#30. Bomberman Hero
August 31, 1998
A.I.
Nintendo
$59.99 on Amazon
Bomberman Hero gets a bad rap, and a part of me kind of gets it. As a kid, having played previous Bomberman games and then firing this up on 64 I remember thinking “Gosh, what even is this bad, poo-poo game?” (I was eight-years-old and living in a Christian household – that was the closest to swearing that I knew how to do). But the game itself really does hold up. The controls work surprisingly well for a console that’s controller was designed for octopi, and the 3D platformer levels are dynamic enough to feel non-linear and actually encourage player exploration.
But even beyond that, unlike many N64 games that felt impossible to beat when I was eight but now I can knock out in four hours on a bored Wednesday, Bomberman Hero still presents a challenge. This game did not deserve all the shit it got (see! now I know how to swear!) back then and it is worth your admiration now. Now go blow some shit up! — J. Knapp
#29. Pokémon Puzzle League
September 25, 2000
Nintendo Software Technology
Nintendo
$58.94 on Amazon
This game is just Tetris Attack mapped onto some Pokémon stuff. Making it an absolutely stellar, infinitely replayable puzzle game mapped onto some Pokémon stuff. I’m here for it. Also this is like one of the four Nintendo 64 games that is two dimensional, so it’s honestly a wonderful break from chunky polygons and murky, empty worlds that have become my home over the last month. It’s also the first Pokémon game I ever beat, so that’s fun. If there had been a proper Tetris Attack game on the console, this would have been a real piece of shit move to release this, but since there wasn’t, PPL just might the best puzzle game on the system. — M. Roebuck
#28. Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards
June 26, 2000
HAL Laboratory
Nintendo
$74.60 on Amazon
Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards is a bundle of firsts, and not the bad kind like the ones you can’t remember from the other parts of your childhood. This is the first time the pink puffball graced our screens in 3D, got a voice, and saw former villain King Dedede as a protagonist. Who doesn’t love when the bad guys team up with the good guys?
The game introduced Power Combos, which allowed Kirby to combine two abilities together into one. You could get fancy with them — there were 28 combinations in all — or you could just do nothing but spam the needle ability because you’re lazy and scared of enemies. At the end of each level, the player has to choose how hard Kirby is going to jam on his gams to hop on a series of prizes littered on a picnic blanket. What a way to end a level.
Everything about Kirby 64 is adorable. Stage selection takes place on a sketchpad with kid illustrations accompanied by a scribbling noise. Even the cursor is a fucking crayon. Ultimately, what we learn about him is that he’s a lovable, hungry guy who just wants to help his friends. There’s no ulterior motive, no kingdom to rule. He only wants to eat snacks and chill, and that’s a timeless vibe everyone can get behind. — A. Oh
#27. Blast Corps
March 24, 1997
Rare
Nintendo
$40.39 on Amazon
Breaking shit is fun; we all know this. It’s no wonder rage rooms are getting increasingly popular. Blast Corps takes the concept and puts it into a frenetic, delightful video game. While Rare could have kept this demolition simulator simple and still maintained some degree of fun, the game’s systems are surprisingly deep. There are a plethora of vehicle types and game modes to enjoy. My only minor quibble is that the camera is always just a bit too close to your vehicle — a broader view of the environment would have been very helpful. But there is plenty of fun to be had in this Pilotwings-Meets-Rampage game. Also, I am compelled to reward bonus points for having a level named Cooter Creek. Sorry, I don’t write the rules. — J. Danek
#26. Mario Party 2
January 24, 2000
Hudson Soft
Nintendo
$99.99 on Amazon
Just a bigger and better sequel to what was already a fun ass game. The board themes here are inspired and really entwined into the gameplay in creative ways that make each one distinct and exciting. Instead of merely providing a setting, each match begins and ends with a cutscene that sees the winning character not only winning the coveted Super Star, but quite often save the day. For example, if you play the Old West themed board the winner shoots Bowser to death with a gun. It’s pretty shocking. The minigames are getting better here, but sadly a few too many uninspired ones are brought back from the original alongside them. Still though, a tremendous step forward for one of the best Nintendo franchises of the era. You really shoot Bowser, dude. — M. Roebuck
#25. Bassmasters 2000
December 16, 1999
Mass Media Games
THQ
$33.97 on Amazon
Wow. This game knocked my fuckin socks off. It’s so fun and is definitely something I’m going to play to chill out at night after I’m done playing all of these Nintendo 64 games. The exact type of diamond in the rough I was hoping to discover when we started this project! The music cues are perfectly timed blasts of twangy country music when the shit gets real and you get a nibble. The announcers are my favorite in a Nintendo 64 game and they sound like guys I want to drink beer with. The fishing ain’t bad either! When you think about it, is it so bizarre that a retro Nintendo fishing game would be a hidden gem? Check this one out. I don’t have anything bad to say about it.
