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Neon Genesis Evangelion on Nintendo 64: A Hidden Gem

Manga/Anime, GamingGuest Userjapanese, subculture, original, culture, neon genesis evangelion, mecha, game, anime, manga, nintendo 64, gem
Neon Genesis Evangelion on Nintendo 64: A Hidden Gem

Hideaki Anno’s world of NGE [short for Neon Genesis Evangelion] is a fiction cruel like no other, known for dealing with delicate topics like nihilism or identity.

 
 

The original anime series started over 25 years ago in 1995 and only wrapped up last year with the final installment of NGE’s Rebuild movies.

 
 

However, there’s quite a bit more to find within the franchise than just anime. There are Evangelion Currys, razors, drinks, toys like the famous Rei Chiquita plush, and many, many, more. The giant list of merchandise takes the attention away from a real hidden gem - The official Neon Genesis Evangelion game for the Nintendo 64.

 
 

Released in 1999, two years after the anime originally concluded, the game's plot follows the anime's main story with a few alterations. The player takes control over Evangelion Unit 01, a giant-sized mecha robot controlled by 14-year-old Shinji Ikari, in order to fight off extraterrestrial monsters called angels.

 
 

While most of the 14 missions are spent fighting angels in a typical fighting game manner comparable to the likes of Tekken or Street Fighter, there are some that stick out such as Mission 5: Israfel. Same as in the anime series this fight follows a synchronized attack consisting of ‘dance moves’ rehearsed by Shinji and Asuka together in order to fight the angel Israfel - the game takes a different path here adapting the dance moves into a rhythm game section where the player has to press the right buttons at the right time in order to stay on beat.

 
 

There are quite a few more unique twists like this included in the game, letting it stick out from regular fighting games, but the biggest difference is probably the focus on the already special story. The inclusion of original footage and voice clips from the show only increases the immersive atmosphere that not many games could produce during that time period. Hence, making the game known as an inside tip for pushing the Nintendo 64‘s hardware limitations not only graphically but also from a storytelling perspective.

A must-play for any fan of Evangelion.