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The blind nostalgia of Mario Kart 64.
- Thread starter Durden77
- Start date
thebigmachine
Member
I think we can all agree with that this game was vastly superior anyway:
I still hate how the original version is now lost forever due to the Microsoft buyout.
Now this was my jam back in the day. There was plenty of extra content and it blew my mind when you went to space.
Choppymushroom
Neo Member
Never played the gba or ds versions of MK, but own and played all the others. Out of all the ones I played I found MK64 to only be bested by MK8. Wouldn't say it's because of nostalgia, as I didn't play it until after the Wii version of MK. Also CTR was only good because it had a meaty single player mode and DKR had trash controls.
As usual, hyperboles everywhere.
Mario Kart 64 was an outstanding game back then with fantastic track design, ost and incredible local multiplayer. It was borderline impossible to sit there playing with friends and not enjoy every second spent in the goat battle mode, racing against each other or competing in time trials. One of my friends had CTR and guess what - we always played Mario Kart. In fact, we played Super Mario Kart before going to CTR.
And of course now there are better entries in the series, like DS and 8/8D. But if there's nostalgia bias going on with the series that's all about Double Dash, MK64 was something never seen when it came out and this is not something that late 90s kids/millennials can understand.
Mario Kart 64 was an outstanding game back then with fantastic track design, ost and incredible local multiplayer. It was borderline impossible to sit there playing with friends and not enjoy every second spent in the goat battle mode, racing against each other or competing in time trials. One of my friends had CTR and guess what - we always played Mario Kart. In fact, we played Super Mario Kart before going to CTR.
And of course now there are better entries in the series, like DS and 8/8D. But if there's nostalgia bias going on with the series that's all about Double Dash, MK64 was something never seen when it came out and this is not something that late 90s kids/millennials can understand.
I like MK64 more than Super or Wii.
I like the sound effects, graphics, tracks and weapon balance. Some tracks were a bit empty though.
I'm sure Double Dash is better or maybe one of the portable 3D ones, or, well, 8. I've only played 7, Wii, Super, and 64. 7 felt like an improved Wii ver. but I wasn't really a fan. Honestly, Sonic All-Stars beats all of the ones I've played.
I like the sound effects, graphics, tracks and weapon balance. Some tracks were a bit empty though.
I'm sure Double Dash is better or maybe one of the portable 3D ones, or, well, 8. I've only played 7, Wii, Super, and 64. 7 felt like an improved Wii ver. but I wasn't really a fan. Honestly, Sonic All-Stars beats all of the ones I've played.
sixteen-bit
Member
Did you try it in multiplayer.
Finale Fireworker
Member
Mario Kart 64 was my first Mario Kart and I didn't care for it at all. Mario Kart was a series I wasn't the least bit interested in until Mario Kart DS. That game is hideous but felt really good to play.
I've played lots of Mario Karts since then and care very, very little for MK64. Mario Kart 8 is also so much better than the rest of the series. I probably will never play an older Mario Kart again.
I've played lots of Mario Karts since then and care very, very little for MK64. Mario Kart 8 is also so much better than the rest of the series. I probably will never play an older Mario Kart again.
Lynd7
Member
Yeah weapon balance was better, also the spiny shell was quite rare.
Double Dash, DS, and 8 all surpassed it, Wii was far worse than it, and I never played 7. I haven't seriously considered it the best in the series in a good long while and it's always confused me how 64 seems to be one so many people hold so highly, I imagine that's because a lot of those people didn't continue with the series (this is more directed at the type of people that wouldn't be around here if you catch my drift).
icecold1983
Member
Ive played smk on snes, mk64 and whatever the wii one was called. Mk64 is hands down the best of the 3 with the wii game being absolute trash
Neff
Member
Honestly, it was never that great in the first place. Me and my brother (a world class SMK champion at that) both thought it was kinda shit at the time. It lacked the precision and speed of the SNES title, the AI blew, and the physics just weren't as exciting to race with.
And yet paradoxically, I'm extremely nostalgic for it for some reason.
4 player local MP out of the box was hard to beat, though.
DS was a major renaissance for the series. Extremely good gameplay and course design, albeit tainted (or not, depending on your stance) by snaking.
