Mario Kart 64

1001 Video Games

The N64 version of Mario Kart 64 appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by EDGE magazine's then General Editor Tony Mott.

Bonus courses

If you complete all the tracks in the 150cc class, the game opens up new tracks. The new tracks are actually reverse images of the original set.

Japanese version

In Mario Kart 64 in the Japanese version lots of the signs are take offs of brands, the only one apparent in the western version is the Koopa Air (Nike Air), but one interesting one is a sign that says MarioBro which was changed to Mario Bros. This of course was originally a takeoff of Marlboro cigarettes.

MagiKoopa

Originally, MagiKoopa (an enemy from Super Mario World) was intended to be one of the racers. However, he was later replaced by Donkey Kong before the game was released. You can still see MagiKoopa in some of the earliest screenshots of the game (back when it was still called Mario Kart R)

Title change

The game was originally going to be called Mario Kart R but was changed because Nintendo felt it was to similar to Sega's upcoming racing game Sonic R.

Virtual console version

For the Wii Virtual Console version of Mario Kart 64, the Ghost Trial Data, (which allowed players to race against a ghost kart of their best times), has been disabled.

Awards

• Electronic Gaming Monthly
  • March 1997 (Issue #92) - Game of the Month*
  • November 1997 (Issue 100) - ranked #49 (Best 100 Games of All Time)
  • November 1997 (Issue 100) - ranked #5 (Readers' Top 10 Games of All Time)
  • March 1998 (Issue 104) - Multiplayer Game of the Year Runner-Up
  • March 1998 (Issue 104) - Racing Game of the Year Top Write-In (Readers' Choice)
  • March 1998 (Issue 104) - Multiplayer Game of the Year Runner-Up (Readers' Choice)
  • 1999 Buyer's Guide - Ranked 5 (Top 10 Nintendo 64 Games)
• Retro Gamer
  • September 2004 (Issue #8) – #80 Best Game Of All Time (Readers' Vote)

Information also contributed by Chris Martin, Guy Chapman, MegaMegaMan and Warlock