The Nintendo 64 was released in 1996 and proved to be the most capable video game console of its time. Its two main competitors, the Sony PlayStation and the Sega Saturn, both used seemingly quaint 32-bit processors. The Nintendo 64, on the other hand, used a cutting-edge 64-bit processor that had only been used before budget workstations.
However, despite this particular advantage, the Nintendo 64 faltered in the face of the PlayStation's increasingly diverse lineup of video games. Nintendo 64 would be left to its own devices with its solid lineup of first-party titles of video games, but from Mario TO Pokemon AND The Legend of Zeldait was well covered.
10 Pilotwings 64 is an often forgotten launch title
Release Date – June 23, 1996
Wings 64 PilotingOverall, it's an underrated Nintendo 64 game. It's a sequel to Pilot wings on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and was one of two launch titles for the Nintendo 64 (very similar to the original Pilot wings on SNES). Despite the misfortune of not being as well known as its launch companion Super Mario 64,Wings 64 Piloting It's still a fun flying game that demonstrates the capabilities of the N64 well..
Unlike the original Pilot wings, Wings 64 Piloting includes playable characters: Goose, Hawk, Ibis, Kiwi, Lark, and Robin. Otherwise, Wings 64 Piloting is largely identical to its predecessor, save for its revolutionary 3D graphics. The game requires that certain aerial tasks be performed in order to earn in-game licenses for certain activities. These activities include hang gliding, jetpacking, gyroplane flying, and more.
9 Wave Race 64 is a fun racing game on N64
Release Date – September 27, 1996
Wave Race 64 It's not talked about that often when talking about Nintendo 64 racing games. It's shocking, despite Wave Race 64 being a very fun racing title on the N64. The game is best thought of as Mario Kart 64but instead of go-karts on the race tracks, Wave Race 64 has jet skis on the water.
Wave Race 64 places greater emphasis on speed than Mario Kart 64with the existence of a speed counter and only four placings compared to the eight of Mario Kart 64. To compensate for the halving of placements, there are only four playable characters: Ryota Hayami, Miles Jeter, Dave Mariner, and Ayumi Stewart. Each of these characters has their own unique jet skis and safety equipment. This is to appeal to the variety of players who would like to play something as exciting as Wave Race 64.
8 F-Zero X is extra fast
Release Date – July 14, 1998
F-Zero X is the sequel for Nintendo 64 of F-Zero on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The first F-Zero game was a nice demonstration of the technical capabilities of the SNES. On the other hand, F-Zero X It almost feels more like an arcade game than a console game. It's faster than the first one F-Zero the game too, with F-Zero X free from any delay and slowdown of the first F-Zero I had.
Captain Falcon, Samurai Goroh, Pico and Dr. Stewart from the first F-Zero game returns here, now accompanied by a flurry of new runners. These runners include, and are not limited to: Mighty Gazelle, Bio Rex, and Jody Summer. There are 30 runners in total in F-Zero Xall competing in a high-octane race advanced in world history.
7 Ridge Racer 64 is off the rails
Release Date – February 14, 2000
Ridge Racer 64 It's a racing game that, like all the great Nintendo 64 racing games that weren't Mario Kart 64doesn't get much attention today. This might have something to do with Ridge Racer 64 being a porting for N64 of two video games already present on Sony's PlayStation: Ridge Runner AND Ridge Racer RevolutionThey were based on Namco's revolutionary 3D arcade racing game Ridge Runner.
Despite its relative obscurity, Ridge Racer 64 It's still a great racing game for the N64 and isn't a modified version of the arcade classic. Many of its circuits come from the PlayStation Ridge Runner AND Ridge Racer Revolutionwhich means players aren't left out of the fast-paced, high-speed action of the Ridge Runner games.
6 Yoshi's story didn't need Mario, after all.
Release Date – December 21, 1997
Yoshi's Story It's a colorful game and is the first to have Kazumi Totaka as the voice of Yoshi, adding to the childish charm. The game doesn't have Mario, but it's strange to think that the popular Joshi The series was born as a sequel to one of the best platform games for the SNES, but in this game Yoshi tried his hand at it on his own.
