Game Statistics

• 20 tracks.
• 4 difficulty levels.
• 121 data pages required to save two ghost times.
• 8 selectable characters.
• Battery backed memory to save time trials and ghost times.
• 96-megabit cartridge.

Game Design
Mario Kart 64 is very similar and very different to its predecessor. There are 16 tracks, they are now in 3-D and much longer then the ones in the Super Nintendo version. The longest tracks (Wario Stadium and Rainbow Road) take about 3-5 minutes to complete three laps apposed to the 1-2 minute five-lap courses in Super Mario Kart. If you like long courses that is all well and good. However, one of the best parts of Super Mario Kart was the possibility of gaining six or seven positions in one exhilarating lap. With the longer levels in this game, gaining many positions in one lap is much harder to do. It just isn't as fun as the Super Nintendo version. There are some excellent new items in this version. First, there is the possibility of getting three green shells, three red shells and three mushrooms at once. Once you get three shells, they will spin around your kart protecting you from other attacks. Also, it is possible to get a set of five bananas and make a nice trap on the road. The best new item by far is the golden mushroom. The golden mushroom allows unlimited boosting for a small period of time. While Mario Kart 64 is an excellent racing game, it is not as fun as the others in the series.

Graphics
The graphics in this game are among the best of the first generation Nintendo 64 titles. The environments look great. From the beaches of Koopa Troopa Beach to the rainbows of Rainbow Road, all of the tracks are realistic and represent their respective environments. The character sprites are a different matter; they are sprites, not polygonal models. When opposing racers are right behind you they appear really blocky. It's brutal. While the sprites are bad, the framerate is a nice constant 30 fps even in multiplayer mode.

Sound
The music is very Mario Kart like. Just like the other games in the series, the tempo of the music will increase during the final lap creating a sense of urgency. However, the voice samples really make this game shine. This was the first game where voice samples of many Nintendo characters can be heard. They are good voice samples. When your character hits someone with red shells, it will express happiness with a little cheer. When your character gets hit with an item, they express pain. When a computer-controlled opponent passes you they will cheer and some will mock (Wario).

Control
As expected from a Mario Kart game, the controls are excellent. The power turning is still there with an added bonus. When power turning, press the control stick left and right rapidly and you will get a nice speed boost. The Nintendo 64 control stick makes precision turning an easier task and that's a good thing. Just like other Mario Kart games the controls are as good as it gets.

Satisfaction
Some will be disappointed and some will not. The hardcore Super Mario Kart fans may have problems with this game because it does not have the same sense of exhilaration as the original and that this game is very easy compared to the original. However, some Mario Kart fans will like this game simply because it is a Mario Kart game.

Replay Value/Game Length
All Mario Kart games earn a high replay value rating because they have fun and addictive multiplayer modes. This Mario Kart game has the shortest single player mode of all the Mario Kart games. It will take a seasoned Super Mario Kart player about 4 hours to fully complete the single player mode, including the mirror tracks.

Overall
While Mario Kart 64 is a good racer, it is the worst Mario Kart in the series. True Mario Kart fans should pick it up, while others should rent it beforehand.

Review by Player Guy Forever

If you would like to request a review us.