I think 64 was the goat system as far as multiplayer but that could be just nostalgia.
We did this

to screen peakers.
What you mean

how else I was supposed to find a nikka in goldeneye

hiding in vents and all of that bullshyt
Especially when all we did was a 1 shot kill with all golden guns on
Multiplayer in person is far more enjoyable than online. There is honestly room for both. Not sure why so called "modern" developers don't include this options in their games? This is something Nintendo always makes a priority, and part of the reason i still fukk with them.
You answered this yourself, wii U didn't do much of anything so business went forward. I still get down with madden, 2k and fighting games in person but that's getting more rare as days go by
Outside of people with kids, no one is checking for couch multiplayer like that now
Kids are losing out on this more than anything because online isn't really catered to kids but people let their kids online with mostly other adults not knowing the shyt that goes on and shyt being said.