Retro Review: Body Harvest (N64)
Originally intended as an N64 launch title but delayed due to Nintendo having issues with its violent themes, Body Harvest was finally released by DMA in 1998. DMA, as you may remember as the original creators of Grand Theft Auto, would eventually morph into the Rockstar Games we know today.
Set in the future, aliens have been appearing every 25 years to harvest a large portion of the Earth’s population. Desperate to stop the extinction of the human race before the aliens’ final arrival, the last surviving humans create a time machine to send someone back in time and change the course of history.
You play as Adam, a cybernetically enhanced hero who bears a slight resemblance to Master Chief. As Adam, you must visit key points in time and use whatever weapons you can find to fend off the alien attacks. But be warned — due to an injury sustained moments before escape, the aliens have a sample of Adam’s DNA.
Gameplay
Body Harvest is a third-person shooter where the player must traverse open world maps and defeat endless streams of aliens beaming in to overtake humanity. Because you’ll be jumping across different time periods, your only means of travelling over these huge maps are the vehicles of that era. Don’t expect to be racing around in a sports car when you’re stuck in 1916’s Greece!
The game also mixes in some light puzzles — using dynamite to clear obstacles, finding keys for hangars, and other simple objectives. These are fairly straightforward, which is a relief since the game offers very little guidance on what to do next.
What really raises the tension, however, are the harvest waves. These appear at random intervals, where groups of aliens will beam in and either collect or kill people in the area. If too many are lost, the harvest meter fills — and once it’s maxed out, you instantly fail the level.
Presentation
What’s impressive about Body Harvest is the sheer scale of its maps. Each island terrain feels distinct, and despite the console’s fogging and constant alien teleportation, you really get the sense of having an entire island to explore. The alien designs, while simple, work perfectly with the N64’s limitations, and there’s even an animated intro to set up the story.
Some maps are definitely stronger than others. Bright, sunny Greece and America feel lively and colourful, while rainy Java or snowy Siberia can feel oppressive — though to be fair, that fits the tone of those settings. One of the game’s greatest strengths is its seamlessness: levels load rarely, and when they do (usually moving indoors), it’s fast enough to keep immersion intact.
Sound
The audio adds a lot to the experience. As aliens beam in, the soundtrack shifts from an ominous tone to something more dramatic and epic, then settles again once the danger passes. The cries of civilians calling for help are unintentionally comical, and vehicle sound effects feel a little odd — cars often sound more like helicopters than engines — but it’s forgivable given the era.
Final Thoughts
Body Harvest was the first game I ever played that felt this open. It sparked my love for vehicle-based gameplay years before I discovered the Battlefield series. The thrill of taking a tank into battle against alien hordes left a lasting impression.
Despite its quirks, Body Harvest delivers an ambitious and engaging experience. It looks good for its time, the story — while a little silly — keeps you motivated, and the gameplay pushes you to fight for humanity’s survival across history. For me, it was a game that showed what was possible on the N64 and remains a fascinating milestone in gaming history.