Hmm, I’m thinking maybe I should try, in the interest of good video game journalism, to say something bad about Bassmasters 2000. Okay, commentator Shaw Brisby doesn’t ride around in the boat with you and talk to you the whole time. There’s my complaint. But that might be too much of a good thing, so I don’t really know. How high am I allowed to rank this one? — M. Roebuck
#24. The New Tetris
July 31, 1999
H20 Entertainment/Blue Planet Software
Nintendo
$69.99 on Amazon
Is the cube thing your favorite piece in Tetris? Well then have I got a game for you. With a name like The New Tetris you might think this is one of those ill-advised Tetris sequels that takes the game we all agree is perfect and blows it to shit by adding new pieces and rules (Tetris 2, NES) or new dimensions (Tetrisphere, much lower on this list), but really the only New thing about this is this thing where if you make a perfect cube out of a bunch of the cubes it’ll turn into a bigger cube and then when you make lines that happen that touch the giant cube, they’re worth more points. Nothing too wild. Since the developers were smart enough to stay out of the way of the Tetris formula, this is one of the most fun games on the system by default. Released in 1999, this should have been called The Nü Tetris. — M. Roebuck
#23. 1080° Snowboarding
April 1,1998
Nintendo EAD
Nintendo
$49.99 on Amazon
A title that undoubtedly inspired a generation of young gamers to try their hand at skiing’s punk rock little brother and tear their ACLs, 1080° Snowboarding is an excellent example of extreme sports on the Nintendo 64. The sensation of cruising down the mountains is actually quite reminiscent of shredding real powder (I swear I was young and cool once). And it can’t be stressed enough that this game is 90’s as fuck; from the “work your body!” hip-hop loop on the character select screen, to the aesthetics of the riders themselves, the game is a pure, fun nostalgia rush. Some of the more advanced tricks are damn near impossible to pull off (prepare to lose a layer of thumb skin trying to spin the analog stick enough to land a 1080) but they are oh-so-satisfying when you do. — J. Danek
#22. Resident Evil 2
October 31, 1999
Capcom
Capcom
$101.99 on Amazon
This game should not exist. Resident Evil 2 came on two CDs on the PlayStation, and they got it all to fit on a single N64 cart! There’s alternate costumes, new lore documents, surround sound. There’s a goddamn randomizer in here! And it’s still the same great game at the core. You’ve got both Leon and Claire campaigns and all the zombies you can slowly back up from. It’s still classic Resident Evil, so there are tank controls, a static camera, and ink ribbons to deal with. A lot of people will say these sharp edges add to the ‘horror feeling,’ but come on, you’d turn on regular movement if you could. If you’ve never played this game, you’re probably better off playing the remake from a few years ago. But somehow, the definitive version of classic Resident Evil is here at Mario’s house. — S. Finkelstein
#21. FIFA: Road to World Cup ‘98
November 30, 1997
EA Canada
EA Sports
The best reviewed version of a game that’s been argued as the greatest sports title of all time starts with the best possible song it could have; that Blur song where the guy goes, “Woo hoo!” a lot. It just screams, “Buckle up, pal, this is going to be an experience.” It also screams, “Woo hoo!” a lot. An immediate improvement is shown over the previous FIFA Soccer 64 between the performance, the much needed and game-changing passing icon, the lifelike chants of the crowd, and the ability to accurately influence the action around you with button inputs (something FIFA 64 really came close to pulling off).
That’s to say nothing of this game’s in-depth World Cup mode, complete with qualifying rounds and a truly dizzying number of playable countries. I got dizzy! The astounding amount of choice also gives the game an incredible amount of depth and replayability. Find it a little easy to win it all with the Brazil’s and Argentina’s of the world? Okay then smart guy, let’s see you take it all with Western Samoa or Bangladesh! This is a 25 year-old sports game that made me pump my fist during a 1-0 match and scream “Fuck yeah, let’s go, Iran!*” and that’s just not the level of immersion and excitement I experienced with very many sports games of the era while reflecting upon them for this list, enjoyable as some may be. Probably the best (and certainly most complete) sports game on the system. — M. Roebuck
*To be clear, I was playing as Iran. That’s not just some thing I always say when I’m excited
Next Page
