Scoring Note: I have graded each field on a scale of 5 for the number of laps in each race. Vroom!

Graphics: 2

Am I being too harsh on these 16-bit games? Even taking its time period into account, I am not at all impressed with the graphics. It just... doesn't look good. Poor Yoshi always has his tongue sticking out straight ahead of him, Toad looks like he's poisonous, the list goes on.

Music: 3

It's standard background music while you race. But none of it particularily stands out in my mind as being really good either.

Characters: 5

Nintendo did a good job of choosing their racers, although I am not so sure why Donkey Kong Jr. was chosen... didn't he beat Mario up the last time they met? There are also some interesting baddies on the courses, and I like Lakitu's new role.

Terrain: 4

The tracks are spread out over a variety of areas, including water, ice, castles, and fairways. But I took off the last point because some of the tracks get repetitive. Why have three haunted courses when you could instead have two different kinds of courses thrown in?

Size: 3

This game could stand to be bigger. There are 20 courses, which is a good number, but all of them are really short.

Items: 4

This game does have a lot of very interesting items. I love the Lightning Bolt! I also like the Rearview Mirror... very cute, and the coins are also good fun. But I had to take off a point because items are often hard to use effectively. I also don't appreciate that the computer has an unlimited amount of a special item. If you are Mario, and Bowser's always tailing, it's tough. Personally I think Bowser's fireball is the hardest of all the special items to avoid.

Control: 1

I never had a manual for this game, so maybe I am missing something really obvious. But all I know is that it is really difficult to turn without sliding out of your way or stopping. Also, good luck trying to aim a Green Shell.

Difficulty: 2

Even in the 50CC's I sometimes struggle, and I still haven't been able to open the 150 CC's, the fault of Rainbow Road. Most of the problem stems from the tough controls, although the fact that the same opponent is always tailing you doesn't help. It means you have to get first more often than in Mario Kart 64, where placement between the first three slots is a little more random.

Extra Modes: 4

Battle mode is good fun when you have a friend over. Time Trials is neat for a while.

Replay Value: 5

Most racing games do well in this category. Anyone who liked playing this game the first time will definitely want to play again and again.

Fun Factor!: 3

It's a decent game, no doubt, but the positives and negatives balance out. I'm not sure how this game received the incredibly high popularity that it did.

Recommendation:

Maybe my view is tainted because I actually had Mario Kart 64 before this game. Yet, it is my opinion that this game is only so-so. Unless you really like racing games, I wouldn't suggest that you get this game. And if you do like racing games, there are a lot of them that are more advanced than this. That is one area in which the N64 does not lack.

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