N64, 30 years later

The N64 was the first real 64-bit console. (The Atari Jaguar had already failed, and it apparently didn’t meet the criteria anyway.) On one hand, the N64 moved the industry forward. It popularized analog joysticks for controllers and orbiting controls for cameras. It also introduced four-player split-screen, external storage hardware, and even post-launch content updates. It also had some GOAT games.

On the other hand, its proprietary cartridge format hindered third-party development. As a result, it never had as many games as the Sony PlayStation, which had already emerged as the cool kid on the block. Whenever a game released for both consoles, the N64 version was usually the inferior one. The storage capacity of N64 carts was limited. Extensive amounts of dialogue audio, real-time cutscenes, and live-action clips were impossible.

Nonetheless, I enjoyed having an N64. I got it as a birthday gift in the summer following its launch. I didn’t get any games until the following year; I borrowed or rented them until then. GoldenEye 007 was the first game that I ever bought with my money. I ended up getting three controllers even though I was the only gamer in my family. I had two of the standard grey controllers as well as a blue one and a green one.

I had two Controller Paks, of course; saving progress was impossible otherwise. I passed on the Rumble Pak, but I got the 4 MB Expansion Pak for Perfect Dark. I only bought six games or over the console’s lifespan, but I played a lot of borrowed and rented games. I spent many weekends playing solo or with others at gatherings. Some of those experiences became salient memories.

I traded all my N64 things for a PlayStation to play Metal Gear Solid before the release of its sequel. My enjoyment with the N64 ran its course, and I didn’t regret my decision. In hindsight, Nintendo’s commitment to their way of doing things, as evident with the N64, has cost them. The GameCube, the Wii, and the WiiU were never the first-choice for serious gamers. Even the Switch and Switch 2 have an image of being secondary consoles.

But the N64 has an indelible place in the history of gaming and in the hearts of gamers (of a certain demographic). I now have an Analogue 3D and its official 8Bitdo controller, as well as a few original N64 controllers. I have a handful of N64 classics, and I plan to buy more to take advantage of the Analogue 3D’s hardware emulation. The console now has competition in the ModRetro 64.

The N64 is still enjoyable.