Gun control and violence comes back into the mix.
I hadn’t intended to unearth my Nintendo 64 gaming system this summer when I began packing for college. I hadn’t intended to find the game cartridges I owned, either, and I certainly hadn’t intended to get reintroduced to the wonder and entertainment of my childhood.
I am sincerely glad that I did.
The Nintendo 64 (more commonly called the N64) was a gaming console released in the ’90s after Nintendo’s success with the Super Nintendo. Featuring all-new 3D-rendered graphics, the N64 was a major success, bringing forth the creation of several iconic titles in video gaming’s expansive library.
However, if there are 200 good games, there are 2,000 bad ones. This retro system was known to have companies tinker with the graphics, gameplay and capacity of this system, resulting in some zany and ahead-of-their-time concepts. Some worked, some didn’t.
Before tapping into your childhood and purchasing, borrowing or dusting off your old N64, I recommend making sure these games are in your repertoire. While maybe not the best of the best, these are the games that have stuck with me the longest and still provide that sense of excitement that they did when I was young.
1.) Super Smash Bros. It’s exactly as it sounds: a fighting game with super weapons, lots of smashing and a roster of popular Nintendo characters (two of which are, in fact, brothers). While its newer titles are far more advanced (technologically and graphically), the original has tight controls, a solid move pool for each character and a charming soundtrack with great visuals. Despite owning all three games in this series, I find myself coming back to the original over and over again.
2.) Pokemon Stadium 2 is another title that comes to mind. Though the original is good, its successor takes what was good with the first and improves upon it. With updated graphics, a wider selection of Pokemon (meaning the first and second generation) and a collection of fun mini-games and challenge modes, this is a game any Pokemon fan should invest in for this console.
3.) When it came to picking my third game for this list, two very famous games presented themselves to me. The question was “which should I advise more?” Super Mario 64 or The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time? Though I remember playing the former more when I was younger, the latter is the game I recommend; the first 3D Zelda game ever created. It has a lot of issues and limitations, but it is everything you could want from an adventure/fantasy game. The music is beautiful, the story is intriguing, the characters are memorable and the gameplay is stimulating. The first of its caliber, Ocarina of Time melds a unique time travel mechanic with adventure gameplay and story elements. Anyone who owns an N64 either owns this game or wants to own it, and it is worth the investment.
The N64 is a gem if you can find one to play. For most of its games being made in the mid-1990s, they have aged well and the system is simple to use. Although many other consoles may surface from your childhood (Sega Game Gear, anyone?), the N64 is by and far the best for that little nostalgia kick.
Hailey Bibbee is a freshman studying English and creative writing. What makes you nostalgic? Email her at hb398213@ohio.edu.
