Treasure's shake-the-enemies 2D platformer. Marina Liteyears, a robot maid, on Nintendo 64.
Mischief Makers was developed by Treasure and published by Nintendo for Nintendo 64 in June 1997 — a 2D side-scrolling platformer in a 3D era, featuring Marina Liteyears, a robot maid who could grab, throw, and shake anything in the environment — enemies, projectiles, and objects. The shake mechanic was the game's central design: shaking enemies in different directions produced different effects; shaking objects revealed power-ups or activated mechanisms. The game was presented in a fixed 2D perspective unusual for N64 releases. Mischief Makers sold modestly but is cited as one of Treasure's most mechanically inventive games and one of the few N64 platformers to use a traditional 2D perspective.
About this game
Mischief Makers (1997) is Treasure's first Nintendo platform game and the N64's first 2D side-scroller — a deliberate challenge to the era's 3D orthodoxy. Marina Liteyears, a cybernetic android, must grab-and-throw everything in her environment to progress, creating a momentum-based physics system with satisfying weight and snap. Treasure's signature commitment to deep, high-skill gameplay in a compact package made it a cult N64 title that has only grown in reputation.
Key Features
The core mechanic is grab-and-throw: Marina latches onto enemies, objects, and terrain features, shaking them for power-ups or hurling them as projectiles. The 2D side-scrolling format on N64 was unusual for 1997 — most publishers had abandoned 2D for 3D. Each stage is densely designed with mechanics that reward mastery. The game features an unusual structure mixing action stages with brief puzzle intermissions. Treasure's 12-person team built it over roughly two years with minimal N64 documentation.
Gallery
The Story Behind
In 1997, the industry had essentially declared 2D gaming obsolete in favor of 3D. Treasure — known for bucking trend with mechanically precise games on Genesis and Saturn — chose to make the N64's first 2D side-scroller and demonstrate that 2D design could evolve rather than simply give way to 3D. The game was also Treasure's first Nintendo collaboration, following a long relationship with Sega's platforms (Gunstar Heroes, Radiant Silvergun).
Tricks & Tales
Mischief Makers features gold gems hidden in each stage; collecting all gems unlocks the game's true ending. This led to years of guide-writing in the Japanese gaming press before online walkthroughs existed. The game was one of the few N64 titles to be 2D — a distinction that made it stand out in the N64 library both in 1997 and in retrospective appreciation decades later. Composer Motoaki Takenouchi's soundtrack is considered one of the more underrated N64 scores.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Released worldwide. Japan version (ゆけゆけ！トラブルメーカーズ) published by Enix; international versions published by Nintendo. Gameplay is identical.
Maintenance Tips
Standard N64 cartridge care. The game uses battery-backed SRAM — check the battery if saves are lost.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Mischief Makers copies regularly.
Will this Japanese Nintendo 64 cartridge work on a North American or European N64?
No, not without modification. The Nintendo 64 uses a regional CIC lockout chip, and Japanese N64 cartridges have a different physical shape from North American cartridges. Running Japanese software on a Western N64 requires both a cartridge adapter to bridge the shape difference and a method to bypass the CIC chip. A Japanese Nintendo 64 console is the simplest way to play Japanese N64 software.
How should I clean a Nintendo 64 cartridge?
Apply 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol to a cotton swab and wipe the gold-plated edge contacts on the base of the cartridge. The N64 connector slot is deep — a longer swab or folded swab helps reach all contacts. Never blow into the cartridge. N64 cartridges use 3.8mm security game bit screws if the shell needs to be opened. Most N64 boot failures trace to oxidized contacts; cleaning both the cartridge edge and the console slot is usually the complete fix.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Mischief Makers
A short checklist for buying a used Nintendo 64 cartridge wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Make sure it fits your console
This is a Japanese N64 cartridge. The N64 is region-locked by shape and lockout, so a Japanese cart needs a Japanese console or an adapter.
Play it on a matching Japanese console or a region-free system, and confirm the listing states the region.
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If this title saves your progress, check the battery
Cartridges that save use a small coin-cell battery that fades over decades — a dead one wipes your save without warning.
Ask the seller whether the save function was tested. Replacing the battery is possible, but doing so erases any existing save.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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