Nintendo・by Series・Nintendo 64

Nintendo's decision to use four controller ports on the Nintendo 64 promoted multiplayer gaming and ultimately led to a wave of multiplayer games targeted at elementary and junior high school students. The unique design of Nintendo 64's three-pronged controllers prompted even more intrigue in the console. The Nintendo 64 was also the first to offer controllers with the capability to vibrate, a revolutionary concept at the time. The Nintendo 64 was released in a range of colors and designs over its lifetime. The original Nintendo 64 is a dark gray color called Charcoal, but various colorations and special editions have been released such as Funtastic Atomic Purple, Jungle Green, Fire Orange, Ice Blue, Gold and even Pikachu themes in different colors.

During the system's first three days on the market, retailers sold 350,000 of 500,000 available console units. In the United States, Nintendo successfully outsold Sony and Sega early in 1997 and went on to sell 3.6 million units by the end of its first full year. Business Wire reported that the Nintendo 64 was solely responsible for the 156% increase in overall Nintendo sales by 1997.

The Nintendo 64 remains one of the most celebrated video game systems in history and its game library includes a high number of critically acclaimed and widely sold games that have left a lasting impact on the industry. For example, GoldenEye 007 played a big part in the evolution of the first-person shooter and has been named one of the greatest in the genre. Designed in tandem with the Nintendo 64 controller, Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time are also widely considered by critics and consumers alike to be two of the greatest and most influential games of all time.