Rare's Diddy Kong Racing is one of the highlights of the N64 library, providing a racing adventure which was arguably superior to Nintendo's own Mario Kart 64.
To accompany the release, Nintendo created a VHS promo tape which showcased gameplay footage alongside some rather painful live-action segments, with the premise being that Diddy Kong has gone missing and a series of eye-witness reports attempt to chart his whereabouts.
YouTube channel Hard4Games has taken it upon itself to restore this VHS treasure for a new generation, using a HDMI-ready VCR player to capture the footage.
Did you have this tape as a kid? What do you make of Nintendo's marketing circa 1997? Let us know with a comment, and don't forget to check out our exclusive Making of Diddy Kong Racing feature while you're here.
Comments 37
DKR>MK64.
Wow. That video would have even made me cringe 20 years ago!
@timson72 I agree. Never understood the appeal to Mario Kart 64 especially compared to Diddy Kong Racing. So much better.
@FragRed I love MK64 but overall DKR was better.
I liked Diddy Kong Racing, but it just didn't get as much playtime when I played with my friends as Mario Kart 64.
I enjoyed MK64 more than DKR, but I can't really say why.
I should perhaps unpack my Nintendo 64 and play DKR with the eyes of a 20-year-older man?
This game is crying our for a remake or sequel.
I know it was remade for the DS a few years back but for me you can't beat playing it on the big screen
Cringe.
Wow such 90s
Much Rare kitsch
I had a couple of promo VHS tapes. They were horrible and awesome. Came with the Nintendo power subscription I think.
Don't hurt the Mario doll.
Welcome to 90's, guys !
I miss the 90's.
Crash Team Racing wipes the floor with Diddy Kong Racing!
Lol I still have this video. Also have the Banjo Kazooie one as well
Never played that one, but I see why people say it's better than MK64. I'd still probably prefer the many racers I know of in MK64 though, knowing only what some look like in DK games.
Take me off the shelf, I'm sold.
MK64 multiplayer was better but DKR single player (or 'Jointventure' 2-player) was brilliant!
I'm pretty sure I still have all of these VHS tapes. There was one for Star Fox 64 and one for the N64 in general I believe.
Is there something wrong with me? I'm actually laughing at this quite a bit.... it's like the Kung Pow cheesey on purpose humor.
Such a fine line between nostalgia and cringe. lol
"Dent?"
"Trent"
lol
I loved these VHS tapes! The N64 announcement, the Starfox 64 preview, and JFG/DK64 preview were dear to my heart growing up. I never saw this one so I'm looking forward to it!
That was actually a very well made video and funny lol. Its very 90s but I didnt find it cringy. I played DKR so much as a kid, I absolutely loves that game and MK64 too, both are classics.
If you thought that was cringe worthy, check out the famous DKC promo VHS.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdhT_rtEaUE
Nothing says "late-90s video production" like unnecessary canted angles...
HDMI-ready VCR player? I didn't even know these existed. I just use a SCART to HDMI converter/upscaler.
As for the video: it's delightfully cheesy and very typical of the era, so nice to see it preserved in the best possible quality.
If seen in the right perspective, as in all things back in the 90's, such as a whole bunch of equally cheesy movies and series, then this video isn't really all that cringe-worthy.
If anything, the name of the YouTube Channel that preserved the video is far more cringe-worthy: I can't say that I've ever found myself to be (or get) "hard for games"...
(and do note the '4' instead of 'four' in their channel's name, indicating another popular 90's trend)
I had the DKC tape, the DKR tape, the Jet Force Gemini/DK64 tape, and an N64 tape. Loved em all and I rewatch them every now and then in my mancave. Miss silly things like this.
I still go back and play through DKR from time to time on the ol' 64.
@SLIGEACH_EIRE That makes two of us.
Trent Tilman for Smash 5
This was the good ol' days...
I think I own this tape...
Diddy Kong racing for N64 was special. Will we get a switch version? Probably not. Will I keep wishing for that day to come? Yes
Bad even by 90s standards wow. Still not as rotten as the cart immortalized DK Rap but it's pretty bad still.
i still have my vhs of this. how much it worth?
I had this VHS as a kid with my Nintendo Power subscription. I don't know if it was "cringe-worthy", but rather light-hearted poking fun at the popular expose documentaries of the time. Personally I feel a lot of the 90s ads were better than those of today, but I also don't mind slap stick humor especially when it comes to games like Diddy Kong Racing that don't take themselves seriously at all.
To be honest, I think the host was pretty good at making the best of a bad situation. And in this day and age, Frank could have become a meme.
Positive I still have this in my mom's attic back home.
I wonder how many celebrities that became well known did videos like this early in their career? Yeah, this was an outdated link by 10 years in 1998.
Hahaha - definitely very 90s! It's inspired me to do a blog post with links to other similar N64 videos.
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