Arguably the best Mario Kart game. Knocks the newer formula out of the park.
Mario Kart 64 is one of my favorite games of all time. Kids of my generation grew up with this title, and it remains one of my most glorious memories from the 64. Along with Super Mario 64, this game dominated my childhood, and had me and the rest of my friends playing for hours into the night.
Mario Kart 64 I believe is one of the first titles on the Nintendo 64. It wasn't a launch title, I know that much, but this game is damn old and I still play it on a regular basis. It is my drug. I simply must play all four cups on 150cc a day or my thirst hasn't been quenched. That said, it is one of the most addictive and fun titles I own, and I play it far more than any newer games of my collection.
The reasons why this title is so good? Formula. Formula, formula, formula. This was the second Mario Kart title released and they have the formula down perfect. Why they have abandoned this in newer Mario Kart titles has me baffled. The formula consists a variety of:
Narrow Tracks
Hard Difficulty (Newer titles are just WAAAY too easy)
Bananas are actually harmful (in new titles they are barely a threat)
The Point System
The Course Hazards are tough to avoid until you become good
All of the things listed above have been altered or completely absent in the newer Mario Kart games. Mario Kart DS's tracks are so wide that you can snake on them and they pose no challenge, what are the odds of you falling off if the road is 30 feet wide? Mario Kart 64 is certainly the fastest out of all the titles, I feel like I'm racing, which is how you should feel. In Mario Kart Wii it barely feels like I'm racing, just tossing items at other drivers. The point system in this game is spread out making it desperate for you to finish first each time. If you come in fourth, guess what? You only get one point. If you come in first you get nine. It's a big difference. It's more challenging, and what fun is a game if it isn't a challenge? Not saying that I don't enjoy Mario Kart DS or Wii, I like them, It's just this one wins by a mile when it comes to gameplay.
The sounds in this game are the best of all the other racers. You can help but giggle when Mario is a dummy and runs over a banana and shouts "Mama Mia!" Or when Bowser falls off the course and shouts angrily in dismay. The course music is spectacular. Maybe not as strong as Rare's efforts, but man when you're gliding down Rainbow Road at 60mph, it's impossible not to be affected by the music and overall atmosphere of the game.
The graphics are just great. The courses are detailed and look astounding in the early 3D designs. The characters may look 3D, but they are actually 2D. Nintendo's just that good.
The gameplay is just out of this world, like I said above, it's the formula that they have for this game is what makes me come back and play this on a daily basis. It's sad how addicting it is to me. So kudos to Nintendo, for making one of the best, no. The BEST racing game of all time.
-skullcrusher94