The Nintendo 64, called the Ultra 64 during development, is a video game console released by Nintendo in 1996. It was revolutionary for the time, being able to render 3D objects, all with 64 pixel by 128 pixel images plastered onto them. It was created in order to knock people’s socks off, by making 3D objects on what is nowadays primitive hardware. To do so, it uses 64 bit processors (Hence the name), which for reference is eight bytes, and that is beyond microscopic compared to your average four to eight gigabyte Windows 10 computer processor. With such small size to work with comes lower performance, meaning that most games only run at about 20 to 30 frames per second. 

Another problem is the release date; picture this: the year is 1995… the Ultra 64 will come out by Christmas. It’s only May. You try to count the days until then. The impatience is crawling up your back, as you repeatedly fog up the window and draw the controller in the haze. But then… You see as your mom comes home from shopping, a familiar magazine in hand. “Now you’re playing with power.” You scramble through the pages to find the latest development news on the Ultra 64. Questions rush through your head; “What are the games like?” “Will it really be fully 3D?” “Can other brands even compete?” The biggest question of all; “When will it be released?” But then you see it. It’s going to be delayed until next year… This fact was crippling not only for the amount of kids waiting for the release, but also for Nintendo, as Sony would release the arguably superior Playstation around the same time. 

Despite these facts, the Nintendo 64 would still help make many memories of the ever-nostalgic concept of couch-gaming. It had many revolutionary games, and would go on to define the 3D platformer genre (Where you run around using parkour skills to obtain collectables) which were so good that until this day, that they hold places on the list of best games ever made, in fact video game critics say that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the best game ever made, as listed by Metacritic’s list of the best games of all time. Super Mario 64 is also close to the top and Star Fox 64 is arguably the best Star Fox title. The famous Super Smash Bros. franchise also began on the Nintendo 64. Many popular games found their way into the Nintendo 64 lineup too.

The Nintendo 64, isn’t perfect, mostly design wise. The controller design is rather controversial. It uses three prongs instead of the usual two. Then again, Nintendo has never really been very good with their controllers… On the topic of the controller, it has a really cheap feel to it. You know that dollar tree quality plastic where the thing feels like it will squeak and fall apart? Yeah, that. The three buttons on the front called triggers feel like they don’t press, and the console itself also feels somewhat cheap. This is contributed to by the fact that it doesn’t have rumble motors, which make the controller shake. Instead you need to get a rumble pak, which comes with some games (e.g. Star Fox 64) and is put inside the slot in the front. There is also a memory expansion pak, which acts as extra memory to allow bigger games to be playable. You obviously need game paks, also known as cartridges, which are the games themselves. 

On the bright side, the console is very self explanatory and user friendly. It is somewhat small too, only having a handful of controls. There are the four controller ports, and two main controls present on most old Nintendo consoles. These are the power switch and reset button. The power switch turns on or off the console, and the reset button boots to the title screen of the selected game. To operate the console, simply plug in the Audio Video cables and AC adapter, then insert the game pak while the system is off. Then flip the power switch and voila! You can play a game. The console comes in many different colors and variants. I own the gold variant, which looks pretty good for cheap gold paint.

One of the biggest downsides to the Nintendo 64 and all other consoles from its time or earlier is that you practically need a CRT television. You know that old box TV you threw out ten years ago? Yeah, that ancient relic. All games run on a screen size of 480 pixels, or 480p. This is really low quality compared to modern 4k or even 8k televisions and other devices. Almost everything used 480p back then, so if you were to play a prehistoric console on a modern TV, it causes blurry picture, visual artifacts, screen tearing, messed up effects, and screwed up colors. 

The Nintendo 64 was a very huge step forward in the progression of video game consoles and video games as a whole. I think it was pretty good for the most part, but definitely had its flaws. Despite these issues, it shined through and brought fresh life to video games. That problem with needing a specific TV type is terrible…