And yet paradoxically, I'm extremely nostalgic for it for some reason.
4 player local MP out of the box was hard to beat, though.
DS was a major renaissance for the series. Extremely good gameplay and course design, albeit tainted (or not, depending on your stance) by snaking.
By what possible metric? Everything it does has been surpassed by other entries.
Leafhopper
Banned
I think I am tied with it and Super. Super didn't work for me because I just didn't like the way it did it's 3D effect on the SNES but it controlled pretty good. MK64 I think actually just kinda runs bad but it's a good party game.
I don't think Mario Kart was even good until Double Dash to be honest.
yanipheonu
Member
As someone who missed Mario Kart 64 back in the day, I remember playing after the fact and being grossed out at how poorly it controlled. The n64 controller doesn't do it any favours, but these days, it just feels bad to control, the racing is too loose and unwieldy for my taste.
I didn't like it much when i was a kid and loved Diddy kong racing, but in the past few years i've grown to love it, probably my favorite Mario Kart after 8, some of the tracks are wonderful, luigi raceway, peach castle, bowser castle, choco mountain, that one with the train, the beach one, yoshi valley and of course the best rainbow road.
Luschient
Member
My fave MK until 8 came out.
To me, it was the last MK that had a few "hard" tracks. Yoshi Valley was pretty easy to fall off the edge, Banshee Boardwalk could put you in the water in various parts, even Choco Mountain the edges were something you really had to watch out for or it'd put you halfway back on the course.
But alas, 8 has overtaken it as best MK game.
And dammit Nintendo, bring back Toad's "Yahooo!" for God's sake!
To me, it was the last MK that had a few "hard" tracks. Yoshi Valley was pretty easy to fall off the edge, Banshee Boardwalk could put you in the water in various parts, even Choco Mountain the edges were something you really had to watch out for or it'd put you halfway back on the course.
But alas, 8 has overtaken it as best MK game.
And dammit Nintendo, bring back Toad's "Yahooo!" for God's sake!
SmackAttack
Member
Regardless of what people say about Mario Kart 64, there will always be universal truth. It has the best Rainbow Road theme out of the entire series.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5xdue7GFcc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5xdue7GFcc
LordKasual
Banned
Double Dash is still the best entry in the series
Not as long as MK7 exists.
Joe T.
Member
I don't know about calling it the best, but Mario Kart 64's the last game in the series that drew my friends and I together to play competitively and it did so on countless occasions, so regardless of how much better the newer entries in the series may play/look we will always look back on it fondly and call it our favorite.
Bobo Dakes
Member
Deluxe
DS
64
are top 3 to me.
Vanilla 8 always lost points for the battle mode. I'd pick up 64 right now and be into it. The OST was the best in the series to me until 8 came out. I like all of the tracks (though I'll admit Rainbow Road is boring and Banshee Boardwalk seems unfair), the UI, menus, physics, character select and battle are all great to me (though Battle Fort had to make up for all the other battle maps being meh).
Gameplay wise, I don't care for how drifting works, but it's functional. I really do scratch my head when people say 64 isn't a good game. I'll take jumping that ramp in Royal Raceway in 64 over doing it in 8 or Deluxe any day.
I liked CTR and Diddy Kong (which definitely had more variety), but Mario Kart 64 had the strongest foundation.
Worth noting the last time I played CTR (6 months ago) my friend and I were disappointed that you couldn't do two player grand prix. Lead to a slightly dull 1 on 1. But I still love that sewer level.
The nostalgia argument really does seem like a cheap way to dismiss the opinions of people who like the game. I would seriously pick up 64 and not have any issues besides the ones I already described.
DS
64
are top 3 to me.
Vanilla 8 always lost points for the battle mode. I'd pick up 64 right now and be into it. The OST was the best in the series to me until 8 came out. I like all of the tracks (though I'll admit Rainbow Road is boring and Banshee Boardwalk seems unfair), the UI, menus, physics, character select and battle are all great to me (though Battle Fort had to make up for all the other battle maps being meh).
Gameplay wise, I don't care for how drifting works, but it's functional. I really do scratch my head when people say 64 isn't a good game. I'll take jumping that ramp in Royal Raceway in 64 over doing it in 8 or Deluxe any day.
