Release Date: February 10, 1997
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
System: Nintendo 64
This is the first Mario racing game for N64. It was a proven success, as it did better then SMK and MKDD. If you don't know me, I grade on a 1-10 scale and for this Review, I'm going to add a track section.
Story: 2
Ok, it's a RACING
game. There really is no story to it. One day Mario and his friends decided
to remember the old days of SMK and relive the nostalgia. What else is
there? This is why pretty much every racing game gets a 1 or 2 in this
category.
Controls: 7
Really there
is only ONE bad thing about the controls in MK64. You use Z for your items,
hold A for acceleration, and B for break. These are positive things. Now
the TURBO sliding is the hard part. You have to use L and R to slide and
make sure you tilt your Control Stick a certain amount of times to get
the boost and... oh, I can barely even explain it. It's very annoying and
difficult to do. Plus it wears out your thumb and you'll start to get blisters.
I deducted 3 points just because of this factor.
Gameplay: 7
The gameplay
is very similar to SMK. You'll race on 50 CC, 100 CC, and 150 CC. Then
there ARE differences also. In this game, you get an EXTRA CC. The most
unique part of all is the tracks are all MIRRORED! Cool, huh? Anyway you'll
also get a battle mode where you have three balloons and you'll have to
use Koopa shells, bla bla bla you know the drill from SMK. Only this time
it's BALLOONS! You also get different arenas, too.
Music: 3
Ok, the music
was just awful. I didn't like a SINGLE track's music in the entire game.
The character selection screen music is so boring and, oh, it's awful.
I really hope they never use any of the songs in this game in any other
game again. The worst songs are Luigi's Raceway, Mario's Raceway, and Kalimari
Desert; probably the worst song I've heard in my life. I give them no credit
in this categorey.
Characters: 6
They were ok.
Here's the deal with me and rating characters. First rule: NEVER take an
original charcters from its pre-sequel out of THE sequel (Koopa Troopa
and Donkey Kong Jr). That's really the main reason I deducted points. Then
you get new characters that have never been in a SNES Mario game, such
as Wario and Donkey Kong. Anyway, I give an average score, but it could
have been better and more creative.
Difficulty: 4
(Lower score, easier.)
This disappointed
me. Ok, 50 CC is a JOKE. I mean on Kalimari Desert, I've almost lapped
a CPU three whole times. 100 CC really isn't better. Now the four points
comes from 150 CC and EXTRA. The problem with 150 CC and EXTRA is when
you're going full speed, at times you spin out because you're car is going
too fast. This is very annoying in a close race. Then in EXTRA you basically
race the tracks BACKWARDS. This ruins your feel of all the tracks. But
other than 150 CC and EXTRA, which aren't TOO difficult, the game is very
easy. Also, if you get a certain time on the time trials tracks of Luigi's
Raceway, Mario's Raceway, and Royal Raceway, then you get to race a ghost.
Yay, and I still beat the advanced time trial ghost! Too easy.
Secrets: 6
You'll unlock
those trial ghosts and Special Cup, and that's it. Although the Special
cup does have my favorite track and three other cool ones. Since this is
my NEW section, I'll keep it short this time. Yes, you unlock four new
tracks in this game, but what about another battle arena, or character
maybe? These are the reasons I deducted four points.
Tracks: EXPLAINED
BELOW
Luigi's Raceway
- (6) - Too plain and very boring to race on. If you're a beginner, then
you race this track right away.
Moo Moo Farm
- (8) - This track is actually one of my favorites. It's short which means
it's a close race every time, and I like the hills and Monty Moles too.
It adds a lot of action to the game!
Koopa Troopa
Beach - (3) - I hate this track with a passion. It's very hard to make
comebacks due to it's layout, and the crabs are annoying. The only great
thing about it is the AMAZING shortcut!
Kalimari Desert
- (7) - As much as I hate its music, I like the track. This is the number
1 best track to make a comeback in because there is a train that comes
by every now and then to slow traffic down. This gives this awesome track
a 10, but then deducted for its lousy music.
Toad's Turnpike
- (4) - Now here's the thing with this track. When it's 50 CC - 150 CC
it's a decent track. Now when it's EXTRA level, that's a 1 out of 10. Since
it's backwards, the traffic faces you, making it VERY VERY difficult. Oh
yeah, it's a pain.
Frappe Snowland
- (7) - I always have loved ice levels in games. This is a nice, relaxing
all-around track. Just watch out for snowmen.
Choco Mountain
- (6) - It's all right, just a very bad layout. Plus at one point of the
track there are falling boulders, which is even more of a pain.
Mario Raceway
- (3) - Way too plain. Also too short. This track is just your average
track, really. There is a variety of turns, though.
Wario's Stadium
- (9) - This is my second favorite track in the game. It's big, I love
big tracks. Its layout is like a dirtbike track, which makes it even more
awesome. The best part of all is it's made for some MAJOR comebacks. At
one point when there is a driver ramping across this huge gap, just use
your Lightning Bolt to cause them to fall, and they will have to redo some
of the track over again.
Sherbert Land
- (5) - I like ice levels but not this one. It has too many icebergs and
it offers a confusing cave to make it through. Yeah, this track isn't on
my good list.
Royal Raceway
- (8) - Another great track, long and a variety of different things. It
offers an enourmous ramp to jump off of, only this is with speed boosters
(which makes Wario Stadium's ramp trick hard to do). It also offeres a
cameo appearance of Princess Peach's Castle.
Bowser's Castle
- (4) - I don't even want to mention this track. Yes, there's a small ramp
(do that stupid trick, I guess), and it's long. Then again, think of SMK's
Bowser's Castle... Yeah, now you see why the low rating.
THE SPECIAL CUP TRACKS WILL BE A SURPRISE FOR YOU!
Battle Arenas
Big Donut - (3)
- My worst arena due to how hard it is to even play in a arena like this.
Block Fort -
(10) - This is probably the best battle arena ever! I love how big it is,
all the different places to surprise your foes. It's just wonderful!
Double Deck -
(7) - I like this arena. It's nice.
Skyscraper -
(4) - This is too small and easy to fall off. I don't like this arena at
all, actually.
Items: 7
Another new section.
It's pretty much the original items except for the Golden Mushroom, Boo,
and Triple Mushroom. They're ok, only I would have liked to see much more
of a variety.
Overall: 7
A great game,
really. I don't think it's near as good as Double Dash, but it's still
great. I would try to get it for a maximum of $20. Even if you already
have MKDD, I would still recommend this game.
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