Mario Kart 64 is one of those games that's fun to go back and play, but may not appeal to a first-timer.
The controls in Mario Kart 64 are pretty standard. If you're using the Classic Controller; the left analog stick is used for steering, while the A button is the accelerate button. The B button is used as a brake and the L button is used to fire weapons. Lastly, you can use R to slide around turns. Those are the only controls you'll be using for most of MK64, and they work really well.
Basically, on the menu you have two options. You can either race in a Grand Prix or give the Time Trials a go. In the Grand Prix mode, you can choose from four cups (which each consist of 4 tracks, giving you a grand total of 16 tracks in the game) to race through. In each race you get a certain number of points depending on how you do. At the end of the Grand Prix, you get a trophy if you placed in the top 3 overall. This is the main mode for the game, and the only mode in which you verse computer opponents.
While on the subject of computer opponents, they can definately be speratic (excuse the misspell as I'm sure it is) at times. For example, if you're in 6th or 7th place it's not an overwhelming challenge to move back up to the front of the pack; but, when you're in the lead it's tough to get a large distance ahead of everyone else. While this may keep the game challenging, I'm not too fond of it.
In the Time Trials mode, you basically just race around the track in an attempt to beat your previous best score. Unfortunately, because of an emulation issue you can't save ghost data which really hurts this mode. So basically, you have no best score unless you write it down. All you do is race around the track which can be fun but gets monotnous after a while.
Graphically, it's nothing to brag about. Being one of the first 3D kart racers, it has it's fair share of ups and downs. Obviously it's great that it's in 3D, but the courses aren't very detailed or great looking. One course in particular, Toad's Turnpike, is just plain ugly. You're just on a road with some other cars (or trucks and buses). There is some grass on the sides of the road, but then there are just walls next to you and the sky right next to them. It just doesn't make sense, and really makes the course feel weird. But on the flipside, there are other courses like Bowser's Castle that are pretty detailed and intricate.
Speaking of courses, MK64 has some of the more classic courses known to Mario Kart fans. My personal favorite would be Yoshi Falls. In Yoshi Falls, you have many different paths to choose from and narrow roads to try and maneuver. What's more is that the computer doesn't tell you what place you're in, you just have to hope for the best. Then there are other courses like Luigi's Raceway (at least I think that's what it's called) that are really simple and pretty boring. But to be fair, it's the first course in the game and most MK games have courses like it to start off the game.
As with the graphics, the music isn't all that amazing, but it still is pretty good. Like with most of the game, you'll enjoy the music more if you've played the game before. Mostly just because it'll feel classic and memorable. That's not to say that the music will be dissapointing if this is your first time playing. It's fun, peppy music, just not as great as you may find in other Mario Kart titles.
In the end, newcomers to the Mario Kart series or people who are used to the more recent MK titles (like MKDS, and Double Dash) may want to think twice before downloading this game. However, if you have played it before it's a great game to go back on and give it another go.