Nintendo 64
Widely considered Nintendo’s first serious misstep, mostly because of the prohibitive costs of using cartridges and because it was a bitch to develop for, this was nevertheless a superior piece of hardware to the PlayStation. Its key titles also thought seriously about what 3D meant for gaming, rather than just treating it as escalated visuals. Successful PC emulation of it hit while the console was still doing the rounds, but it’s only in the last couple of years that it could be achieved with aplomb.
Get it working
1) Project64 is the best emulator doing the rounds, but requires a 3D card to work. Like all the best emulators, it's more like a game setup menu than some arcane OS.
2) It’ll work straight out the box if you want - just open a ROM and it’ll start playing in a window. For best results though, hit the Options menu and go to Configure Graphics Plugin. Choose a resolution and turn up the filtering and anti-aliasing, just as you would in a PC game.
3) Go to File > Choose ROM directory and point Project64 at the folder you keep your N64 games in. It’ll keep them all in a quick-access list, and mention any incompatibilities.
Nintendo 64
Widely considered Nintendo’s first serious misstep, mostly because of the prohibitive costs of using cartridges and because it was a bitch to develop for, this was nevertheless a superior piece of hardware to the PlayStation. Its key titles also thought seriously about what 3D meant for gaming, rather than just treating it as escalated visuals. Successful PC emulation of it hit while the console was still doing the rounds, but it’s only in the last couple of years that it could be achieved with aplomb.
Get it working
1) Project64 is the best emulator doing the rounds, but requires a 3D card to work. Like all the best emulators, it's more like a game setup menu than some arcane OS.
2) It’ll work straight out the box if you want - just open a ROM and it’ll start playing in a window. For best results though, hit the Options menu and go to Configure Graphics Plugin. Choose a resolution and turn up the filtering and anti-aliasing, just as you would in a PC game.
3) Go to File > Choose ROM directory and point Project64 at the folder you keep your N64 games in. It’ll keep them all in a quick-access list, and mention any incompatibilities.
Above: In 1995, Nintendo was the first to capitalize on the "64" suffix craze
Essential games
Mario 64
A vast, open 3D world with analog controls and optional goals. Though the mechanics may feel familiar now, it was truly revolutionary at the time.
Perfect Dark
While it can’t compare to the innovations and storytelling of the two-years-previous Half-Life, it’s a varied and inventive FPS well worth revisiting.
The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time
Somewhat fairy-intensive, but this 3D-RPG outing is generally held up as the N64’s coolest of adventures.
