15 years ago today was September 29th, 1996 and that was the day that Nintendo 64 made its debut in North America. It’s definitely a very special system in my heart as it was my first “almost got it at launch” video game machine. Sure, I was a gamer for many years before it and there have been many consoles following it that I got day one…but it was the first time that the hype and anticipation that I had surrounding a system about to come out, made me HAVE to have it on day one (or in my case a few days later).

The system really was a pioneer in several ways, by it being the first to offer four people playing at once out of the box, having rumble technology in the controller (via the Rumble Pak), introducing an analog stick to a controller, a trigger button, multiple ways to hold and play games on it, and even memory card transportation made easy thanks to the controller having a slot in it. Of course it was the games that utilized this technology and more, that made so many memories. Super Mario 64 allowing you to freely roam a 3D world with a smart camera that would follow and that you could control. Star Fox 64 and GoldenEye 007 with their varying degrees of force feedback and split screen gaming. And of course The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time with its advanced Z-targeting system that would lock the camera behind Link and simultaneously future proof 3D gaming.

It was and still most certainly is one of the greatest of all time in my opinion. I invite you to share your own opinions on this classic. And if you want to read something fun, check out my story below on a revisited battle between Nintendo 64 and Sony PlayStation. Well, I’m going to go play a little Super Mario 64 right now in memory. Thanks for fun times, Nintendo.

This week in gaming history (15 Years Later): Sony PlayStation vs. Nintendo 64.