Was the Nintendo 64 Good or Bad? - Retro Bird

Was the Nintendo 64 Good or Bad?
Nintendo 64 / N64 Console / System Review Retrospective
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[@DominiqueDeMann]

The Nintendo 64 is an absolute Tank. I vividly remember coming home from school one day to find that my 4 year old baby brother had taken my N64 and put it in his bubble bath to play with his toys... I was in complete utter shock! but guess what! After drying it out that thing still worked perfectly fine. It will last forever

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Hahah. Yes, cartridge systems are so durable!

[@madbart214yomother7]

Had mine in my old room under dirty clothes and wooden floor which get humid after idk....15 years. Popped in wwe no mercy and my created characters were still there lol. Just how things were made back then.

[@janderkin]

My baby brother did the exact same thing with a copy of Mario 3!

[@shaun8062]

Wow, you guys who found your baby brothers playing with N64 stuff in the tub just goes to show that kids definitely were drawn to aesthetic! LOL They thought they were toys! silly kids. Oh wait, they are toys.

[@007GoldenLion]

Mine fell off my Dad's care Trunk while going at 65 MPH and worked fine

[@RadThibodeaux]

Turning on my N64 for the first time as a kid and hearing “it’s a-me Mario” was and still is one of the best moments in my whole life. Nothing but love.

[@MidNiteMenaceOfficial]

Muh childhood

[@thomasjefferson182]

I’ll always remember the first time seeing N64. We were visiting family in Saint Louis, Missouri. After eating breakfast my Grandma surprised my three older brothers and me with N64. I was only six or seven at the time but I can remember vividly all of us sitting Indian style in front of the tv that was in front of a fireplace with grey brickwork. Of course the game was Mario 64. Thanks Grandma Pat ❤️❤️

[@RetroBirdGaming]

That's awesome.

[@backup_account_1]

The N64 is the console that I dreamed of having as a child and I couldn't, so for me, those graphics with that particular aesthetic, with large polygons, smooth edges and textures, fog and that characteristic "blur" will always be the best graphs that exist. I know this is totally subjective, but I didn't play any later consoles, so it's still etched in my memory seeing the TVs in the game stores playing the N64 games and not being able to believe my eyes. It was only last year during the pandemic lockdown, 25 years after the console launched, that I was able to play N64 games for the first time on my laptop with an emulator and USB controller. While I have yet to play on an original console (and on a CRT TV), at least I had the pleasure of completing classic games like Ocarina of Time, Banjo-Kazooie, Super Mario 64, Conker's Bad Fur Day, Goldeneye 007, and many more. I must say it was everything I ever dreamed of. So for me the N64 is the best console of all time, even without ever playing with the original hardware. Nostalgia 100%.

[@backup_account_1]

On the other hand, on second thought, it's not just nostalgia. There are games that are considered among the best of all time, and even "the" best video game of all time, so for a reason I was so amazed by this console at the time.

[@3dmarth]

You might actually be better off not playing on the original hardware. ;) Emulators fix the blur and choppy performance, plus you can play with a better controller. And I agree that there's a lot more to the N64 than nostalgia.

[@backup_account_1]

@@3dmarth Hey! Thanks for your answer. I may be crazy, but I prefer the original graphics, with all their "shortcomings" (which for me are not shortcomings but on the contrary, they generate that particular aesthetic that I love). In relation to the controller, I saw that there are new models (such as the Retro-Bit Tribute 64) that have updated the distribution with 2 grips instead of 3, which are even wireless and have built-in vibration, but personally (and here I do think nostalgia plays a lot) I stick with the original. I actually have two USB controllers from the original model and I love them. I think that deep down it is what I wanted to have as a child and only now can I give myself the pleasure of trying it. Sure the emulated graphics are better and the current controls are more comfortable, but in my case I try to be as close as possible to the original console. Greetings and thanks for reading my extensive comment!

[@3dmarth]

@@backup_account_1 While there's something kind of special about putting the original cartridge/disc in a console and playing it all authentically, I personally think that the benefits of emulation are big enough to make N64 games more enjoyable, but subtle enough that they're not changing the game's look and feel too much. (The graphics are still the same, but I can see them more clearly.) Nothing wrong with preferring authenticity, though, if that's what you like. The weird three-pronged controllers aren't a big deal once you know how to use them, but it's a lot more sensible to have two grips at the sides. Hey, two questions about the USB controllers: 1. Do you ever use them for non-N64 games? One thing that's rare outside of the N64 is the 6-button layout, but that could be handy for some other games. 2. Which brand did you buy? I know a guy who got a really low-quality one, unfortunately. The stick had only 8 directions, with no real analogue!

