with the whole game.

 

Snakes was a free d/l from Nokia site, but it was also to purchase (or free? Can't remember) with a label.

 

Flo Boarding was the pack-in for European N Gages.

 

Super Fighter Block Battle was a free d/l from the Super Fighter team

 

All the others see my page.

[Austin]

Looking into loading games on MCC cards. Not a lot of info, although it's possible. Seems you need to have the appropriate files and folders just so. I'd really like to play Payload and Snake. The rest I can buy "retail".

 

Come to think of it, I was actually looking into it a couple of months ago and nabbed a few games from one of the usual emulation sites. If I remember correctly each pack was basically just the contents as would normally be seen if you inspected a normal game card. That said, as long as you copy them back to a MMC the way they are organized on a normal game card from the factory, the system should recognize them. Putting multiple games on one card might not work though.

[AtticGamer]

I loved my N-Gage QD back in the day, I only had Tomb Raider and Pandemonium, but java games like Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow and Worms and even some emulators (ZX Spectrum and Mega Drive worked well!) were my dirty pleasure.

 

It's too bad they dropped MP3 and Radio for this model, but it's not a big deal now.

 

I don't know why I have fallen off mobile gaming since I loved this system. I do have an android gamepad now, so maybe that's my cue. Maybe I'll get another QD to replace my dead one and buy Ashen, The Sims Bustin'Out and maybe Red Faction, since those were games I always wanted to play on it.

Edited January 14, 2015 by AtticGamer

[Austin]

I loved my N-Gage QD back in the day, I only had Tomb Raider and Pandemonium, but java games like Splinter Cell Pandora Tomorrow and Worms and even some emulators (ZX Spectrum and Mega Drive worked well!) were my dirty pleasure.

 

It's too bad they dropped MP3 and Radio for this model, but it's not a big deal now.

 

I don't know why I have fallen off mobile gaming since I loved this system. I do have an android gamepad now, so maybe that's my cue. Maybe I'll get another QD to replace my dead one and buy Ashen, The Sims Bustin'Out and maybe Red Faction, since those were games I always wanted to play on it.

 

Thanks for the reminder! The Sims Bustin' Out is actually a pretty good game. You wouldn't expect it, but it is.

 

Speaking of Splinter Cell, both Splinter Cell games are pretty good on the system. The second is a fully 3D one (Pandora Tomorrow), while the first Splinter Cell is a 2D sidescroller with puzzle elements. The later is actually a surprisingly well made game and I suggest checking that out too.

 

Speaking of sidescrollers, Rayman 3 is solid on the N-Gage. It doesn't run as smoothly as the GBA one but it still looks and plays very well. It has some great level design.

 

A less exciting sidescroller is Spiderman. It's mildly entertaining but has a decent level of polish (solid visuals and animation).

 

Thanks for jogging my memory, haha.

[AtticGamer]

 

Thanks for the reminder! The Sims Bustin' Out is actually a pretty good game. You wouldn't expect it, but it is.

 

Speaking of Splinter Cell, both Splinter Cell games are pretty good on the system. The second is a fully 3D one (Pandora Tomorrow), while the first Splinter Cell is a 2D sidescroller with puzzle elements. The later is actually a surprisingly well made game and I suggest checking that out too.

 

Speaking of sidescrollers, Rayman 3 is solid on the N-Gage. It doesn't run as smoothly as the GBA one but it still looks and plays very well. It has some great level design.

 

A less exciting sidescroller is Spiderman. It's mildly entertaining but has a decent level of polish (solid visuals and animation).

 

Thanks for jogging my memory, haha.

Yes, but the java version of Pandora Tomorrow was a side scroller that was very fun to play, and I wonder if more 2D stealth games are made nowadays.

 

I was reminded that Call of Duty was also released on this:

 

And Ghost Recon too.

[Gabriel]

System Rush is neat. It was the game I played the most on the N-Gage, mainly because it was quick.

 

The game I spent the second most amount of time with was Civilization. It was OK, but became completely obsolete the second I got Civ Rev on the DS.

 

I own and have played Rifts. If you know anything about the company that makes the pen and paper RPG, you can probably understand what I mean when I say it's better than it has any right to be. It was OK, but it was nothing I wanted to play again after the novelty wore off.

 

All the games are hampered (crippled) by the postage stamp sized vertical oriented screen.

 

I have some other games: High Seize, Warhammer 40K, Pathway to Glory: Ikusa Islands, but I've never opened them.

[Rex Dart]

 

Putting multiple games on one card might not work though.

 

I can tell ya that this works fine.

 

Not mentioned yet was Worms World Party... I thought it was a pretty good port. The GBA's wider screen was better suited to the gameplay, but the CPU is much quicker to complete a turn on the N-Gage.

Edited January 14, 2015 by Rex Dart

[boog]

High Seize and the two Pathway to Glorys are excellent turn based strategy games. It's a shame the series weren't continued on other platforms. RedLynx has moved on to Trials motocross and Monster Truck games.

[Austin]

 

I can tell ya that this works fine.

 

Not mentioned yet was Worms World Party... I thought it was a pretty good port. The GBA's wider screen was better suited to the gameplay, but the CPU is much quicker to complete a turn on the N-Gage.

 

Cool, I'm glad to know it works. It might give me more motivation to get back to trying to make some backups of these games. Time to order a larger MMC card..

 

Worms World Party, that was a surprisingly good version. It looked nice and played well.

[Rex Dart]

You can fit a lot on a 1GB card. I think 2GB is the max MMC size before you get into SD territory... those aren't compatible.

[high voltage]

Oh.. and counting down for High Voltage's obligatory flaunting of his full N-Gage collection, in 3, 2, 1....

Hehe very good didn't see you there, flaunting I like only with women.

[Seob]

I love Asphalt on the N-gage, plays pretty good.

 

Sealed games are not hard to come by. Guess they had a very big stock of games that just didn't sell back in the days.