Nintendo 64

Nintendo 64
Manufacturer	Nintendo
Type	Video game console
Generation	Fifth generation (32-bit/64-bit era)
First available	June 23, 1996 / September 29, 1996 / March 1, 1997
CPU	93.75 MHz NEC VR4300
GPU	SGI 62.5 MHz 64-bit RCP
Media	Game Pak
System storage	Cartridge battery Controller Pak
Online service	RANDnet (Japan only)
Units sold	32.93 million
Top-selling game	Super Mario 64
Predecessor	Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Successor	Nintendo GameCube

The Nintendo 64 (ニンテンドー64, Nintendō Rokujūyon), often abbreviated as N64, is Nintendo's third home video game console. Its name comes from its 64-bit processor. It was released with two launch titles: Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64 plus one in Japan, Saikyō Habu Shōgi. The N64's suggested retail price was US$199 at its launch.

The Nintendo 64 was unsuccessful in recapturing the preceding SNES's market share. The PlayStation would eventually tally sales of 100 million units worldwide, while the N64 came second with 32.93 million units sold, and the Sega Saturn in third with 10 million. Benimaru Itoh, a developer for EarthBound 64 and friend of Shigeru Miyamoto, speculated in 1997 that the N64's lack of popularity in Japan was due to lack of role-playing video games.

Metroid 64

Although there was no Metroid game on the N64, a game for the system was mentioned a few times; it was never produced due to developers' doubt that the N64's technology could produce a satisfactory 3D Metroid game. However, Samus did appear in Super Smash Bros. for the console.

Trivia

• Although there was no Metroid game on the N64 (as noted above), the September 2022 Nintendo Direct, when covering upcoming Nintendo 64 games to its Nintendo Switch Online library and made a surprise teaser towards releasing GoldenEye 007 nearing the end, had the Metroid Prime-style Screw Attack logo displaying on the sidebar during the teaser. Something similar was observed with the trailer announcing the release date for Mario Party and Mario Party 2.
  • On a similar note, concept art posted by Kazuyuki Kurashima (who was previously involved in Super Mario RPG) in 2019 on his Instagram account indicated that Super Mario RPG 2 (what would later become Paper Mario) was intended to have Samus Aran as well as Link from The Legend of Zelda play some role in the game.