Update [Fri 19th Aug, 2022 02:05 BST]: This is your reminder that Wave Race 64 is now available on Nintendo's Switch Online + Expansion service. Enjoy!
Original article [Tue 16th Aug, 2022 02:30 BST]: Nintendo hasn't outlined the future of Switch Online + Expansion Pack, so what's next? Nintendo has today broken its silence, revealing the game to follow up Pokémon Puzzle League will be the 1996/97 jet ski racing game, Wave Race 64.
While it's not the first time we've seen it on one of Nintendo's digital services, it's still a welcome addition to Switch Online's N64 library. This game was developed by Nintendo EAD and follows on from the Game Boy original, which was released in 1992.
And yes, the Kawasaki sponsor banners also make a return in the Switch version. While they were originally swapped out in the Wii Virtual Console release for Wii and DS banners, they were eventually restored in the Wii U release.
Japan will also be receiving Wave Race 64 later this week, and this version of the game includes Rumble Pak support. If you're interested to learn more about the history of Wave Race, or the Switch Online retro offerings so far, check out the following links:
- Soapbox: Wave Race 64 Is Now 25 Years Old, And It Still Rules
- Nintendo Switch Online - Every NES, SNES, N64 And Sega Genesis Game Available
Will you be returning to Wave Race when it splashes onto Switch Online later this week? Comment below.
Comments 132
Awesome, I have always wanted to give this game a shot, not a bad addition to the service.
Usa! USA! USA!! 🇺🇸 yeah!
Yess!! Great news.
I'm suprised It wasn't there already.
By the way, where is Wave Race 4, Nintendo?
One of my favorite N64 games, still need a new game in the series though.
@Acein210 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Not sure what this has to do with the game but 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Very nice addition to NSO and a fitting game for the Summer. I have fond memories of this game, despite not being good at it.
great game but the n64 well is starting to run dry. Seriously what games can they realistically add now? Maybe 4 or 5 games left worth even playing on that tiny library
Sweet! I had forgotten you could ride on the dolphins 🐬!
This is a nice addition….this will appease many Nintendo gamers! A true classic N64 title…super slowly but surely they are improving the value NSO offers. Wonder what else drops before the year ends?
It's good to see it's the original Kawasaki sponsored version (as seen on the Wii U Virtual Console) and not the Wii Virtual Console version that had its publicity changed.
EDIT: Japan is also getting Wave Race 64, but it seems it'll be the Shindou Pak Taiou Version, just like the Japanese version of Super Mario 64 available in the NSO app.
@Ratmasterd21 I’d like to see Ogre Battle 64, StarCraft 64 (a guy can dream!), Banjo Tooie, DK 64, Super Smash, Diddy Kong Racing, Mario Party games, Goldeneye, Perfect Dark, Bomberman 64, Pokémon Stadium, Rogue Squadron, and more.
I used to stand in queues at the post office for fun, but now I use NSO so that I can wait for a slow trickle release of really old games.
@Ratmasterd21 banjo tooie, mario party 1-3, smash bros, pokemon stadium 1-2, diddy Kong racing, perfect dark, earthworm Jim 64, Clay fighters, castlevenia 64, megaman legends, resident evil 2, and a ton more. Keep in mind we've only really been getting 1st party games. But the other NSO services show 3rd party games are on the table as well. Rares library has yet to even be fully tapped on N64.
Fantastic! One of my favourite racing games ever. While I would like Nintendo to make a new game in the series, I don’t know if they’ll ever be able to top the gameplay of this one. I’ve not played a single jet ski game over the years that handles as well as Wave Race 64.
@Ratmasterd21 I logged in just to tell you you’re wrong lol do a quick google of the first party lineup and you’ll see how much Nintendo still has to offer. Let alone 3rd party.
How about some new graphic filters for the snes and nes too?
@BobbleBubble Throw in Star Wars: Episode I: The Battle for Naboo. It was essentially Rogue Squadron 1.5, and the best Episode I game which was eclipsed by Racer.
Awesome. Wave Race 64 is still the best water based racing game of all time and it isn't even close!
