
While the single-player plot that had you prevent a criminal syndicate from using a satellite weapon against London to cause a global financial meltdown was high-stakes and fun, the real draw was the game’s dynamic multiplayer mode. GoldenEye 007 was the third-best-selling N64 title, coming in just behind Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64. The game was praised for having a more in-depth plot and requiring more strategy than any first-person shooters that had come to market so far. What we really need is a modern version of Pokémon Stadium with the series’ now-massive encyclopedia of around 900 species of Pokémon, but for now, we’ll settle for some early Poké nostalgia. This game also received a sequel on N64 which included second-gen Pokémon. With the option to fight using “rental” Pokémon, you could battle using any of the original 150 Pokémon for the first time without having to play through an entire game and capturing them. With a Transfer Pak, you could even play with your team from Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow.

You could take on the Kanto gym challenge in a series of increasingly difficult battles, fight with friends or take it easy and play a surprisingly fun series of mini-games. This iconic battle simulator didn’t have a story like previous Pokémon titles - it was just Pokémon battles all day long.

Pokémon Stadium was our first look at the world of Pokémon in 3D.
