How Masterpieces Killed the N64
How did the Nintendo 64 lose to the original PlayStation despite having some of the greatest games ever made?
This documentary explores how Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, GoldenEye 007, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time repeatedly made Nintendo’s strategy look unbeatable, even as Sony built a much larger library with developers like Square, Namco, and Capcom.
From Nintendo’s restrictive licensing policies and controversial decision to stick with cartridges, to Square taking Final Fantasy VII to PlayStation and Rare carrying huge stretches of the N64’s release calendar, this is the story of how Nintendo built isolated masterpieces while Sony built an entire ecosystem.
Mario 64 transformed 3D gaming. GoldenEye redefined console shooters. Ocarina of Time became one of the most acclaimed games ever released. But making the greatest games was only half the job and Nintendo mistook that greatness for a business model.
What are your strongest Nintendo 64 memories? Mario 64, Mario Kart, GoldenEye, Banjo-Kazooie, Diddy Kong Racing, or Ocarina of Time?
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