Mario Kart 64

Players choose from a roster of eight characters that vary in weight, speed, and acceleration. Available are Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Princess Peach, Wario, Yoshi, Toad, and Donkey Kong. These characters race in a variety of tracks based upon different locations in the Mario world. Each track has a unique shape, and can contain various obstacles, hazards, and short cuts. Eight characters participate in each race. Up to four of them can be human characters, while the rest are computer controlled for one to two player only. Three and four player races have no computer controlled racers.

On a track, various actions can be performed to change the flow of a race. Items can be acquired by hitting an item box. The items' uses include acting as projectiles to impede opponents, speed up the user, or stop opponents through other means. However, AI-controlled racers do not use any kind of shell. One can earn a small turbo boost through obtained items, and also by drifting, which one can perform by hopping and tilting the control stick in the direction of the turn, allowing for speedier turns. There is also an advanced drift technique that allows players to turn against the direction of their drift for a speed boost.

There are four modes of play; Grand Prix, Time Trial, Versus, and Battle. In Grand Prix mode, one or two human players compete against computer players in a tournament comprised of races on four individual courses, arranged in four-course cups. For each race, points are awarded based on placement, and at the end, the winner is decided on the number of points accumulated. Difficulty level is measured by engine size, 50, 100 or 150 cc. There is also an 'EXTRA' difficulty, allowing players to race in 150cc on mirrored tracks. Time trial allows a player to race around any track in the game, either by themselves, or racing a 'ghost' of a previous run, attempting to improve their time. If the player is racing with a ghost, this phantom player mimics the motions and time of the last personal record run. Versus entails two to four players racing head-to-head in a single all-human race, on any course. This mode is identical to Grand Prix, without AI players. Battle mode pits two to four players against one another in one of four available battle courses. These courses are separate from the race courses, and are suited for more combat-oriented gameplay. Each player begins with three balloons attached to their kart. When damaged, a player will lose one of their balloons. When all of the balloons on a kart are gone, the player is eliminated, in the case of a one-on-one match, or turned into a bomb on wheels, able to crash into any living player and cause damage, a single time until the match ends. The winner is the last kart to survive the battle.

Characters

In Mario Kart 64, the player(s) can choose any one of eight unique characters to operate their kart. Koopa Troopa and Donkey Kong Junior, both of whom appeared in Super Mario Kart, did not return for Mario Kart 64, and were replaced by Donkey Kong and Wario. In pre-release screenshots, a Magikoopa was playable, but before the game's final release the Magikoopa was replaced by Donkey Kong.

Each character has unique abilities, making them more suited to certain playing styles, and less suited to others. This system brings the characters into close balance, so that the true deciding factor in a match between players will be overall skill.

Tracks

Mario Kart 64 features 16 tracks, split equally between Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup, Star Cup and Special Cup. Due to the advanced graphical capabilities of the Nintendo 64, the tracks in this game are more dynamic than those in the previous game, featuring ramps, pits and banking turns. Each track has a unique setting, unlike Super Mario Kart which featured tracks based on six main themes. Mirrored versions of each track can be unlocked once certain criteria are met. Several tracks from Mario Kart 64 have been used in later games in the series as unlockable bonuses and Rainbow Road was featured in another Nintendo 64 racing game, F-Zero X.

Reception

Mario Kart 64 has an average review ratio of 85% on Game Rankings, including reviews from IGN and GamePro, and magazines such as Electronic Gaming Monthly. IGN stated, "Though the single-player mode is a bit of a step back from the SNES original, Mario Kart 64 still offers one of the best multiplayer experiences to be had on Nintendo 64." GameSpot insisted that though the graphics and sound of the game are impressive, the gameplay is too easy and lacks depth. In GameSpot's re-review of the Virtual Console release the reviewer criticized its aging graphics, sound and no ghost saver. Nevertheless, Mario Kart 64 is accepted as one of the most commercially successful Mario Kart game of the series, selling approximately 5.5 million copies in the United States and 2.24 million Japan.

Voices

• Charles Martinet Mario, Luigi,Wario.
• Issac Marshall Toad, Bowser.
• Kazumi Totaka Yoshi
• Leslie Swan Peach
• N/A Donkey Kong

Re-releases

Almost 10 years later, Mario Kart 64 was re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on January 26, 2007 and in North America on January 29th, 2007 for 1000 Wii Points. Due to the lack of a Controller Pak, it is impossible to save ghost data, as was used in the Nintendo 64 version. Nintendo has placed messages advising users about this before they download the game both when the Wii Shop Channel is first accessed and in the More Details tab on the individual game page. Like Super Mario 64 on the Virtual Console, this version of the game is presented in 480i and can also be run in 480p mode with a suitable television setup, with the exception of the PAL release which is presented in 576i at 50Hz only, regardless of TV or console setup. Most 2D graphical elements were not enhanced for the higher resolution, and thus look blurrier. The emulation of this title on Wii Virtual Console has a speed variance from the original title.

Action figures and other merchandise

In 1999, Toy Biz released Mario Kart 64 action figures as part of the "Video Game Super Stars" line. Each figure features multiple points of articulation and their own motorized kart which fire projectiles like Boos or spiked shells.

Other merchandise was created for the game, including a kart telephone. Pushing the phone's flash button causes it to say "Hey there! It's me, Mario! Let me race you to your calls!"

References

External links

• Mario Kart 64 at Nintendo.com (archives at the Internet Archive)
• Mario Kart 64 at MobyGames
• Mario Kart 64 Players' Page
• Mario Kart Central
• Mario Stadium: Mario Kart 64
• Mario Kart 64 guide at StrategyWiki