[@backup_account_1]

@@3dmarth Hello! Thanks again for your response. It is a pleasure to be able to talk about these topics. I fully agree with your point about the advantages of emulators in relation to graphics. But in my case I try to get as close as possible to the original console, for a simple matter of nostalgia (pure madness and obsession haha). I am aware of the advantages that exist today in terms of graphics; without going any further, the reversions of N64 games for Xbox and Switch are "superior" in many graphic aspects (frames per second, definition, textures, etc.), but since what I'm looking for is to get as close as possible to the original version, all those advantages turn into disadvantages for me. Another thing that happens to me with the emulations is that sometimes they are "too HD" for me, and on modern TV or PC screens the "magic" that the games had visually is lost. Let's see if I can explain myself better: N64 programmers programmed for CRT TVs, so they had their "tricks" to achieve satisfactory visual results. They achieved a "blend" between the 2D and 3D images that is really admirable. Background, landscape elements, characters, 3D models, etc., everything was very well mixed and gave a high-quality visual result for cartridges with little storage capacity. With some emulators, the graphics look "too" quality, which for me takes away a bit of the original aesthetic. To understand me better, check the screenshots that are uploaded on the Instagram account "n64snap". I use the Project64 emulator (the only one that runs well on my laptop), and in the graphics settings I add "fast approximate anti-aliasing", anisotropic filtering, N64-style bilinear filtering, 2D elements rendered in N64 resolution, N64-style depth compare, among others. With this I achieve a certain "blur" and softening in edges and textures. Then I combine this with two little pieces of software: one is called "S4W" and adds scanlines to the screen (simulating the lines of CRT TVs), and then I add another one called "CRTSim" which simulates a tube TV screen. All this results in an image quite similar to what can be seen with an original hardware/cartridge and an old TV. For me it is wonderful, but I understand that for others it may mean "ruining" the graphics, when they could be seen in HD (which seems to be the only thing that is wanted nowadays). At this point you can already realize my level of fanaticism. Regarding the controller, I use it only for N64 games. I only like the retro consoles from my childhood, and I have, in addition to the N64 controller, one for the NES, one for the SNES and one for the SEGA Genesis (all USB). As for the brand, I have two. One of regular quality that I bought here in Argentina, and another of very good quality that is imported from the US. This one has no brand, but on Amazon it is listed as "[USB Version] Classic N64 Controller, SAFFUN N64 Wired USB PC Game pad Joystick, N64 Bit USB Wired Game Stick for Windows PC MAC Linux Genesis Raspberry Pi Retropie Emulator [Plug & Play] (Green)". The analog stick moves much better and it seems to me that on the inside it is metal and not plastic. Although I like the original model better with the analog stick system all made of plastic (for pure nostalgia), the controller that I bought here in Argentina, which is plastic, had the analog stick broken. Finally, regarding the analog stick direction, both controls respond very well to 360º in all directions, and have an excellent sensitivity for movements, from the most subtle (for example, to make Banjo-Kazooie walk in toes) to the most abrupt. I did see "second quality" controls on the internet that made it clear that the stick had the same function and recognized the same directions as the D-Pad (I guess it's the 8 directions you mean: up, down, left, right and the 4 diagonals). Well, if you made it this far, I really appreciate you taking the time to read my message. Greetings!

[@joshbarnes9267]

Your channel is quickly becoming one of my favorites for retro gaming! I think your videos are relatable, you get right to the point with the topic on hand, and above all they're pretty funny! Keep it up!

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I really appreciate that! I'm glad that you're enjoying the videos and thank you for your support.

[@PazuRPG]

San Francisco Rush for the N64 was one of my favorite arcade racers. :)

[@vchill79]

I was a senior in High School when N64 came out, and thats feels like a lifetime ago..moreless playing Atari 2600 in 1983 for me

[@marcmoore7724]

I like the N64 a lot, but I do feel it was the start of the "Own a Nintendo console alongside the one with all the 3rd party games" trend.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Yup. Definitely an unfortunate trend.

[@nitsujzach]

Yup kinda sucks. But honestly seems like a brilliant business move. Nintendo was like: let Microsoft and Sony fight which platform got the best 3rd party, yall know you need a nintendo for a Zelda or a Mario.

[@nickwallette6201]

@@nitsujzach Yeah. I don't really see this as a problem. It's like having to buy bananas AND whatever fruit wins the citrus war this generation.

[@HollowRick]

Yup I was lucky enough to own both since my brother was 8 years older than me I feel sad for the kids who only had a n64

[@shaun8062]

I remember it like it was yesterday. During that time at least in my city, every cool person had an N64. My friends and I played daily and if we went to people's parties, it didn't matter who it was, there was always a room where Goldeneye or Mario Kart was being played. This was all the time for years! I also remember going to the "SURGE" convention party that was geared toward kids and they had free surge to drink and bounce houses, fat suit sumo wrestling, trampolines with a velcro wall, gladiator staff fighting on platforms, and what was everyone drawn to the most?... Everyone was lining up to compete in Goldeneye playing on a big screen projector in a room that could hardly hold us all in!

[@milp00l]

I know this is 4 years late (and great video as always!), but to tag on to one of your comments: it’s not even that graphics don’t matter as retro video game fans, it’s that we tend to appreciate the way those old graphics look/feel. Just as I like the pixel art of the SNES/Genesis/Game Boy era, I also like the low-poly 3D graphics of the N64/PS1 era 🤷‍♂️

[@blackwalls]

I love the N64. I was in high school when it came out and Mario Kart and Goldeneye were always played at parties and sleepovers. 1080, the Star Wars games and Beetle Adventure racing were also some faves.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Sounds like you had a similar experience as I did. Also, Beetle Adventure Racing seemed to be one of those peculiar games that a lot of people either owned or rented a lot.

