CGR Undertow - MARIO KART 64 for Nintendo 64 Video Game Review

Classic Game Room presents a CGR Undertow review of Mario Kart 64 from Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. While Super Mario Kart focused more on racing than item use, the roles were reversed for Mario Kart 64. An area in which the game set a standard for future Mario Kart games, items play a central role in Mario Kart 64. It makes Super Mario Kart play like a game of finesse racing in comparison, but unlike newer releases, it didn't go too far, either. Mario Kart 64 established Mario Kart as a racer tilted more toward party game than serious racer, and really, that's how it should be...well, minus the blue shell. This video review features video gameplay footage of Mario Kart 64 for the Nintendo 64 and audio commentary from Classic Game Room's Derek

[MrSuperleobros]

I honestly wish that more people could be like Derek and look beyond the veal of nostalgia. FINALLY someone reviewed this game correctly.

[nickdude]

Could the looseness in control be the looseness of the joystick?  This became a problem with heavily used controllers.  Myself, I have three sitting around with tight joysticks, including one that I replaced with a Hori joystick.

[zeppelin]

I played this game for the first time last year after playing Mario Kart Wii and Double Dash, and I didn't find the controls to be a problem at all. I actually enjoyed the game quite a bit.

[supermariof]

Finally! Someone actually wipes away the nostalgia and looks at it from a fresh perspective.

[EamonnMazur]

I don't think the game is bad now. It's just the way we play is very different. Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64, and Mario Kart Super Circuit all play similarly, but very differently from every game afterwards. That doesn't mean those games are obsolete now; they're just a different kind of Mario Kart from what we've become accustomed to.

When I picked up Super Circuit recently, I thought it was god-awful. Then I practiced again, and it's fun again, so if you give it some time, it's just as fun as it was before. :)

[EzeLuigi]

derek is the best at reviewing nintendo games =D good review

[RottenMuLoT]

Oh. Well Double Dash might as well be the most "tight" Mario Kart game ever, followed by the SNES version and now MK8. No wonder one has a hard time playing the N64 version when coming from DD.

[khav]

game isn't that bad... derek at his usual pissy mood, great multiplayer game that aged well into the 2000s

[OtterloopB]

After playing Mario Kart 8, sometimes new can be better than the old. I don't think I can go back to this. The incredibly tight steering the Jet kart body offers me and how I can manage super tight turns with it makes me appreciate all the improvements and balances Nintendo has poured into 8.

[kkdhtp]

I think this is a pretty good review. Most people complain that Derek praises Nintendo games too much, but now that he's criticizing one, everyone's going ape shit. Here he says how awesome it was back in the day, but he remarks that going back to it, it may feel a bit floaty.
I think that's a pretty good way to review, though CGR usually puts itself into a time warp when reviewing games, this is an interesting way to approach it: from a modern gamers perspective.

[tthomaselli]

0:18.; How do you get the alternate title screen like that, again?... Is that through a cheat code, or, no?

[Obi-WanKannabis]

I love this review for the simple fact that it shows that Derek is not a fanboy, he says the truth, and I love this game, but we all got to admitt that the controlls could be a little bit more tighter, I disagree tho, that it ruins the game, but this review is awesome
If you disagree with his point, test the game for yourself

[cheeseman]

Dunno dude, the controls aren't bad, just different than all the other Mario Kart games that came after. They take a teeny bit of getting used to is all. But I will admit that needing to "get used to" something means it isn't the best it could be. Intuitive controls are better, for sure.
I like this game the most out of the franchise for a reason you mentioned. The items are important and very useful, but they don't go overboard with them like they do in the more recent games.

[SatoshiEK]

This is game is the kind of game that you will never forget..

[joeywomer]

My only questions are; Why did they stop with the ability to make your Kart jump after this game? And if you ARE able to make your kart jump in the newer games, how do you do it?

[SlyFrye]

This game I still like more than any Mario Kart game. Well, okay, the DS one is superb, but I love this one the most because of the multiplayer. Yeah, there is a little more emphasis on items, but not too much. In future Mario Kart games the Red Shells actually go down the track and then hit the guy in front of you instead of just going straight towards him even if it has to hit a wall and die like it does in this game.

This game still takes skill. I dominate my friends at this game.

[demonchacer]

this game will never get old. you cant expect perfect controls in a first attempt at 3d mario kart. even tho ive played double dash and mk wii. i still go back to this as a party game as apposed to the newer ones. my friends even insist we play this one instead of the new ones

[EatingDriedFruit]

i'm so glad somebody feels the same way about blue shells that i do.

[larpsim]

the floatyness of this game and double dash is what makes it best also this is my favorite mario kart

[doktorabraham]

Maybe your controllers are still from 1997, because this is by FAR the best game in the series