Would be be amazing if HD rumble was utilised.
@Ratmasterd21 You didn't play the N64 in the 90's, and it shows.
I must be the only person in the world who played the hell out of the Game Boy original but never tried the N64 or GameCube games. Looking forward to giving this one a shot.
Oh man I remember playing this on the Wii U virtual console and having a good time with it! I hope 1080° Snowboarding and Excitebike 64 aren't far behind!
Isn’t this a cult classic? Might have to give this a try.
Well, that's one crossed off my wish list. Now to wait for the other 30...
@stereobread The Game Boy game is as rare as rare gets. It doesn't help that the GB game wasn't released on the 3DS Virtual Console, especially when Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters (another GB first-party game that wasn't released originally in Japan) was available on the system.
Either Nintendo wants nothing to do with that game or they lost the source code somehow.
Before everyone starts a flame war, remember. They got the license back.
THIS JUST MADE MY DAY!!! Wave Race 64 is a magic game. For so many we just get this magic nostalgia for the music and action. Eeeee!!
Oh man I played this game so much back in the day along with the Gamecube version that came afterwards.
Nintendo's too late I got my Steam Deck before they released this. The deck is doing what Nintendo should be doing...
With the exception of the dock of course.
@Ratmasterd21 I'm going to assume you didn't play on the N64 back in the day.
@Marioracer
So if Nintendo released Wave Race 64 earlier you wouldn't have got a Steam Deck?
Bit weird but OK.
Alright, I’ll keep the expansion pass a little longer. Took ya long enough Nintendo
@KindofaBigDeal Steam Deck isn't even that great either.
@RubyCarbuncle Depends on the persons wants and needs I guess.
@Ratmasterd21 @BobbleBubble
pilotwings 64, blast corps, top gear rally, rush 2, both goemon games, and since we are dreaming here, bangai o would be great additions.
whats wrong with a small library if there are still dozens of great games? Dreamcast has one of the best libraries ever and I'm pretty sure it's a great deal smaller than n64's.
If it didn't cost $50 a year... Guess I'll play my parents' original cartridge lol
Love this game! Just need Pilotwings 64 and the N64 Controller you can’t buy to play them!
How about 1080 snowboarding? Loved that game.
Wave Race is still phenomenal. Gonna have another go through for sure.
I... Never knew this was first on Gameboy :/
Learn something new everyday. Now for 1080 Snowboarding and Excitebike 64 to appear. Maybe Cruisin' USA...?
@KindofaBigDeal Let me explain myself better if Nintendo just released the games like they did on the Wii with vc I would'nt be complaining the fact that Nintendo is holding content back on purpose just to release it later to extend the consoles life span and also make the switch online seem worth it well, that's just not my cup of tea so too speak. besides that I like to think of my switch as a companion to my deck.
Besides being one of the best N64 games, Wave Race 64 is genuinely one of the best "feel good" games of all time. There is a sincere vibe that permeates the entire game. Pilotwings 64 had a similar feeling too imo, but sadly, it is extremely unlikely that PW64 will ever return to NSO. Those that have never played Wave Race 64 are in for a real treat.
Side note: I really miss when Nintendo still made team sports and action sports games. Wave Race, 1080 Snowboarding, Ken Griffey MLB baseball games, NBA Courtside, and Excitebike. For my game tastes, they were a great balance to the Marios/Zeldas/etc. (which I still loved). I get the reasons why most of those sports+action series ended up folding by the end of the GCN era, but there's just that what-if.
@BobbleBubble Well, you mention Goldeneye and this makes me think that it won’t be a NSO release but the remastered version
However, this could be proof that the game doesn’t exist or the rumour Nintendo is the one preventing the release
Here it is folks. My tipping point. NSO+ has slowly been getting good, but this is the game that pushes me over the edge of the dock with a welcome splash.
This game is in my top 10 of all time list. I love it that much.
A nice surprise addition!
Really hoping they release Mario Party 2 soon as well!
Aww yeah, Nintendo drip feed!!!!
This is freaking awesome and it’s great to see some positivity in these NSO updates!
