Part I

Part II

Will Nintendo launch the N64 Classic Edition this holiday season? It would follow the trend of the NES Classic Edition that launched in November of 2016 and the SNES Classic Edition that hit the market last September. The Nintendo 64 Classic Edition could garner huge mainstream appeal, let’s just hope Nintendo doesn’t screw things up with the supply and demand. Because of the high probability of the N64 Classic being a real thing, I decided to make a list of ten games I hope to see on the hypothetical mini-console.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was a huge turning point for the legendary franchise. Nintendo took the game in a bold new direction with 3D game design but it still offered an engrossing world and incredible puzzles you would have expected from a Zelda title. Ocarina of Time being a part of the N64 Classic Edition is a no-brainer. It’s still considered by many to be one of the best video games ever created. For me personally, I agree with that sentiment. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is one of the reasons I got so invested into video games. I recently made a video dedicated to it, watch here.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

Piggybacking off of Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask is another must-have title on the N64 Classic Edition. Nintendo somehow managed to release another incredible entry in the series just two years after Ocarina of Time hit the market. Majora’s Mask features one of the darkest and mysterious worlds we have ever seen in the Zelda series. Many gamers today still hold this gem at the top of their Zelda rankings, and it’s very much deserved. One thing is for sure, Majora’s’s Mask built upon Ocarina of Time in all the best ways imaginable.

Star Fox 64

Most gamers today still believe the Star Fox series has yet to trump its Nintendo 64 title, Star Fox 64. Star Fox 64 brought cinematic space combat to the N64 and captured the hearts of people everywhere. With its on-rails action gameplay and bubbly characters, it easily earns a spot on this list of Nintendo 64 Classic Edition titles. Lastly, do a barrel roll!

Super Mario 64

Quite possibly the most obvious out of the bunch is Super Mario 64. Mario 64 changed platformers as we knew them in the 90s. This phenomenal game ushered in a new generation of games and series that attempted to surpass its brilliance in both control and level design. As one of the two N64 launch titles, Super Mario 64 was the killer app for the N64. It almost goes without saying that it changed video games forever, and would undoubtedly be a part of the N64 Classic Edition game lineup.

Pokemon Snap

Pokemon Snap brought many young gamer’s imaginations to life when it launched on Nintendo 64 in 1999. During that time, traveling around a highly stylized, 3D rendered Pokemon world was a dream come true. There is still a niche passionate Pokemon Snap audience around the web and many have been clambering for a sequel for years now. Sadly, Nintendo and The Pokemon Company missed their chance to build upon the original with the Wii U gamepad accessory. But that doesn’t keep me from wanting this gem on the N64 Classic.

Pokemon Stadium

Piggybacking off what I said about Pokemon Snap, Pokemon Stadium was what kids in the 90s imagined battles looking like while playing Pokemon Red and Blue on Game Boy. Seeing fully rendered 3D battles was incredible, to say the least. It offered more of the same turned-based gameplay that we loved but on a whole new level. It wouldn’t be until four-teen years later on 3DS when the mainline series surpassed Stadium’s 3D visuals.

GoldenEye 007

GoldenEye may not have been the very first first-person shooter, but it brought the genre to a wider market and changed shooters forever. Not only did it feature an impressive campaign that followed the 1995 James Bond film, but it also featured local split-screen multiplayer, and that’s where it shined the brightest. As a child of the 90s, I can’t tell you how many memorable moments I have with this game as a kid. Unfortunately, because of licensing issues, it’s unlikely that GoldenEye would find its way to the Nintendo 64 Classic Edition.

Mario Kart 64

If you’re in your 20s or older, then it’s likely you have almost murdered your friend because they blue shelled you at the end of a Mario Kart 64 race. This game is how friendships were made and then destroyed. Still a fan-favorite of the franchise, Mario Kart 64 brought hours upon hours of fun couch co-op with friends and family. While the gameplay has been surpassed by its sequels, there’s nothing quite like the nostalgia this classic kart racer brings to gamers across the globe. There’s no doubt it deserves a spot on this list.

Super Smash Bros.

The original brawler! Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 64 gave us something we didn’t know we wanted at the time, Nintendo’s flagship characters beating the living hell out of each other. Pikachu fighting Caption Falcon? Sure, why not? Link breaking Yoshi’s nose? Have at it! This game, like many other N64 titles, was the perfect party game with four players. Series’ sequels may be better mechanically, but the OG Smash Bros. is still a blast to play. If this game doesn’t make it on the N64 Classic Edition I just might lose my mind.

Resident Evil 2

Resident Evil 2 is a special game to me. As a seven-year-old kid, I had never played a horror video game before. After jumping into the daunting Racoon City, I quickly came to the realization that I shouldn’t be playing a game like that at that age, and that made it all the more frightening and exhilarating. There isn’t much I can say about Resident Evil 2 that you don’t already know. It’s full of suspenseful moments, stellar puzzles, and, of course, jump scares. Unfortunately, this game isn’t likely to be on the N64 Classic because it’s rated M for mature — and I doubt Nintendo would force buyers to be seventeen or older to purchase an N64 Classic Edition.

What games do you think Nintendo will have on the N64 Classic Edition? Be sure to leave all your thoughts in the comments section below, or join the discussion over on our Facebook page.

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