[@FeralInferno]

I was so impressed with the N64 back in 1996. I thought the controller was amazing. The Z Button was genius for 3D games. I loved Nintendo's mantra of quality over quantity. I disagree with the general modern opinion of the graphics looking bad. I think they still hold their charm and look waaaay better than what Sony and Sega offered in that generation (and Atari, do they count? lol). The water graphics in Wave Race 64 still impress me to this day. My only gripe with the N64 was that while they had better quality games, they lacked four main components that made the SNES so great: Capcom, Enix, Konami, and Square.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Yeah, they were really missing those big 3rd party devs that shined so brightly on the Super Nintendo. And I agree, the water physics in Wave Race 64 still impress me even today.

[@Mishkobt]

@@joyasmusicales603 Sega Genesis was great but I think you are in the minority if you like Saturn more than n64

[@PaperBanjo64]

Nintendo 64 blew the PlayStation out of the water when it came out, free roaming 3D worlds in 1996! It took PlayStation until 1998 when Spyro came out to have something similar. Everything else was narrow hallways or linear, Super Mario 64 was real open 3D from launch day, and Nintendo 64 games aged better than PlayStation.

[@FeralInferno]

@@PaperBanjo64 agreed. It's unfortunate that they lost all that 3rd party support because of the memory costs. Perhaps instead pf cartridges, they should've used the 64DD format. I wonder if that would've made a difference in keeping those devs. RIP Final Fantasy 64 demo.

[@PaperBanjo64]

@@FeralInferno the DD add on failed miserably in Japan but it was released at the tail end of the system's lifespan.

[@8BitGlitch79]

I loved playing the N64 back in the day and I still love it today!

[@8BitGlitch79]

@@level1online yeah I know lol

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Good to hear. Which games have you been playing the most recently?

[@8BitGlitch79]

@@RetroBirdGaming I was replaying Winback a couple weeks ago.

[@fgfhjfhjfbhfghf5771]

I don't trust people who dislike a machine that blessed us with Star Fox 64

[@antoniobarrera1983]

Same

[@MidNiteMenaceOfficial]

I don't trust people who like a machine that had 60% sports games

[@fgfhjfhjfbhfghf5771]

@@MidNiteMenaceOfficial Better 60% sports then 70% licenced tie-in games

[@uwehoeren]

I love it since 1997 i first started Shadows of the Empire. Unforgettable Moment. It has so many Memorable Games Goldeneye and Blast Corps are some of My All Time Favorites.

[@CornholioDK]

Another pro to cartridges, no noise whatsoever.

[@dylanware2193]

The 64 is easily my favorite console of all time. I’ll always love going back to play it

[@antonnym214]

I was absolutely fine with the controller. I really loved Pilot Wings, and Super Mario 64, but my favorite game was Mario Kart 64. MK64 was and always will be the best game ever invented for any system or console. All good wishes.

[@manfriedn64]

I discovered your channel a few days ago and since I can't stop but watch your videos every time I have a recommandation for them. Always interesting thought and humor, good quality good. It has everything !

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Glad you like it and I'm happy to have you around :)

[@1-eye-willy]

ps1 still blows n64 out of the water, being a child of divorce i had both, my ps1 collection was always poppin, my n64 collection consisted of four games

[@The31stcenturyfox]

N64 was my favourite system. I typically didn't own a lot of games as a kid, and was poor so we skipped the SNES gen. So having s dozen games that were all amazing in a system was mind blowing. Starfox 64, Zelda: Orcarina of Time, Banjo Kazooie, Banjo Tooie, Paper Mario, Mario 64, Golden Eye, Perfect Dark, Rogue Squadron and Battle for Naboo were amazing games to own and play. Not to say the PS didn't have its good games, but each one of these appealed to me more as a person than any of the top rated PS games. It was a no brainer I had to own a N64 and my collection keeps growing.

[@abdullakc]

Yeah, we did skip to n64 too. N64 was one of our favourite systems ever. Many of its games had and still have awesome replay value

[@CasepbX]

I loved the N64 so much, it got me through middle school lol. I think it's still my favorite to this day just because it's so different, and of course because I have so many memories of playing 4 player games with family and friends. I also have fond memories of the PS1 of course. I remember actually hating the PS1 because it was the competition, but eventually I grew to love how different it was than the N64. Mainly because the PS1 had a shit ton of free demo discs lol. I've never experienced SO many different games before in my life until demo discs. I'm more than positive we played demo discs more than any actual full games on the PS1 lol.

[@Savannah_Simpson]

Honestly I never thought of the N64 controller as weird until looking into gaming stuff online.

[@lonreed9743]

I went from SNES to PlayStation after reading all the reviews at the time. I was very happy for about a year until my PlayStation stopped working. So I was very surprised when my dad took me to the store to pick up a N64 and 3 games (Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, and Killer Instinct Gold). I stayed happy that summer while my PS1 was being repaired. In the meantime, I borrowed all sorts of games from my family and grew to appreciate the system for what it was.

