MARIO KART 64

How it was? 

The extremely popular racing title, Mario Kart for the SNES has finally spawned a sequel on the N64. While lacking originality, this game should keep fans of the SNES hit game extremely happy. Nintendo has put together a solid racer, built together by the same formula that made it's SNES prequel a success.

Mario Kart is a simplistic racing game that features 8 go-karts driven by some of Nintendo's most notable Mario game characters. Each of the racers have different attributes that effect the way they are controlled. For example, Donkey Kong isn't exactly the fastest kart on the course but he won't be pushed around either due to his weight.



All of Mario Kart's races are set in colorful surroundings that mirror the settings of previous Mario games. The tracks are laid out very nicely and are fun to drive through. I was hoping that the developers would make some tracks a little different from the SNES game and they partially succeded in doing that. Mario Kart 64 has some original tracks including one where you race through a city while trying to avoid trucks, cars and other traffic. Unfortunetly the majority of the tracks resemble those found in the SNES prequel.

Graphically, Mario Kart 64 is OK and is very reminiscent of the SNES game. While not up to Wave Race quality, the graphics do a great job in creating the cartoony Mario atmosphere that the game was meant to have. The sound FX and background tunes like the graphics are cool to look at but are nothing spectacular.

What makes Mario Kart 64 such a good game is of course the classic gameplay and feel. The control was nicely done and feels natural with the use of the analog stick. Another plus is how simplistic the control is. Even Mario Kart newbies will be able to master the controls in a very short time. Coupled with the exceptional control are the various modes of play. You can choose either a standard Mario GP race which features 16 courses in 3 different classes and a 4 player battle mode. While I didn't get a chance to play the battle mode with any other friends, I can assure you that it would be a blast.

Despite it's lack of originality and average graphics/sound, Mario Kart 64 is worth a look. The developers did exactly what was expected which was deliver a solid racer with the classic gameplay of the SNES Kart game. This is a must buy for fans of the SNES game and a must rent for casual racing fans.

MARIO KART 64

Rated 3.9/5 based on 13 reviews