Vigilante 8 - Nintendo 64

Vigilante 8 for the Nintendo 64 is a vehicular combat game developed by Luxoflux — a spin-off of Interstate '76 — set in an exaggerated version of 1975 America in the midst of an oil crisis. The Oil Monopoly Alliance Regime (OMAR) has hired a ruthless gang of mercenaries called the Coyotes to eliminate the competition. In response, a truck driver named Convoy assembles a ragtag crew of civilians — the Vigilantes — to fight back. Players choose a side and a character, then battle through open destructible arenas across the American Southwest, each driver carrying their own unique story and ending.

Combat takes place in fully destructible open environments — casinos, oil fields, ski resorts, Hoover Dam — where the entire arena can be torn apart during battle. Eight standard characters and five unlockables each bring a distinct vehicle and a unique special weapon, ranging from classic 1970s muscle cars to a school bus bristling with weaponry. Each character handles differently based on vehicle weight and type, and physics are exaggerated for maximum carnage — a nearby explosion will send your car flying.

The N64 version is the superior release. Where the PlayStation version supports two players, the N64 supports four-player simultaneous multiplayer across three modes — two-versus-two, three-versus-one, and deathmatch. It includes an exclusive third hidden stage, an exclusive Quest mode campaign for Y the Alien, and a high-resolution display mode unlocked by the Expansion Pak. A two-player cooperative Story Mode is also exclusive to this version.

Released in March 1999 and published by Activision, Vigilante 8 was one of the three definitive vehicular combat games of the era alongside Twisted Metal and Carmageddon. It was followed by Vigilante 8: Second Offense on N64 and PlayStation. A strong multiplayer pick and an excellent representation of the genre at its peak.

Language: English
Rating: T (Teen)
Platform: Nintendo 64
Genre: Vehicular Combat
Players: 1–4 players (split-screen multiplayer)
Developer: Luxoflux
Publisher: Activision
Release Year: 1999 (March 1, 1999)