Rock_On's Full Review: Diddy Kong Racing for Nintendo 64
Finally!! A game based on racing that has a plot to it rather than racing to be first in every race. I had been waiting for one of these games to finally be released, and now Diddy Kong Racing has taken up the first role.
Plot/Story
When Timber the lion’s parents go on a vacation, Timber is left to watch the island. But Wizpig, the evil pig from outer space, has come to earth to find a challenger worthy of racing him. Timber sends for the best racers around the land to come race and bring his peaceful island back.
Game play
On the menu screen, you choose between six different characters(at first), and then you come to a screen with Adventure and Tracks.
Adventure
This is basically the whole game. This is where you race and collect balloons to unlock doors to all the other races. There are four circuits with four races and other surprises each.
Adventure 2
Ha! I sprang this one up on you didn’t I? This feature is available after beating Wizpig both times in Adventure mode. Only now, the tracks are a mirror image of the first ones. You thought that you were a pro at the regular tracks, just try these.
Tracks
This is just where you can race any track you’ve previously opened in Adventure mode. This is where the other four players can join.
You race in four different circuits to collect a balloon every time you win. There are four races in every circuit.
The circuits are:
Dino Domain
Snowflake Mountain
Sherbert Island
and Dragon Forest
After completing all of them and beating Wizpig the first time, you’re sent to Future Fun Land on Wizpig’s planet. After completing the races there, you challenge Wizzy one last time to determine who is the fastest and best racer.
In each circuit, you must complete four different tasks in to totally complete the area.
Balloon Race
There are four races in each circuit(haven’t I said this already?). When you beat each race, you’ll earn a balloon for every one.
Boss Challenge
After racing every track and acquiring the balloons from each race, you must battle a boss. Once you beat the boss, you learn about the Silver Coin Challenge.
Silver Coin Challenge
Here we go again. Now you can race the tracks again and earn another balloon for them. Well that’s easy, right? Wrong. Now there are eight silver coins along the track that you must collect, and finish first.
Boss Rematch
“You’ve collected all eight silver coins from each track, what are you going to do now?” Well, he would have to participate in a rematch against the boss who is faster than the previous time.
Now that you’ve completed all that, you can say that you’ve completed that area right? Wrong. These aren’t really required, but they would be better doing them now.
Trophy Race
You come here to race in all four races like you do in Mario Kart 64, and earn points to win the first place trophy.
T.T. Challenge
In one of the races in each circuit, you’ll find a key that opens the big gold doors in each area. If you win the challenge inside, you’ll receive a piece of the T.T. Amulet. Once you complete all the challenges, the amulet will open the door to the ultimate race.
Taj’s Challenges
A genie that helps you out in the game is walking around in the center of the island. His name is Taj. Honk at him and he’ll ask you to challenge him in three different races; car, hovercraft, and plane. You’ll earn a gold balloon for beating him after each one.
Land, Sea, Air
When you enter a race, you are automatically in the vehicle you will use for that race. You can choose between a Plane, Car, and a Hovercraft in track mode. To change vehicles while on the island, honk at Taj and pick which one you want to use.
Rockets Ignite!
Like Mario Kart, Diddy Kong can collect different items to help them during a race. You can collect bananas that make you faster the more you collect, but you lose them when you get hit. There are different colored balloons; Green, Red, Blue, Rainbow, and yellow, that you can collect. Green balloons are droppers(kind of like the bananas and upside down ? mark’s in Mario Kart), Red are missiles, Blue are boosts, Yellow are shields, and Rainbow are magnets.
If you collect the same balloon three times in a race, you’ll have a super version of the first balloon that is stronger and lasts longer.
There are also red and yellow arrows that when you drive over or fly through, they give you a speed boost. They’re located throughout each track.
Graphics 9/10
The graphics are nice, not compared to today’s advances, but they’re good. The frame rate is pretty fast and won’t affect you at all while driving. Characters faces are scratchy and movements are block like, but doesn’t really affect the fun factor. As I’ve said for the other games that debuted three to four years ago, the graphics are nothing special like today's, but are very good considering they were developed back when.
Control 9/10
Turning in Diddy Kong Racing is much tighter and a lot sharper than it’s similar competition, Mario Kart 64.
Like Mario Kart, with the press and hold of the “R” button, you will be sent sliding so you can take sharp turns a lot better. The menus are also navigatable very easily..
Sound 7/10
The music for Diddy Kong Racing is very annoying. You will most likely have your T.V. on mute and your radio on after the first five minutes. Even if you don’t like the sound, each area and each races theme goes well with the type of track it is.
Satisfaction 9/10
Completing the Adventure mode and Adventure 2 mode is quite a task to accomplish. You’ll spend many hours completing all tracks, opening all the secrets, and unlocking the two hidden characters.
Diddy Kong Racing won’t be one of those games that collects dust on your shelf. Most of the time it will be burning electricity through your N64.
Overall 34/40
For a racing game that has more to it than pure racing, that’s got to say something. You can now purchase this gem for under 30$ at any K-Mart or Wal-Mart.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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