Revealed! Announced?! Who cares, it’s coming!
A great addition, WR64 was always one of the best N64 games imo.
@PARK1755 just my way of celebrating lol
@RobotReptile I said the same thing on YouTube when I saw it. Epic
Yes!!!! Thank you cowards!
I have this cartridge too, but honestly I just don’t think waverace is very good. Love the 64 tho and will play it at least once. Finally got one of the wireless 64 controllers, just had to go to New York to the Nintendo store to get it lol. I’m Canadian
Only played blue storm. Looking first to play the prequel
YESSSS! I legitimately got excited when I saw Nintendo's tweet about this earlier in the day. I didn't grow up with Wave Race, but I played through it for the first time a handful of years ago and I quickly saw why it's a classic and became a fan of it too. I could replay it on my Switch now!
Even now, the water effects in this game have not been beaten. I was playing it on my Xbox series X just yesterday. Still love it and I was there for the original release.
After playing the 64 version I switched to the GC version and the N64 game beats it hands down.
That's very nice, but where are the GB and GBA games, Nintendo?
Awesome Been wanting this for so long. I'll be hitting the waves this weekend.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
This is fantastic. Still hoping Pilot Wings 64 gets released
I can't wait to play it again. I only recently played the original on my N64, and the game still rocks. Water physiques are still the best ever, and the racing is so pure. Curiously, my cartridge still had all my records and custom names for the racers. I named them after WWE wrestlers, so there was Warrior, Hulkster, Rick Rude and Sunny.
@BobbleBubble don't forget Conker's Bad Fur Day!
@TKundNobody
A prequel is something that comes after another in a series, but is set before it.
Wave Race 64 was released before Blue Storm.
This might convince me to download the japanese NSO just to experience it with the rumble pak!
@Franklin thought I could use it for an earlier installment 😅
I hope they've got rid of the terrible fog from Drake Lake. 😂
@Hank_Scorpio I was wondering when you’d comment after demanding this game for so long!
Awesome 😊 such a underrated game!
If only there were N64 bloody controllers to buy
I've only played Waverace Blue Storm on the GameCube but the music sounds so funny and 80s on this trailer! I expected it to have rock music like Blue Storm.
@Mattock1987 I did have a little fist pump when I saw the news. This was a key N64 title back in the day and can now play with my old college buddies in different cities. Goldeneye 007 next yeah cowards?
It’s also a favourite of mine. I doubt Goldeneye is a possibility, how about Pilotwings next year cowards?
I got a controller in that last batch in U.K. held off buying the plus sub until then next essential game and they give it to me straight away. This would be tied in the top 5 all essential games I would want. Like there are another. 30+ corking games but a game like this I would go back to time and time again. Like I have a n64 and this on cart but still not the point.
This was a nice announcement to see this morning! I know many people were hoping for Wave Race 64, so I’m looking forward to trying it out!
@Hank_Scorpio
Glad you're happy! 😀
Now give us Mischief Makers you cowards!
I was worried we wouldn't be getting an August game based on the wording they used when Puzzle League came out but I'm glad I was proven wrong. There's something so special about N64 racing games and this is one I've wanted to play ever since I played F-Zero X for the first time when it came out on NSO, I'm so damn excited!
Used to love this the water effects blew me away at the time. Couldn't finish the hardest levels though
The only 2 games I was hoping would come to this was Wave Race and No Mercy. So I'm proper chuffed about this, however I just can't see No Mercy ever happening.
@Ratmasterd21
Smash, Mario Party 1-3, Banjo-Tooie, Blast Corps, Diddy Kong Racing, Pilotwings 64, Pokemon Stadium 1+2, Donkey Kong 64, Excitebike 64.
and goldeneye but that's never gonna happen
This pretty much deconfirms Goldeneye for this month (the 25th anniversary of the N64 game is this month so you may have said this month was the perfect opportunity). Can't say I'm surprised though as Nintendo hasn't given Advance Wars a new release date yet.
Neat I guess? Is it too optimistic to hope for GB/GBA games to be announced in the September Direct?
Give us a new entry!
