Classic Game Room - WAVE RACE: BLUE STORM review for Nintendo GameCube

Classic Game Room reviews WAVE RACE: BLUE STORM for Nintendo GameCube released in 2001. Hop on your jet ski and race in this aquatic racing game featuring lots of water effects, cheesy dialog and some challenging tournaments.

[ugh.idontwanna]

Oh, I remember this! One of the first games I bought for my GameCube. I remember how blown away I was when the water splashed up on the screen in stormy weather. 

[kdkseven]

I hafta agree with others here and say that Wave Race: Blue Storm is an underrated, too forgotten game that deserves a lot more love than it gets. I recently picked this up again after not having played it since the GameCube days, and it's just as i remember it-- a fun and addicting game that rewards the slight bit of dedication it takes to master the finicky but totally master-able controls. The game looks fantastic for such an old-school game (especially in progressive scan on the Wii with an HDTV), the soundtrack is cool and keeps the pace up without going too 'techno' (there's even quite a few acoustic instruments in the mix), and the gameplay is hands down some of the best arcady racing i've ever done, right up there with the Burnout, Mario Kart and MotorStorm series'. Just the fact that it's almost 15 years later, and i'm once again completely obsessed with mastering that damn jet ski, memorizing all those courses, and getting my timing down as precisely as possible while still being able to roll with whatever the waves and weather throw at me, says loads about the quality of game play there is to be had in Wave Race: Blue Storm. If you think you have the patience to really live with it for a while-- get to know the courses and get those controls down-- i can't recommend this game enough.

And Nintendo, how about a new Wave Race for the NX?!

[GamerNRetro]

If you want to go with ANY aquatic racing game, you gotta go with Hydro Thunder.  But only if Wave Race 64 is already taken.

[laprasking]

Wave Race 64, the Ocarina of Time of Water Jet Ski games...

[DreamcastGuy]

I think I would rather rock Hydro Thunder on the Dreamcast because at least the water looked sort of 90s realistic lol.

[brondaa]

I still love this game, really surprised Mark thinks it didn't age well. Also: I really really suck at racing games but this one I'm pretty good at. Maybe it's more for people who aren't racing game fans.

[ChloeClements]

Hydro Thunder is a great game but I would still pick this over it. It may not have the pick up play of HT but the water physics here require you to spend some time getting into the way it plays. It holds up today really well, still you're welcome to your opinion and now I must go play some Shindou Wave Race 64 because that game is amazing. Great review!
 "Maximum Power" 

[Landmasters]

:<  Music no good???

I mean I wouldn't put it up with a lot of GC music, but the title theme, Ocean City Harbor, and a couple of the replay themes are outstanding.

[andrependleton]

Well played review. Wave race was one of the coolest racing games back in the day.

[PeteSkerritt]

Yeah, Blue Storm just seems to be missing... something. It's not a bad game. The visuals are good (especially on a CRT), the weather effects add flair, and the basics from Wave Race 64 are here... but it doesn't have certain intangibles that would make it stand out.

I have both Wave Race 64 and Blue Storm, and I find myself going back to Wave Race more.

[PoyoPancakes]

Nintendo NEEDS to bring this series back!

[meecrobhead]

always fun and relaxing watching CGR. Keep up the good work. I love your reviews. Greetz from Germany

[dhumaninstrumentality]

First Gamecube game I ever played. I liked how they incorporated the 1080 Snowboarding characters....

[Crazycupmuffin]

When are you's finally gonna review everything?

[PEProzent]

The game has aged very well! And the controls are great. Why having an analog stick if you don't use subtle steering?

[swsephy]

Those graphics look pretty good for Gamecube.

[karlsimonvillain]

Waverace Bluestorm  is a 10 out of 10 if you get to expert level of racing, learn all the tricks, the level design, opponent AI and graphics are perfect in every respect if you reach Expert level .Waverace Bluestorm is not for casual gamers used to Mario Kart . Also the music is very good, the comments are annoying, cliched and cheesy but that adds to the concentration factor that is required to beat the game getting a first place on every track from exhibition to expert level. The game should be remade by Criterion with DX11 graphics set in a water styled Burnout Paradise game that is open world, anyone for Road Rage Waverace, or marked man wave race? You get the idea.

[clutchkman]

I've always been on the fence about getting this, and I still am.  I like Waverace 64, but don't like trying to slalom buoys, and win races with the waves knocking the jetski around.  Couldn't they leave out the buoys?  It's fun driving the jetski though.

[jerryjoe]

That's better than supporting "The Circle Of Jerk".

[AngelRodriguezNunes]

I remember completing this game and wishing it had more courses or even characters