The N64 is having a fantastic resurgence thanks to the Analogue 3D and the upcoming M64. If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times - there's never been a better time to be an N64 fan, and that's taking into account the 90s, too.
If you've ever used a flash cart on the Game Boy to play ROMs or ROM Hacks, then you'll feel right at home with the Summer Cart 64. Like the Everdrive 64 before it, the SC64 is a flash cart that you can upload games to from your computer. It has a microSD card in the side which you can dump ROM files on, and it slots into any version of the Nintendo 64, including the new arrivals.
The original concept was created by Polprzewodnikowy on GitHub before being made open source for other companies to run with the idea. There are so many of these kicking around on AliExpress at various prices and with reviews that didn't always offer me a lot of reassurance, as well as delivery times that spanned into weeks instead of days. So, I opted to pick a SummerCart 64 from Kaico, a trusted name that I've used before, with next-day delivery on Amazon.
I clicked purchase, waited patiently for 24 hours, and then sat back while playing Jiggies of Time on my Analogue 3D with a cup of tea next to me, safe in the knowledge that life couldn't get much better from here on out. Let's take a closer look at how this thing works, what it looks like, and how effective it is at playing your favourite games.
If you're a fan of ROM Hacks of your favourite series or are planning on making your own N64 game, then you need a SummerCart 64. It's the perfect way to play ROMs on original hardware, reliving your favourite N64 moments and discovering brand new adventures on your original machine or through the Analogue 3D. Kaico's offering might be more expensive than the competition, but it comes with a warranty, quick delivery time, and from a name you can trust.
- Price: £75/$100
- What's In The Box: SC64 Cartridge, 8GB microSD card, microSD card reader
- Available From: Amazon
Testing Out The Kaico SummerCart 64
Here it is, folks - the SummerCart64 from Kaico. Would I have liked it to have come in a cardboard box like the original N64 games? Yes, of course, but at least it looks exactly like an old N64 cartridge and even comes with full artwork on the front. Their exclusion of a paper manual is apparently to cut carbon emissions too, so while it would have been cool to have had the full retro packaging option, I also want the planet to live, so I can't complain too much.
As you can see, the SC64 pays homage to the original concept's creator, Polprzewodnikowy, on the front of the cart, and as it's an official Kaico product, it comes with their official seal, which looks a lot like Nintendo's seal of quality on their official boxes. I don't think that's a coincidence, but rather Kaico doing what they can to give us an authentic Nintendo experience.
Games like Banjo-Kazooie, Ocarina of Time, Super Smash Bros., Mario Kart 64, Majora's Mask - for many of us, they defined our childhoods and got us into gaming in some way, shape, or form. For me, they made me want to become a games journalist. For others, they sparked careers as game developers, sometimes creating original games, and sometimes making ROM hacks of beloved series to pay homage to inspiring characters.
Thanks to the microSD card slot on the side of the SC64, you can play all of your favourite ROM hacks and relive games that you might not physically have anymore but still live on in ROM file format. It also boasts 64DD hardware emulation too, something that other N64 flashcarts don't offer. And considering how expensive the 64DD and its games are these days, this is a great alternative that will actually allow gamers to experience the scant amount of games for the system.
How It Looks
The SC64 looks fantastic no matter whether it's placed in the N64 or the Analogue 3D. The SC64 logo uses the colours from the N64 logo to create the illusion that you're looking at something familiar while still feeling excitingly new. It's probably the first time I've held a brand-new N64 cart since I opened Banjo-Tooie for my birthday back when I was a kid, and it brought back some amazing memories for me.
As I said above, the SC64 works in both the N64 and the Analogue 3D, and it looks amazing in both. I'm looking forward to testing it out in the M64 when that arrives on my desk too, but so far, I've got no complaints when it comes to design. I've seen cheaper alternatives on AliExpress that use see-through carts, but they look cheaper too. Kaico's offering is smart and nostalgic - what more could I want? (The cardboard box packaging, we know).
How It Works
The cartridge is essentially a huge case for a microSD card that holds your ROMs. If you look at the picture below, you'll see the little slot on the right-hand side of the cartridge where the microSD card lives. I'm going to warn you now, this little card fires out of that slot like a rocket and shoots through the air when you press it down, so you're either going to need to keep a firm finger on it or watch where it lands so you can get to it before the dog.
Adding ROMs to your microSD card is easy; the Kaico SC64 comes with a USB card reader for you to insert your microSD card into, which is a nice touch as these little readers often get misplaced or end up in the back of a drawer where you can't find them. In short, you can never have enough of them. I'm using a MacBook, so I needed a USB-A to USB-C adapter on the end of it to make it work and have had no problems with it since.
