
Gran Prix sees one or two players taking on computer-controlled opponents in a complete set of races. And it’s different modes bring out a lot of fun in the gameplay. The control scheme is simple enough (A to accelerate, B for breaks, and Z to fire weapons), and is among the select Nintendo 64 games that are still fun to control. On the bright side, the core gameplay is still a lot of fun. This is all the worse when playing split-screen multiplayer, as the tinier screen space means things look that much blurrier. This can sometimes make turns and obstacles difficult to see, which can really effect you during a race. Not only do the environments look blocky, and the character models downright odd, but you can often only see what’s immediately in front of you, with everything else looking like a pixelated blur. Sure, it’s easy to defend it as being an earlier title in the N64’s library, but that doesn’t change the fact that, when playing the game today, it can sometimes strain the eyes. On the downside, these 3D visuals are now rather ugly to look at. This helped Mario Kart 64 create some of the series’ most iconic tracks, many of which have been recreated in subsequent Mario Karts. The new 3D racetracks were more robust, with features like changes in elevation, slopes, and long jumps, among others.

The short answer to that is… pretty decently, though there are aspects of the game that haven’t aged particularly gracefully as well.īeing the first 3D entry in the series, Mario Kart 64 was capable of certain feats that the SNES original couldn’t pull off.

The Mario Kart series has come a long way since this second installment hit the Nintendo 64 in 1997, so how well does Mario Kart 64 hold up after so many years of Nintendo perfecting the formula? For a good few years, it was my go-to multiplayer game. The number of hours I spent with its Grand Prix, Versus and Battle modes are uncountable. Sometimes a particular course’s song would match it in pace and emotion, while other times the song would eke out its own voice to oppose the stress of a race track.There are few video games as synonymous with my gaming youth than Mario Kart 64. Mario Kart has some of the best music tracks for its genre, mixing a variety of themes to cater to all manner of styles. Skidding through the low-tide as the music track emphasised the chill nature of karting really hammered home the point that Mario Kart is just damn fun. The beach, with its surf and sand, become home to some of the most memorable moments of Mario Kart. The sweet Caribbean tunes, the tin drums, and the subtle whistling helped reduce the tension of a long night of karting.įinishing on the beach was the perfect way to end the night, especially after the frustration of Yoshi Valley where friendships were potentially ruined.

This piece of music was the perfect supplement to the sunny beach track. Finally, rounding off our list of seven best music tracks in Mario Kart is Koopa Troopa Beach.
