TheNintendo 64’s release in 1996 was an exciting time for gaming. It was the first console-wide jump to 3D graphics on a home system, and brought with it some Nintendo games that would shape the tenets of game design for years to come.Super Mario 64’s camera controls andThe Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s Z-targetingwere two extremely influential features. Its ability to feature games with full voice acting is also impressive, if rarely utilized. Taken with the Game Boy and Game Boy Color, it seemed clear that even if Nintendo was not on the cutting edge of graphics, it was still pushing the industry forward on multiple fronts.
For a brief moment, those two fronts intermingled. While peripherals were not unknown to the gaming industry, theN64had several notable ones. The Transfer Pak, which was bundled withPokemon Stadium, enabled data to be transferred between an N64 game and a Game Boy or Game Boy Color cartridge. It also opened the door for Nintendo experimenting with console/handheld connectivity, especially in futurePokemontitles. With rumors mounting of a Game Boy emulator coming to Nintendo Switch Online with Transfer Pak capabilities, now is the perfect time to reminisce about the sixteen titles that could use it.
RELATED:15 Games That Utilize The Expansion Pak On Nintendo 64, Ranked
Unknown Benefits for Connected Games
Sadly, six of those titles will have to be crossed out immediately. These are obscure games only released in Japan, and the rewards for connecting them with their Game Boy counterparts are unknown. Their existence suggests that there may be moreJapan-only titles that support the Transfer Pak, but players will have no way of knowing what they are or what they do until N64 emulation and translation efforts progress. These games, followed by the Game Boy titles they link to, are:
Connectivity that Unlocks Special Content
The next six titles are more of what one would expect from the Transfer Pak. These games connect with their Game Boy spin-offs or ports to unlock some manner of content in their console equivalents. These titles and the Game Boy games they link up to are:
Apart fromPerfect Dark, which unlocks some weapons for Joanna, all of these games are concerned with unlocking characters.Mario Tennisand its Game Boy porthave a special relationship, as the Game Boy game also receives some extra characters and minigames, on top of the N64 version receiving more courts. Apart from the twoPokemon Stadiumtitles, this is the only instance of the Transfer Pak unlocking content for both game systems.
This is also where the rumors of a Nintendo Switch Game Boy emulator creep back in, as not only areMario GolfandTennisavailable now as part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, they are conspicuously missing the characters unlocked through the Transfer Pak.
N64 Games with Special Features Related to Connectivity
Last, and most importantly, are the four games with standout features tied to the Transfer Pak. These titles are the ones that will likely come to mind when considering N64 and Game Boy connectivity. These games and the Game Boy titles they connect with are:
ThePokemon Stadiumgames, being what the Transfer Pak was designed for, make the most use of them. Pokemon can be pulled from players save files in the handheld games and used as teams inStadium’s various modes. Special Pokemonunlocked in thePokemon Stadiumgamescan then be sent back to the Game Boy titles.
Pokemon Yellowwill produce a special minigame if it is connected to the N64, and any of the portable titles can be emulated by the N64 while connected to it. The prominence ofPokemonin the Transfer Pak’s legacy suggests that some or all of these could be released to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service when the Game Boy compatibility rolls out.
Mario Artistis not tied to a particular game, but can instead import pictures from the Game Boy Camera for editing.PD Ultraman Battle Collection 64is also not tied to any specific game, but this means that any title can be used to unlock its character creator. The Transfer Pak did not see much use in theN64’s large game library, but some titles were more memorable because of it. If Nintendo is intent on bringing N64 and Game Boy connectivity back, then it will definitely elevate a few games on the Switch’s online service and make the whole package more enticing.
MORE:The Pokemon Stadium Games Are Must-Haves for Future Switch Online Updates
