While we already own most of the signature first-party N64 titles, there are still a handful of games that are conspicuous omissions to the collection.
Although the Nintendo 64 was neither the most popular video game console of its generation nor my favorite system growing up, it remains one of the more exciting consoles to collect for in modern times for a variety of reasons.
A primary competitor to Sony’s PlayStation in the fifth generation of video game consoles, Nintendo appeared to remain a step behind with the Nintendo 64’s continued use of cartridges while Sony and Sega both graduated to using CDs as the media form on the PlayStation and Sega Saturn, respectively.
Despite lagging far behind the PlayStation in sales and ending its lifespan with a relatively small game library, the Nintendo 64 was hailed by fans and critics alike for its unique, later colorful designs and wide array of impressive and influential first-party titles.
While I grew up more fond of the GameCube than the Nintendo 64, the latter was still the first console that was gifted to me as my own, forming core memories early on in my childhood and solidfying my lifelong love for gaming.
Though I never really became truly adept at handling the N64 controller as a kid, Super Mario 64 and Super Smash Bros.were among my favorite games as a young kid, with the latter hooking me in and leaving me particularly impressed after I got my GameCube and Melee along with it a few weeks later.
As a collector, the Nintendo 64 offers lots of reasons to get excited – it isn’t quite as pricey and demanding as GameCube collecting can be nowadays, with a smaller game library that’s more approachable and attainable for those aiming for a complete set.
Beyond that, the N64 offered a wide range of customization that was expansive for the time, with several colors of the console and controllers available as part of the Funtastic series. Game cartridges also occasionally varied in color and remain a bit more fun to collect and display than an endless stack of jewel cases found with PlayStation games.
Upon picking up a handful of N64 games recently that included previous omissions to our collection such as Star Fox 64 and GoldenEye 007, I started to think of which titles remain notable absences to the console’s collection that has now reached a total of 38 games.
Here’s a look at the three games I’m most eager to add to our collection:
1. Mario Party 3
Though I admittedly didn’t grow up owning the Mario Party games and therefore don’t have the treasure trove of memories many other younger millennials do, it’d be great to finally complete the original N64 trilogy of the series.
While the series certainly took a step forward aesthetically on the GameCube over the next four editions, Mario Party 3 shows off the N64 at just around its best graphically, with the game being released in 2001 near the end of the system’s lifespan.
The later release date has also contributed to the game being a bit tougher to find than its two predecessors, while also usually coming at a slightly higher cost.
Nonetheless, the title remains a notable absence in our N64 collection, especially when it comes to party-oriented multiplayer games. With Mario Kart 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Super Smash Bros. and the first two Mario Party games already in the library, Mario Party 3 would complete quite the multiplayer set for the console.
2. Conker’s Bad Fur Day
One of the most notorious titles for the Nintendo 64, Conker’s Bad Fur Day is remembered for a plethora of reasons – its critical acclaim, poor commercial performance and vulgar content chief among them.
Released in March 2001 towards the end of the N64’s lifespan, Conker’s Bad Fur Day is a platformer chronicling the adventures of an alcoholic squirrel aiming to return home to his girlfriend after an evening of heavy drinking.
The plot and premise of the game seems to be wildly at odds with Conker’s appearance, that of an innocent, childlike mascot that would blend in with other video game protagonists marketed towards children at the time.
One of the few M-rated titles for the N64, Conker’s Bad Fur Day stands out as a jewel of the former partnership between Nintendo and developer Rare, with the game’s plot, graphics and humor lauded by critics and fans alike.
The game’s underwhelming commercial performance has resulted in it being a prized possession for any N64 collector, as well as a common target for counterfeiters producing fake reproduced cartridges. According to Price Charting, a loose cartridge of the game costs an average of $145.34, well above the price of most sought-after titles for the console.
3. Mario Tennis
A painful title to include on this list, Mario Tennis is one of the few games I owned as a child that I misplaced and lost at some point in my life before our collection started in April 2020.
Released in North America in August 2000, Mario Tennis has a pronounced legacy that isn’t typical of spin-off titles within the Mario series. In addition to kickstarting a beloved Mario sports series that has seen releases on each Nintendo console since, the game also saw the introduction of Waluigi to the series, who has since become a mainstay in spin-off games.
The game also saw the reintroduction of Daisy and Birdo to the series, who had been absent from Mario games since Super Mario Land in 1989 and Super Mario RPG in 1996, respectively.
Beyond its impact on the series, Mario Tennis is simply just a fun game to play. The title provides a brief learning curve, an appropriate roster of characters that blends old and new along with gameplay options that feel both complete and not overly ambitious.
Though the series has undoubtedly seen improvements since, Mario Tennis is among the better multiplayer titles for the N64, and one I’d definitely love to revisit soon.
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