Why not the N64?

During the fifth generation of video game consoles, there were majors like the Playstation, Saturn, and the Nintendo 64 that dominates the gaming market. Graphics were one of the biggest issue of consumers that time and even today. Highly edged technology, many games were made fully in 3D unlike the previous generation.

Aside from its graphics, these machines were also powered with highly researched central processing unit. The Nintendo 64 was officially called as the first 64-bit video game console (not to mention atari jaguar). It was highly expected from many since it was the last one to be release among the Saturn and Playstation. It was promising that huge game developers were planning to lunch big titles, but sadly most of them failed.

Many factors why the Nintendo 64 really didn't hit the audiences well. There are issues of disadvantages of the hardware itself. There are complains of the machine that, game developers were experiencing programming difficulties. The console itself is still utilizing a cartridge media unlike its competitors were moved to Compact Disc.

Based on a cartridge itself, there are disadvantages like limited storage of game data and poor audio quality. Game developers were not really convinced to push their titles to a cartridge format and because of that some promising games were missed on the N64 platform. On the bright side, there are also hardware advantages and few games boomed like the Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Pokemon Stadium 2, Super Mario 64, Resident Evil 2 are examples. My favorite game for the N64 is Starfox 64. I was addicted to it so badly, really.

From what I see, most N64 games are 3D based. Many of these titles were first came from 2D, then later moves to the next 3D level like Bomberman 64, Castlevania, Donkey Kong 64, Super Mario 64, and more. But that doesn't mean 3D is everything, still there are many great 2D games that the N64 doesn't have. These were the absence of most fighting games, shooters, and beat-em ups. It doesn't mean Nintendo didn't prioritize 2D games, it's because they are utilizing the advantages of the cartridge media like cut-offs of loading scene and the hardware itself. The N64 isn't that bad to imagine, because it made few great games and had a huge role of video game evolution.