"Durablity galore!"

Ah, my first and favorite system. It qualifies for at least an 8 in all of its categories. Its game quality is good for the most part, but AVOID ALL GAMES BY THE NAME OF SUPERMAN 64. Anyway, this is my first console review and I'm looking forward to creating some new categories that aren't found in game reviews. Here I go...

GAMES AND THEIR QUALITY: 8/10
Most all of the Nintendo 64's games are pretty damn good but a few rotten apples manage to intercept any console's anti-stupid game security forces. Personally, my favorite types of games are FPS and Adventures. The Nintendo 64 slams down hard on these two so I stay satisfied. Of the Nintendo 64's FPS gallery, you find the now famous GoldenEye(Rare) 007 which is a perfect 10 any day. Also among them are the Turok(Acclaim) series which are all fabulous. You'll also find the highly favored Perfect Dark(Rare) which most all give very high opinions to. In the Adventure category, you'll find many unique and classic games which we Nintendo owners adore. The two most famous are probably The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time(Nintendo) and its sequel, Majora's Mask. There are many other good ones too, though, such as Banjo Kazooie and Banjo Tooie(both by Rare). Of the rotten lot are Superman 64(Titus). Go ahead and have a look for yourself. The game received a review score of 5 at its highest. I myself reviewed an game the game a 2. Among others are Quest 64(THQ), Tonic Trouble(UBI Soft) and War Gods(Midway). You should find that most of the Nintendo bunch are enjoyable, though. My fellow Nintendo goers and myself have put together a large stash of reviews for most all of the Nintendo games so have a look for yourself.

CONTROLLER DESIGN: 9/10
As with the other 3D game platforms there is an analog joystick which allows movement in a 3D world because of its spherical range of movement. The joystick is sturdy and is tweaked perfectly meaning it's not too loose and not too strong. Most gamers hold the control with their left hand underneath the middle ''pillar'' and their left thumb over the joystick, but I prefer an unusual yet easy style. I hold the joystick with my hand over the control using my left index, thumb and middle fingers to control it while my right hand holds the right pillar and covers the A, B and R buttons. Also using my right hand I put my right middle finger on the Z ''trigger'' button located underneath the middle pillar. If you look at the controller from a backward overhead view it looks a bit like a fighter jet. You can easily find a picture somewhere on the internet.

GRAPHICAL CAPABILITIES: 9/10
Very impressive Graphical Capabilities are found on the Nintendo 64 considering that this console sticks to the larger, yet far more durable game cartridges rather than going along with a CD as with other modern consoles. Even the earliest or the early games boost high-resolution visuals that should impress most any gamer. About halfway through the N64's life,(about 1998) along came a special tool called the Expansion Pack. This little gadget is put into the socket where the normal Jumper Pack is. It is used to boost the Audio and Graphic categories of the Nintendo 64, as well as the Artificial Intelligence of enemy characters in games. It only works with compatible games but most are now and it is well worth the 10 to 20 dollars you would pay for it. Some games require the usage of the N64 Expansion pack such as Donkey Kong 64(Rare), Perfect Dark, Majora's Mask, etc. What it mainly does is sharpen the polygons and reduce them to a tiny size. The first two compatible games were Turok 2: Seeds of Evil and Star Wars: Rogue Squadron.

AUDIO CAPABILITIES: 8/10
One sacrifice that is made when cartridges are selected over CD disks is that the sound isn't as high in quality despite the other advantages. Surprisingly, the Nintendo 64 shoves that thought out of the way, though, for the most part. Earlier N64 titles tend to have sound somewhat lesser in quality than in more recent ones, but the sound is still good. The modern titles cannot be told any differently than a CD can in the sound section. Many games have a good deal of voice action, too, all of which is well recorded. I haven't found a single N64 title that doesn't have any voice action whatsoever, though, so that's cool.

DURABILITY: 10/10
This is one part that you won't have to worry about at all. The Nintendo 64 is the muscle-dude of the gaming consoles. Built of strong plastics, this little guy could take a minor car collision. The same goes for its sturdy game cartridges. Another reviewer used an innovative little idea of taking characters in the game and using them in the categories so I'll just borrow it momentarily for this one. Here you go: Here we have Turok with his Automatic Shotgun. Turok, if you please. *Turok takes his shotgun and blasts off 8 shells into the center of the N64* The N64 comes out looking charred and a little scratched here and there but still works just fine. Now, lets try using Sony's Playstation 2, shall we? *''BAM, BAM, BAM,'' goes Turok's automatic shotgun* Ah, the PS2 comes out looking like the remains of the U.S.S. Arizona after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Get the picture?

CLOSING STATEMENT:
As I always say, to critique my review privately, ask a question, or just be neighborly and say hi, e-mail me at DrDoak2001@aol.com. Doak out.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/10/01, Updated 06/10/01