[@jonyoungmusic]

The n64 beat out PS1 and Saturn for me when I was choosing my big gift for Christmas in 1996. Mario 64, Pilotwings, and WaveRace alone were enough to win me over. Then came Turok, Goldeneye, Mario Kart, etc. I got it in 8th grade and still have it. My only childhood system I still have.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

It was hard to say no to Super Mario 64!

[@CassiDS]

There's, like, three 2D games that I'd say are worth holding both side grips - Pokémon Puzzle League, Kirby 64, and Mischief Makers

[@myria2834]

Zero load time is not an advantage innate to cartridges, it's a side effect of the limited storage space. Most indie games under a 500mb install size, on a decent ssd, have zero load times. put any old n64 or snes game on a hard drive and it still loads instantly. Just a matter of needing to load less data than the interface can transmit in real time.

[@Guythatknowsitall88]

In regards to it not being graphicly impressive, sure by today's standards but at the time graphics it was the most powerful system. To be fair though its possible for the far grittier graphic of the ps1 probably helps with forcing the brain filling the gaps kinda how scan lines make games look better.

[@olegraybeard4206]

Even donkey Kong is jealous of your stockpile of bananas

[@SweetBean92]

Personal favorite console, especially now that things like the Everdrive exist.

[@trevor_mounts_music]

The N64 sat and collected dust back then until I had a few friends over for some couch co-op. The PS1 just had a way better library of games overall and got the majority of the attention. I remember being kind of let down by the N64 at the time - some truly amazing games on the platform but not nearly enough of them...

[@christopherpayne2666]

Two words: Wrestling Games

[@andrewcamacho3364]

I only found out recently that most people seem to grip the middle handle, rather than the left. I always used the left handle and thought everyone else did as well.

[@tardigrade9343]

I love the N64. And I don't think it has bad graphics, or at least not worse than its competitors Playstation or Saturn. It delivered immersive 3D games that even felt realistic at the time. For example, no 3D Zelda game after OOT or MM recaptured this specific dark and uncanny atmosphere those games managed to convey back on the N64. Even Mario 64 was unintentionally spooky at times, in the best way possible. The dark lighting and fog effects were a feature in my book. I liked all that. The high contrasts and scanlines in a CRT makes the N64 look "crisp" and modern and, in my opinion, way ahead of its time. Sure it lacked the elaborate textures, pre-rendered backgrounds and cd quality sound the PS1 offered (which I love, too) but it scored in the immersion and gameplay department. It introduced those third person 3d action adventures to the majority of players, something other consoles couldn't do. The Assassin's Creeds and Ghost of Tsushimas of today all are rooted in Zelda OOT and Mario 64.

[@AnthonyFlack]

You learn something every day. I had no idea anybody thought that the N64 was a bad console or it had bad games or the graphics look bad for the era. I always thought it was a great console that people loved.

[@HollowRick]

Nah the console gets a lot of "Flack" nowadays

[@ady123181]

​@@HollowRickIt got flack back then too. I have been defending the n64 since it came out. Quality over quantity. Ps1 has more games but n64 had more good games. 3/4 of the ps1 library is garbage. N64 graphics were amazing for the time and better than ps1 or saturn.

[@asa-punkatsouthvinland7145]

The N64 graphics certainly have a common look which made it harder for Games to stand out from one another. But honestly I prefer the look of N64 graphics over the blocky & pixilated PS1 graphics.

[@chrisflaherty2225]

Never had it as a kid, but love it now. Having analog control for every game makes a huge impact. Sure some of the games are really ugly and the the blurriness is a real issue and my system needs to have the games plugged in multiple times before they’ll play but it’s still great.

[@ROMBomb001]

Just discovered your channel through this video. Great stuff! Subscribed!

[@dominicvl1990]

Retrotink x2 mini is a great option for hooking the 64 up to a modern tv

[@mattb6522]

I grew up with an N64 and enjoyed it despite its limitations. I think I didn't mind the small library as the games I had (mostly Nintendo and Rareware) were very fun. Despite everyone's opinions on the N64, I think it was a vital part of the gaming industry with the rise of 3D gaming. I remember being absolutely blown away as a kid when Super Mario 64 was announced. I can see why some people may not like the system, but I have many fond memories attached to it in both with single player and multiplayer games. I will never forget exploring Peach's Castle in Mario 64 or exploring the Great Deku Tree in Ocarina of Time for the first time. Also, one can never forget shouting at friends and family while playing Mario Kart 64, Mario Party, or GoldenEye! Nintendo was always good at relationship-shattering multiplayer games!

[@edge6441]

Amazing comment 100% as you say it!

[@HollowRick]

Can't forget 4 player WWF no mercy :D I owned a n64 but luckily with my brother being 8 years older than he was able to get PlayStation 1 so I grew up with ocarina of time and mario kart 64 but also played metal gear solid and final fantasy 7

[@WhoCaresAnymoreTho]

I loved the n64 pad ..playin the WCW thq games wer perfect.

[@beninreallife]

in february of this year, i bought an n64 for 5 dollars because it was said to be broken. after putting a cartridge, i got nothing on the screen. after taking the expansion pack out and putting it back in, it worked. TIP: always reseat the expansion pack if it isnt working.

[@SoupyMittens]

I had a similar problem when I couldn't boot majoras mask. messed around with it for awhile, eventually just pressed a bit on the Pak and bam it worked

[@dad7275]

My favorite n64 game=F-zero! Wipeout 64 is nice too.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Nice choices. I see you like the racing games!

