Nintendo 64

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Nintendo 64
N64-Longlogo.png
N64-Console.png
Nintendo 64
Manufacturer Nintendo
Generation Fifth generation
Retail availability JP June 23, 1996
NA September 30, 1996
EU/AUS March 1, 1997
Discontinued April 30, 2002
Units sold 32.9 million
Media ROM cartridge
CPU 93.75MHz NEC VR4300
Controller input Nintendo 64 controllers
Online services RANDnetDD (Japan only)
Sharkwire Online (third-party)
Best-selling game Super Mario 64, 11.62 million
Mario Kart 64, 9 million
Predecessor Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Successor Nintendo GameCube

The Nintendo 64 (ニンテンドウ64 Nintendō Rokujūyon), often abbreviated as N64, is Nintendo's third home video game console for the international market and is a part of the fifth generation console era. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it is Nintendo's last home console to use Game Paks to store games as its primary storage format until the Nintendo Switch in 2017; handhelds however continued to use Game Paks.

Of the consoles in the fifth generation, the Nintendo 64 was the final contender to be released and the most technologically advanced. Its 3D capabilities were considerably superior to its rivals, and the flexibility of the unit allowed it to compete graphically even with early Dreamcast and Playstation 2 games. However, while the N64 did choose correctly on most technical decisions, it had a number of drawbacks. One of its technical issues was a limited texture cache, which could only hold textures of small dimensions and reduced color depth, which had to be stretched to cover larger in-game surfaces. More significantly, Nintendo was concerned about the extremely long load times of CD media of the time, and opted to continue to use ROM cartridges for the N64. Although N64 game paks have considerably faster load times, N64 games were constrained by small capacity (particularly in an era when games became more complex and their contents took up more memory) and high production expenses, compared to the Compact Disc formats used by its chief competitors, the Sony Playstation and Sega Saturn. The system also proved challenging to develop for. As a result of these issues, and wooing by Nintendo's rivals, many third-party publishers that previously supported Nintendo's past consoles would reduce or stop publishing games on Nintendo platforms; a legacy that continued into the GameCube.

Despite its failings, the N64 introduced many of the conventions that are present in modern 3D gaming. It popularized the idea of using analog sticks for control in 3D games. It also created the separate camera controls concept with its C buttons, which would be later expanded into the dual analog system used by all traditional gaming controllers today. The N64 also introduced haptic feedback (rumble) to consoles, which has become a standard feature in all game systems since. Furthermore, N64 games such as Super Mario 64 and Ocarina of Time have reshaped entire genres, leaving lasting impressions on all of gaming.

The N64 sold 32.93 million units worldwide. It was discontinued in 2002 in Japan, North America and PAL regions by the launch of the Nintendo GameCube.

Nintendo 64 Global Problems

[edit]

There are no known global problems with Nintendo 64 titles on Dolphin.

Virtual Console Compatibility List (Nintendo 64)

Help complete the list!

  • Click the icon Note.svg.png to the right of the rating stars and put just a number 1 through 5 into the page. Use the compatibility guide below as a reference of what rating to use.
  • When updating a rating, please make sure it's in accordance with the list of problems in the title's page.
Compatibility Description
Stars5.png Perfect: No issues at all!
Stars4.png Playable: Runs well, only minor graphical or audio glitches. Games can be played all the way through
Stars3.png Starts: Starts, maybe even plays well, but crashes or major graphical/audio glitches
Stars2.png Intro/Menu: Hangs/crashes somewhere between booting and starting
Stars1.png Broken: Crashes when booting
Stars0.png Unknown: Has not been tested yet
Region indicator Region description
AU Australia
CA Canada (NTSC /w French translation)
EU Europe, PAL/SECAM territories
JP Japan and Asia (NTSC-J)
KO Korea
NA North America and NTSC territories
RU Russia
Title Year Region Compatibility
1080° Snowboarding 2008 JP/NA/EU/KO 3Stars3.pngEdit rating: 1080° Snowboarding
Bomberman Hero 2011 JP/NA/EU 4Stars4.pngEdit rating: Bomberman Hero
Custom Robo V2 2008 JP 4Stars4.pngEdit rating: Custom Robo V2
Cruis'n USA 2008 JP/NA/EU 5Stars5.pngEdit rating: Cruis'n USA
F-Zero X 2007 JP/NA/EU 4Stars4.pngEdit rating: F-Zero X
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards aka Hoshi no Kirby 64 2008 JP/NA/EU/KO 4Stars4.pngEdit rating: Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask aka Zelda no Densetsu: Mujura no Kamen 2009 JP/NA/EU 5Stars5.pngEdit rating: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time aka Zelda no Densetsu: Toki no Okarina 2007 JP/NA/EU 5Stars5.pngEdit rating: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Mario Golf 2008 JP/NA/EU 4Stars4.pngEdit rating: Mario Golf
Mario Kart 64 2007 JP/NA/EU/KO 5Stars5.pngEdit rating: Mario Kart 64
Mario Tennis 2010 JP/NA/EU 4Stars4.pngEdit rating: Mario Tennis
Mario Party 2 2010 JP/NA/EU 5Stars5.pngEdit rating: Mario Party 2
Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber 2010 JP/NA/EU 4Stars4.pngEdit rating: Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber
Paper Mario aka Mario Story 2007 JP/NA/EU 4Stars4.pngEdit rating: Paper Mario
Pokémon Puzzle League 2008 NA/EU 4Stars4.pngEdit rating: Pokémon Puzzle League
Pokémon Snap 2007 JP/NA/EU 4Stars4.pngEdit rating: Pokémon Snap
Sin & Punishment aka Tsumi to Batsu: Hoshi no Keishōsha 2007 JP/NA/EU 4Stars4.pngEdit rating: Sin & Punishment
Star Fox 64 aka Lylat Wars 2007 JP/NA/EU/KO 5Stars5.pngEdit rating: Star Fox 64
Super Mario 64 2006 JP/NA/EU 5Stars5.pngEdit rating: Super Mario 64
Super Smash Bros. aka Nintendo All-Star! Dairantō Smash Brothers 2009 JP/NA/EU 5Stars5.pngEdit rating: Super Smash Bros.
Wave Race 64 2007 JP/NA/EU 5Stars5.pngEdit rating: Wave Race 64
Yoshi's Story 2007 JP/NA/EU 5Stars5.pngEdit rating: Yoshi's Story

See also