The visuals are plenty colourful and the environments and menus were terrific for their time. Both substitutes worked better and Rare even supplied the model for DK based on their renders from the DK Country series on the SNES. The original line-up returns with two exceptions Donkey Kong replaced DK Junior and Mario’s alter ego Wario instead of Koopa Troopa. This is an iconic character selection screen and is the first time we hear some of the character’s voices

This was the first of the three dimensional ones and feels like the real beginning of what we now know as Mario Kart. The series has continued through every console generation with at least one entry on each Nintendo platform. Released in the UK in 1997 (a whole six months behind Japan’s release in 1996) it was one of the earlier games for the platform and was highly anticipated, following four years from it’s incredibly popular predecessor. The Nintendo 64 sequel to the highly successful Super Mario Kart on the Super Nintendo (SNES) was one of the pillars of couch multiplayer gaming on the machine and, although lacking features, still provides brilliant entertainment.Īdmittedly, there is a tremendous nostalgia buzz for me on replaying this game, from the opening spinning gold Nintendo logo followed by Charles Martinet’s booming Mario voice ‘WELCOME TO MAAARRRIO KART!’

So, in this particular section, I will take the time to play a game of the past which could range from the NES era all the way to the Xbox 360/PS3 generation and share my thoughts with a rating out of five. In fact, I am definitely guilty of spending many hours playing the old timers as much as the shiny new stuff. And, sometimes you simply want to delve into an old favourite or a series you have heard great things about but never played.

There are so many games to choose from these days and different platforms that it can be overwhelming deciding where to start. Grab your blue shell and some friends as we tackle the second round of the popular kart racer – in 3D this time! The eagerly antipated follow-up to the original was an early N64 game

Mario kart 64 2 player