[@dad7275]

@@RetroBirdGaming yes. I still dont own Mario kart 64 though. 😕

[@RetroBirdGaming]

@@dad7275 That's a big one! I think you'll like it if you're a fan of the series or even just more unconventional racing games.

[@miamimagicians]

The N64 was a lot of fun for four player games. Three player games. This is before the Internet online playing. Games like no mercy, wrestlemania 2000 revenge WCW, Mario kart, goldeneye. So much fun and then games like ocarina of time just amazing. Ocarina of time is best played on the original Nintendo 64. The PlayStation had a lot of Great games, but what on the PlayStation can compare to something like perfect dark?

[@matthewwhelan5633]

Gotta love the N64 I only got one a year and a half ago and it's quickly become one of my favourites of all time

[@paigelooney6117]

I had the crystal green n64 show at the beginning of the video as the donkey kong bundle still have it to this day

[@EduardoAbelardoRodriguezGuzman]

I was a nintendo fanboy on the nes and snes era and I had my N64 as a birthday present, but when I saw FFVII a cousin and I joined forces to buy the psx. He would buy the console and I would buy the games, memory cards and an extra controller, and guess what... one day we had a fight and he took the console away and I did the same with the games and accesories. He was only playing the demo disc, and I was playing killer instinct gold on my n64, and I tought "oh man how i rather be playing castlevania symphony of the night, FFVII, Street fighter collection, Mega man x4...than this." Decisions were made and the n64 had to go...

[@nedweeks6964]

Played wrestlemania 2000 the other night. The rock's face is priceless! And you get to use the d pad

[@8bitboss929]

I love the N64. It had some great games like Diddy Kong racing, ocarina of time, 1080 snowboarding, goldeneye,And so many more. It was built well and had great couch co-op. The only negative part about the N64 to me was hell quickly the joysticks wore out on those controllers.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Yeah, and a round of Mario Party 1 could chew right through those analog sticks!

[@8bitboss929]

@@RetroBirdGaming those retro fighter controllers are a pretty good option now.

[@thebigbean8783]

I could sit and talk n64 all day. I adore this console. The games, the music, the multi-player, the controller was the highlight of the whole thing. You can play whatever the heck you want with it. It has so many options. It has some of the best games of all time and most of the best games in it's series are the best on the 64. People hit it with the same "arguments" when it comes to it's downfall but they're all tired and rooted in nothing. I don't even have to be a fan fanboy to say that the 3d isn't that bad. Just because it isn't a movie doesn't mean it looks bad. I'll end it here though. I love this console and could praise it all day because it deserves it

[@jesterscorner879]

This might offend purists but I think one point missed about the N64 is the fact that of the cartridge based consoles of the 20th Century it is arguably the worst for emulation if you enjoy playing a variety of titles. That factor alone bumped the N64 to the top of my list when I was looking at which Retro gaming console to give my money to. Add in some fun exclusives or near exclusives that I never got to play when it was in production and I committed to picking one up. Now I am just trying to find a solid collection of games without selling a kidney. :D

[@MarioLuigi25]

The Nintendo 64 is honestly one of my favorite gaming consoles ever along with the PS1 (yes, I love both about equally). The fact that Nintendo still put out awesome gaming classics despite them being on cartridge was pretty special and impressive. And I do like the old school feel to seeing a cartridge as well

[@koloth5139]

What I will say is the N64 is the console that made me stop being a fanboy. Sure I had a Genesis and a Super Nintendo, but I was still a Nintendo fanboy. So I got the N64 without a second thought because Nintendo could do no wrong. But there was nothing to play. For months, even years there was nothing. So I bought a PlayStation.

[@rossoreilly05]

The thing is, there is no good way to play an N64 on a modern TV. RGB modded system plus franemeister or OSSC looks bad. HDMI mods still look bad. The only half decent way to play the N64 is on a 20inch or smaller CRT Imo. Even on bigger CRTs, it looks like dogshit. PS1 and Saturn on the other hand can look great on bigger CRTs or on modern TVs with the right upscaler without having to mod anything. This for me is the biggest reason the N64 has aged so poorly in comparison to other systems from its generation.

[@otakubullfrog1665]

I do miss talking about video games at the bus stop. Almost none of my coworkers are console gamers, so there's really nobody I see in real life on a daily basis to compare my progress with whenever a new Zelda game is released.

[@stevesteve0521]

It’s not good or bad, it’s great. Still the best couch multiplayer machine that exists. It also had a bunch of great racing games, 3d platformers, wrestling games when wrestling was more popular than ever, the best FPS games on a home console and of course the Zelda games. Heck for all the Animal crossing fans out there who think the series started on the GameCube, it started on the n64 and it essentially looks the same as the GameCube version. For a console with a relatively short library (388 worldwide and 296 in North America) it had some really great memorable games and I myself own about 100 of them. I’m on team n64 all the way and it’s a top ten console of all time in my opinion and if I’m not including handhelds then I have it as the 3rd best Nintendo console behind the Snes and the Wii (Too many boring indie games, rereleases and the joy con issue really makes me not much of a switch fan at the moment but my opinion will eventually change).

