Not as good as you remember
Originally written January 31st, 2007
After adding 2000 Wii Points to my account I was dead set on 2 games. Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64. The former was the much anticipated sequel to the original Super Mario Kart and at the time was one of the N64's greatest gems. However when stacked up to it's successors Mario Kart 64 pales in comparison. The game features the basics of all Mario Kart titles. The 8 major characters battle it out in 4 different cups, on 16 different courses.
GRAPHICS
The visuals are great and very impressive for an N64 title. The biggest problem I have is that the charters are simply 2D sprites in a 3D environment. I first noticed this during a trophy presentation when it became very apparent but also later on when my character somehow slid in front of the computer à la Paper Mario when it seemed that we were side by side. I will say however, that aside from these situations it's not something that's very noticeable.
SOUNDS
They aren't bad, but they aren't so great. The music in game is OK but I feel it could have been better, even for it's time. Aside from that you won't hear anything else aside from the characters saying a few words here and there and your kart being hit or spinning out.
GAMEPLAY
This is the part that sets Mario Kart 64 the farthest away from it's sequels. I've been spoiled by the drifting boost sparks, great new items, and the exploding blue shells that it makes the 64 version seem very bland and plain. I did learn however that Mario Kart 64 did have something similar to the drifting from Double Dash and DS, but the boost it gives you isn't even nearly as dramatic. You will also notice that when you're playing through a cup there will always be two other characters that seem to be challenging you for the top spot, and no one else. The worst part of it is that if you were to get them with a banana and push them back into 5th or 6th, in a couple seconds they've somehow gotten right back on your tail in 2nd. Of course, I'm speaking of rubber banding.
I also have a bone to pick with the red shells and mushrooms. When firing a red shell the shell will blindly try and go in the most direct route possible to reach it's target. Meaning if you shoot it in a tunnel instead of it following the track it will try to go through the wall, only to hit it and then stop and disappear. The mushrooms also seem to be less functional than they are in the GameCube and DS versions. When using a mushroom there is the illusion that you've just gotten a huge speed burst but then you notice that the CPU character that was right next to you before you used it is still only a few feet behind. The same goes for the super mushroom.
LASTING APPEAL
I doubt you'll be playing this game for very long, at least not in one sitting. You can get bored of it very quickly which is why I only play one cup at a time so that I can stretch as much as I can out of it. It lacks lots of depth in single player mode, and even though it's better with friends you and your pals will still get bored and move onto something else fairly quickly.
BUY
Buy it only if you are starved for some kart racing action and are without Double Dash!! or Mario Kart DS.
DON'T BUY
Don't buy if you already own Mario Kart: Double Dash!! or Mario Kart DS. I also recommend that if you have the necessary GameCube accessories (memory card and controllers) that you go out and get Double Dash!! You'll enjoy it much more.
I kind of wish I hadn't gone and divided my reviews up into categories like this back then, but I also don't want to re-write the whole thing. Looking back on it now, this isn't some of my best work.
After adding 2000 Wii Points to my account I was dead set on 2 games. Super Mario 64 and Mario Kart 64. The former was the much anticipated sequel to the original Super Mario Kart and at the time was one of the N64's greatest gems. However when stacked up to it's successors Mario Kart 64 pales in comparison. The game features the basics of all Mario Kart titles. The 8 major characters battle it out in 4 different cups, on 16 different courses.
GRAPHICS
The visuals are great and very impressive for an N64 title. The biggest problem I have is that the charters are simply 2D sprites in a 3D environment. I first noticed this during a trophy presentation when it became very apparent but also later on when my character somehow slid in front of the computer à la Paper Mario when it seemed that we were side by side. I will say however, that aside from these situations it's not something that's very noticeable.
SOUNDS
They aren't bad, but they aren't so great. The music in game is OK but I feel it could have been better, even for it's time. Aside from that you won't hear anything else aside from the characters saying a few words here and there and your kart being hit or spinning out.
GAMEPLAY
This is the part that sets Mario Kart 64 the farthest away from it's sequels. I've been spoiled by the drifting boost sparks, great new items, and the exploding blue shells that it makes the 64 version seem very bland and plain. I did learn however that Mario Kart 64 did have something similar to the drifting from Double Dash and DS, but the boost it gives you isn't even nearly as dramatic. You will also notice that when you're playing through a cup there will always be two other characters that seem to be challenging you for the top spot, and no one else. The worst part of it is that if you were to get them with a banana and push them back into 5th or 6th, in a couple seconds they've somehow gotten right back on your tail in 2nd. Of course, I'm speaking of rubber banding.
I also have a bone to pick with the red shells and mushrooms. When firing a red shell the shell will blindly try and go in the most direct route possible to reach it's target. Meaning if you shoot it in a tunnel instead of it following the track it will try to go through the wall, only to hit it and then stop and disappear. The mushrooms also seem to be less functional than they are in the GameCube and DS versions. When using a mushroom there is the illusion that you've just gotten a huge speed burst but then you notice that the CPU character that was right next to you before you used it is still only a few feet behind. The same goes for the super mushroom.
LASTING APPEAL
I doubt you'll be playing this game for very long, at least not in one sitting. You can get bored of it very quickly which is why I only play one cup at a time so that I can stretch as much as I can out of it. It lacks lots of depth in single player mode, and even though it's better with friends you and your pals will still get bored and move onto something else fairly quickly.
BUY
Buy it only if you are starved for some kart racing action and are without Double Dash!! or Mario Kart DS.
DON'T BUY
Don't buy if you already own Mario Kart: Double Dash!! or Mario Kart DS. I also recommend that if you have the necessary GameCube accessories (memory card and controllers) that you go out and get Double Dash!! You'll enjoy it much more.
I kind of wish I hadn't gone and divided my reviews up into categories like this back then, but I also don't want to re-write the whole thing. Looking back on it now, this isn't some of my best work.
