Nintendo Console: The Nintendo 64 (N64)

As per my previous post, I didn't get the SNES. I went broke after a few consoles and peripherals. I'll share them afterwards as I would like to dedicate this blog to share and review all of my gaming junks. Maybe I'll get to buy it in the next round.

Malaysian currency plummeted like the dead duck from NES's duck hunt, making it difficult for gamers here.

Ok, back to the N64, This is where the game changes in the console war between Nintendo and SEGA. It is the 5th Generation of console from Nintendo, an answer to SEGA's challenge of the SEGA Saturn released 1994 in Japan and 1995 in the US, and the new kid on the block, Sony Playstation in the same year. 

A lot of things happened between this, SEGA's attempt to prolong the life of the Mega Drive with SEGA CD and 32X, Nintendo-Sony attempt of the Playstation which failed but managed to release a working prototype, the last stand of ATARI with the Jaguar and Jaguar CD, and some other historically important video game landmarks.

But those are stories for another day.

The N64 was released much later in 1996 compared to other consoles of the 5th generation from SEGA and Sony. The answer was clear, despite the change to CD in other video game companies, Nintendo continued with cartridges, a media with much lower storage capacity.

I got mine at a cheap price of RM200 (USD 40). There are a lot of things to tell regarding this console.

This is a US set, and there are differences between a US and Japanese set besides the AC adapter. We'll see the specs:

Specifications:

• Video/Audio: The original set comes with an AV composite with stereo sound, it has a 64-bit CPU where it's name is derived from

• Main Console: 

• The main console comes with 4 controller ports (the grey ones) at the front of the console, an on/off switch (no LED), and a reset button.

• There's no cartridge ejector so you'll need to yank it out

• If you notice at the front, there's a small slot with a lid covering it, this is actually a slot for a RAM pack which adds extra memory to play certain high end games (sold separately)

• The console comes with a 4MB RAM, and the RAM pak pushes it to 8MB

• At the back of the console there are ports for the bulky AC adapter and the AV cable

• One more thing worth mentioning is the cartridge slot where it is covered with a lid to prevent dust accumulation, and has plastic protrusion at the edges which prevents the console from playing games from different regions

• Here are other pages that show how to modify your console (involves cutting out the edges) so that it can play games from different regions

• http://www.racketboy.com/retro/nintendo/n64/how-to-mod-the-n64-to-play-imports-region-mod
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfZcZYBB40U 

•  But if you're like me, who doesn't really like to cut up their consoles, you have the option of buying another N64 from a different region, or using this, a universal cartridge adapter

• But just a side note that the adapter makes the cartridge a bit wobbly when inserted into it and then into the console

• Controllers: The controllers are shaped like a trident with a number of different buttons
• 4 yellow buttons with direction marks 
• A green "B" button
• A blue "A" button
• A Directional pad
• A red "Start" button
• A central analog control at the center
• 2 extra buttons, one on each shoulder

• At the back of the controller there is a slot for a vibrator (the rumble pak) or a memory card (the picture below shows that it a memory card is inserted)
• The controller cable is long at 2 metres, and if that's not long enough, you can buy an extension for another 2metres
• Just a side note that the controller is unique but less practical where you will need to switch the way you hold it depending on which buttons you want to use, but after a while you'll get the hang of it
• At the back there is also another black button

• Extra controller port: There is no other extra controller port besides the 4 main ports at the front body of the console

• Power Supply: The power supply is attached to the console as the picture above, and voltage varies depending on the console's region, mine (US) came with a 240V

• Media: Cartridge base, officially having only 388 titles (link below)
• The cartridge is smaller compared to the NES as shown below

• The picture below shows how different regions have different cartridge shoulders which does not allow them to be played cross-regional unless the console is modified or using a universal adapter

• On the left is an Japanese cartridge, and the right is a US cartridge, observe the lower edges

• The cartidge also lacks a side label like that of the NES

• Game save capabilities: The game comes with a Memory Card (called the Controller Pak) which can be slotted into the controller and most game has save game features (256KB capacity). Here is how it looks like

Personally I feel the N64 has a number of good titles and this is the start when Nintendo starts to recreate our favorite classics into 3D. Some where succssful like Mario and Zelda, and some failed to live to gamers' expectations like Castlevania 64.

Regardless, I feel that the N64 just like any other console, is a great delivery by Nintendo. It was not as popular as the Playstation which dominated the 5th generation, but I feel it's still worth a gamer's attention.

If you wanna read more on the N64, here are useful sites:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_generation_of_video_game_consoles
• http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/systems/nintendo64/index.jsp
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Nintendo_64_games

Alright, that's it from me for now, I'll post on SEGA's MD life support after this. Until then, keep on gaming!