{"id":137708,"date":"2026-06-23T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/#article-200737"},"modified":"2026-06-23T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T12:00:00","slug":"community-all-consuming-joyous-heartbreaking-your-nintendo-64-memories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2026\/06\/23\/community-all-consuming-joyous-heartbreaking-your-nintendo-64-memories\/","title":{"rendered":"Community: “All-Consuming, Joyous, Heartbreaking” – Your Nintendo 64 Memories"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"N64<\/a>
<\/span> Image: Damien McFerran \/ Nintendo Life<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The N64 is 30 years old! This week, we’re running a series of articles<\/a> celebrating the 64-bit machine, its industry-shaping software, and its effect on a generation of gamers…<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

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Three decades ago to the day, players were sitting down with Super Mario 64<\/a> on their new console for the very first time. Launching in Japan on 23rd June 1996, the N64 ushered in a new era of video games and Mario was there Day One to show everyone how it was done.<\/p>\n

We recently asked Nintendo Life readers to send in their most treasured N64 memories, and today we’re publishing a chunky handful of the many responses that came in. It’s all here: smiles, tears, superlative parenting, multiple Snowboard Kids<\/a> shoutouts, plenty of 14-inch CRTs, and who can forget that other ’90s mainstay, Lynx Africa?<\/p>\n

Many thanks to everyone who responded. Below you’ll find some of our favourite Ultra 64 memories, including those of Team NL…<\/p>\n

N64 at 35 – Nintendo Life Memories<\/h2>\n
\"N64<\/a>
<\/span> Image: Zion Grassl \/ Nintendo Life<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“dad showed signs”<\/h3>\n
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2007: aged 4, I remember going to the local game store buying cheap PS2 games. But my dad showed signs of wanting something else; somehow I picked up on that, so as soon as we got to the car, I decided to return my games to put that money toward the thing he wanted: an N64 with Perfect Dark. My dad played GoldenEye in the ’90s, but Perfect Dark hooked him in 2000, especially being able to make tuxedo-wearing aliens in Combat Simulator. Seven years later, he introduced me. We\u2019ve been playing PD together ever since.
Atari-Dude<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“One-Hit Crouching Slappers”<\/h3>\n
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I got the N64 on release day with Mario 64 and the Shadows of the Empire. It cannot be overstated what a leap this was from the SNES. Suddenly all our favourite heroes – Mario, Link and Donkey Kong were running around in 3D. Fondest memories were 4-player Mario Kart 64, Lylat Wars (Star Fox), and the granddaddy of them all – GoldenEye 007. Now I’m fancying another round of One-Hit Crouching Slappers!
Scott Fuller<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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“I actually lost a friendship”<\/h3>\n
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I have so many great childhood memories playing N64. The single player games were excellent, but the built-in 4 player multiplayer was a literal gamechanger for my friends and I coming off the SNES era & controller passing. The countless after school hang outs and slumber parties became multiplayer battles that lasted hours. Goldeneye, Mario Kart, Bomberman 64, Mario Party. But the king was always WrestleMania 2000. I was so good at it that I was willing to let my opponents pick my wrestler. I actually lost a friendship after defeating someone with Paul Bearer.
AG_Awesome<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

“an N64 in her shopping cart!”<\/h3>\n
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When the N64 was close to release in Germany, I was 14 years. My family never allowed preordering (they were extremely risk-averse, they wouldn’t even do any kind of mail order), and told me to “just go to the store” when it’s released. But then \u2014 and just as I expected \u2014 a few weeks before launch all stores told me the same thing: It’ll be impossible to secure an N64 on March 1. I was devastated – I’ve saved money for months, ever since my birthday and Christmas the year before!
On March 1, I went to a large supermarket with my grandparents. My grandpa and I went to a nearby electronics store, but of course there was no N64. New stock? “Maybe in three months.” Sad and disappointed we went to my grandma, who was at the supermarket at that time. And guess what? My grandma had an N64 in her shopping cart!
What happened was this: While my grandpa and I were away, she asked for an N64 at the supermarket. And they actually had an extremely small amount of consoles – five or six, all of them reserved. But one of them was reserved by the store clerk she talked to – and he had empathy towards my grandma and let her buy the console he had originally reserved for himself, making not only me, but also my grandma extremely happy!
Markus Pfeffer<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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\"Banjoi-Kazooie<\/a>
<\/span> Image: Zion Grassl \/ Nintendo Life<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n