Some pillars Mario characters in Yoshi's Story and enemies remain, including the Shy Guys and Bowser Jr.and they alone help convey the game's plot. In short, Bowser Jr. is angry at the happiness of the residents of Yoshi's Island. He turns the island into a giant pop-up book, leaving the island's residents, all Yoshis, to fight their way through and undo the changes. It wasn't hailed as the most engaging platformer of its time, but its charming world and basic platforming mechanics were a lot of fun.
5 Star Fox 64 Reaches the Stars
Release Date – April 27, 1997
The Star Fox 64 It was actually the Nintendo 64's replacement for the cancelled Star Fox 2 on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Perhaps unsurprisingly, The Star Fox 64 It is a graphical improvement of the already revolutionary Star Fox on SNES. The new graphics are supported by technical aspects such as smooth controls, as well as more aesthetic aspects such as the inclusion of voice acting. The game's story is a byproduct of these improvements.
Mad scientist Andross is at it again, terrorizing the Lylat system once more. Regardless of the series of terrorist attacks on Corneria in particular, Star Fox and his teammates, Peppy Hare, Falco Lombardi, and Slippy Toad, band together to face the scientist once again. Alternatively, in multiplayer, the team can battle each other in any way they choose.
4 Pokémon Puzzle League is not a puzzle
Release Date – September 25, 2000
Who would have thought that a puzzle game based on the Pokemon franchising would have a chance? It's simple to understand, but Pokémon Puzzle League still manages to be a lot of fun. It might just be an interesting departure in the formula from others Pokemon games considering that there are no real Pokémon battles per se, or maybe even that Pokémon Puzzle League includes some full-motion videos based on the anime series.
Pokémon Puzzle League involves Ash, the protagonist of the Pokemon anime series, selected to participate in the title Puzzle League. Together with his partner Pikachu, Ash takes on opponents and their Pokémon with skill and intelligence. Like the game itself, the story is just as simple but is surprisingly entertaining if you've watched the anime series.
3 Pokémon Stadium is a virtual museum of Pokémon
Release Date – April 30, 1999
- GameRanking Score: 78.60% (Metacritic N/A)
Pokemon Stadium It's like a virtual museum for the many species of Pokémon. It's compatible with the Nintendo 64 Transfer Pak, which allows you to collect Pokémon from the competing Game Boy Pokemon games to transfer to Pokemon Stadium. This makes the game a rather useful tool for pre-existing Pokemon fansbut there is much more to do in Pokemon The stadium only has a gallery of all the Pokémon characters.
The standard Pokemon Stadium Battle Mode lets players challenge another player or NPC and the Gym Leader's Castle to battle their way up to the Elite Four. In the minigame department, the game includes a Simon Says clone called Clefairy Says and an eating contest called Sushi Go-Round. This makes Pokemon Stadium a board game in a limited sense, in the sense that even non-PokeAndMonday Fans will be able to join in the fun.
2 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time holds up great
Release Date – November 21, 1998
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time sees Link having to stop Ganondorf from conquering the Kingdom of Hyrule and, to a certain extent, the world. Ganondorf attempts to do this by gaining possession of the Triforce, which will give him powers beyond those of any god. Link will be aided in his quest to defeat Ganondorf by a mysterious warrior named Shiek and the friendly fairy Navi.
Many players see The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as a Nintendo 64 title that has held up well, along with its sequel Majora's MaskIt's not hard to see why, since The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time would set a template for the 3D future Zelda the games continue to this day. For its time, the way it utilized its 3D sandbox was revolutionary. The controls were incredibly intuitive to pair with, making the combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving mechanics consistently engaging.
1 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is Masked
Release Date – April 27, 2000
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask continues right where Ocarina of Time interrupted. Link had used the Ocarina of Time to return to his childhood and prevent the decay of the Kingdom of Hyrule. This task was never going to be easy at first, but it is about to become more difficult, as the moon is steadily descending towards the Earth. Link, in his boy form, has three days to stop the moon from destroying him and the world.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is not only a great late-era Nintendo 64 game, it's the best first-party N64 game ever. However, coupled with the looming threat of the moon and surrealist horror-lite overtones, Majora's Mask It was striking for its melancholic art direction, original story and gameplay. It has retained the gameplay foundations that made it Ocarina of Time a hit that raises the stakes with its time-based mechanics.