Mario Kart 64

Do you remember the thrill of racing with Mario and his friends on your Nintendo 64? Do you want to relive the nostalgia of playing one of the best games of all time? If so, you are not alone. Millions of fans around the world still love Super Mario Kart 64, the classic 3D racing game with polygons.

What is Super Mario Kart 64?

Super Mario Kart 64 is a racing game developed by Nintendo and released for the Nintendo 64 in 1996. It is the second installment of the Mario Kart series, following the original Super Mario Kart for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

The game features 16 characters from the Mario universe, each with their own kart and special abilities. The game also has 16 tracks, divided into four cups: Mushroom, Flower, Star and Special. The tracks are based on various themes and locations from the Mario games, such as Bowser's Castle, Rainbow Road and Yoshi Valley.

The game has four modes of play: Grand Prix, Time Trial, Versus and Battle. In Grand Prix, the player competes against seven computer-controlled opponents in a series of four races. In Time Trial, the player tries to beat their own or a ghost's record on a single track. In Versus, the player races against another human player or the computer on any track. In Battle, the player engages in a balloon-popping contest with another human player or the computer on one of four arenas.

The game is known for its fun and addictive gameplay, its colorful and detailed graphics, its catchy and memorable music, and its innovative use of polygons to create 3D environments and effects.

How to Play Super Mario Kart 64?

To play Super Mario Kart 64, you need a Nintendo 64 console, a Super Mario Kart 64 cartridge, and one or two controllers. You can also play the game on an emulator on your computer or smartphone, but you may need to download a ROM file and configure the settings.

• Button A: Jump

• Button B: Press brake

• Button Z: Use objects

• Button R: Jump and drift

• Button X: Change the camera point of view

• Button C: Changes the closest possible point of view

To start the game, insert the cartridge into the console and turn it on. You will see the title screen, where you can choose the mode of play, the character, the kart, the cup and the difficulty level. You can also access the options menu, where you can adjust the sound, the controller and the save data.

To control your kart, use the joystick to steer, the A button to accelerate, the B button to brake, the Z button to use items, and the R button to hop and drift. You can also perform mini-turbos by hopping and drifting at the right time. You can collect items by driving through item boxes, which give you random objects such as bananas, shells, mushrooms and stars. You can use these items to attack your opponents, defend yourself, or boost your speed.

To win the game, you need to finish each race in the first place, or at least in the top four. You will earn points based on your position, and the player with the most points at the end of the cup will win the trophy. You can also unlock new cups and characters by completing certain challenges.

What are the Tricks for Super Mario Kart 64?

If you want to master Super Mario Kart 64, you need to know some tricks and tips that can help you improve your performance and beat your rivals. Here are some of them:

• Use the items wisely. Don't waste them on useless situations, but save them for the right moment. For example, use bananas and shells to hit your opponents or protect yourself, use mushrooms and stars to cut corners or avoid obstacles, and use lightning bolts and blue shells to slow down or stop the leader.

• Learn the shortcuts. Each track has some hidden or alternative paths that can save you time and distance. For example, on Wario Stadium, you can jump over the wall at the beginning of the lap, on Royal Raceway, you can fly over the lake after the big jump, and on Rainbow Road, you can skip half of the track by jumping off the rail at the right spot.

• Practice the drifting and the mini-turbos. Drifting is essential to take sharp turns without losing speed, and mini-turbos are extra boosts that you can get by drifting for a certain amount of time. To perform a mini-turbo, you need to hop and hold the R button, then tilt the joystick left and right until you see blue sparks. Then, release the R button and you will get a speed boost.

• Watch out for the hazards. Each track has some obstacles or enemies that can slow you down or damage you. For example, on Bowser's Castle, you have to avoid the Thwomps and the lava, on Yoshi Valley, you have to avoid the giant egg and the porcupines, and on DK's Jungle Parkway, you have to avoid the coconuts and the cars.

If you want to learn more tricks or tutorials for Super Mario Kart 64, you can visit this website, where you will find a lot of useful information and videos.

Conclusion

Super Mario Kart 64 is a classic 3D racing game with polygons that you can enjoy on your Nintendo 64 or on an emulator. The game has 16 characters, 16 tracks, four modes of play, and a lot of fun and excitement. If you want to relive the nostalgia of playing one of the best games of all time, or if you want to discover it for the first time, you should give Super Mario Kart 64 a try. You will not regret it.