25 years in the past as we speak the Nintendo 64 was launched in Japan. It was the corporate’s final cartridge-based house console earlier than the swap to optical discs and it launched gamers to the fun of awkwardly-placed joysticks. And after all there have been the video games: the soar to a 64-bit CPU meant you could possibly now expertise the worlds of Hyrule and the Mushroom Kingdom in superb 3D. However, whereas Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and GoldenEye 007 is likely to be the go-to titles when speaking concerning the Nintendo 64, the tastes of the Engadget crew run a bit extra off the crushed path, as evidenced by the reminiscences our workers shared beneath. — Kris Naudus, Buyer’s Guide Editor

Diddy Kong Racing

If there’s one Nintendo 64 title I want would make a comeback on the Switch, it’s Diddy Kong Racing. I spent hours of my childhood on this recreation and, to today, it’s the one title that will get me to mud off my Jungle Green N64 and sit too near the TV.

Though Diddy Kong Racing was critically acclaimed for taking the dynamics of Mario Kart 64 and including in a narrative, I’ve nearly no reminiscence of the sport’s single-player journey. That’s as a result of the majority of my time enjoying was in multiplayer “battle” mode on the homes of buddies (whose older siblings had conveniently performed via a lot of the primary story and unlocked the degrees already).

Back then, I didn’t care concerning the recreation’s story or beating the bosses. The greatest a part of Diddy Kong Racing was battling my buddies for essentially the most eggs on Fire Mountain, or to be the final one standing within the Icicle Pyramid. And then doing it over again. As a lot as we performed, it appeared there was at all times some new diabolical technique to strive.

Like lots of Nintendo 64 titles, the controls may very well be a bit difficult to grasp and the steering was… imprecise. But these constraints have been a part of the enjoyable, and made it that rather more gratifying while you completely aimed a rocket or nailed a well-timed drift. Maybe at some point I’ll return and truly play via the story. But even when I by no means do, I’ll at all times be up for a fast spherical on Fire Mountain. — Karissa Bell, Senior Editor

Harvest Moon 64

Like many video games from the N64 period, I found Harvest Moon 64 within the pages of Nintendo Power. The journal featured screenshots that made me fall in love with the artwork fashion, saving up my allowance to purchase the sport when it got here out within the winter of 1999.

I wouldn’t have recognized on the time, however Harvest Moon 64 was in some ways the top of the collection. Gameplay was easy, however compared to a few of the extra fashionable entries within the franchise, that was the energy of Harvest Moon 64. It by no means acquired slowed down within the extra boring farming mechanics of its successors, as an alternative specializing in the social parts that stayed with you lengthy after you completed enjoying. A ticking clock and seasonal occasions at all times meant you had one thing to do away out of your farm, and made it in order that a number of playthroughs have been important to see all the things the title needed to provide. 

The isometric presentation did such an ideal job of promoting the charming world of Harvest Moon 64. Ultimately that’s why I saved coming again — there was one thing comforting concerning the recreation that made it the proper recreation to play throughout a sick day or lazy summer season afternoon. — Igor Bonifacic, Associate Editor

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

We all know The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a masterpiece, however I’m right here to let you know its sequel, Majora’s Mask, is objectively excellent. Nintendo may have performed it protected after releasing one of the vital vital video games of all time, however as an alternative the corporate created one thing totally different. It’s all of the methods Majora’s Mask breaks with the Zelda formulation that make it so memorable. There’s no princess to save lots of, no Master Sword to get well and, most significantly, you’re not up in opposition to Ganon. Then there’s its most controversial ingredient.

Rather a lot has been written concerning the recreation’s 72-hour construction wherein you’re compelled to repeat the identical three days repeatedly as you attempt to cease the Moon from falling on Clock Town. That cycle is Majora’s Mask’s best energy.

Pathos permeates nearly each story you encounter within the recreation, together with that of antagonist Skull Kid. Majora’s Mask invitations you to assist out the characters you meet all through your journey, regardless that what little good you carry out is undone on the finish of the present cycle. Even as a child, I keep in mind being struck by how Majora’s Mask dealt with alternative and consequence in a approach that no recreation I had performed earlier than had. At each second, it reminds you that there’s a value to doing nothing. — IB

Perfect Dark

One recreation my buddies and I performed usually was Perfect Dark. Rare adopted up the superb GoldenEye 007 with a fair higher first-person shooter. For a 2000 console recreation, it appears nice and performs like a dream. A frantic, action-packed dream.

The multiplayer mode is a precursor to many present shooters. You begin every spherical unarmed, and it is advisable discover weapons — identical to many fashionable battle royale video games. There’s a big selection of choices for match customization, and it’s at all times enjoyable to cook dinner up contemporary situations. I’d at all times strive to verify there have been sentry weapons I may deploy to take out my opponents.

Sometimes, we’d frankenstein collectively two televisions and a sign splitter, flip off the mini map and canopy our opponents’ sides of the display for an actual problem. It was about as shut as we may get to a aggressive multiplayer expertise on a console again then. I solely want I had my very own N64, so I may have practiced and never get stomped each time we performed. — Kris Holt, Associate Editor

Star Fox 64

Nintendo likes to hold its followers ready. It’s been 14 years for Metroid Prime followers, however Star Fox gamers have had it even worse: we have not seen a very good title within the collection since 1997. Yes, there was Star Fox Adventures and Star Fox Zero, however these titles are pale reflections of the glory that was Star Fox 64. I just lately performed the 3DS model of Star Fox 64, and it’s nonetheless an ideal recreation, however on the time it was mind-blowing. The first Star Fox was revolutionary, however it strained the Super Nintendo to its limits, and nonetheless solely managed blocky graphics devoid of texture and element. Star Fox 64 saved the core gameplay however added detailed environments, hordes of enemies and was the primary Nintendo title to function haptic suggestions, courtesy of the Rumble Pack.

The core gameplay loop of “shoot, charge, lock-on, blast, dodge” remains to be addictive even now. Even the marketing campaign design was revolutionary. The ranges branched relying in your actions in-mission, however this additionally served as the problem degree. Do a very good job blasting enemies, discovering secrets and techniques, and saving your squadmates (dammit Falco, get again right here!) and the sport shunts you in direction of tougher missions. On-rail shooters are decidedly old school, and the space-sim style basically has seen higher days, however till we get phrase of a brand new entry within the franchise, I’ll nonetheless be right here with my 3DS port nailing 100 factors in Sector Y to unlock the trail to Aquas. — Christopher Schodt, Video Producer

WWF No Mercy

I by no means owned a Nintendo 64, so my reminiscences of it are actually of enjoying video games with my buddies once we have been children. During most faculty lunch breaks, we’d go to one among their properties, hearth up WWF No Mercy and play just a few matches.

After attending to grips with the controls, studying every character’s intensive moveset was a blast. The reversal system works nicely, too. You may by no means be certain whether or not you’d join with a devastating slam or powerbomb.

The wealthy profession mode has a number of paths and branching narratives that depend upon the match outcomes. Where No Mercy actually shines, although, is in its deep customization. Not solely are you able to fine-tune your personal character, you possibly can modify the present roster in nearly any approach you select.

It’s nonetheless the perfect wrestling recreation to this point, although WWF SmackDown: Here Comes The Pain and Fire Pro Wrestling Returns are worthy contenders. The blocky character fashions with their horribly flat faces might look dated, however you possibly can’t beat that No Mercy physics engine. — KH

Bonus Round: Super Smash Bros.

No specific reminiscence to share right here, I simply actually like this business. — KN