Going back to this game and realizing just how weak the drift boosting feels in comparison to later entries is its own form of whiplash. Well, there's that, and honestly one of the weakest Rainbow Road courses out there. It sure is a road, alright!
But I like Mario Kart 64 all the same. The combination of pre-rendered drivers and low poly 3D graphics has its own appeal, and there's more than a couple race tracks that have set a precedent for the rest of the series. You got your first major city stage in here, an Excitebike-like stadium full of bumpy roads... the desert level with the train is pretty fun to me, especially in those moments where you manage to just barely get past the train, while everyone else has to wait for it to pass by. Sherbet Land's probably my favorite stage, I dunno why. Could just be that the music is nostalgic, but I also just like winter-themed settings in general.
I don't revisit this game often, as it feels like you can quickly get all the mileage you need out of it within an hour or two. But it'd be nice to play it with a couple friends sometime, even if there's technically better options for a Mario Kart experience out there. I guess that's probably 64's biggest problem, isn't it? It's not a bad game by any means, it was just made obsolete the moment later Mario Kart entries started adding past courses into their selection. Now, you can experience them at 60fps, with remade graphics, and with better controls. That just leaves Mario Kart 64 to sit in a corner, saddened and forgotten. But at least I'm still here. It doesn't have to be THAT lonely. Anyway, see you in 5 years!
But I like Mario Kart 64 all the same. The combination of pre-rendered drivers and low poly 3D graphics has its own appeal, and there's more than a couple race tracks that have set a precedent for the rest of the series. You got your first major city stage in here, an Excitebike-like stadium full of bumpy roads... the desert level with the train is pretty fun to me, especially in those moments where you manage to just barely get past the train, while everyone else has to wait for it to pass by. Sherbet Land's probably my favorite stage, I dunno why. Could just be that the music is nostalgic, but I also just like winter-themed settings in general.
I don't revisit this game often, as it feels like you can quickly get all the mileage you need out of it within an hour or two. But it'd be nice to play it with a couple friends sometime, even if there's technically better options for a Mario Kart experience out there. I guess that's probably 64's biggest problem, isn't it? It's not a bad game by any means, it was just made obsolete the moment later Mario Kart entries started adding past courses into their selection. Now, you can experience them at 60fps, with remade graphics, and with better controls. That just leaves Mario Kart 64 to sit in a corner, saddened and forgotten. But at least I'm still here. It doesn't have to be THAT lonely. Anyway, see you in 5 years!
Pretty fun racing game. It's interesting to watch people speedrun the tracks in this game.
It does get a bit boring after a while (if you dont have friends) but you can easily throw in challenges for yourself and stuff
It does get a bit boring after a while (if you dont have friends) but you can easily throw in challenges for yourself and stuff
You’re telling me that we used to get 5 bananas per banana bunch? Shrinkflation has really taken its toll on the franchise.
It was the best when it came out but now a combination of millennial nostalgia and Toad being busted in half are the only reason this mechanically mediocre entry is still talked about after all these years.
Mario Kart 64 was the first 3D Mario Kart and second overall game in the franchise. It has certainly aged but is still fun to this day.
As far as tracks go, there definitely are some stinkers like Wario Stadium and Rainbow Road and I wouldn't say there are any amazing tracks relative to this game but I do think Royal Raceway and Koopa Troopa Beach are my favourite. Battle Mode is fun and overall has some good maps. The music is pretty solid, I mean that Raceway theme is just iconic.
This game is fun but it doesn't really compete with future entries. Nonetheless it is worth playing.
As far as tracks go, there definitely are some stinkers like Wario Stadium and Rainbow Road and I wouldn't say there are any amazing tracks relative to this game but I do think Royal Raceway and Koopa Troopa Beach are my favourite. Battle Mode is fun and overall has some good maps. The music is pretty solid, I mean that Raceway theme is just iconic.
This game is fun but it doesn't really compete with future entries. Nonetheless it is worth playing.