@Knightrider1 Whatever is holding up Goldeneye, I hope it can be resolved and released for NSO. My dad and I played it together and we'd take turn doing the missions. We had such a blast. Every time I think of 007 (and Perfect Dark) I think of those late 90's summers. I want to create new memories with my own kids this time around!
Meh. What else you got, Nintendo?
Glad to see this!
But this shuts down the Goldeneye rumour, I guess.
I’m Glad that wave race 64 is coming to switch, I also want Mario Party 1,2,3 to come to the Nintendo Switch
@Ratmasterd21 Lots of good games in the Japanese library.
I am just patiently waiting for smash bros 64 to drop.
Oh yeah this was one of our first N64 games! Our household was completely obsessed with it back "N" the day So hopefully this means we are one step closer to 1080 Snowboarding.
I may be in the minority, but I was a bigger fan of Blue Storm. As much as I do agree with those that have already said a proper sequel is way overdo...I'd be perfectly ok with a HD re-release of some sort of Blue Storm on the Switch
@Paulo I don't remember Wave Race 3?
@HolyGeez03
Wave Race 1: GB
Wave Race 2: N64
Wave Race 3: NGC
I know it has a cult-like following, but Wave Race 64 isn't nearly as great as everyone remembers it being. Don't get me wrong, I played it plenty back in the day and had a damn good time with it, but it's one of those games that you're better off remembering through through the tint of rose-colored glasses. Sadly, it really hasn't aged well.
Nice-a-roni. Donkey Kong Country next, please.
@HerMajestysmyPronoun, DKC on Super NES is already on NSO.
Donkey Kong 64 on the other hand:
This will make people happy
@NeonPizza I think the NTSC version was capped at 25fps, run in general about 20fps. The PAL version was an absolutely awful, shoddy conversion, the team messed up the code and it runs at 15fps with larger borders, they never bothered to revise it. The worst of it was a few Action Replay codes fixed the PAL speed and borders, which is how I played PAL WR back in the day - Nintendo really did hate us back then.
@Ratchet916 It's really down to the individual. Different folks, different strokes and all that jazz.
Now I can play the American version at 60hrtz instead of the PAL release that was 20% slower when I bought it (as a launch game on my N64)
i am unreasonably excited about this. i put tens of hours into WaveRace back in 1997, i LOVE this game..
I never played it on the Virtual Console for whatever reason, so this'll be my first time since 1997. Looking forward to it.
@Ratmasterd21
When they add Superman 64, that's when you know it's run dry.
One of my favourite N64 games 👌
how many games look and feel like this? we need diddy kong racing this is generic.
Next up, I want San Francisco Rush, Cruisin' USA.
When are we going to get Pilotwings 64?
It's never been re-released on any prior virtual console, which is weird for a game that - aside from being incredibly fun - was literally the only other game not named Mario 64 that was available at launch.
Does Nintendo not have the rights to it or something? I recall them co-developing it with some company or another, but come on - it's Pilotwings 😛
I’ll bet the next game will be Wetrix
Just beat the first championship. This was my first time playing this game but I watched propably ten longplays of it. I think the game aged really well, because it is still very fun and I love the atmosphere. There is also something very gamy in the tone. I miss this in newer games.
Let the good times roll.
@Paulo,
Sales of the first game on the N64 were pretty decent, but the follow up on the Cube did not even manage a million sales, so I would be surprised if Nintendo devoted an internal EAD department to make a new one.
@Andy_Witmyer,
Would love to see it, but it was not developed by Nintendo, as Paradigm Entertainment made the game, so there could be some other licensing issue we are not aware of.
@Ratmasterd21 1080, excite bike, destruction derby, etc what they all said lol, there is a good few potential games left dude
Still a terrific game on the N64.
Hope the emulation does it justice.
@johnvboy What a shame, it was an amazing game, Wave Race Blue Storm
Holds up amazingly well for such an old game, that wave physics was way ahead its time!
@johnvboy I was likewise operating under the assumption that it was a problem related to Paradigm having the rights, but that company has been defunct since 2005.
