King of the Hill (For a Little While Longer) (Nintendo N64)

Member Name: wiz64

Product:	Nintendo N64
Date:	29/07/00 (27 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Goldeneye, F-Zero X, ISS Pro 98, multiplayer heaven

Disadvantages: Lack of quality titles. Expensive game price tags.

Of all of the consoles that I currently own, it is the Nintendo 64 that reigns supreme as the king of the hill. Since day one the machine has captivated my imagination and held pride of place as the console connected to my large screen TV. The first lost weekend in the 3D world of Mario and friends has yet to be surpassed as my greatest video gaming experience.

It is not the single player epics such as Mario and Zelda, that have kept Nintendo's aging beast in the top spot. It is instead the multiplayer games that have kept my friends and I coming back for more.

In Goldeneye, the N64 has the greatest multiplayer game to be produced so far. Countless hours have been spent trying to reign supreme in this multiplayer arena. Over two years since the title was released, the cartridge is still the first in the slot for an all night gaming session.

F-Zero X is to racing games what Goldeneye is to first person shooters. Lightning fast, with some fiendish tracks, the game has a perfect contol system that has you cursing your own lack of ability time after time. The graphics of the tracks may be sparse but this is a small price to pay for a four player split screen mode that boasts no noticeable slowdown.

ISS Pro 98 is without any doubt the king of football games. The Playstation versions are good games but lack the precision control present in the N64 version. Add four players in to the fray and you have a football fest that can only be bettered by taking a ball to the park. ISS allows you to string moves together that are all your own work and give extra satisfaction when the work pays off in a spectacular goal. Hard earned at the ready for the release of ISS Millenium.

To a lesser extent, Mario Kart 64 and Micro Machines 64 are worthy of note and well worth a purchase for those who do not already own the titles.

By building four control ports into the N64, Nintendo opened up the four player world to all. This proved
to be a master stroke in winning the battle of the multiplayer gaming session. What might have been if the release schedule and standard of titles had been better.

I know the N64 cannot maintain its number one position much longer. Great multiplayer titles are emerging for the Dreamcast and the Playstation 2 is just a few short months away. I for one will be sad to see the N64 relegated to the bedroom portable but fond memories will remain for a long time after the machine heads of to console heaven.

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