Classic Game Room - DIDDY KONG RACING review for N64

Who needs roads when you can fly? With land, sea, and air courses, Diddy Kong Racing may be Nintendo's most varied genre game ever. Familiar faces from Rare platforming games and bunches of newcomers charge up their skills to challenge themselves and boss characters on the track (or above it!).

[StigMurcielago]

No "Take out the leader" power-ups automatically makes this better than Mario Kart

[sturmwind]

As has been said before, DKR is definitely a better game than Mario Kart 64. The game is huge with so many different tracks, modes. Just brilliant, vintage Rare.

[trulygg]

Diddy Kong Racing is far better than Mario Kart 64, there's no doubt.

[cygnusx]

I disagree with your assessment that Mario Kart 64 was better.  this game had better graphics, more tracks, the option to use a kart, plane, or hover craft, the ability to upgrade your power-ups, unlockable characters, cheat codes, and an awesome adventure mode that you could play in two player mode with boss races that were fun and challenging. and once you finish the game, you can unlock the mirror image tracks.  I am not saying Mario Kart was a bad game, in fact, I absolutely loved it, but it did not have any of these features.  Diddy Kong Racing was by far the better title

[Zerducksgiven]

"It's Like Rainbow Road on crack"

[Lugmillord]

This is my favourte N64 racer. When you're really good at it you can go like twice as fast as the opponents (at least in the car). And the adenture mode is sooo awesome. I guess you can't get into these kind of games properly when you didn't really play it 10 years ago. Or rather 15.

[OldsXCool]

Definitely worth owning today and definitely better than Mario Kart 64. Not that Mario Kart 64 was a bad game but this game simply pushed the genre forward even if the characters weren't memorable. However if you want the perfected formula today play Sonic's All-Star Racing Transformed. 

[nintendudecubed]

The reason DKR was the best for me personally was that I could really get into the ridiculously imaginative qualities of the adventure, and the fact that there was an adventure to begin with, but mainly it was because there could be more of a skill gap. This game took more effort to get good at it. I still have yet to accomplish the impossible and unlock TT. With Mario Kart, it was always a toss up as to who would win because of how the item system was set up. I will give Mario Kart the benefit of being a better party game since there always seems to be that moment at the end where two players are neck and neck, but getting together with other equally skilled players made DKR equally fun in that aspect as well.

[Halbmond]

Donkey Kong Country 2 and 3 were some of the most important games of my childhood. I love Diddy Kong!

[chanceoshea]

I remember playing this game with family in a shed with power :D

[RallyDon]

*wipes tear from eye* welcome back mark.

[DanielPage]

OMG Diddy Kong Racing.  I love Diddy Kong Racing.  Probably one of my favourite racing games ever.  I love the imagination of this game.  The adventure mode of this game really sets it really far above Mario Kart 64, but I definitely think gameplay wise they are on par.

[NadaCero]

Diddy Kong Racing Wii U 2015, who's with me

[alexashkeboussi]

I'm glad to have you back on YouTube, Mark.

[lctb]

Classic Game Room being back on Youtube is a godsend!

[supermario]

Can you review "Donkey Kong 64" next?

[anthonnwildoer]

I'm so glad to see CGR reviews on youtube again :3

[Kevinpro]

SO glad your back!  My life is now whole once again.

[Runnerbeanz]

So glad your reviews are back up, so much easier than the website keep adding more!

[MrRebelutionary]

That's weird. Mark usually likes the skill-based Mario Kart games better than the ones with more luck. I thought he'd like Diddy Kong Racing a lot more since it is more about hitting speed boosts than grabbing powerups. And even then, you know exactly what powerups are what on the track, so you can pick what to go for.