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I think the role it served me as a couch multiplayer machine will always be what I remember most fondly. SO many great memories.

[@stevesteve0521]

Retro Bird So many great memories it was back in the days where the human attention span of a video game can last more than 10 minutes. I can’t imagine a group of 8 kids these days sharing 4 controllers playing Mario kart 64 battle mode in a 12X12 room for 8 hours straight. Such great times!

[@HollowRick]

​@@stevesteve0521 on a 14 inch TV 😂

[@saurondp]

I pre-ordered mine and picked it up on launch day at the base PX when I was in the military, along with Mario 64. I don't think I did anything at all that same weekend other than play Mario 64. A little later, after I got out, I brought it home with me and had thousands of hours of fun playing MK Trilogy, Goldeneye, Diddy Kong Racing, etc. The console itself was a tank, but I don't know how many controllers I wore out during its time. After I upgraded to the Dreamcast I gave my N64 to my brother so my nephews would have a good console to play while growing up. They still have it, and all three of them totally wipe the floor with me in MK Trilogy now.

[@tomrwills]

AKI Wrestling games were my favorite on the console and still some of my favorite games ever. They predominantly used the D-Pad too, some of the few games to do so.

[@TaurinFox]

I absolutely love the N64, and still have the one the I bought on launch day, but I wanted to add another reason why them choosing to stick with cartridges really hurt the console. The graphics... The N64 had amazing hardware stats for its time, and its anti-aliasing and texture map filtering were revolutionary. However, the lack of storage space on the cartridges meant that most games used low resolution texture maps that looked blurry and ugly when that filtering was applied, which earned the N64 a reputation for having "blocky" or "chunky" 3D graphics compared to its competitors. Ocarina of Time probably came the closest to using the texturing to its full potential, but it was also one of the largest games released for the console.

[@actionhanz3420]

Mario Party and Goldeneye with 3 siblings and our buddies. SERIOUS business. N64 never broke though ;)

[@RetroBirdGaming]

hahah definitely some serious business!

[@heybirddawg1055]

I am the oldest of 4 siblings, and the N64 was our family's first console, so it is near and dear to our hearts to say the least! What I think is underappreciated about the 64 is the 4-player feature. This aspect brought more people together for video games than any other console EVER, and it was a literally a game changer! Do you think this is one of the reasons why some people preferred it to Playstation Retro Bird?

[@jmac79ers]

The n64 will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first console that I saved up for, and bought with my own money. I remember not being able to think about anything but Mario 64 for quite a while. S-video and a good crt is the way I like my n64. The hdmi options look nice, but it's really not necessary

[@madbart214yomother7]

Same. I mowed yards all summer that year down my street for all the older folks and I managed to save up for one and months later for ocarina of time and smash brothers. No matter what you do to it, the visuals are gonna look like shit tho lol.

[@SoupyMittens]

@@madbart214yomother7 ehh I mean they looked like shit when the console came out so most games compensate for the low res. (Not saying it looked bad for the time, but it still looked like shit.)

[@metaldiceman]

I was around 8 or 9 when this system was new, and I remember thinking, why get a PlayStation when even though it has some great games, there are sooo many junk ones. It just felt like a grab bag. I knew that on N64, the Nintendo stuff was going to be solid and I also found Rareware to be really good from watching my friend's older brother play DK64 and Jet Force Gemini. Looking back, I'm actually impressed that my 8/9 y/o self understood the concept of quality ratios in a system's library. It's even harder to imagine when you remember that the internet really wasn't much of a thing back then. Asked for and got an N64 that Christmas and my life as a gamer began.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Without the internet, it still felt like everybody knew what the best games for N64 were just because most people had them. I don't remember going to a friend's house and him not having some sort of combination of it's best games like Mario Kart, Smash Bros, Goldeneye etc.

[@metaldiceman]

The N64 group really did feel like a big club back then. Most of my friends and extended family had the N64. In fact I didn't even realize until a full decade later that PlayStation was more than a lukewarm success, because my own experience really was, get N or get out. Then you had the 4-player parties... why in the world would I choose to play with only 1 other friend, it just seemed silly, haha.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

@@metaldiceman It's so funny you say that because one of the biggest surprises to me as an adult was to learn the PS1 sold triple what the N64 did. When I was a kid I remember nobody had a PS1 and everybody had a N64. Even the older kids in my neighborhood. Must've been living in a bubble!

[@SoupyMittens]

@@RetroBirdGaming yeah I never met a single person who owned one where I live.

[@HollowRick]

​@@RetroBirdGaming it's funny you say that as over in Europe it was the complete opposite everyone here in the UK had a playstation and the Nintendo 64 was more niche mainly because nintendo has never really been that popular here it was more sega then Sony

[@final7845]

It's one of my most favorite consoles of all time. Despite its flaws, this was my first system and one of my most played

[@pulpprof526]

N64 is polarizing because some ppl only needed the one controller port. Meaning no friends. On top of that, very few rpgs.

[@drunkenbuttons606]

Lack of rpgs compared to PS1 really hurt this system, just like the Saturn. Also, third parties jumping ship to Sony had a lot to do with it too.