I liked CTR and Diddy Kong (which definitely had more variety), but Mario Kart 64 had the strongest foundation.
Worth noting the last time I played CTR (6 months ago) my friend and I were disappointed that you couldn't do two player grand prix. Lead to a slightly dull 1 on 1. But I still love that sewer level.
The nostalgia argument really does seem like a cheap way to dismiss the opinions of people who like the game. I would seriously pick up 64 and not have any issues besides the ones I already described.
Double Dash is where Mario Kart hit its stride. SMK was a fun new thing, MK64 brought it into 3D, but DD is where the formula was perfected and it set the template for future entries.
Zen_Arcade
Banned
It's by far the worst Mario Kart. The controls are absolutely terrible. It has some good tracks and music but there are better versions of most of those courses as retro stages in newer MK games.
MisterHero
Super Member
Nostalgia argument sucks, MK64 has the best version of powersliding. I love that little jump. I'll condede that a lot of other MK players probably don't feel that way.
Why do have to dismiss a past title when it and the current version can co-exist? There's nothing impressive about a game taking 20+ years to succeed what came before, except that it has to be a great game itself.
Why do have to dismiss a past title when it and the current version can co-exist? There's nothing impressive about a game taking 20+ years to succeed what came before, except that it has to be a great game itself.
SoundPulse
Banned
I preferred Diddy Kong Racing as a game, but I always played MK64 with my friends. MK64 was better able to keep things interesting between players of different skill levels, imo.
thoseAREmySHOES
Member
It definitely does seem to get a lot of inexplicable nostalgia. It's my most played Mario Kart, and while I still love the track design and feel of the game, it would be a flat out lie to say it's the best Mario Kart. I think some of the appeal remains due to the simplicity of it. 8 characters to choose from, no different karts with different statistics and handling, just basically choose between 8 different weights of the characters. Plus basically everything is unlocked from the start.
As for the person on the previous page stating their game had no music, I have a launch day cartridge that has no music when playing 2+ players, and only the sound effects from player 2 plays when playing 2 player. I think they fixed this with the player's choice version.
As for the person on the previous page stating their game had no music, I have a launch day cartridge that has no music when playing 2+ players, and only the sound effects from player 2 plays when playing 2 player. I think they fixed this with the player's choice version.
daTRUballin
Member
My friend and I still occasionally play this game together, and it's still decent fun. But the rubberbanding AI are just awful. The item system is also weird as well. We discovered that if you stay in second place during a 2-player race, you'll basically keep getting the better items. It pretty much makes the versus mode pointless since one of the players can just try to stay in second place the entire time and eventually win.
It's also a nostalgic game for me, and playing it today can still be fun, but some of the game's aspects weren't designed well at all.
The game has probably aged better than Super Mario Kart though......
It's also a nostalgic game for me, and playing it today can still be fun, but some of the game's aspects weren't designed well at all.
The game has probably aged better than Super Mario Kart though......
Huge Succeeded
Banned
Last night, I was playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with a buddy of mine who dropped by.
He liked the game, and continued to play it for literally two hours after I put my controller down... but afterward said that Mario Kart 64 is still the best game in the series, and can't be topped.
Six months ago, after I first moved in to my new home, I hooked up my N64 to my TV (it's the only retro console in my living room, still), and him and I (same guy) played Mario Kart 64, because he was hype for it. He was bored midway through the third race!
It's not that the two games can't co-exist or anything, it's just that I don't think arguments that suggest Mario Kart 64 holds up or is a better game than those that succeeded it hold up at all, and generally, they just sound like appeals to nostalgia. And I've never had that notion disproven in practice. Everyone loves Mario Kart 64 til it's time to play Mario Kart 64. It always ends up becoming a Mario Party 3 session or some shit.
Revisiting MK64 fairly, I'd say it's probably not the first one I'd chose to play (especially with two perfectly good incarnations of MK8 being out there right now) but I don't really see any issue with people pining for it. It's still a hell of a fun game and still earns the respect it gets.
