N64 REBORN
After years of heavy use—and considering it was released as part of the Donkey Kong 64 bundle on November 24, 1999, so it's now almost 27 years old—my favorite N64 was still in fantastic condition.
But... there was a "but."
I wanted it to be in perfect condition.
That's where Alessandro came in. With a lot of patience and kindness, he performed open-heart surgery on my N64, replacing a few components to bring it up to perfection.
Here's everything that was done:
* Retro GEM HDMI mod
* RGB Jewel mod
* 3D-printed video port chassis
* Front rubber feet replacement
Why, you ask?
Well, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 is just around the corner, and I want to play through the entire original on my N64 before I play it on the Switch 2.
Also, the Retro GEM HDMI Mod on a Nintendo 64 transforms the console into the best possible version of itself. It delivers crystal-clear digital HDMI output with virtually no input lag, dramatically sharper image quality, customizable video settings. It's the ultimate upgrade for anyone who wants to experience classic Nintendo 64 games at their absolute best, for now.
Even just using the RGB output connected to my old CRT TV, the picture quality is phenomenal. And as if that wasn't enough, now I can easily hook it up directly to my modern TV over HDMI, or even run it through the RetroTINK-4K—although, personally, I still love playing the N64 on a CRT.
The Retro GEM includes built-in Wi-Fi, but it's not for online gaming. It's used to:
Install free firmware updates.
Access a web-based interface to configure video settings and other advanced options.
As for pricing:
Firmware updates are completely free.
The only optional purchase is upgrading from the Basic edition to the Shiny edition if you want to unlock additional premium features. This is a one-time license upgrade—not a subscription.
So, yes, it has Wi-Fi, but there are no paid updates or recurring fees.
If you'd like to see the final stages of the open-heart surgery, Alessandro did them live on a Round Two stream. It's in Italian, but what he's doing is universally understandable—you can just sit back and watch. :)
The event was hosted by Round Two. Poor Ale ended up modding the console live in front of a huge crowd. I can't even imagine the level of stress that comes with doing such precise work while so many people are watching you. Absolute legend! Round Two is an Italian gaming and geek culture media outlet founded in 2022 by Francesco Fossetti and Marco Mottura, two well-known video game journalists with more than 15 years of experience in the industry.
Their mission is to move away from click-driven journalism, rumors, and disposable news in favor of thoughtful, in-depth content. Today, they produce:
- Live streams on Twitch and YouTube
- Deep dives into video games, retro gaming, board games, and pop culture
- Interviews and conversations with game developers and creators
- Live events
- Final Round, a print magazine dedicated to video game culture and analysis
What sets Round Two apart is its knowledgeable yet approachable style, with a strong focus on the history of video games and the people who make them. Over the past few years, they've become a go-to destination for gamers looking for meaningful discussions rather than just the latest headlines.
