10 Video Games You Bought CONSOLES To Play
5. Super Mario 64 (Nintendo 64)
Following a renaissance in gaming across two dimensions, the fifth generation of consoles heralded the arrival of 3D gaming; technology had vastly improved and the big companies were ready to show off their latest releases. Nintendo was the first to step up to the plate in 1996.
Having already pioneered the 2D platformer on the NES and SNES, Nintendo bestowed gamers with Super Mario 64, the plumber's smashing debut into the third dimension. It could only be found on the Nintendo 64 and as a launch title for that system, it already had a killer app to pull in fans new and old.
Taking your first steps inside Peach's castle remains an incredibly memorable moment for the time. While the console itself would eventually lose its market share to the PlayStation, Super Mario 64 remains one of the best system sellers in Nintendo's history.
Interestingly, a mainline Mario game hasn't been launched alongside a new Nintendo console since the N64.
While the system only had two launch games, Super Mario 64 was the only one it needed to make an immediate impression with players. It was able to bring the most recognisable video game character to new hardware and set the standard for new platformers that followed.