It’s hard to believe that any console manufacturer would ever dare to launch a new system with just two games. Nintendo proved to be one of the few companies that could get away with it with their Nintendo 64, but that’s due mostly to the generation defining monster that was Super Mario 64. Even that could only keep gamers busy for a few weeks, and considering the fact that most companies weren’t throwing a lot of support behind the console it was mostly up to Nintendo. They did a commendable job by releasing titles fairly consistent for the fledgling platform, and one of these such titles was Wave Race 64. It was critically acclaimed and heavily advertised, but I didn’t get my N64 until years later and by then this release was old news. I still remember the commercials and universal praise, and so I added it to my collection. Now that the hype is long gone let’s take a look at this early Nintendo 64 release from the eyes of a first time player.
Wave Race 64 was the first racing game released for the platform. What sets it apart from others is the fact that, rather than driving cars, you are piloting jet-skis. While it’s not the first of its kind Wave Race 64 is so much fun because the 3D capabilities add several dynamics to the formula. For example, the graphics engine allows for realistic physics, and the developers did an amazing job at designing this title. Waves generate naturally, and your jet-ski reacts very realistically to these. For the most part it’s detrimental and forces you to pay attention to the angle and speed at which you hit each ripple. This isn’t a bad thing because it’s surprisingly rewarding and this element alone adds a ton of depth. While the physics feel natural and realistic this is a purely arcade experience. There’s no customization or items; this is pure racing bliss. Standard races pit you against three other participants, and the courses are confined and decided via completing four laps with your placement rewarding specific amounts of points.
What makes things interesting is the fact that you have to pass markers on specific sides in each race. Success grants you a higher top speed (or ‘power’) and when you miss one your power meter goes back to zero. Several courses are littered with hazards which include floating objects, other racers and even walls. Hitting these while in motion causes your character to fall from the ski which forces you to lose precious seconds in the race. The race automatically ends if you fail to pass a specific number of markers on the correct side or if you’re outside the boundaries for too long. The stage design is fairly straightforward for the most part, but there are enough obstacles as well as waves to make them dynamic and interesting. The marker placement is what makes this game so fun. You’ll find yourself zipping around left and right as you complete each lap and it really helps with the sense of speed and control you have in this game. Graphical effects such as orcas and dolphins in specific courses are really nice touches and help differentiate them.
If there’s one thing this game suffers from it’s the lack of courses. Starting on the normal difficulty level you only have six to choose from. Once you complete the game on hard and championship two more unlock, but that’s still only eight. To mix things up a little the developers added mirrored versions of each course, but I would have preferred more levels to be honest. Wave Race 64 makes up for this limitation by adding in several different gameplay modes. The first of these is a tutorial mode called ‘Warm Up.’ It’s a good introduction to the game, but it’s only function is to get you used to the fundamentals. The main mode of play is via Championship mode wherein you’re competing against the three other A.I. racers and scored based on your placement in each course. You’ve also got time trials where you compete against yourself to best your times. You can choose which level you would like to race on which is nice. Stunt mode is purely based on performing tricks as you jump over waves. It’s okay in short bursts, but I really prefer racing in this title. Multiplayer is slightly disappointing because you can only compete in one on one races, and there’s no four player mode. With four controller ports and four racers you would think Nintendo would have made this one of their premier multiplayer games, but unfortunately that’s just not the case. It’s disappointing.
Wave Race 64 is still a pretty decent looking title. The water effects are among the best on the system, and the frame rate holds steady for the most part. Wave Race 64 is a very colorful title with great environments and high levels of detail. The physics are definitely the most impressive part of the graphic engine. It’s remarkably pleasant to see your jet-ski cut into the water as you break waves, and to see your character flung in the air by them. The lighting changes between courses which are set at different times of the day is fairly impressive. The only downfall are the angular characters, but this isn’t a big deal. This game might not have the wide open arenas that Super Mario 64 did, but it’s still one of the most technically impressive early releases on the platform. The soundtrack reminds me a lot of that in Pilotwings 64. It’s never at the forefront, rather, it’s just there to set a playful ambiance. Each course features its own theme, and the announcer pleasantly speaks the name of each aloud at the start. The audio is quite good here.
While it does show its age no similar titles (including the sequel on the Gamecube) have managed to re-create the experience Nintendo created with Wave Race 64. The Nintendo 64 might not have had a lot of games released for it at first, but with such quality titles as this it’s easy to see why the console was so successful even without third parties giving it their full attention. Wave Race 64 is still worth playing.
