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ExploreToday’s consoles may have cutting edge graphics, immersive online gameplay, and stories good enough to make a movie script, but they still cannot compare with the nostalgic glory of the Nintendo 64. For many of us, the N64 was the first real console we owned, and the games that were out at the time are each an irreplaceable piece of our childhood. In honor of those memories, here are a handful of the most unforgettable games of that era as well as t-shirts to go with them so you too can show your 90’s kid, Nintendo 64 pride.
Quick navigation:
» Super Mario 64
» GoldenEye 007
» Donkey Kong 64
» The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
» Super Smash Bros
Super Mario 64
Who could forget jumping through the paintings on the castle walls and landing in world after creative world in search of golden stars and a kidnapped princess? While there were Mario games before Super Mario 64, none of them put the character on the map like this one did. From soaring around clear blue skies, to dodging pits of lava, to swimming to the bottom of underwater caverns, Super Mario 64 takes us from one thrilling adventure to another and is certainly one of the most memorable games from most every 90’s kid’s childhood.
GoldenEye 007
Before there was Call of Duty or Battlefield, there was GoldenEye 007. This James Bond inspired game was instrumental in developing the first-person shooter genre and even introduced us to split-screen, multiplayer gameplay. People loved it, and GoldenEye 007 went on to be the third best-selling Nintendo 64 game of all time. Many a kid spent hours upon hours helping Bond prevent world disaster and wipe out the bad guys. Little did we know we were helping change the gaming industry forever.
Donkey Kong 64
With some of the best boss-levels of any Nintendo 64 game, Donkey Kong 64 was truly one of the most well-done games to come out for the console. Donkey Kong 64 also gave use the ability to play with multiple characters, with each of Donkey Kong’s primate friends becoming playable as soon as they were rescued. The entire design of the game, from the story to the music to the various villains and how they had to be defeated was simply perfect, and leading Donkey Kong on his mission to rescue his friends and save his island from destruction was a staple of the Nintendo 64 era.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
To this day, The Legend of Zelda franchise maintains an active, fervent fan base. That’s how loved these games were. While everyone has their favorite installment in the series, Ocarina of Time was the first. With an immersive story, great characters, and spectacular worlds, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is without a doubt one of the most fantastic games to come out for the Nintendo 64. It was also one of the first to let players use both melee and projectile weapons in the same gameplay. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of those games so memorable, that if you listen closely, you can almost hear the whimsical sounds of Link’s flute still floating up through the hills of Hyrule.
Super Smash Bros
Somewhere, in some college dorm room or basement get-together, there is a Smash Bros tournament being held at this very moment. Without a doubt the most competitive game on the list, Smash Bros soared to be one of the most popular video games of all times. The premise may have been simple, but the strategies and skill involved at being the best were intense. With a host of popular characters to choose from, Super Smash Bros let us pit our favorite heroes and villains from Pikachu to Bowser against each other in the ultimate battle royale. It was one of the best ways to spend a Saturday afternoon with a group of friends back in the day, and for many, it still is.
