With my background in Accounting I see things in a very specific way — like how resources are distributed, how to prevent dominance of one strategy over another, how to make sure the player’s decision-making is rewarded and still allows for randomness and chance to affect the outcome. Mario Kart 64 answers all these questions perfectly.
What Mario Kart 64 Really Is
There are eight racers, four racing tracks, four battle arenas, three cups of difficulty levels, and three engine classes. The overall setup is pretty simple — you go around tracks multiple times, using items strategically, attempting to cross the line first. Where the item distribution becomes really interesting is in how they are distributed throughout the course of the race.
You can pick up items from item boxes placed along the course of the track. The item distribution is based on probability and the player’s location at the time they pick it up. In first place? You’re much more likely to receive defensive items (such as bananas for trailing drivers, or fake item boxes to deter other players from attacking), or utility items (such as mushrooms for a temporary speed boost). Drivers in third, fourth, fifth, etc.? They are more likely to get aggressive items (such as red shells to attack the leader, green shells for area denial), and longer lasting speed boosts.
It is essentially rubber banding, but instead of relying on CPU adjustments, it is implemented within the design of the game itself. It is genius game design for several reasons. For one, it prevents any one driver from dominating the entire race. At the same time, it rewards good driving skills.
You can determine the distribution of items through play alone. Experienced players will understand exactly how likely it is for an item to be obtained, based on their position in the race.
The Economics of Items Which Work
The red shell is probably the most significant item in kart racing; it is a projectile that seeks out the driver who is immediately in front of you. Red shells are both strong and somewhat controllable in Mario Kart 64. Good positioning on the track provides sufficient time to escape red shells. And, using bananas can block red shells. Red shells create tension without creating an unfair disadvantage.
Blue shells are much more devastating. If you are leading, a blue shell can eliminate your lead instantly. However, blue shells are so rare and so easily identifiable that players competing against you can prepare themselves for a potential blue shell. Blue shells create chaos. They are chaotic, but the chaos is beautiful.
Red shells are distributed based on probability. Blue shells are relatively rare. When a blue shell appears, it is usually a surprise to players. So when a blue shell does appear, all the players stop planning their next move, and they prepare for the blue shell. The distribution of red shells is meticulously planned. Green shells provide area denial; you throw them forward in hopes that they will hit someone. Bananas provide defense; you put them behind you and hope a trailing player runs into them. Mushrooms provide brief speed boosts. The Bullet Bill temporarily gives you automated racing at high speeds. The Starman makes you invincible for a few seconds. The Ghost makes you able to run through items and obstacles.
The items in Mario Kart 64 support almost every type of playstyle imaginable. There are items for aggressive players, defensive players, skillful players, and luck dependent players.
Design of Tracks Which Support Competition
Luigi Raceway is simple; it is essentially a wide-open oval designed to teach players basic racing mechanics. Moo Moo Meadows has cows which you can either hit or avoid for some small advantage. Koopa Troopa Beach has sand sections which will slow you down. Kalimari Desert has a train that passes through the track randomly. Royal Raceway has jumping sections which reward accuracy and timing. Bowser’s Castle is full of hazards that punish poor performance.
Each track has unique characteristics that favor different types of play. Aggressive players may find the most appealing tracks are those with numerous items and chaotic racing conditions. Players who value precision may prefer tracks with technical jumps and clear racing paths. As such, there is now a strategic element to track selection; experienced players may choose certain tracks based on their preferred style of racing and the luck of the draw regarding item distribution.
Battle Mode, which takes place in confined areas, where you are trying to eliminate other players using items is also fantastic. When you are competing to eliminate each other, the item economy changes dramatically. Suddenly, every aggressive item available is used against you. With the confines of the arena, you encounter each other constantly. The adrenaline rush of 1v1 Mario Kart battles is real.
Why It’s Still Underestimated
One of the main issues with modern reviews of Mario Kart 64 is that reviewers tend to compare it to newer games which have more tracks, more playable characters, and more advanced technical capabilities, and therefore assume it to be inferior. What they are missing is that Mario Kart 64 had to establish a number of fundamental principles that were assumed in newer titles. It had to demonstrate that kart racing could function in a 3D environment. It had to show that item-balancing systems could prevent dominant leaders. It had to show that multi-player could function effectively in split screen format.
Mario Kart 64 achieved all these objectives. The frame rate may vary slightly depending on the number of players involved. The graphics may not meet modern expectations, even for 1996. But, the underlying racing mechanic functions, the item balance is effective, and the multi-player is enjoyable.
Technical Execution
The physics are forgiving, but responsive. You can feel the mass of your kart as you corner. You can earn a speed bonus if you successfully drift into a curve; it is simple to learn, satisfying to perform, and skill-rewarding. The friction between your kart and the track surfaces affects the handling of your vehicle; grass is slower than pavement, and ice is slippery. All of these physical properties are communicated clearly via gameplay feel.
The AI difficulty levels are well-adjusted. On Easy mode, it is truly easy to compete, but still competitive. On Medium mode, the difficulty level is challenging, but still fair. On Hard mode, you need to be accurate and clever with your item use. Very Hard mode (which requires you to unlock) is extremely difficult, with the CPU using smart tactics to select its item use and racing line.
Does Mario Kart 64 Still Function Well Today?
When I play it today, the graphics look dated. The frame rate is not consistent. The camera system can be frustratingly poor in some areas. The character roster is limited in comparison to new releases. The track roster is limited too.
However, the core racing remains entertaining. The item balance continues to function. The multi-player remains enjoyable. The tracks continue to be well-designed. None of these aspects of the game have changed — only additional elements have been added to later games.
The biggest difference is that modern Mario Kart titles have more polish and more content. Mario Kart 64 is more raw and elementary. That is not a negative — it is simply an example of where the franchise was at in 1996.
Conclusion
Mario Kart 64 is a fundamentally good kart racing title which often receives under-estimation due to subsequent titles improving upon its foundation. “Later titles improve upon earlier titles‘ foundations,” however, does not equate to “earlier titles are poor.” The series has simply evolved. Mario Kart 64 is worth playing simply to view the evolution of racing game design from a particular era, to witness the elegant solutions to problems, and to enjoy the multi-player aspect of the game which is still functional today.
The item economy is well-done. The track design is solid. The multi-player is fun. The difficulty levels are balanced. While this is not the greatest Mario Kart title (Double Dash and contemporary titles are more polished), Mario Kart 64 is a genuinely great kart racing title deserving more respect than it normally receives.
If you have never played it, you should try it to understand the roots of the series. If you dismissed it as old, you should replay it to appreciate how well the core mechanisms function, regardless of the technical limitations.
Rating: 8/10 — A solid kart racing title which demonstrated the feasibility of the genre in 3-D.
What else made our N64 top 10 list? Find out here
Samuel’s been gaming since the Atari 2600 and still thinks 16-bit was the golden age. Between accounting gigs and parenting teens, he keeps the CRTs humming in his Minneapolis basement, writing about cartridge quirks, console wars, and why pixel art never stopped being beautiful.
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