It's been over a year since Mario Kart 8 was released on the Wii U and nearly 20 since its N64 sibling Mario Kart 64 graced our systems. A lot's changed in that time, and in order to highlight all the refinements a company like Nintendo can make in such a span, we've cobbled together another cheeky little comparison of the two games side-by-side. We're using the newly released version of Mario Kart 64 on the Wii U Virtual Console which is currently available in Europe. Sorry America.
We've selected tracks that appear on both games to give as fair a comparison as possible, we just have to apologise for that fact that the music tracks would never sync no matter what we tried. For this we can only hope your ears survive, and if they do make sure you get yourself subscribed to Nintendo Life YouTube channel; you'd be mad not to.
Comments 28
Because the difference between MKWii and MK8 is not stark enough?
I didn't like any of the MK iterations after 64... until 8.
With a few item tweaks (and maybe battle arenas), it could be perfect.
Really wish they went the 3D route for the character design. The DS was able to do it and it's nearly the same specs as an N64
My stomach still goes on N64 Royal Raceway's jump. It plays so well on the gamepad. MK8 is as close to perfection as a game can get in my opinion. Double Dash!! remains another gem - the doubling up should definitely be considered as a separate mode for the next iteration (especially with the weapon system it had). I haven't played much of Circuit, which I wouldn't write off completely, as I like it in a sort of tribute to the original way, and MK Wii is certainly a great game, but lacked a certain polish that DD!! had in spades. Both 64 and 8 are key games for me as they're from the two Nintendo systems I've enjoyed the most.
I really do still hope they dollop the arcade games as discounted eshop games - MK fans would 'lap' them up in a heartbeat surely.
I loved Mario Kart DS as well as DD. I like Mario Kart 7 but the lack of the times almost kill it for me.
The only game I play routinely on my Wii U is Mario Kart, which has the best DLC in any racing game I know off (and I really dig racing games!!).
Miss Toad Turnpike/Toad Highway and its traffic XD
Rainbow Road 64...
That is crap the way King Koopa catches up after being hit!
It is even worse on Karts 7 & 8!
Nice. The 64 was the best for 1v1. The prize drops and the way the shells behaved was perfect for 1v1. I'm looking forward to a US release
Royal Raceway is great,definitely one of my favourite tracks and probably the nicest looking along with Ribbon Road.I'd love to play a 3D Mario with that style.
MK8 is a good game, but the inclusion of coins as an item again and the HORRID battle mode make it inferior to MK7, imo.
I laughed at what you did on Rainbow Road at 7:16 .It's like something I would do.
@Gold_Ranger Well, Mario Kart 8 definitely doesn't have the rubberbanding of Mario Kart 64!
Look at how wide the tracks are in Mario Kart 8.
Destroys the game.
Yeah MK64's Rainbow Road track was painfully long. I always lamented it was impossible to save a ghost on that one because the track length exceeded the save time.
@Franklin MK64: MK64, 4 players per track. MK8, 12 players per track.
I think there's a reason why they're wider.
(Sorry if I got number slightly wrong)
@Calllack
Yes, precisely why sometimes less is more.
Am I the only one missing what made Super Mario Kart such a great game?
I never could accept the way the roads became larger and larger until the Wii. (in fact, I did not bother trying any (3)DS version)
Not sure if anyone's mentioned it before, but has anything been said about why MK8 doesn't have the 'two weapons' of previous games ie holding item behind you & picking up another? Does anyone miss it?
The N64 Rainbow Road has always been known as dreadful but this comparison highlights it even more. It's so long it should have been a single lap like the newer version, but instead you have to endure that snorefest 3 times. I'm so glad they decided the tradition of RR was no rails and didn't decide to take tradition from this track.
@Riff-the-Don I don't know if any official comment was ever made but I would imagine it's to make people in 1st place easier to hit. Or any place in front actually. I can't say I like it more but you have to admit that being behind someone who kept stocking a shell/banana in reserve when you're lucky to even destroy the item they're trailing was a pain in the ass.
Ah, this brought back memories for me.
Terrible, terrible memories of rubberbanding AI...
Its bad when, on Luigi's circuit, I had somehow managed to get the item box on the hot air balloon during lap 2 while in 1st place. I had the resulting Spiny Shell (The balloon box always drops this) trailing me for the rest of the race, and all I heard was cry after cry of the rubberbanding AI repeatedly hitting my butt and wrecking off the shell.
Yeah, Spiny Shells don't break while being trailed, except by Star users. Anything else is destroyed while leaving the shell intact.
Mario Kart Wii was very fun, but I still think Diddy Kong Racing was more varied and well-conceived compared to Mario Kart 7 and 8. Heck, even the underwater and glider sections are just crappy ripoffs of DKR's hovercraft and biplane, without the unique mechanics of not using a car... And DKR's multiplayer isn't just restricted to racing maps and circular circuits.
MK8 wasn't very good, sure it looked pretty, but they toned down all the franticness both in terms of stage hazards and items, and that was what made Mario Kart fun, at least for me.
Mario Kart DS is still the highpoint of the series for me, though MK64, MKWii, Super Circuit and Double Dash we're all fine also.
@PlywoodStick Indeed, Diddy Kong Racing is one of the finest kart racing games ever made and beats any given MK game too, Crash Team Racing is amazing also and I didn't even get to play it for the first time until last year.
@Expa0 I never did get around to playing and setting up a multiplayer session with friends for Crash Team Racing back in the day. One of my friends did, though, and he had many good things to say about it.
I wonder what it is about the majestic franticness and variability of those games that has been so elusive to replicate in later titles? Nintendo is being beaten at their own game by their former partners and rivals!
I don't understand the lamenting of the rubberbanding in Mario Kart. Without it, quite frankly, Mario Kart would not be challenging at all. In fact, I think the only game in the entire series that really gave a serious challenge due to the course design was the original Super Mario Kart. Maybe that's just a design flaw rampant throughout the series, because other kart and car racers have achieved relatively competent AI without rubberbanding...
And personally, I really liked the Rainbow Road of MK64, mainly because of the chain chomps, the importance of physics on the slopes, the astrological character formations, the music, and of course... The dread of wondering whether another player was going to use the big shortcut.
I think it was a conscious design decision to make the MK64 Rainbow Road more accessible for beginners, while still having some fun mechanics to use for more experienced players. (There's nothing to prevent players from agreeing on whether or not to use the shortcut, which significantly shortens the Rainbow Road, removing the excuse to deride it for long length.) I can still remember how difficult it was for other people I played Super Mario Kart with to stay on the Rainbow Road's track, with no bumpers... I suspect that was a common occurance for others, too.
3ds version PLS
Loved every Mario kart,the only thing I don't like about them is since SMK you have not been able to drive away from the ai karts,I liked being able to lap the all the other karts in SMK as I was going so quick
@Ralizah MK Wii's Battle Mode is even worse, as it restricts you to lame time-based battles that can only be played in teams, while most of the arenas are over-gimmicky pieces of trash. MK7 has some better arenas but also some pretty lousy ones along with the same stupid rule restrictions. Sigh, Mario Kart hasn't had a good battle mode since Double Dash. Also, you do recall that MK7 also uses coins, right?
I loved the N64 version... somehow the newer games doesn't come near to that feeling i have with N64... maybe it's the graphics or the music....
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