Top 8 N64 Games That You Should Play
February 18, 2008 - 11:19 pm - Posted by Sean
Okay, so the N64 is a little old, but that’s what Modern Classic Gaming is all about. Besides, if you were a gamer back in the late 1990′s, this was a standard household item!
We all remember those good old days where we would pop in a cartridge, flick the power on, turn on some classic Journey and grab a seat so we could own our friends in Goldeneye or Smash Bros. It was all about getting your “B” button on… run Mario run!
So now I present to you retro gamers, the top 8 Nintendo 64 games that you need to play again.
#8: Mario Kart 64
Mario Kart 64 had all sorts of cool features, from an inventory of wacky, fun items, to a battle mode where you can show your mean side in an arena against your friends. The tracks were great, pulling memorable locations from the franchise and putting them all at your front wheels. It just goes to show that you don’t need high-power turbo jets to get the most fun out of racing.
#7: Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
I always had a soft spot in my heart for Kirby. Maybe it was because no one expected a pink puffball to overcome all opposition in his quest to save a few planets from disaster. It’s innovation and originality that got Kirby here, and it’s replay value that will keep him here. With nearly 30 different abilities gained from imitating his foes, Kirby blended cute, lovable appearance and unstoppable power in a heart-warming adventure to remember
#6: Donkey Kong 64
Still a beloved adventure game today, Donkey Kong not only expanded his superb SNES games into a fantasy world of beauty, but brought along his own style of comedy to boot. When I first started up DK64, I watched the DK Rap and thought to myself, “Finally, I can explore this game to its limits and still get some laughs out of it”. The very fact that you can switch between 5 different primate heroes almost anywhere is good enough to play for a while. An adventure doesn’t need swords and magic, as long as you have citrus-flavoured grenades and a bazooka that shoots pineapples, you’ve got a good, fun quest right there.
#5: Star Fox 64
Mainly, this game is famed because it was the FIRST GAME TO USE RUMBLE TECHNOLOGY! Yes, Nintendo started the whole “feel the game” thing. The only way to improve huge space dogfights and the thrill of blasting hundreds of enemy units is to make the controller vibrate. Weird, but effective. And to this day, I still have nightmares about Peppy forcing me to “Do a Barrel Roll!”
#4: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask
Two words. Fierce. Deity. Yes, the most evil form of our classic hero of the Zelda series. But Majora’s Mask also boasts an interesting concept of playing the game for three days, and then going back in time to Day 1 with new knowledge and equipment. Of course the 24 collectible masks, each with their own special powers, were another good reason to play. Link was cool. Zora Link was cool. But Oni Link, he was invincible. Almost. Majora’s Mask was not as hyped as Ocarina of Time, but it still had many improvements, and expanded the Zelda franchise into uncharted territory.
#3: Perfect Dark
Perhaps the most realistic shooter of the 20th century, Perfect Dark was suspenseful, mysterious, and… dark. Set in the near future, Joanna Dark is an agent investigating enigmatic corporations, evil terrorist plots, and even visitors from space. It wasn’t as classic as Goldeneye, but it was still a first-person shooter that will forever live in glory. Plus, it’s the best multiplayer game on the N64. Some might even call it… Perfect.
#2: GoldenEye 007
Definitely one of the best video games ever made. For 1997, this was BIG. No one thought a James Bond game would be Rare’s greatest achievement, but it had powerful weapons, awesome gadgets, and a mission-based concept that required stealth rather than blowing everything up. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to let the players drive a tank down the streets of St. Petersburg, squashing enemy soldiers flat.
#1: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Hands down, this is not only the best N64 game, but it just may be the best video-game of all time. I know all the top Nintendo play lists seem to feature Zelda, but this is with good reason. The best way to improve a series with tense combat, clever puzzles and a wide world to explore? Put it in the 3rd dimension! You know what? you deserve a treat for reading this. Go play Zelda. Ride horseback through fields, go fishing, travel through time… you deserve it.
Where is Super Mario 64?? Did you leave it out since it can be downloaded through the Wii now?
@Mike: If I would have done a top 10 list, Super Mario 64 would have made the list. As for the Nintendo Wii… no comment at this time