| 01 April 2009
The N64 was one system that I didn't own until I found one at a garage sale far after its prime. However, I have had roommates that have owned it, and have played enough games to appreciate the system. I didn't play enough of the library to come up with a whole top 10, so I will post my top 7.
These are the top 7 games that I have played on the system. The same rules apply for this countdown. I will only pick one game per franchise.
#7 - Mario Golf
This game was a ton of fun to play with 4 people. Its a quirky concept. It took the Mario characters, put them on Mario themed golf courses, and made a simple addicting golf game.
This game was a lot of fun, but what made it REALLY fun, was the taunting. You could taunt the shit out of your opponents. All 3 people could taunt the one guy taking a swing. not only would it make really obnoxious noises, but shit would pop up in the screen. It was like a pop up video on crack, with air horns going off in your ear, while you take a golf swing. Remember kids, heckling is fun AND hilarious!
#6 - Wave Race 64
Wave Race came out shortly after launch. Miyamoto (the guy behind all of Nintendo's favorite franchises) actually developed this "realistic" racing game. This game kind of defined a genre. It is a racing game at heart, but the realistic water and physics kind of gave it a nice balancing act. Once you got a feel for the controls and water physics you could use the water to your advantage. You could submerge under obstacles, and trick off jumps.
This game was very impressive at the time, and I am surprised we haven't seen a follow up on the Wii. It seems like motion controls would be made for a game like this.
#5 - Wrestlemania 2000
A freaking wrestling game? If you saw my previous lists, you will know that this is not the type of game that I get into. However once you chip away the crusty surface and find how deep this game can get, it was the ultimate addiction. I lived in a house with 7 friends at the time this game came out. We would play hours and hours worth of 4 player tag team, battle royal, royal rumbles, etc.
It was the first wrestling game to become more than just a button mashing crapfest. There were reversals, combos, special moves, signature moves... The create-a-wrestler is as deep as anything was at the time. Makes me wonder if this is still as fun as I remember it.
#4 - Mario Kart 64
Admittedly, this is my least favorite in the Mario Kart lineup. However it was the first to offer 4 player support, and topography in the tracks. It was still fun. However by today's standards this game looks ugly!! Other N64 games hold up way better than this. Perhaps its because i was used to seeing a crappy frame rate in 1/4 of a 19 inch television. Still, this game is a lot of fun, and the fact that you could play with 3 friends made it even more so.
This remains one of the best multiplayer experiences on the N64, probably only second to....
#3 - Goldeneye 007
This game is what the N64 was all about. It utilized every feature of the system. The 4 player support, the 3d engine, the smooth graphics, and a very fun single player experience. If the game only had a single player mode, it would have been very fun. It was a high quality first person shooter with a good plot, fun gadgets, sweet locations, and solid game play. However, the real meat comes from multiplayer. The time this game came out, people were playing first person shooters on their computers and with the lack of adequate matchmaking services, would be lucky to get a 1 on 1 match in. That is if you could find a friend with an adequate computer, connection and game. Then a console shooter comes out and one ups everything.
This is the first time a console shooter showed that its controls could work, and work well. Then it gave you the ability to play 4 players at a time. This game was cemented as a classic due to its multiplayer alone. People may be upset that it only got to #3 on the list, but when you consider its behind two of the best games of all time (regardless of platform), that's still pretty good.
#2 - Super Mario 64
What a way to launch a system. The leap the Nintendo franchises took from SNES to N64 was remarkable, risky, and ultimately extremely rewarding. Mario 64 showed everyone what the system can do. The developers of Mario 64 showed everyone how to make a nearly flawless gaming experience. Mario was brought out of the 2D world and into a huge 3D environment. Each level was unique and found inside of a painting in Peach's castle. Each level also would change depending on which star you were going after. The game introduced puzzles to the Mario world. The platforming was still there, and much harder in my opinion, but the added dimensions brought a new challenge.
The Mario franchise would not have been what it is without the flawless controls. They remained in Mario 64. Occasionally, the camera would get in the way, but for the first game of its kind, it managed the camera even better than most games today, over a decade later (which is ancient in video game years). Mario 64 was ported to the Nintendo DS with slightly improved textures, and a couple added features. The game is still just as fun as ever.
#1 - The Legend of Zelda - Ocarina of Time
What can I say, this is my favorite game of all time regardless of console. Everything I said about Mario 64 applies here, just throw in a great story, a huge 3D world, a horse, new weapons, excellent 3D combat, etc. What a masterpiece this game is. It was the biggest leap in gaming I have ever seen. Go play Link to the Past, then go play Ocarina of Time. The difference is astounding. Link to the Past was my favorite game on SNES, and this game is light years ahead of it in every way. You even travel back in time and see world in 2 different eras. No game has been better than this before or since.
Majora's Mask also came out on the N64. That is also a great game, however it did not surpass Ocarina of Time.
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