Diddy Kong Racing is probably the one that really has the nostalgia blinders going for it. Not to say that it isn't still fun (because it is), but a lot of the things that we all remember it more fondly for (namely having a much more in depth single player) just kinda blinded us to it being a significantly less good racer than MK64.
Diddy Kong Racing is probably the one that really has the nostalgia blinders going for it. Not to say that it isn't still fun (because it is), but a lot of the things that we all remember it more fondly for (namely having a much more in depth single player) just kinda blinded us to it being a significantly less good racer than MK64.
ProfessorLobo
Banned
Why wouldn't it be? Mechanically it was by far the best. The mix of items was far more interesting, the amount of chaos kept you on your toes. And it took far more skill to keep people off your back, in that items needed to be thrown backward instead of simply held behind you. There was no fucking around. It had the last good battle mode in that it kept 3 balloon last man standing, and I doubt Mario Kart 8 is going to change that.
Every single other Mario Kart game was (is), get to first, hold banana behind you, play race the same way you've played it the past hundred times.
ChaosZeroX
Banned
I like MK64 because its the only MK game that i have played without any significant downsides.
MK8- The Coin system for player speed sucks and makes navigating through the pack a nightmare. Useless characters (every Not Bowsers Kid), and Non Mario Characters Im a MK Purist.
MK8/MK7/MKWii/MKDS also rely on customisable gear with stats. This leads to only specific builds really being viable to win.
Mario Kart 64 was simple. You had 3 lightweights for Racing, 3 Heavyweights for battlemode and 2 Middleweights who were bad at both for if you had a 4th person playing with you. No Gear, no crazy items. Every item had a defensive counter that you had a good chance of getting.
Blue Shell - countered by Ghost and Invincibility
Lightning - countered by invincibility
Red Shell/Green Shell - Banana, Shell, Bomb, Invincibility
Banana- Braking/Jumping - plus shells
The ability to better defend yourself made the focus much more on racing.
In MK8 you have lots of useless items. For instance the squid item does nothing but penalise players for not knowing the track layout, its litterally useless against good players and AI. You have very few defensive items, especially if you are in first place. Yet when you are hit you are penalised twice, firstly by crashing and secondly by losing 3 coins. Take a few hits in the middle of the pack and your Top speed gets destroyed. This is especially punishing for those that like playing as lightweights.
Mario Kart 8 is a great game, but 64 is looked upon fondly because it is the Simplest Mario Kart and it is less gear/luck based then later entries.
MK8- The Coin system for player speed sucks and makes navigating through the pack a nightmare. Useless characters (every Not Bowsers Kid), and Non Mario Characters Im a MK Purist.
MK8/MK7/MKWii/MKDS also rely on customisable gear with stats. This leads to only specific builds really being viable to win.
Mario Kart 64 was simple. You had 3 lightweights for Racing, 3 Heavyweights for battlemode and 2 Middleweights who were bad at both for if you had a 4th person playing with you. No Gear, no crazy items. Every item had a defensive counter that you had a good chance of getting.
Blue Shell - countered by Ghost and Invincibility
Lightning - countered by invincibility
Red Shell/Green Shell - Banana, Shell, Bomb, Invincibility
Banana- Braking/Jumping - plus shells
The ability to better defend yourself made the focus much more on racing.
In MK8 you have lots of useless items. For instance the squid item does nothing but penalise players for not knowing the track layout, its litterally useless against good players and AI. You have very few defensive items, especially if you are in first place. Yet when you are hit you are penalised twice, firstly by crashing and secondly by losing 3 coins. Take a few hits in the middle of the pack and your Top speed gets destroyed. This is especially punishing for those that like playing as lightweights.
Mario Kart 8 is a great game, but 64 is looked upon fondly because it is the Simplest Mario Kart and it is less gear/luck based then later entries.
me0wish
Member
I didn't like MK1, found MK64 only fun in battle mode and MKA to be meh, I only played them because everyone likes to play them. MKDD was the first MK I fell in love with and I loved each one that came after (except for 7).
MK8D is my favorite.
Bakkus
Member
Fixed
R_thanatos
Member
MK64 is unbalanced , hasn't aged well at ALL
i'd argue that double dash did everything MK64 tried to but better
i'd argue that double dash did everything MK64 tried to but better
Crash Team Racing.