[@charleybarley7148]

You're right. Still, I personally hated the RPGs that were coming out (overall) with the 3D transition, partcularly on the PS1 (I am reasonably certain that I am in the minority here). It seemed like developers were shifting emphasis to story and character development to the point where I just felt like I was watching a shitty movie for tweens as opposed to playing a game.

[@heywoodjablome2767]

The Saturn actually had a solid JRPG library. What really hurt the Saturn was the piss poor advertising of the console outside of Japan and the fact it was very difficult for most devs to program for, especially when it comes to 3D games.

[@SoupyMittens]

I dont really like RPG's. And the ones the PS1 did have weren't even that fun.

[@drunkenbuttons606]

@@heywoodjablome2767 You're right, the Saturn did have a solid RPG library, but most of it never made it to the US.

[@drunkenbuttons606]

@@SoupyMittens true for you, but JRPGS were becoming increasingly popular during the PS1 era. It can be argued that the best JRPGs were on the SNES, but the PS1 era was when JRPGs really took off after FF7 came out.

[@NESADDICT]

I’ve had several N64’s and I never hang onto them. It came out in a time when I wasn’t gaming so I don’t have much love/nostalgia for it. I’m sure it’s good but it’s better if there’s one less system I don’t want to collect for.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

I had so many fun memories with my friends playing this system that it's hard to imagine what I would think of it without those memories. I'd probably look at it totally different.

[@tedlogan5628]

Never owned the N64 but played it at friends house from time to time. Didn’t love the controller but loved the multiplayer games it had (Golden Eye, Mario Kart, Sports 🏀 games).

[@edwest2263]

Great console. I passed it up for a Sega Saturn instead with the 3 free games pack-in. I regretted that choice back then, as I would always go to my friends to enjoy Mario 64, Goldeneye, Starfox, Mario Kart, Diddy Kong Racing, etc. I later got a PS1, which is still my favorite system of the generation. Nowadays, I do enjoy the Saturn's library much more than the N64, it has aged a lot better. And a lot more interesting once you acquire the more rare games, and expand your library to imports.

[@gametourny4ever627]

I like the N64 but it is best with the right setup. If you have a CRT and a good set of S Video Cables, it is great. I have the Purple Monster S Video Cable hooked in mine and it looks and plays great on the Crt.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

S-Video to a CRT is how I play mine as well.

[@gametourny4ever627]

@@RetroBirdGaming Defintely great and man been loving the Vids. I took a look at that N64 Hdmi out that the HGC people brought out but $150 is just too much.

[@ghostly836]

I love Star fox for N64. The controls felt much smoother than the snes version. I'm not currently collecting for N64 yet but I did just buy an app for collecting it last night.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Star Fox 64 is awesome. I still love playing it.

[@SightlySinner]

There were a few games in which the d-pad was used such as puzzle games. Dr. Mario 64 and the new Tetris both made great use of it. I think even a side scrolling game like Kirby 64 might’ve but my memory on that one is hazy.

[@danbauer3669]

I had an Expansion Pak quit on me. I had just left it in there for years after I got it, then one day the N64 just ceased to function. When I put the Jumper Pak back in there it worked just fine again. Now, I only use the Expansion Pak when required/desired

[@SoupyMittens]

yeah the pak also makes things a bit laggy in some cases

[@GloriousKev]

I love the N64. I'd argue it's my favorite Nintendo console that I've owned.

[@valkiriforce]

I only wish the joystick was more durable - other than that it's an amazing console I've long enjoyed since the time it hit store shelves. We actually got the exclusive Toys R Us N64 console that came with a gold controller along with Star Fox 64, which also came with a rumble pack. That was quite a jump for me being that I was used to the SNES library, and playing something that looked cool with 3D graphics, sounded awesome with the voice-acting and even felt immersive with the rumble pack was a really exciting journey for me at a young age.

[@andyanajonseph9399]

I definitely do get some of it's complaints, like the stick of the controller even though I never had issues with it. But like you mentioned there are modern solutions for that, the Tribute 64 being my go-to N64 controller. The use of cartridges while dumb considering back then, admittedly I find very satisfying to collect. In recent years the N64's become one of my favorite systems, probably beating the PS1 as my favorite from that generation idk yet. But I do wish more would talk about some of the N64's 3rd party stuff, ya had some great stuff. Glover, Turok, Doom 64, Space Station Silicon Valley, Rocket Robot On Wheels, Rogue Squadron and World Is Not Enough to name a few. Also funny enough I just got a Jungle Green N64 for my collection, and from the videos I've seen of your's I liked alot so I should watch you more.

[@edge6441]

I love my N64 it carried with it all this hype followed by fulfilment and certain games come to mind when i think of video games in general it was that defining for me! who can forget the first time he saw super mario 64 come on now it was the stuff of dreams bk then!

[@totallyfrozen]

I’ve never actually played a Nintendo 64. This was an interesting and informative video.

[@Nathan-mu1pz]

Rare and Factor 5 were really the only guys who knew how to use a cartridge well. Everyone else didn't want to put in the effort

[@sunwukong5518]

The N64 did so many things for the first time it's insane. First time we got good 3d platformers, z targeting, first Smash Bros., first Mario Party, first analog stick. Truly a pioneer

[@ChaosShadowZero89]

So funny story, once my N64 that ive had for 24 years now quit working. I picked it up, dropped it on the floor, and it worked ever since. All I had to do was replace the power supply once.

