Fun for the guttered.... (Mario Kart 64 (N64))

Name: goalmachine

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Product:	Mario Kart 64 (N64)
Date:	29/01/02 (49 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's a lot of fun

Disadvantages: Really meant for the (big) kids

Yes I know it's an old game, but I've decided to write an op on it. "Why?" I hear you ask. Well, I'm a bit bored, and also, it's a bloody good game. Nay, I shall say more......

Mario Kart 64 was one of the original launch titles for the N64 platform, which goes to show how old it is - it's approaching its fifth birthday if I'm not mistaken. A logical development of the original Super Mario Kart for the SNES, MarKar64 takes the original game and beefs it up for the more powerful N64 console.

You choose to race either against 7 computer-controlled opponents in a 4-race cup competition, or against the clock in a time trial. Time trial is deathly dull, but the races aren't. They're great fun, with the wee cars handling well and the tracks being thoughtful, inventive, challenging, and just downright fun. You can choose to race as one of the 8 characters from the Mario games that are available, ranging from Toad (light, corners well, can be pushed about a bit), to Bowser (hefty, sluggish, bulldozes everyone). I find Yoshi to be the best character to drive as a balance between weight and manoeverability, but you might find another character suits your style better.

The gameplay is marvellous - the difficulty is pitched slightly on the easy side, which makes the game very easy to pick up. Of course, this means that you might complete the single-player competitions fairly quickly, but even if you do you'll still be compelled to come back to this game. The cars handle well, and the weapons options are excellent - it's intensely gratifying to gain a place by shooting an opponent in the ar*e. So that about covers the single player game - a lot of fun, and highly addictive.

So now we turn to the multiplayer game.

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The first time I played this game as a multiplayer I couldn't see the screen for laughing so much. You have the op
tion of racing against your chums, or fighting them in "Battle Mode". Both are a good laugh, but Battle Mode in particular is great fun. Each player gets 3 lives (symbolised by balloons), and you have to shoot your opponents or lay traps for them with the weapons you pick up. Not only that, but in a 3 or 4 player game, the players who lose first are turned into little bombs which you can drive around the arena to try and hit your friends and take another life from them. It might not sound that exciting, but in practice it's an absolute hoot. I would particularly recommend playing a game in battle mode while completely plastered - alcohol seems to make it even funnier. I'm reliably informed by a friend who...um.....how can I put this.........er......likes to smoke the occasional "happy fag" that the battle mode is hysterically funny while enjoying some "wacky baccy". Well, I don't know about that, but I can say with complete confidence that the game certainly looks as if it is was designed by someone who likes their illegal substances.

So, overall. This is a real fun game, designed with the kiddies in mind, but with huge appeal to anyone who likes a luagh with their games. Brilliant in single player, exceptional in drunken multi, Mario Kart 64 is a game you'll find yourself playing years after you've bought it. I have.

(By the way - yet again, this is a recycled op of mine from Ciao. One day I'll get around to writing an original op for Dooyoo. Promise.)

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