As the first step Nintendo made from 2D to 3D, the Nintendo 64 defined how we play video games. Titles were bigger, played differently, and multiple franchises were changed forever as a result. Series like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda jumped out of their flat worlds into something that felt more alive. However, in many cases, Nintendo and other developers weren't subtle about showing how different things will be.
This resulted in multiple "moments" that will forever be embedded in our memories. We want to look back at the N64 and see the most iconic moments, the ones that we look back at and think "that's the N64 at it's best." With that in mind, here are our video game moments that defined the N64.
10 Meeting Bowser
Placing Mario in a 3D world was going to be difficult, as it would change the way we interact with his world, but nothing could have prepared us for taking on Bowser for the first time in Super Mario 64. He was bigger than ever before, scarier than we've ever seen him, and more dangerous than in previous titles. To take him down, Mario had to run circles around him, dodging fire and shockwaves caused by his jumps in order to grab him by the tail and spin him around enough to gain momentum in order to throw him. While this type of battle was already introduced prior to this encounter, the scale, and importance of the N64's first meeting with Bowser was something special.
9 The Donkey Kong Rap
Of all the franchises Rare is known for, Donkey Kong is probably the name most synonymous with the developer. Reviving the character in 1994, Donkey Kong was given a loveable gang of primates along with a lovable personality. Unfortunately, there's only so much us players can learn about a character in the 16-bit era, so Rare made sure that when they brought Donkey Kong to the third dimension, we would know everything about the personalities of the characters and their special abilities. While silly, this song is incredibly catchy and probably the most memorable part of the game.
8 The Great Mighty Poo
Rare's classic adult comedy platformer, Conker's Bad Fur Day, was released in the twilight of the N64's life in 2001. By that time, we saw the biggest bosses imaginable on Nintendo's 3D system, yet there was no way we were ready for the Great Mighty Poo. His size is impressive enough, but what makes him special is his musical number before the fight.
It's important to note the N64's hardware made cutscenes almost non-existent. Yet, Conker's Bad Fur Day not only featured multiple but also included a voice-acted song. It's pretty impressive from a technical standpoint, but his lasting memory is credited to the hilarious, gross, and catchy operatic tune prior to the big fight.
7 Taking Down The ATAT
When looking back at the N64, one thing it will be remembered for is the scale of some of the games. The perfect example of that thought was demonstrated in Lucas Arts' 1996 shooter Star Wars: Shadow of The Empire during the classic "Battle of Hoth". Faithfully recreating the scene from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, players fly their T-47 Snow Speeder and fly to the battlefield. After a few stages of clearing out smaller enemies, they encounter a massive All Terrain Armored Transport (AT-AT) that's near indestructible. Just like Luke Skywalker, players must detach their grappling hook and loop around the giant walker's legs, taking it down in the process.
6 Barrel Rolling
When comparing the 1993 SNES hit Star Fox to its sequel, Nintendo EAD's 1997 Star Fox 64, they're not all that different. Taking full advantage of the SNES' Mode 7 graphics and pseudo-3D abilities, the original game was already pretty complete. What Star Fox 64 did instead provided a fresh coat of paint. It looked better, played more smoothly, and had real voices speaking in it. That last point is how a meme was born. Throughout the game, the lovable, but admittedly annoying Peppy Hare, insists Fox McCloud does a barrel roll to avoid enemy attacks. So, we listened, and what a great feeling it was.
5 The Great Deku Tree
Normally, N64 games revealed their scale through boss-battles, but The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time did things differently. Sure, there are plenty of those aforementioned moments, but before that, we were introduced to the size of the experience by encountering the Great Deku Tree.
After Navi wakes Link up and sends him on his way, players are forced to scavenge for rupees to acquire a shield. As they are put in danger for the first time by outrunning a boulder to get their sword, we're slowly introduced to the size of this Hyrule. Yet, none of this is really put into perspective until Link walks up to the Great Deku Tree. Easily bigger than anything we saw prior, he opens his mouth and allows The Hero of Time to walk inside, introducing us to the first dungeon of the game.
4 The Moon
There are few things in video game history as iconic as the image of the Moon in 2000's masterpiece The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. We can choose from dozens of moments involving the moon: the first time it sheds a tear, or when it comes crashing toward earth come to mind, but the ever-looming image of the Moon throughout the entire game is so essential that it can't be pinpointed to a specific moment.
Its imagery plays a pivotal role in the game that focuses on time management. The visual of the Moon is a reminder of the impending danger, highlighting a looming sense of dread felt throughout the entire game. Its mere presence compliments the gameplay perfectly.
3 Sheik is Zelda
After acquiring the Master Sword in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, our hero is dropped into a future where Ganon has seized control of Hyrule and the Royal family has been overturned. Zelda, whom Link developed a friendship with, is missing. Not all hope is lost, however, The Hero of Time, now a grown adult, is ready to face the tyrant and he's found help along the way in the form of the mysterious Sheik.
While never getting involved in the action directly, Sheik guides Link, giving him useful songs and informing him about the lands he's traversing. Nothing is known about the Shiek, or where they came from until just before the battle with Ganondorf. Here, Sheik tells Link he holds the Triforce of Courage, while Ganon holds the Triforce of Power. The last piece is held by Zelda, who was the Sheik the whole time.
2 Walking in 3D
There will never be a feeling as freeing as the first time Mario jumped out of a Warp Pipe in Super Mario 64. Being given full 360-degree control of a character who could only move up, down, left, and right previously was one of the greatest achievements in gaming, and for many, this was their very first experience with the N64. Completely changing the way we interact with the world, Super Mario 64's first moments are equal parts beautiful, grand, and fun. There are no enemies, obstacles, or anything that could hurt the player. Instead, they're given complete freedom to try out completely new game mechanics that we never experienced prior. It's as much of technical achievement as it is a console defining moment, and it couldn't have been handled any better.
1 Super Smash Bros.
While the N64 will be remembered for its big 3D worlds, its biggest defining moment occurred in a more 2D space in a game genre that didn't really thrive on the system — Super Smash Bros. Released in 2001 by HAL Laboratories with Masahiro Sakurai at the helm, this crossover took the biggest names in Nintendo lore and threw them into one game. While the series has gone on to bigger things, you always remember the first.
With a roster consisting of Mario, Luigi, Link, Samus, Donkey Kong, Kirby, Ness, Captain Falcon, Fox McCloud, Yoshi, Pikachu, and Jiggly Puff, players were given an experience we only dreamed of. The fact the game even exists is special, and it has to be the defining moment in the history of the N64.