Once you've dragged your ROM files to the card, insert it back into the SummerCart 64 and plug it into your N64 or 3D. If you're using the N64, you'll just be met with this screen straight away, but if you're using the 3D, you'll need to select 'Unknown Cartridge' before arriving at this screen. You can then select your chosen game (look for the ones that have MB next to them as they're your games - the others are your save files) and start playing.
As I said in my review of the Analogue 3D, I've been playing a lot of Jiggies of Time of late. Before I had the SummerCart 64, I used to use my iPhone and AirPlay to play on my TV. And if the lag was really bad, I would sometimes hook my laptop up to the TV via HDMI and use a Bluetooth controller to control Banjo and Kazooie.
Now, I can use the 8BitDo controller for the 3D or the original N64 controller just as KurkoMods intended and play on either my CRT or the downstairs TV with zero problems.
The quality is brilliant whether using my 14" Toshiba CRT, the 42" LG TV in the living room, or the 80" TV in the attic. And you know how much 'feeling' plays into my gaming experiences by now; seeing something like Pokémon Kart 64, which would have never been around in the 90s, on a little CRT just takes me back to being a kid again and my imagination running wild about what games I would love to see on my beloved system.
The ROM hacking community never ceases to surprise me, as does the homebrew fangame community, both groups of people working to create new and exciting adventures that either carry on from our favourite series or pay homage to them in unique ways. Some of the Zelda ROM hacks I've played hold their own against the likes of Ocarina of Time, and that's high praise!
A Quick Note On Save Files
I just want to touch briefly on save files, because if you have been playing games like Jiggies of Time on Delta and want to carry on where you left off on the SC64, then the last thing you'll want to do is start again from the beginning of the game.
Getting your save files off Delta is simple; just long-press the game on your touchscreen, navigate down to 'Manage Save File' and then 'Export Save File'.
To open it up as your main save file using your SC64, you'll need to make sure that it's named exactly the same as the ROM file you're pairing it with (bar the file extension at the end), and remove any other save file that was there for the game previously.
Other Features
As I mentioned above, the SC64 also supports 64DD hardware emulation, giving players a chance to check out games like Doshin the Giant and Mario Artist for the first time. Kaico's SummerCart 64 also has automatic save backup during gameplay and 'the ability to behave like a stock game pak with direct mode'.
There's a USB-C port on the side of the cartridge for updating firmware, and a button on the back that has multiple functions, such as testing ROM cartridge issues when pressed in while switching your system on, or swapping virtual 64DD disks. There's a chance that it might get even more functions through future updates too, so watch this space.
Final Thoughts
- Looks just like a real N64 cartridge.
- Plays all your N64 and 64DD ROMs and ROM Hacks.
- Works on original hardware and the Analogue 3D.
- Easy-to-use menu and the ability to upload save files.
- Comes with a microSD card and a card reader.
- More expensive than other SummerCart 64 units, but backed by a warranty from a trusted company.
I said it in the title, and I still mean it now - this is a must-have accessory for every N64 fan. Do I think you should continue to support second-hand gaming stores by buying physical cartridges of games you don't own? Of course I do, and as you can see from the list of games above on my SC64 menu, I'm using mine solely for playing ROM hacks on. It's a great way of discovering the creations of the retro gaming community and playing them with original hardware rather than using touchscreen controls on your phone, and it makes them feel even more like real releases.
Sitting around an original N64 with four wired controllers and playing Pokémon Kart 64 is something that just would never have happened back when we were kids. Getting my mates around to play it now feels like a form of escapism back to simpler times where all we had to worry about was making sure we had Sunny D in stock and what time wrestling was on.
The cartridge looks the part and works brilliantly. It's easy to use and works flawlessly on either the original hardware or the new range of consoles coming from Analogue and M64, giving you access to more new games than you could have ever dreamed of back when Nintendo dropped the N64 in the 90s.
The only thing that might put you off is the price, especially when you see cheaper alternatives on other websites. My argument would be, and this is where I quote my cousin for the millionth time - 'if you buy cheap, then you buy twice'. Kaico are a respected brand, and you can register your SC64 to get a full warranty on it too. I bought mine off Amazon and it arrived the next day, instead of me having to wait for weeks and months for it to arrive, Plus, I also had the benefit of Amazon's returns policy too.
All in all, I don't think £75/$100 is bad for something that I'm getting a lot of use out of and comes with certain guarantees. If you're a homebrew game dev, then having fast I/O and a well-documented API is definitely going to help too. I would definitely recommend it to any N64 fans out there, and you'll be seeing a lot more of the Summercart 64 in my articles from here on out!
