Ladies and gentlemen, to start your emulators! It is time for yet another episode of RetrOS, the show where we give you your recommended dose of nostalgia by reviewing games from your childhood. In this episode, we take a look at yet another one of the N64 library's most recognisable titles.
Does this game deserve the credit it receives from the community? Or should this game be lost forever in the pages of gaming history?
Let's find out!
This review of Mario Kart 64 is a follow-up to our previous review of Star Fox 64, and is requested by a friend from a local karaoke night, Ted, the Hero of Time.
Anyway, back to the review. The Mario Kart series is yet another franchise Nintendo has in their portfolio. The first game of the series was released on September 1, 1992, or January 21, 1983, in Europe for the SNES. The game went on to become the 4th bestselling game and the console's library.
The sequel to this title was, of course, Mario Kart 64, released on December 14, 1996, or June 13, 1987, in the UK. The game went on to be the second-best-selling game of the N64's library. Similar to racing games of the 90s, this game has no specific plot. You pick a racer from a roster of characters, and take to the track in a fast-paced, no-holds-barred competition for firstplace.
The accessibility scores are as follows –
Visibility 8.5
Due to the game's age, there are no colourblind modes present in this game. To be honest, there is very little need for one. The only possible issue that a colourblind player would be facing is two specific weapons appearing in the game.
There are two types of shells in this game. Green shells are your standard throwable weapon. When a green shells fired, it moves on a straight line. Read shells, on the other hand, actually homes into the nearest racer. For a colourblind player, it can be difficult to differentiate between the two.
A glaring issue, but no game-breaking. Other than that, this game is playable for players with visual impairments.
Audibility 10
In this game, there is very little spoken dialogue. Again, this is entirely due to the game's age and the size limitations of an N64 cartridge. So, in retrospect, a player with a hearing impairment can play this game with virtually no issues.
Mobility 7
In the standard N64 version of the game, there is no way to customise control layouts when playing this game. Due to the sheer size of a standard N64 controller, this is extremely important. On the other hand, this is fairly easy to play.
Use of any weapons is done by the Z trigger, located to the rear of the N64 controller. Alternatively, you can use C-Down to use weapons as well.
You use the analogue stick to steer, A to accelerate, B is your brake, hop, or, while steering, drift. Drifting is extremely important in Mario Kart as drifting grants you a small speed boost. The longer the drift, the better the boost.
So, despite the shortfalls, this game is playable for a player with a mobility impairment. But the lack of customisation options is a glaring issue.
Gameplay 10.5
In short, this game is a worthy successor to the genre-defining Super Mario Kart. The N64 was a significant jump in hardware power from the Super Nintendo, and the gameplay shows that. For N64 standards, this game is looking pretty impressive. The amount of memorable tracks which reappeared in later titles of the series is massive and diverse.
From the tight cliff edges of Yoshi Valley, to the wide-open roads of Klamari Desert, to the legendary Rainbow Road. A sample of this iconic theme has been consistently reappearing in future iterations of this track, featured in future titles of the series.
My main criticism is that the single-player content seems a little lacklustre. In single player, there are only 2 modes available: Grand Prix and Time Trial. That's it! However, the real fun starts when you have friends over, taking each other on in split-screen multiplayer mayhem! Bearing in mind, the N64 was the very 1st console to feature support for up to 4 controllers.
The game's Time Trial mode allows you to store ghosts, said by previous players in
A small memory card, which could be plugged into the rear of the controller, the Controller Pak. That way, you can duke it out by previous runs from other users of the game to have the best time on your block or family.
In summary, Mario Kart 64 is a legendary title in itself. The game was built on the foundations that Super Mario Kart is laid, in the same relationship that doom hard with Wolfenstein 3-D. The game set the standard of how a traditional kart racer should play. So, when you are enjoying Sonic Racing Cross Worlds, think of Mario Kart 64.
If I were forced to pick an N64 title which can be played with your family or friends on Christmas Day, I would most definitely pick this game!
OVERALL SCORE- 90%
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