StarCraft 64 is a “port” of the game of StarCraft to the Nintendo 64, released a year and a half after StarCraft: Brood War. As a console game, it had a different control scheme. StarCraft 64 contains both the original game and the expansion set, including the bonus mission “Dark Origin.” Playing the Brood War storyline required the Nintendo 64 4 MB Expansion Pack.^[1]

Interface

StarCraft 64 has several differences in interface from the PC version of StarCraft, such as command buttons that did not previously exist. For example, pressing one of the buttons on the controller brought up a menu with the two “build” buttons, a button for training units and a button for researching tech – selecting either “build” button from this would be equivalent to selecting the nearest worker unit (such as an SCV) not already building something, moving the screen to its former position, and clicking the appropriate “build” button. Selecting the tech button on the menu would perform a similar action, automatically selecting the nearest idle tech structure of a certain type to research something (one selected a researchable upgrade technology, such as terran Infantry Weapons or protoss Ground Armor, from the menu that appeared and the nearest appropriate structure would receive the order.)

Michael Morhaime holds a negative opinion of the game, describing it as “clearly a port,” and not designed for the interface that the N64 provided. It was decided post-release that Blizzard would do no more console ports unless they thought the game was suited for consoles.^[2]

Mass Media Games described porting StarCraft to the Nintendo 64 as “a nearly absurd undertaking and the cartridges sold out in a matter of weeks.”^[3]