Editorial: September 27, 1996

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Editorial: September 27, 1996

Nintendo 64: The Fun Machine

You probably noticed that the title of this editorial is the motto (the other motto is "Change The System") for the Nintendo 64. And it's right. The Nintendo 64 is a fun machine. In this editorial I will explain the system and its games.

Here are the tech specs for the Nintendo 64:

CPU:
- 64-bit RISC CPU (customized MIPS R4000 series)
- Clock Speed: 93.75 MHz
Memory:
- 36-megabit DRAM
- Maximum transfer speed: 4,500 bits per second
Co-Processor:
- Integrated SP (sound and graphics processor) and DP (pixel drawing processor)
- 64-bit, 62.5 MHz
Resolution:
- Maximum 640 / 480 dots
- Flicker-free interlace mode support
Color:
- Red, green, blue, alpha (color and transparency)
- 32-bit RGBA on-screen color support
- 21-bit color video output
Graphics Processing:
- Z-Buffer
- Anti-aliasing
- Realistic texture mapping:
  - tri-linear MIP-map interpolation
  - perspective correction
  - reflection mapping

(Source: Nintendo Power, Vol. 88)

Bring on the games! There are a total of 11 games coming out this year with more coming in 1997. Here we go:

Super Mario 64

This game comes out September 29th and is known, at this time, as the best video game ever. Now to the contrary of the release date, Super Mario 64 (and the N64 itself) could already be out ahead of schedule. But, anyway, the story behind this game is that the Princess (Toadstool here in America, Peach in Japan) invites Mario to her castle. But when Mario gets there, the Princess is gone and her castle is empty. Now Mario must travel through paintings (in the castle) into whole new worlds in search of the missing stars and the Princess. Who kidnapped the Princess? Ooo, that's a tough one. Could it be...Bowser, King of the Koopas? Yes. In every Mario game, well maybe not all, Bowser seems to always kidnap the Princess. I guess that's his hobby or something.

Pilotwings 64

This game also comes out September 29th. As the sequel to Pilotwings for the Super NES, you can imagine what the game is about. Flight. This one is a good game to get. It was developed by Nintendo and Paradigm Simulation. Plus, the project was headed by Shigeru Miyamoto. That's right, the creator of Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong. He also did Star Fox.

Mortal Kombat Trilogy

This game comes out in November. It contains 128 megabits of memory and has all characters from all Mortal Kombat games. This is the first fighting game for the Nintendo 64. It's also the first 2-D game for the N64.

Wave Race 64

Like Pilotwings 64, Miyamoto headed this one, too. This game comes out November 4th and is truely amazing. The water effects are so realistic, you'd swear it was real. The game features a two-player mode and different, unique courses. This game is expected to be a big seller.

I don't have a lot time to write up this editorial, so I'm going to stop here and continue it next week. But, however, I will give a list of upcoming games (they are listed in order of release dates):

Cruis'n USA (Nov. 18, 1996)
Killer Instinct Gold (Nov. 25, 1996)
NBA Hang Time (November 1996)
Wayne Gretzky's 3-D Hockey (November 1996)
Blast Corps (Dec. 2, 1996)
Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire (Dec. 2, 1996)
Tetrisphere (Dec. 2, 1996)
Body Harvest (Early 1997)
GoldenEye 007 (Early 1997)
Kirby's Air Ride (Early 1997)
Mission: Impossible (Early 1997)
Robotech: Crystal Dreams (Early 1997)
Super Mario Kart R (Early 1997)
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (Early 1997)
Yoshi's Island 64 (Early 1997)
Doom 64 (Spring 1997)
Star Fox 64 (Spring 1997)
Top Gear Rally (Spring 1997)
War Gods (Spring 1997)
Dark Rift (1997)
EarthBound 2 (1997)
F-Zero 64 (1997)
The Legend of Zelda 64 (1997)
Metroid 64 (1997)
Super Mario RPG 2 (1997)
Super Mario 64 II (1997)

That's it. This editorial continues next Friday (October 4th). 64-Bit is here. Now.

EDITORIAL BY KYLE HUGHES

Send e-mail to kylenin@angelfire.com if you like.