Mario Kart 64

by Nintendo

Product Features

• Well-designed tracks
• Simple controls
• Strong multiplayer appeal

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00000DMAX
• Item Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: February 10, 1997
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (222 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #720 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

Product Description

Editorial Review

Mario Kart 64, one of the first games released for the Nintendo 64 platform, is an updated translation of the very popular Super Mario Kart for the Super NES (SNES). And while the game clearly takes full advantage of the graphics power and speed of the N64, a few components that made the original so compelling have been left out of this release.

Still, Nintendo's expertise at sucking players into the game world is strongly evident, and Mario Kart 64 offers enough challenges to keep players (especially casual gamers) entertained. Placing a familiar Nintendo personality behind the wheel of a sputtering kart powered by a 50, 100, or 150-cc engine, the game lets players race computerized opponents or up to four other players on a variety of well-designed tracks. Because karts lack the power and speed of race cars, drivers must focus on collecting power-ups and nonlethal weapons rather than negotiating hairpin turns on two wheels. Grabbing and using on-track items is the heart of the game's fun: a strategically-placed banana peel sends the unlucky victim into a spin, nailing an opponent with a turtle shell launches their vehicle skyward, and a rocket provides a quick boost to near-breakneck speeds, if only for a moment.

The multiplayer mode provides enormously chaotic fun for up to four players--flip it on at a party and watch the guests congregate around the screen. --Eric Twelker

Pros:

• Well-designed tracks
• Simple controls
• Strong multiplayer appeal

Cons:

• Computerized opponents sometimes pull off questionable feats

Product Description

Mario Kart 64, one of the first games released for the Nintendo 64 platform, is an updated translation of the very popular Super Mario Kart for the Super NES (SNES). And while the game clearly takes full advantage of the graphics power and speed of the N64, a few components that made the original so compelling have been left out of this release. Still, Nintendo's expertise at sucking players into the game world is strongly evident, and Mario Kart 64 offers enough challenges to keep players (especially casual gamers) entertained. Placing a familiar Nintendo personality behind the wheel of a sputtering kart powered by a 50, 100, or 150-cc engine, the game lets players race computerized opponents or up to four other players on a variety of well-designed tracks. Because karts lack the power and speed of race cars, drivers must focus on collecting power-ups and nonlethal weapons rather than negotiating hairpin turns on two wheels. Grabbing and using on-track items is the heart of the game's fun: a strategically-placed banana peel sends the unlucky victim into a spin, nailing an opponent with a turtle shell launches their vehicle skyward, and a rocket provides a quick boost to near-breakneck speeds, if only for a moment.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun for all ages!, November 29, 1999

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mario Kart 64 (Video Game)

Ok, I am 26 years old. I rented this game so my girlfriend's 16 year old brother would have something to do over Thanksgiving when I visited. We ALL ended up playing this game! It is an incredible amount of fun, and it's reply value is incredibly high. I wish there was better music, but it would take away from the sound effects, which are definitely very good. This game is a must for all ages, particularly those who like to play games with other people. Note, if you want to play a 4 player match, you should have a pretty big TV.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best racing games on the N64, May 11, 2002

By 

ffootballguru27 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mario Kart 64 (Video Game)

Mario Kart 64, the sequel to the first Mario Kart game on the SNES is great. Nintendo got rid of some of the things that made the SNES title so much fun, but added a lot too. The gameplay is much more enhanced, the characters look much better and the individual go-karts are very realistic.

Like the SNES version, this game includes 3 modes of play: GP (Grand Prix), Battle, and Time Trial. In GP you choose one of 8 characters: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Wario, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Bowser in a large variety of courses in the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup Star Cup, or Special Cup (which you unlike by getting gold trophies in each of the 3 basic courses) in 50cc, 100cc, or 150cc mode. 50cc is the easiest, but in 100cc and 150cc the computer gets much faster and more challenging. There are several items you can collect by driving through the question mark boxes which help you during each race. Lightning bolts (the rarest item to get) makes all of the other opponents small, mushrooms give you a speed burst, banana peels make one of your opponents crash if they slip on it, red shells are used to shoot directly at an opponent to get them off course, and green shells keep bouncing off the walls until it hits one of the racers. Unlike the SNES Mairo Kart game, there are several objects you need to avoid to stay on course. In different races there are trucks and cars that will make you crash if you hit them, snowmen that will blow up if you hit them, and many other obstacles in different courses.

In Battle mode you and up to 3 others choose one of the 8 characters. You drive around a course trying to pop each other's 3 balloons. You can pop their balloons by shooting red or green shells at them or throwing banana peels at them to make them slip. You can also use the other items to avoid being hit by them. Once all of your balloons are popped you become a bomb which you can drive around the course trying to run in to the other players. This mode is a lot of fun, especially if you get tired of continually playing Grand Prix mode.

In Time Trial mode you race in any of 15+ courses and try to set records for each lap and/or race.

The controls for Mario Kart 64 are very simple and easy to master, and the music and sound effects are great as well.

If you want a great racing game for your N64, I highly recommend that you check out Mario Kart 64.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the best N64 game I own, November 22, 1999

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Mario Kart 64 (Video Game)

I bought this game once I got an N64. It has a very unique way of making the 3D characters perfect to the tiniest details. Everything's so smooth! Also, compared to MarioParty, the supporting characters have cooler voices. If you happen to be one of those people who are a big fan of one of these characters, get this game. Also, if you fit the description above, MarioParty and this game are as good as each other, and they're perfect for parties.