Difference between revisions of "Nintendo 64"

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The '''''Nintendo 64''''' is a fifth-generation video game console created by [[Nintendo]]. It was first released in 1996 in Japan and North America.
 
The '''''Nintendo 64''''' is a fifth-generation video game console created by [[Nintendo]]. It was first released in 1996 in Japan and North America.
  
I first played a Nintendo 64 after a high school friend bought one. I first watched him play [[Super Mario 64]] and played a little myself. While I was a bit impressed with the look of the game, and found the controller to be ergonomically comfortable, I didn't care much for how you controlled Mario, the poor camera following, or the strange looking goombas and koopas. I later saw [[Mario Kart 64]] being played which I was more impressed with. A different high school friend bought one to play the upcoming [[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Zelda game]], but after it failed to meet its release date, he returned it and got a [[PlayStation]] instead. Not seeing a game that I really needed to have, I never bought an N64, and, looking back, I'm glad I didn't. Years later, I bought one at a garage sale for about $10, and a couple games, but I still didn't play it very much.
+
I first played a Nintendo 64 after a high school friend bought one. I first watched him play [[Super Mario 64]] and played a little myself. While I was a bit impressed with the look of the game, and found the controller to be ergonomically comfortable, I didn't care much for how you controlled Mario, the poor camera following, or the strange looking goombas and koopas. I later saw [[Mario Kart 64]] being played which I was more impressed with. A different high school friend bought one to play the upcoming [[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Zelda game]], but after it failed to meet its release date, he returned it and got a [[PlayStation]] instead. Not seeing a game that I really needed to have, I never bought an N64, and, looking back, I'm glad I didn't. Years later, I bought one with a handful of games at a garage sale for about $10, but I still didn't play it very much.
  
 
==Status==
 
==Status==
I own an original gray Nintendo 64 and a transparent green one.
+
I own an original dark gray Nintendo 64 and a transparent green one.
  
 
==Games==
 
==Games==
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===Good===
 
===Good===
 
* There were a couple of great games released solely for the platform that took advantage of the new hardware.
 
* There were a couple of great games released solely for the platform that took advantage of the new hardware.
* The N64 controller is very well-designed for many of the 3D games made specifically for the system.
+
* The N64 controller is very well-designed for those 3D games made specifically for the system.
 
* Technically speaking, the 3D hardware of the N64 was superior to its competitors.
 
* Technically speaking, the 3D hardware of the N64 was superior to its competitors.
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
* For several reasons, Nintendo failed to attract enough third party developers to their system so the N64 only saw about half the titles of their previous platforms. In contrast, 715 games were released for the NES, 783 for the SNES, but only 388 for the N64.
+
* For several reasons, Nintendo failed to attract the usual amount of third party developers to their system so the N64 only saw about half the titles of their previous platforms. 715 games were released for the NES, 783 for the SNES, but only 388 for the N64.
* Because N64 games still relied on cartridge memory with a maximum storage space of only 64 MB, it was impossible to make the long and complex games seen on competitor platforms which used compact discs. This is partially why the platform saw so few epic RPGs or adventure games.
+
* Because N64 games still relied on cartridge memory with a maximum storage space of only 64 MB (though more typically 16 MB), it was impossible to make the long and complex games seen on competitor platforms which utilized compact discs. This is partially why the platform saw so few epic RPGs or adventure games.
 
* While the N64 controller was certainly innovative, it was awful for most traditional 2D video game genres. This eliminated a lot of tried-and-true game styles from the platform.
 
* While the N64 controller was certainly innovative, it was awful for most traditional 2D video game genres. This eliminated a lot of tried-and-true game styles from the platform.
* Low poly-count untextured 3D graphics looked pretty awful compared to the beautiful artistry seen at the height of the 2D pixel graphics era.
+
* The low poly-count mostly-untextured 3D graphics looked pretty awful compared to the beautiful artistry seen at the height of the 2D pixel graphics era.
 
* With limited memory, full-motion video had to be kept short. So, while games for the [[PlayStation]] and [[Saturn]], both released nearly 2 years prior, often featured long video clips, the N64 was incapable of this impressive feat.
 
* With limited memory, full-motion video had to be kept short. So, while games for the [[PlayStation]] and [[Saturn]], both released nearly 2 years prior, often featured long video clips, the N64 was incapable of this impressive feat.
 
* Most games ported from other platforms looked inferior on the N64 (e.g., [[Command and Conquer]], [[StarCraft 64]], [[SimCity 2000]], [[Quake 64]], etc.).
 
* Most games ported from other platforms looked inferior on the N64 (e.g., [[Command and Conquer]], [[StarCraft 64]], [[SimCity 2000]], [[Quake 64]], etc.).

Revision as of 14:06, 12 January 2018

The North American Nintendo 64.

The Nintendo 64 is a fifth-generation video game console created by Nintendo. It was first released in 1996 in Japan and North America.

I first played a Nintendo 64 after a high school friend bought one. I first watched him play Super Mario 64 and played a little myself. While I was a bit impressed with the look of the game, and found the controller to be ergonomically comfortable, I didn't care much for how you controlled Mario, the poor camera following, or the strange looking goombas and koopas. I later saw Mario Kart 64 being played which I was more impressed with. A different high school friend bought one to play the upcoming Zelda game, but after it failed to meet its release date, he returned it and got a PlayStation instead. Not seeing a game that I really needed to have, I never bought an N64, and, looking back, I'm glad I didn't. Years later, I bought one with a handful of games at a garage sale for about $10, but I still didn't play it very much.

Status

I own an original dark gray Nintendo 64 and a transparent green one.

Games

See all Nintendo 64 Games.

Of the games I've played on the system, I have particularly enjoyed:

Review

Good

  • There were a couple of great games released solely for the platform that took advantage of the new hardware.
  • The N64 controller is very well-designed for those 3D games made specifically for the system.
  • Technically speaking, the 3D hardware of the N64 was superior to its competitors.

Bad

  • For several reasons, Nintendo failed to attract the usual amount of third party developers to their system so the N64 only saw about half the titles of their previous platforms. 715 games were released for the NES, 783 for the SNES, but only 388 for the N64.
  • Because N64 games still relied on cartridge memory with a maximum storage space of only 64 MB (though more typically 16 MB), it was impossible to make the long and complex games seen on competitor platforms which utilized compact discs. This is partially why the platform saw so few epic RPGs or adventure games.
  • While the N64 controller was certainly innovative, it was awful for most traditional 2D video game genres. This eliminated a lot of tried-and-true game styles from the platform.
  • The low poly-count mostly-untextured 3D graphics looked pretty awful compared to the beautiful artistry seen at the height of the 2D pixel graphics era.
  • With limited memory, full-motion video had to be kept short. So, while games for the PlayStation and Saturn, both released nearly 2 years prior, often featured long video clips, the N64 was incapable of this impressive feat.
  • Most games ported from other platforms looked inferior on the N64 (e.g., Command and Conquer, StarCraft 64, SimCity 2000, Quake 64, etc.).

Ugly

  • The N64 is notoriously difficult to program for. Trying to take advantage of its more impressive features requires custom coding that could not be ported to other platforms. Game designers were often forced to choose between the Nintendo 64, or all other available platforms.

Documentation

Links