"It is the only console I have ever owned, and it's the only console I will ever own. I've played others, and the N64 beats them hands down."

I'm somebody who doesn't like change. And to sit here in the year 2006 and see a console made over ten years ago still set such high standards for the ever-pathetic next-generation systems to live up to, which many times they fail to, is none other than purely refreshing.

I fell in love with the N64 at a very young age. One of my friends had one, and it had the coolest games ever. The amazing music, the vast gameplay, and best of all, the majestic graphics were overwhelmingly dazzling to someone of such a young age. My favorite of his games, by far, was Donkey Kong 64. At first, it was only that game which I craved. Fast forward several years. One year ago, at the beginning of 2005, I could stand it no longer. I bought an N64 off of E-Bay with the intentions of purchasing only one game for it ever. Donkey Kong 64. (Moral of this paragraph: It is never too late to discover the wonderful goodness!!1!1)

Little did I know, I would soon end up with an N64 game collection that far exceeded one yellow cartridge with an ape on it. Well, soon after Donkey Kong 64, I saw Perfect Dark in my local video game retailer. I had heard good things about it. I didn't even know that it was a shooter, I just knew it had a good reputation, so I bought it. I really didn't think I would like a first person shooter, but I gave it a try, and was amazed.

A very short time after, I was at a friend's house playing Halo. I started off really bad, but surprised everyone by catching on quickly. I mentioned that I must have gotten my skills from Perfect Dark. They looked at me like I was nuts. They had never even heard of it! I defended it, saying it was the number one shooter... their laughter interrupted me... for the N64... "well, yeah, for the N64!" they scoffed. And it was at that moment that I realized how few people know about the hidden gem that is the N64. And I am here to spread the word to anyone who has the tolerance to get past my nostalgicness.

Graphics: 24/25

The graphics for the N64 easily rival any next-generation console. They are amazing. They are crisp, clear, detailed, and they continue to surprise me. The capability is astounding. The only reason it didn't receive a perfect score is because some graphics may not be as good without the expansion pak. Seriously, though, my expectations for the N64 were very high when I got it, and the graphics still blew me away.

Sound FX & Music: 25/25

The N64 has the capability to play rich, masterfully composed music. I wish I could burn a CD full of just my favorite N64 pieces. They are WAY beyond tunes. Although some people argue that CDs produce better sound, the N64 earns a major plus by enabling several of their games with the ability to be heard in Dolby Digital Surround Sound.

The N64 is probably the first console to produce sound effects that could be described as real. Far beyond your ping or your plop, you'll take the sound for granted most of the time because it will immerse you that much more into the gameplay experience.

Quality of Quality Games: 12.5/12.5
Quantity of Quality Games: 8.5/12.5

There is no doubt in my mind that the N64 is the console which claims the best games ever created. When you play a quality N64 game, you better believe you are getting quality, and lots of it. You can definitely tell the difference between a slop job game and a masterpiece. Unfortunately, the N64 seems to harbor a lot more of the former. It is a shame, really. The N64 was revolutionary, and with the blaring potential that it had, it could have done even greater things than it did. But even though the N64 has a lot fewer "mountains" than the other guys, it speaks for itself that a next-gen console "mountain" could very well be compared to an N64 molehill. Okay, maybe I exaggerate a little, but when the N64 set its bar, it set it higher than anyone's ever been able to compete with.

Revolutionary?: 25/25

No matter how anybody feels about the N64, they cannot dispute that it was the most revolutionary console of all time. It introduced everyone to 3D gaming, an unfamiliar concept. And there is an unexplainable sort of... well, magic that happens when you play a 3D game. It's completely different than a 2D game, and anyone who's played video games knows what I'm talking about.

Also, the N64 was the last system to use cartridges. And I don't care what anyone says, I've seen a lot of next-gen games, and the quality difference of discs, whether it be in graphics, sound, whatever, isn't enough to spit on. Those AWFUL loading sequences, however... that is a different story.

So, in a way, the N64 got the best of both worlds. And it was the only console to do so. And even I lowered my expectations because I knew the N64 used cartridges. But now, not only has the N64 proved that it can compete with and win against the next-gens, it has actually made me look down upon discs and with regard to cartridges.

Overall: 95/100 = 10/10

I hope that someone reads my review and gives what I say some thought. Because N64s rule. And I'm not just saying that. My soul is.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/25/06