Not long after Nintendo added Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards to the Switch Online N64 service a few weeks ago, a game-breaking bug was discovered, preventing players from progressing under a certain condition.
Nintendo publically addressed this last week - revealing an update would be released to resolve the problem (Kirby being stunned in underwater levels) while apologising to players for the inconvenience. Now, it's officially released this update - bumping the Switch Online N64 app from Version 2.3.0 to Version 2.3.1.
Dataminer and Twitter user OatmealDome has shared some details about this latest version, as Nintendo does not typically provide patch notes for apps like this one:
[NSO - Nintendo 64] Version 2.3.1 is out with the bug fix for Kirby 64. That’s about it. Technical details! The bug may have originated in N’s AOT recompiler for MIPS -> aarch64, since the only files updated were the AOT .nro and .pcb. Interestingly, switchbrew says the NRO isn’t used, but those were the only files changed (not even the emulator main executable).
Nintendo has previously released various fixes for the Switch Online N64 app - slowly but steadily improving the overall experience. Alongside the Kirby 64 game update recently, there were some minor adjustments to games like Star Fox 64, Dr. Mario 64 and Mario Golf.
It's also made some serious improvements to games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - restoring the fog, which was originally missing from the Switch Online emulation.
Have you updated to the latest version of the N64 app yet? Notice anything else? Tell us down below.
Comments 19
What's it like playing N64 games with the joycons in the grip?
Cool! I can get back to playing through this one.
Wish they'd do some further patching on Paper Mario. It's certainly playable but the deliberate lag on the menus is just headtilting and while I know to avoid it I can imagine a lot of people unknowingly hitting the tree that crashes the game.
Honestly Kirby 64 having to be fixed here is hilarious. Meanwhile I've been playing it on N64 since launch with no issues at all 😅
@Lizuka Man after reading your comment I'm so glad I kept my N64. It seems to me that's the definitive way to play N64 games atm.
@Lizuka The tree crash was fixed a few months ago. The menu lag is frustrating, but as you said it's intentional as a bandage fix to a bug that was present in the original, seemingly. A bit odd
Good job as always Ninty. I will play it now, also Forgotten Land was fantastic too. It's literally what I want a good Balan Wonderworld to be like. Yuji Naka should had just work with HAL Lab instead.
@andyg1412 it’s ok. It depends on how many c buttons are used and how frequently. Kirby 64 for example. No problem. All c buttons Sontheimern same and you can access to of them with x and y (c down and right ?). If games use the c more frequently it can be annoying.
I played Kirby and yoshi exclusive in handheld mode: no problems. Same for paper Mario. I played banjo 60% docked with n64 controller and 40% in handheld. The handheld part was in some cases annoying but playable.
@TKundNobody @andyg1412 I was surprised a 64 game used the D-pad instead of the analog stick for movement (also surprised this isn’t mentioned more).
Without a real D-Pad, the Joycon makes it feel a bit off. It is also my first time playing the game, so I kept trying to use the left analog stick.
@Tandy255 understandable. Wasn’t my first palythrough. I even own my n64 and Kirby 64 today.
But yeah the dpad was rarely used. But perfect for Kirby.
@TKundNobody Right. It is something I can get used to, but an actual D-pad would make it easier.
I'm close to finishing the game but still glad this is out. Not getting trapped in hitstun will help when going back to the water levels as I collect the shards I missed.
@andyg1412
Like a standard controller. It feels differently then the pro controller, obviously, but it's functionally it's the same. Personally, I'm having a slighty difficult time learning to play some N64 games with a standard controller. I've played a lot of Zelda OoT and MM on the N64. Those games game were designed to be played with an N64 controller. Using a N64 controller feels more intuitive. To me at least.
Nice to see that this is fixed so I won't have any issues when I'll get around to playing it. Just finished TLoZ OoT and MM on NSO without any issues whatsoever. With savestates and the Pro Controller, NSO is the definitive way of playing N64 games for me
Got the whole 340+ games library on my N64 Everdrive playing flawlessly with the rumble pak, memory pak and expansion pak along with 2 brand new wired N64 controllers from Amazon. All this costs about $150 and it's mine for life with no glitches or controller issues. Also you get free romhack updates like playing Kirby 64 with the joystick option and Majora's Mask with all the DS quality of life improvements.
Too late! I'm already in the post-apocalyptic Earth world.
@LikeWhoa and don’t forget it’s illegal
@LikeWhoa Nintendo should patch in analog controller support for Kirby 64 as an alternative to the D-pad. If parts of the game require more precision, users can fall back to button controls/D-pad.
I kind of liked Zelda 64 better without the fog. When it comes to video games, I don't cope with fog too well, even though I'm a veteran with games in general. The update for Kirby 64 was very much appreciated though since the underwater glitch caught me off guard.
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