【NINTENDO64】 Released on June 23, 1996! The successor to the Super Famicom and a next-generation machine equipped with a “64-bit” CPU! What is your memorable software? Let's look back at the history of NINTENDO64!

If you are a game lover, the mere mention of the word “Rokuyon” probably brings back a flood of nostalgic memories at once. The Nintendo 64, which debuted in 1996, was not just a new model of a game console. It was an existence that greatly changed the gaming experience up to then and also exerted a major influence on the subsequent gaming industry. For children of that time, it was a machine of aspiration, and also an existence like a treasure chest packed with memories with friends. Even looking back now, its innovativeness has never faded away.

At the time the Nintendo 64 was released, what many game fans paid attention to was the 64-bit CPU that also became its name. This machine, which appeared as the successor to the Super Famicom, used its high-speed image processing capability as a weapon to achieve major evolution particularly in the expression of 3D graphics. Three-dimensional gaming spaces, which have become a matter of course today, were truly the cutting-edge technology back then. The moment they saw a character running around freely inside the TV screen, many players must have experienced a sensation as if they were witnessing the future of gaming right before their eyes.

What is indispensable when talking about the charm of the Nintendo 64 is the existence of “Super Mario 64.” It evolved greatly from previous action games centered on side-scrolling, realizing a world where one could move around freely 360 degrees. The experience of exploring inside the castle while operating Mario and running around stages with elevation differences was extremely fresh, giving a shock to many players. It is a level of completion where it is convincing that it is passed down as a work that laid the foundation for current 3D action games, and it can be called a representative masterpiece symbolizing the performance of the Nintendo 64 hardware.

Many people who saw the Nintendo 64 controller for the first time probably thought, “How do you hold this?” The unique grip shape divided into three parts was extremely individualistic, making for a quite challenging design for that time. However, the analog stick mounted in its center became an existence that greatly changed the common sense of game operations. Enabling fine movements and viewpoint operations, it played a crucial role for playing 3D games comfortably. Although the analog stick has become a matter of course now, I feel that the achievement of the Nintendo 64 is immensely grand when talking about its popularization.

The Nintendo 64 is also greatly involved in the popularization of the vibration function. The vibration transmitted to your hands when a character takes damage or during shocking scenes further heightened the sense of immersion into the game. Although it is a function adopted by many game consoles today, it was truly a fresh experience back then. Looking back like this, one can understand that the Nintendo 64 incorporated one after another ideas that anticipated the future of gaming.

In the same era, game consoles adopting CD-ROMs were increasing, but the Nintendo 64 purposefully continued to adopt ROM cassettes. There were pros and cons to this choice, but the comfort of being able to start a game immediately after turning on the power was a major charm. Since you could play with almost no worry about loading times, many people likely remember that the tempo of the games was extremely good. While appearing to go against the flow of the times, it also seems like a Nintendo-esque choice that emphasized the user experience.

What further elevates the value of the Nintendo 64 is the countless number of masterpiece software. “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” and “The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask” still frequently have their names brought up as the greatest masterpieces, and “Paper Mario” fascinated many fans with its unique worldview. In addition, “Super Smash Bros.” is the origin of the popular series that still continues today, and “Animal Crossing” also started from this hardware. Considering that numerous series representing the subsequent gaming industry were born, its achievements are immeasurable.

What must not be forgotten as a characteristic unique to the Nintendo 64 is the four controller ports mounted on the front of the main body. Because simultaneous 4-player play was possible without additional equipment, match gatherings naturally started when friends and family gathered. There are likely more than a few people who possess memories of laughing together while surrounding the screen, such as unfolding heated races in “Mario Kart 64,” or competing in “Mario Golf 64” and “Mario Tennis 64.” Unlike the present where online matches have become a matter of course, it was also a game console that taught the fun of playing in the same space.

Times have advanced, and the performance of game consoles has improved beyond comparison. However, the Nintendo 64 possesses a charm that cannot be measured by numbers alone. Innovative 3D expressions, an individualistic controller, numerous masterpiece software, and the irreplaceable time spent together with highly precise friends. Precisely because it is an existence packed with all of those, it is likely deeply engraved in the memories of many people.

The Nintendo 64 was not a mere game console but an existence that symbolized a turning point in gaming culture. It is a famous machine that greatly expanded the possibilities of 3D games, gave birth to works that became the origins of many series, and delivered the fun of playing together with everyone. The reason it is still passed down today even after a long period of years has passed since its release is none other than because it is packed with the innovativeness and fun that could only be born in that era. Along with the nickname Rokuyon, it will surely continue to shine from now on within the memories of many people.