This was Nintendo’s best console ever. I appreciate the first Nintendo for what it was but I spent far more time and money playing the Nintendo 64. This console uses game cartridges to play games, they had an extensive library of games to play.
For a gaming console released way back in the early 1990s the Nintendo 64 is still relevant in today’s gamer landscape. Also, a fun fact the console retail price still holds value. In my region N64s sell second-hand for $300-400 considering the 2023 PS5 retails at $799 that’s awesome for all of us retro nerds if and when we ever want to sell our beloved Nintendo 64s.
Here is my naked N64 console what a beauty.
I might be biased but every gamer should have a weekend with their hands on a Nintendo 64 a handful of games and 3 of their mates over for a 4 player game session. I can not overstate how awesome it is having your boys in the room and all of you playing the same game on the same screen, this just doesn’t happen enough nowadays.
N64 Games
The game library was pretty extensive with a lot of sequel/follow-up type games. Some big-name brands and game titles were released on the Nintendo 64. I really enjoyed that period in time it felt like we had the best game products in the market in outliving rooms for that time. Countless hours were spent crafting my players, gaining points and trophies and title belts and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
*I Love the old beat ’em up fighter games and especially wrestling games on Nintendo 64. Pure retro gold.
Star Wars Rogue Squadron
Star Wars released an iconic game title called Rogue Squadron where you could take on the empire as a pilot of the most famous squad in the franchise. The missions were fun and you got to relive several key battles from the films.
The battle on both is one of my all-time favourites. Flying was satisfying and so was the cable deployment to take down AT-AT walkers just like in the films. This game gets 9/10 from me.
WWF No Mercy
My number 1 pick is WWF (WWE now) No Mercy. I also show WWF Wrestlemania as well as they are basically the same with some minor additions. Wrestling and gaming fans are aligned that this was the best wrestling game period! Despite well-resourced game developers in today’s market can not even come close to the hype and engagement levels that the WWF No Mercy game had.
There were so many hits on the Nintendo 64 its hard to name-drop them all. I had some of the best years of my life spending nights with the boys, pizza a 2L Coke and gaming parties staying up all night playing the N64 with the 4 controller setup. This console was designed for good times with friends.
Rumble Packs
Before the latest gen consoles upgraded the controllers to include haptic feedback and vibrations the Nintendo 64 innovated from static controllers to what they called the Rumble pack that would shake and vibrate as you played the games.
Cabling with Modern TVs
Today TVs are 100+ times graphically superior to the consoles of yesteryear. The cables have changed and here lies the challenge when you want to play the retro consoles on your state-of-the-art TV.
HDMI wasn’t really a thing back then. You had to match up the audio and video cables with the colour-coded sockets.
Having spent the golden years of my teenage life before being able to legally drive or drink alcohol, playing video games with the boys on a Friday night while smashing takeaway pizza I had a lot of time to master the Nintendo 64. The most underrated feature on the Nintendo 64 was the out-of-the-box 4 controller ports, This was back when game consoles shipped with x2 controllers as standard packaging. Buying 2 more controllers was easier on the wallet and awesome for sleepovers.
Pros
- Rumble Packs (back then)
- Gameplay was simple and enjoyable
- Instantly takes me back to good times
- 4 controller ports
- Controller is fun to use
- Game Cartridges are fun
- Console is slimline
- Console holds value retails around $300
Cons
- Buying Rumble packs as add-ons (now)
- IT Degree when connecting to today’s TVs
- Graphics from 1990s
- Having to blow cartridge slots for dust lol
While I am a fanboy of the retro era I do think there will be drawbacks to buying a Nintendo 64 for anyone who didn’t live through its heyday. After I first got the N64 fired up after coming off playing the PS5 console games or mobile games I do feel a bit underwhelmed by the graphics and sound FX. This is normal as we are so spoilt for choice and technology that the best we could get from yesteryear was not at all able to do what the lowest-powered mobile phone can do in today’s market.
For anyone born after the year 2005 if you consider buying a Nintendo 64 I suggest you become familiar with the legacy that it left back in the day for older generations. If you can appreciate the story you will still enjoy the console gameplay and game library.
For all the retro nerds out there, I appreciate you and how much the community has helped pioneer a second revolution for the Nintendo 64 and accessories. When I picked mine up I struggled so hard getting the cables to work with my flatscreen TV. If it wasn’t for all the forums, YouTube videos and helpful articles I would never of got it working.