Wave Race 64
Reviewed by Nicholas Kramer
Well, it's been a long time since the release of Super Mario 64 and
PilotWings 64. Mario 64 has the honor of being called "the best video
game of all time." Most of us have already gotten all 120 stars in the
game, and had been hoping for something new. Well, wait no more! Wave
Race 64 appeared in stores and after just 2 and a half hours of play, I can
honestly say that it deserves the honor of being called "the best racer
of all time."
When you slap in the game, you see the now famous N64 logo(which will
hopefully be in all future N64 games). Then, you're treated to a great
opening sequence in which the camera floats above calm waters at first
with smooth music, then the music jams on and the racers make their
appearance.
The Graphics
The graphics are crisp, clear, and the best yet on N64. "The best racer
of all time" is also "the most realistic racer of all time." The water
effects are way past cool. The game designers used real wave propagation
and water physics to make the best effect possible. The water ranges
from the calm shores of Drake Lake to the typhoon-like waves of Marine
Fortress. The wake left by your Jet Ski can also affect the other
racers, and throw them off-course. In Drake Lake, their is
ultra-realistic water reflections of the landscape, and in Sunset Bay,
you can actually see solar-flare when the camera faces the sun.
The Sound
You've heard by nay-sayers how carts can't give you CD-Quality sound and
voice. Well, the next time someone tells you that, let them listen to
the announcers in Wave Race. There is a massive amount of voice in the
game. The great thing is, there are so many different lines from the
announcer that he never get's boring to listen to. If you totally wipe
out the competition in a race, he belts out "Banzai!!"
The Control
The control is excellent, and also customizable. Just like riding a real
Jet Ski, you can shift your center of gravity to get the best and
sharpest turn possible. Press down/left to make a sharp left, and
vice-versa. You can also pull off some pretty cool stunts like barrel
rolls, hand-stands, somersaults, and you can even dive underater like a
submarine to make short cuts.
In Conclusion
If you own an N64, this game is a MUST-BUY! The N64 has been getting the
best games ever and now has one more to add to it's slowly but surely
growing library of hits. For only $69.95 at most stores, Wave Race 64 is
worth every penny. But then again, what would you expect from the best
company in the business?
Overall: 10/10