Games
Nintendo’s 64-bit console is two decades old, but still hosts one of the best game libraries ever.
While it may have failed to sell as many units as the NES and SNES before it, the Nintendo 64 is nevertheless one of the most important games consoles of all time.
It marked a turning point for Nintendo as a company, giving the firm's god-like designers the opportunity to work in full 3D environments and rewrite the rules in the process. It also popularised analogue control with its innovative new controller, paving the way for copycat devices from Sony and Sega.
There are negatives to the N64 story too; Nintendo's insistence on sticking with expensive and limited cartridges cost it customer and developer support, and the system was too late getting to market, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this 64-bit beauty is home to some of the most influential games of all time, 10 of which we've listed below.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
With the recent release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it's a fitting moment to look back on what was previously regarded as the highlight of the series: Ocarina of Time.
The first Zelda to take place in 3D, this stunning release combined an amazing storyline, tight controls and a massive (for the time, at least) game world, which afforded the player a unique level of freedom. While it stuck with many of Zelda's core conventions such as gear-gated dungeons and familiar items, Ocarina of Time was revolutionary in every other regard and still stands up by today's standards. A 3DS remake was released in 2011 to critical and commercial acclaim.
2. GoldenEye 007
Before the release of GoldenEye 007, video game adaptations of James Bond movies didn't have the best reputation. As a result, the game was treated with a fair degree of scepticism before it actually arrived – scepticism that quickly evaporated as soon as players got to actually step into Pierce Brosnan's tux.
Up until this point, first-person shooters were primarily associated with PCs. Rare's seminal work changed all of that, providing the kind of slick, frenzied experience that kept players glued to their consoles for months on end. The solo campaign was meticulously designed, but it was the four-player split-screen mode that truly made this essential.
3. Super Mario 64
Mario taking his first steps into the 3D realm was a key moment not just for the character and Nintendo, but for video gaming in general. Prior to the arrival of Super Mario 64, platforming games were predominantly 2D and confined to digital control. Shigeru Miyamoto's masterpiece changed all of that; Mario would no longer be restricted to two planes of movement, and he could now benefit from the increased precision of the N64's groundbreaking analogue controller.
In typical Nintendo fashion, Super Mario 64 wasn't just a striking technical achievement; it supplied a deep and challenging experience as well, and one that's all the more remarkable because it was a day-one launch title.
4. Perfect Dark
Rare had a tough act to follow after the success of GoldenEye 007. Electronic Arts swept in and picked up the James Bond licence, which ruled out a straight sequel, but that actually ended up being a benefit as Perfect Dark – created by the same core team – is arguably a superior game. Set in the near-future and calling upon the additional power supplied by the N64's RAM Expansion Pak, it remains one of the best first-person shooters ever made and was recently remastered for the Xbox 360 to great success.
5. Turok: Dinosaur Hunter
Based on a little-known comic strip, Turok: Dinosaur Hunter was a key release in the N64's early lifespan. While the fog-covered visuals look a bit dated by modern standards, at the time it was a real jaw-dropper that effectively communicated the incredible leap forward Nintendo's console promised. The range of weapons and exciting, visceral combat made this a rather unusual title for the typical Nintendo audience, but it was one that found favour with a great many players, paving the way for two sequels on the system.
6. Banjo-Kazooie
During the N64 years, Rare was a second-party Nintendo studio and as a result a friendly rivalry developed between the British company and its Japanese parent. For example, when Nintendo released Mario Kart 64, Rare went one better with Diddy Kong Racing.
Banjo-Kazooie was Rare's answer to Super Mario 64, and while it might be pushing it to claim that it was the superior offering, it did have some new ideas up its sleeve – the most obvious of which was the titular duo who served as the lead characters. It was possible to use both of their abilities to solve the game's puzzles.
What makes Banjo-Kazooie so beloved today is the fact that it managed to outshine Mario with its gorgeous visuals, massive game world, amusing humour and toe-tapping soundtrack, offering an overall package which couldn't help but raise a smile.
7. Bakuretsu Muteki Bangiaoh
Japanese studio Treasure is best known as the developer behind such retro hits as Gunstar Heroes, Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga, but the firm also produced this amazing 2D shooter for the N64, which sadly remained exclusive to Japan.
The player controls a robot so small you can barely see it on-screen, yet it can harness an incredible volley of missiles once your power meter is charged. The N64 pad's analogue stick affords a wonderful level of control, and the entire game is built around this interface – and that's the main reason why the subsequent Sega Dreamcast port (which did receive a global release) doesn't quite feel as good. This game certainly needs to be played on the hardware it was originally intended for.
8. International Superstar Soccer 64
Released in Japan as J-League Perfect Striker and the precursor to Pro Evolution Soccer, ISS 64 was the first football game to offer analogue control, and, as a result, felt like a generational leap ahead of what had gone before. It was now possible to elegantly glide past defenders before slotting the ball into the net; your skill with the pad could make the difference between success and failure on the pitch. Add in some amazing visuals, smooth animation and atmospheric audio, and it's hardly surprising that this is still held in high regard by many footy fans.
9. Super Smash Bros.
Smash Bros. may be a notable franchise for Nintendo these days, but back when the first game appeared late in the N64's lifespan, it felt dangerously new. The idea of Mario, Samus Aran, Kirby, Link and Fox McCloud – as well as many other famous Nintendo characters – beating seven shades out of one another was jarring at first, but it only took one game for it to click. This isn't Street Fighter but a more comedic offering which manages to entertain and challenge at the same time.
It might be good for some light-hearted fun but there's a serious game to master here – something which is made evident by the fact that Smash Bros. continues to be a popular choice on the eSports circuit.
10. Sin & Punishment
Another Treasure classic (and one which came right at the end of the N64's active life), Sin & Punishment is, at its core, an on-rails shooter, but like all of the console's best titles, it was built around that iconic three-pronged controller.
Placed in charge of a gun-toting hero, the game's control system made the carnage almost effortless. Treasure exercised its talents by creating some of the most stunning visual set-pieces ever seen on the system, and while the N64 original sadly never made its way out of Japan, we did get a sequel on the Wii which thankfully enjoyed a global release.
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