20 years ago today, the Nintendo 64 launched in Japan (it came out three months later in the US). Codenamed “Project Reality” before release, this console blew our minds with cutting-edge 3D graphics and incredibly fast load times (oh, the joy of cartridge gaming). I remember being blown away by the fact that it had four controller ports. That, to me, signified a huge leap into the future; until then I just assumed that “multiplayer” and “two-player” were synonymous.
The games we played on the Nintendo 64 changed us, and changed the industry, forever. Who can forget their first time booting up Mario 64 ? Who can forget the pure magic that was stretching Mario’s mustache on the title screen and running around a 3D-rendered courtyard in front of Peach’s castle for the first time? Remember when Pilot Wings and Wave Race 64 were mind-melting gaming experiences? To this very day, every Legend of Zelda game is compared to Ocarina of Time, the very standard of greatness in the franchise. Thanks for everything, N64, and happy birthday!