What is the N64?
The Nintendo 64 (often shortened to N64) is a home video game console that was released on June 23rd, 1996, in Japan, September 29th, 1996, in North America, and March 1st, 1997, in Europe and Australia. It marked Nintendo’s third major home console, and it competed with the Sega Saturn and Sony’s PlayStation during the fifth generation of consoles.
The N64 was a jump from the SNES’s 32-bit processor to the more advanced 64-bit processor, and was one of the first consoles to have one. Its name was also used as a strong marketing strategy, emphasizing that it was indeed “bigger, better, and faster” than its 16-bit predecessor and its 64-bit competitors. The N64 marked a major turning point in gaming history by introducing full 3D gameplay and a new controller design centered around analog movement, introducing the controller thumbstick as a standard feature in controllers.
Throughout its lifetime (1996-2002), the N64 had sold over 32.93 million copies worldwide with 388 games made for it. While it didn’t surpass the PlayStation’s 102 million, it was still regarded as one of the most iconic gaming consoles of all time, and a few of its games were listed among the greatest and most influential games of all time by game journalists, including Super Mario 64, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, GoldenEye 007, and Mario Kart 64.
Pak Add-ons!
The Nintendo 64 had its own collection of unique accessories that expanded gameplay and enhanced the gaming experience for users, particularly the use of Paks! Here is a list of a few of the N64’s game-enhancing add-ons:
- 1.) Controller Pak: The N64 Controller Pak is an accessory that serves as the console’s memory card to save game progress and data for games that don’t have on-cartridge saves. Top examples of games that used Controller Paks include Quest 64, WrestleMania 2000, San Francisco Rush, and Mario Kart 64’s ghost data. They could even be used to carry save data from one console over to another. Unfortunately, the Paks were battery-powered, meaning that if they died, save data stored in them would be lost.
- 2.) Rumble Pak: Similar to the Controller Pak, the Rumble Pak is an accessory that connects to and brings vibrations to an N64 controller, causing it to vibrate during in-game events like driving, explosions, or damage to enhance immersion. It can’t be used at the same time as a Controller Pak, but over 200 games were compatible with the Rumble Pak, including Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Wave Race 64, and Star Fox 64. This accessory was the legacy of the standard of gaming controllers having vibrations in response to in-game events.
- 3.) Transfer Pak: Like the N64 Rumble Pak, the N64 Transfer Pak connected to a controller and allowed data to be shared between the Game Boy and Game Boy Color and the Nintendo 64’s cartridges. This feature was primarily used for enabling 3D battles and Pokémon storage in the game Pokémon Stadium. It also unlocked content and special features for games such as Mario Golf, Perfect Dark, and Mario Tennis. It was often bundled with Pokémon Stadium and could act as a form of bridge between the Nintendo 64 and the handheld Game Boy devices.
Toys & Accessories
Just like the past home consoles before it, the N64 had its own set of unique accessories that enhanced the gameplay of many games:
- 1.) Nintendo 64 Mouse: Released exclusively for Japan, the N64 Mouse was a rare, two-button ball mouse that was released for the N64DD, bundled primarily with Mario Artist: Paint Studio. The left and right mouse buttons functioned like the normal controller’s A and B buttons. While more limited, the mouse could technically work on some games, especially those that are focused on aiming or navigating, like Starcraft 64, Goldeneye 007, and Perfect Dark. This mouse was so rare due to its regional exclusivity and not being sold separately that it’s considered a rare collector’s item.
- 2.) Nintendo 64 Microphone: An incredibly overlooked feature for the N64 era, the N64 microphone was a voice recognition unit (VRU) released primarily for the game Hey You, Pikachu!. It consisted of a grey unit that could plug into the console and a handheld microphone that allowed players to control gameplay with voice commands, effectively being the first official Nintendo microphone feature. It also worked primarily with a game called Densha de Go! 64.
- 3.) N64 Fishing Rod Controller: The N64 Fishing Rod, also called the Rumble Rod or the Tsuricon 64, is a third-party, rod-shaped accessory specialized in fishing games to enhance the immersion. It features a D-pad, analog stick, and a “reel” that’s like the L button, but as a crank. The controller worked best with In-Fisherman Bass Hunter 64, Bass Masters 2000, and the Japanese-exclusive Itoi Shigesato no Bass Tsuri No. 1. It has also been tested with non-fishing N64 games and can work, though it’s not recommended to use it. While it wasn’t as common as some other accessories or paks, this controller was nonetheless a very fun and experimental accessory for the Nintendo 64 era.
N64 Fun Facts!
- The Nintendo 64 is named after its powerful 64-bit MIPS RISC processor.
- The Nintendo 64 controller introduced the analog stick to Nintendo players, allowing for smoother movement and gameplay, and made 3D platforming games, like Super Mario 64, much easier to handle than with a D-Pad.
- Unlike competing consoles at the time, the N64 had four controller ports built right on the console. This made local multiplayer games very easy to play with friends in sleepovers and parties, like Super Smash Bros. or Mario Kart 64.
- While Sony used CDs for their games, Nintendo used cartridges. This meant that the N64’s games had faster loading times and were more durable, but at the cost of having less storage space and more expensive game production.
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