Top 10 N64 Games

1. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The greatest adventure game of all time

Published in 1998 the game centers of Link, the hero of the Zelda franchise, as he again must save the world of Hyrule. The game was groundbreaking on a number of levels and was the first 3D Zelda game ever released. The fun of the game comes from the immense world, the memorable characters and the amount of depth in the game. In a time when "extras" were first being included in games LZOT forged ahead and filled the game with side quests and extra hidden fun. Called by many the "perfect game" I completely agree and it is my number one pick for N64 games ever.


2. Goldeneye 007

The first time you realized how fun multiplayer was

The success of Rare's 1997 release of Goldeneye is easy to understand. The one player missions followed the storyline of the movie to a T, it modeled in game weapons on real ones, and the multiplayer was amazing. The games multiplayer took over the lives of many boys lives as they fought against there friends but, more importantly, the fluidity and ease of use it achieved would spawn the shooting game genre and later be implemented in games like Modern Warfare 2 and Halo. This put FPS games on the map and ate up countless afternoons with friends.


3. Super Smash Bros.

A kid friendly fighter?

Super Smash Bros. went somewhere many people never thought to look. A kid friendly fighting game with cuddly characters, no blood, no gore, and no parental scare factor. The game used a unique system of trying to knock opponents off a map instead of depleting a health bar and offered unique characters with personality and depth. SSB became an instant classic and has since spawned two successful follow-ups.


4. Super Mario 64

Super Mario 64 breathed new life into an old favorite

Nintendo took a real risk with Super Mario 64. This was Mario's first foray into the world of 3D gaming and no one knew exactly how to bring a side-scrolling hero into the new world, no one except Shigeru Miyamoto that is. He brought Mario to life like no one else could ever dream of doing. Mario had complete control of a world that seemed more magical and complex than anything before. The game play was smooth and challenging with diverse levels and entertaining bosses. A long game that never got boring or repetitive.


5. Diddy Kong Racing

Do you use shortcuts or power-ups?

Although a controversial choice I truly believe this to be a gem. The level designs in DKR were imaginative and fun, if slightly repetitive but the real magic was the blend of a platformer and a racing game. It allowed the player to race in three different crafts (car, plane, and hovercraft) over 5 different worlds all focused around a storyline of trying to defeat the evil Wizpig. There were Boss races and hidden characters to find and once in the races the various power-ups allowed players to strategically race. Add to it a fun multiplayer and you have a game that outperforms almost any racer on the 64.




6. Banjo- Kazooie

A cute soundtrack added instant appeal

Banjo-Kazooie is perhaps most memorable for the humorous character design and simplistic yet charming musical score. The platformer was one or Rare's most successful game and centered on a bear named Banjo and his bird named Kazooie's attempts to save his sister Tootie from an evil witch. The game progresses through 9 distinct and imaginative worlds that feature comical graphics and surprisingly unique level design. A classic platformer and one of the best N64 games ever made.




7. Star Fox 64

All the different ways to battle Andross

The true genius behind Star Fox 64 was the simplistic level design which allowed the attention to be focused elsewhere. The levels scrolled along as the player controlled the ships altitude and lateral movements allowing the players to focus on wave after wave of oncoming enemies. Powerups, bosses, and secret routes were all included making the games storyline that much more interesting. Star Fox was able to use his trademark Arwing, a land tank, and a submarine and conquer the Lylat system in a number of different ways, allowing the player to alter their difficulty after almost any stage and rewarding players with many different ways to play. Selling over 8.8 million copies worldwide Star Fox 64 made its mark on the gaming world.



8. Wave Race 64

Free dolphin rides with every game

Wave Race 64 effectively made you feel the pounding of the surf. An unprecedented game, Wave Race used realistic physics to require players to time their moves to the rate of the ocean or risk losing. This was one of the first N64 games on the market and the first game ever to really nail the difficult subject of water. Add to that the originality and the fun gameplay and you have an iconic 64 game


9. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

Capitalizing on the growing popularity of the sport, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater burst onto the scene with detailed graphics, an awesome soundtrack, and huge levels. The difficulty of creating the first game in any genre is daunting and to have succeeded so thoroughly is unusual. Pro Skater allows users to be their favorite skaters and perform wild tricks in imaginative and detailed real life environments. The fluid moves of the game allowed players to have hours of fun and helped start Tony Hawk's empire in gaming.


10. Star Wars: Rouge Squadron

The Star Wars genre has been known to make mediocre games that only interest fans of the movies. Rogue Squadron offered a unique flying experiences that was accessible by anyone. The level designs were enjoyable and the physics of the game spot on. The game went on to sell over 1 million copies in the US making it one of the top 64 games.



Honorable Mentions:
While the originality or lasting importance of these games may have held them back they are excellent titles all deserving of replays!

• Perfect Dark
• Mario Kart 64
• 1080° Snowboarding
• The Legend of Zelda: Majoras Mask
• Paper Mario
• Madden '99
• Turok