The hero of the 3D age for many, and still one of the most beloved systems of the bygone era where 64 Bits was a lot. It opened up the doors for so many memorable titles and even improved upon many of them with sequels that were far superior to the original. It wasn't a perfect system, it had it's horrible titles, but we need not talk about those now. Nintendo brought out its greatest franchises for this system and gave them legendary titles that are still very fondly remembered when you lost friendships over red shells or silly things like getting shot down for the seventh time and that Bond music playing for the seventh time! You will pay, Justin!
Despite all of that, though, here are just a few titles that are so nostalgic, they will never leave the internet, or have a fanbase that will let them go to the wayside. Here is the top 10 Nintendo 64 games!
Forsaken 64
When you want a good shooter with a free wheeling style, Forsaken is one you can count on. This title is just fun to pick up and play. It can get a little harder in later levels, but you can't beat the satisfaction of navigating the vast mazes of hallways in your ship. This is one of the unsung heroes of the multiplayer games on the N64, as you can do a four player split screen. Decide which ships to pit against one another and have a ball destroying each other!
Gauntlet Legends
No matter what port came out for this, it always seems to come out on top. Gauntlet is a long celebrated arcade game that originated back in the old arcade days, got several ports from the NES onward, and then ended up absolutely smashing the co-op gameplay with its release of Gauntlet Legends for the N64, Arcade and the Sega Dreamcast. The graphics are nothing to brag about now, but they haven't aged poorly either. The levels are fun to play with friends or even play alone. It requires a lot of movement and accuracy, as well as quick reflexes when the groups get larger. This is a fantastic title to play with friends.
Doom 64
While it is not as recognized as its contemporaries, Doom 64 stands on its own. It looks very different from the original Doom, but it bears the same soul. There is more of a focus on puzzle solving and going through confusing levels, but much of the Doom arsenal is still there. It also has its own original monsters, and even a couple of new weapons. Just like Doom, you can play through this version whenever you feel like destroying demons and munching on some explosions.
Turok
A first person shooter that did not have the staying power, but it still remains a favorite. Turok was a fun venture into the world of dinosaurs and Rambo-type environments. His arsenal has a beautiful chaingun, and the heavy explosives on display do not disappoint when it comes to packing a punch. While the levels can get a little long and wear out their welcome after a while, it is truly satisfying to play this when it comes to its cheats. The cheats are so much fun, so many memories of this game come from just playing on the big-head version.
Starfox 64
A giant leap in the series from the SNES, which was already a graphical marvel of its time. Starfox 64 has been on the forefront of 3D space shooters, putting it just a bit above Star Wars Shadows of the Empire. While the tank section isn't quite as fun as the space flight, it doesn't stay in the game for very long. The boss battles are the highlight for this title and that is saying a lot. The graphics on display here are beautiful and still hold up today. It was also a bit strange to hear Slippy and Falco have actual voices with which to speak. It made Slippy's horrible death cries all that much more funny.
Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time
It's hard to put a price tag on experiencing a game such as this for the first time. Take in the fact that these are the type of graphics we could only see in the movies or the arcades and then take in the fact that the last time we visited Hyrule, it was in 2D and 16 bits. The leap to 64 bits was a marvel of its time, and the Zelda series made that leap and perfectly stuck the landing. From taming the horses at the ranch to taking on the Water Temple, playing this was a great time. There are people who can practically beat this game blindfolded because they've played it so many times and defeating Ganon is as natural as breathing.
Super Smash Brothers
A game we never knew we needed, but once the cat was out of the bag, there was no putting it back. The Smash Brothers series has had a mile of success thanks to its fantastic fighting mechanics on top of beloved characters. They're not just cheap immitations or simple cameos, they came with their own attacks and strategy of attack. Pitting Mario against Pikachu and Link against Donkey Kong, how could you possibly go wrong? While the roster may seem bare bones by today's standards, you need to start somewhere. It was always a joy to unlock the characters it did have, though, and playing this against friends and tournaments was a pasttime old school gamers will not soon forget.
007 GoldenEye
A landmark in the local multiplayer circuit. Parties of old used to be centered around GoldenEye and all of the iconic levels. This was a game that was supposed to be just another movie tie-in and its graphics did not age well at all. The gameplay was free-wielding and the first person shooter elements were executed remarkably and people took notice. There's a huge story mode and people played that as well, but it pales in comparison when people get into the four player split screen mode. Rocket levels and Golden Gun games were a staple of the genre from that point on.
Super Mario 64
The revolution of 3D platformers and the pinnacle of gaming for a good period of time. This is the standard that 3D platformers are still judged on to this day. Mario Galaxy ended up doing the same job but many still stuck to this title out of earned loyalty. Jumping through portraits and using HUB worlds was nothing new at the time, but this game made it iconic. Going through these levels is just plain fun. Collecting the stars in every level and exploring the secrets of the Mushroom Castle is a mindless way to settle your brain into a good space. I still say this has the best Bowser boss battle.
Mariokart 64
This is a great example of the second iteration perfecting a formula. Mariokart 64 blew the original SNES title out of the water in every way. Rainbow Road is a beautiful experience and the highway course has ruined people's day in the traffic. This is such a great way to spend time with friends and while it doesn't have quite as many characters and courses as later sequels, this is still the standard that we've come to expect from kart racing games.
To be fair, Mariokart 64 is my favorite of the Mariokart games. It is so simplistic, you don't need to spend 10 hours trying to decide who to choose as a character if you're new and it's just very tight knit. Nintendo 64 is an exemplary console when it comes to simple and what makes a game great when it has a bit more freedom than it once did. The idea of 3D was not new, but the 32 and 64 bit era really opened up the possiblities of what made a game great. This didn't take away from the 2D titles that revolutionized the industry, it simply added to their ranks. It may seem crude by today's standards, but there is a reason why collections like Mario 3D All-Star and titles like GoldenEye is still brought up when someone is talking about party games. Just be prepared to take a right cross if you keep using the red shells.