[@sadid-xp1]

Have you ever played Gex 64

[@thatssomegoodpie]

I don't really have an option to hook it up aside from the standard AV cables on an HD TV. Which sucks cause it really looks horrible. My eyes hurt from the blurry picture this thing cranks out.

[@Metal-Josh]

Never owned an N64 though really enjoyed them at friends houses, primary (no, not GoldenEye, sorry) but Mario Kart. In my view, you didn't have an N64 until you had Mario Kart

[@scottb_02]

Current World Champion Mario Kart “speed runner” Dansgame89 Twitch, holds to the left controller prong while using the analog stick! He uses middle finger on the right hand for the Z button! The more you know!

[@CasperEgas]

I don't like the console very much. Hate the controller, don't like most if the graphics, don't think it has many great games. At least it is very cheap, so it can be worth it to try a few games. I would never prefer it over a Saturn though.

[@SketchCartoonGuy]

I rolled with N64 and I don't think I ever had Playstation envy. The smaller library never bothered me because it was more than enough to keep me interested. I suppose at launch there were slim pickings but Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64 kept me plenty busy until I got Cruis'n USA, Mario Kart, Star Fox, DKR, Goldeneye, Banjo-Kazooie, Smash Bros, Mario Tennis, etc. I borrowed or rented some of the other gems in the library and greatly enjoyed the majority of the games I played on the system. Hours of multiplayer fun as well as many long single player gaming sessions. If I had a PS1 I'd probably like several of the games on it just as much but the N64 library never left me wanting despite it's lack of third party support.

[@dbz0073]

I remember having the N64 years ago. I still have the system and games. The controller does suck years later. Also, the system lacked third party games. Most of the games are garbage but there's some good ones years later. My problem is that a lot of people say it's the best. Which in reality it isn't because there's better games and systems years ago and later. Your opinion is very valid. I can see why the PS1 won the console wars back in the late 90s. Agreed throughout this whole video.

[@TheIcePirate]

I'm on the love /hate side. Some great MP memories, but I also hated that it got crap third party support. Forced me to buy a Playstation for all those games.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Yup. The PS1 is essential in my opinion.

[@gaminggeorge1903]

My N64 isn’t broken, but it takes a handful of attempts to get it to work. I got it used as a gift so I’m not sure what happened to make it this way

[@RetroBirdGaming]

You may just want to try cleaning your games with a q-tip and rubbing alcohol. That may do the trick.

[@gustavocve1779]

once I was going up a pair of stairs at my house and the n64 was on my backpack. The zipper was not closed tight so it opened and the n64 went tumbling down the stairs rolling. Like, 2 meters long stairs. That was 20 years ago and it is still working. If i let my switch drop from my bed i'm afraid it will never turn on again.

[@ironinquisitor3656]

It's dumb to complain about graphics of old games in my opinion. Especially ones that are decades old.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Yeah, having the right expectations when it comes to retro games certainly helps.

[@BigManTate7364]

My N64 seems to be broken. The reason being that I left it in my closet for quite a few years and it probably has some corrosion from moisture and mold. If only I'd stored it in a proper bin it would have been better protected. Hopefully I can find a fix for it since many of my newer consoles broke for no apparent reason. "They don't make 'em like they used to" 😉

[@BigManTate7364]

@@superresistant0 Good point! I'll look it up

[@SoupyMittens]

I would try just adjusting the jumper/expansion pak, or maybe blow on the cartridges

[@greencastle337]

I defenitly was a ps1 kid and still am,i have some good memories of golden eye at some friend house but thats pretty much it imo the library is too limited.

[@dreamlandnightmare]

I didn't love it, but I definitely didn't hate it. The graphics were crisper and more colorful than that of the Playstation, and I enjoyed its non-sports titles more than most non-sports Playstation games. Thought it was a decent console that fell short of what it could have been. The decision to stick to the cartridge format was probably its biggest flaw. The controller design was odd, but I never had much of a problem using it.

[@alfredocanas6802]

the n64 is the only nintendo system I don't own together with the virtual boy, I have been tempted to get a system but I always fail to get one or just forget about it. Probably the biggest reason is the lack of RPG's and the fact that 3D graphics haven't aged that well and that blurriness makes me dizzy.

[@RetroBirdGaming]

Yeah, the lack of RPGs is a real bummer. The best one I could recommend is Paper Mario. It's a slightly unconventional RPG but a great game in my opinion.

[@devonwilliams5738]

N64 still had some 3rd party support. Turok, Rocket, Rayman 2. But yes, using cartridges was arguably the biggest mistake Nintendo ever made. It was just because they wanted total control over manufacturing.

[@joeweb5179]

Great video luv my n64

[@edwardwalker3411]

It had a few good games, but if you look at the library it is very weak with lots of holes. I liked Star Fox and Rogue Squadron, but other than that I was playing my Saturn and or Playstation and waiting on Dreamcast.

[@JoeCannon1982]

I got my first 64 back in 2020 Covid lock 🔒 down 🎉❤