The Nintendo 64 is a beloved console with classics like Super Mario 64, Perfect Dark, and countless others. The Game Freaks 365 team sat down for a roundtable discussion to answer the question: what is your favorite N64 game?
Daniel: The Nintendo 64 is one of those consoles that, if you played it, will be unforgettable. That is not only because of the futuristic gameplay it had at the time but also because of the great catalog of games it had.
In my case, I had the opportunity to try the best-known games on the console. Without a doubt, my favorite game on the N64 is undoubtedly Super Mario 64. At that time, it was impressive to have such an extensive game, with a large number of challenges and excellent gameplay.
Although it’s not going to top any lists, I must also highlight one of the precursors of modern baseball games like MLB The Show, and this is Major League Baseball featuring Ken Griffey Jr. It set the trend for its time.
I invite you to search for the game on YouTube, and you will know why I also highlight this sports game. It is a baseball game that was way ahead of its time that to this day is very enjoyable. Again, it’s not going to top most people’s lists, but it’s worth throwing out there as a lesser-known game.
Jorge: I’d say Conker’s Bad Fur Day is my favorite N64 game. It was later remade as Conker: Live & Reloaded on Xbox. You can also play the original N64 game in Rare Replay for Xbox One and Xbox Series X.
I played it when I was 11. A friend of mine had an N64 that his brothers left once they left for uni, and I believe it had Super Mario 64 and Conker, but the latter we used to have a blast with. We would either take turns playing the campaign until we beat it, or we would sink hours into the multiplayer.
The multiplayer of that game was great, but I don’t see it being talked about too much. You had the “War” mode with the Squirrels battling the Tediz, the “Heist” mode with four duos of weasels trying to rob a bank, another one where cavemen fought dinosaurs and tried to steal the dino mama’s eggs to eat, and another one where squirrel refugees tried to run past a bunker of Tediz on their way to France. We played those all the time.
I understand that maybe it is not the most impressive game on the console, but still, the good memories you make with the games are always the most important to me.
Kyle: Super Mario 64 and Conker are both great games in their own right. In fact, Mario 64 was my first real exposure to the Nintendo 64. I remember playing it at a demo booth in the electronics department at our old Target store.
Needless to say, it blew me away and sealed the deal on wanting to get an N64 over a Sega Saturn. That Christmas I ended up getting an N64 with Super Mario 64 and ended up hooked to the console for the rest of the ’90s.
My favorite game on the N64 though is GoldenEye. We’d spend hours playing the split-screen multiplayer with friends and undoubtedly arguing over who was looking at whose screen.
I recently saw that a museum came up with a solution for screen looking. Too bad that wasn’t an option in 1997! The single-player campaign was just as fun and introduced me to the James Bond movies.
Daniel: These are very good games. It’s amazing what Nintendo achieved with the N64 at that time. It was simply unthinkable that games could reach such a high level of graphics. And, the RPG games, had a new rebirth thanks to the expansion of the maps by the power of the console.
Although Nintendo has put a lot of effort into emulating the retro games that have come with the Nintendo Switch Online; I don’t think they will be able to convey the same essence by bringing N64 games to the Switch.
Samantha: Hmmm.. that’s only the case if you define games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as an RPG rather than an action-adventure game. You could certainly argue it’s an action RPG!
Anyway, Ocarina of Time is my pick for the best N64 game. It is still amazing today. GoldenEye and Super Mario 64 haven’t aged nearly as well.
What were your favorite N64 games? Email the mailbag or leave a comment on Facebook!
