Nintendo 64 (Cartridge)
Day 8 of 40, counting down 40 Mario game formats over 40 days to celebrate 40 years, takes us to another iconic entry in Mario history, the N64 game cartridge.
The N64 was a technical powerhouse when it launched in 1996 – the first major console with true 64-bit architecture, enabling full 3D and real-time lighting effects. It also revolutionised how players moved in 3D space with its unique “trident” controller and analogue stick.
It’s chunky cartridges redefined gaming by offering faster load times than CDs, letting players dive right into the action. Each cart had a security chip for region-locking and to deter piracy. Capacity ranged from 4MB to 64MB – Paper Mario the largest Mario title at 40MB.
The N64 had interesting add-ons too. The Transfer Pak for example, used in Mario Golf and Mario Tennis, let gamers bring their Game Boy Color character data into their N64 games – a rare example of cross-generational cartridge interoperability between Mario titles.
The N64 didn’t come without its share of challenges. Storage was much less than the PlayStation’s CDs, and devs had to get creative. Games like DK64 needed a RAM expansion pak to perform at their best, and sound wasn’t quite CD-level. It didn’t stop Koji Kondo though! 🎶
Super Mario 64 (1996)
The ultimate platformer! Super Mario 64 wasn’t just a game – it was THE game that revolutionised 3D platforming. Free movement, a roaming camera, hidden secrets… it broke new ground. More than just jumping – it was about exploring Mario’s world like never before.
Whether you remember chasing penguins, leaping into paintings, or that one wall kick that took you hours to master – this one sticks with you. 64 will always hold a special place in gaming history. Over 11 million copies sold worldwide, and still one of the most iconic games ever made.
Nintendo also once toyed with expanding Super Mario 64 using the 64DD, apparently – adding new characters like Luigi and Yoshi. While it never happened, many of those ideas later popped up in the DS remake.
Beyond Super Mario 64. The N64 also introduced several heavyweight titles that remain fan favourites today and still command huge playability and resale value amongst collectors. They’ve all left a huge mark on gaming culture and are still celebrated in new releases.
Mario Kart 64 (1996)
Mario Kart 64 was the first in the series to go 3D – kind of. While the tracks were polygonal, the racers were actually 2D sprites, cleverly scaled to simulate depth. It introduced now-staple items like the Blue Shell, and brought four-player racing to living rooms!
Mario Party (1998) and Mario no Photopi (1998)
This was the original title that kicked off a now-iconic series – and also some accidental injuries! With mini-games that demanded frantic joystick spinning, especially Tug o’ War, players quickly found themselves with sore palms and even blisters.
Mario no Photopi was released exclusively in Japan and developed by Tokyo Electron. Instead of your typical Mario gameplay, it turned the N64 into a photo editing suite. It had SmartMedia card slots, allowing users to import and edit photos.
It even included a game room mode for using photos in puzzle games. Less than 3,000 copies were made, making it one of the rarer N64 carts. A true oddity for collectors! Other SmartMedia cards were made for it, containing pre-drawn images, including one based on Yoshi.
Super Smash Bros. (1999) and Paper Mario (2000)
Super Smash Bros. started as a small experimental project designed by @Sora_Sakurai and programmed by Satoru Iwata called “Dragon King: The Fighting Game” – with no Nintendo characters at first! When Mario, Link, and Pikachu were added, magic happened.
Originally announced as Super Mario RPG 2, Paper Mario reinvented Mario’s RPG adventures with a unique paper cut-out art style that pushed the N64’s 3D limits. It used charm, humour, and clever mechanics like turning sideways to slip through cracks.
The final release featured 12 fighters, 9 stages, and a new kind of fighting: knock opponents off the screen instead of depleting a health bar. It was chaotic, fast, and instantly addictive – a humble beginning to what would become one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises.
An enduring legacy! Despite selling fewer units than the PlayStation 1 – around 32.9 million worldwide – the N64 remains one of the most loved systems in gaming history. Its cartridge format helped carve out a lasting legacy, thanks in no small part to Mario.
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