I did come across another theory that could very well explain it: Pilot Wings 64 has a map that's basically a compact version of the United States (one of my favorite maps, tbh). One of the major urban areas on the east coast is clearly meant to represent NYC, as it contains a representation of the Twin Towers.
And there lies in the problem.
One of the specific missions on that map is to fly around bombing stuff from your heli - which means one could fly to the NYC area and bomb or crash into the towers. I can imagine NOA fretting over the possibility of tasteless "9/11 re-enactments". In fact, the Towers' very presence in the game could provoke some to accuse the company showing a disregard towards the tragedy.
I mean, Nintendo's not released / re-released games for (arguably) less (ie Advanced Wars). Of course, it would literally not take much coding to simply remove one of the towers (thereby changing the twin towers into a simple, anonymous skyscraper), but I think we should all know by now that, outside of a few remasters, Nintendo's not exactly known for making very many noticeable graphical changes to their source codes.
The 9/11 theory would definitely explain why Pilotwings 64's been all but forgotten by Nintendo and remains one of the few major franchise titles to never once see a second release.
@Andy_Witmyer,
Never remembered the twin towers likeness, yes that could be an issue, although lots of older movies etc still have the buildings, but of course the context could be key.
Finally! This, Mario 64, and the Mario Kart 8 pass already make the NSO expansion worth it for me.
Great game, I hope that either Super Smash Bros., Donkey Kong 64 and/or Mario Party 3 are the next titles added!!!!!!
@Acein210 Papa New Guinea! Papa New Guinea! Yeah! 🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬🇵🇬
Well, that's one more game on the n64 list that I like. There's still not enough there for me to pay an extra $30 for the NSO expansion membership. I wish we could just purchase the individual games.
Pilot Wings, 1080°, etc. Really I'll probably wait until there's closer to 10 titles that I'd actually play. I don't feel that the extra $30 would be worth it for me at this point.
@Rainz I’m guessing we’ll see Smash Bros, Donkey Kong 64, Pilot Wings, Bomberman, Castlevania and/or probably some of the Mario Party games. It would be awesome to see them add Extreme G, Blast Corps, Perfect Dark, 1080 and the Turok series. But alas, most likely as likely as Golden Eye those games.
@patbacknitro18 you really gonna sit here and tell me earthworm Jim 64, clayfighter and castleviana 64 are worth playing? I own those games man they're trash at best. I agree with the rest of the stuff on that list though
@ComposedbyNone like? I own over 60 n64 games and the best stuff is already on the switch with the exception of stuff they can't/ won't get. (I.E. WWF games, golden eye, rare games,) I guess you could put Mario party 1-3 and didykong racing. that's about it
@Ratchet916 I find this to be the case with pretty much everything on the N64. the games worth replaying are already on the switch. pretty much everything else has aged very poorly.
@Ratmasterd21 Smash, Mario Party as you said, Banjo Tooie, Pokemon Stadium 1 and 2 (with possible connectivity to Nintendo GameBoy Online?) Tony Hawk Pro Skater (ik the remake is on the platform, but it’s an essential title, and N64 online already has redundancies with Mario 64). All the Rare titles are fair game as a guess considering Banjo hit the service. I fully believe we’ll either get Goldeneye even though it’s in license hell, or we’ll get Perfect Dark. Donkey Kong 64. Rocket Robot on Wheels. Blitz 2000. We got Wave Race so why not Snowboard 1080 as well. Plenty of meat left on the bone.
@Maulbert actually I did. it was the first system I bought with my own money, and the first Nintendo system I was disappointed in. SNES had so many great RPGs and fighters, and next to smash and Orge battle N64 had none. I moved on to Saturn and Ps1 after only a year of N64. That being said Star Fox and Mario 64 are 2 of my all time favorite games.
@ComposedbyNone the first few are very possible, but you hit a snag when you said Pokemon Stadium. Pokemon company very rarely does rereleases and definitely not for free. Tony Hawk on the n64 was far and away the worst version and the remake is on the platform AND the music/ skaters make it a licensing nightmare. rare titles are also hard but not impossible since Nintendo and Microsoft have a really good relationship. Blitz will NEVER come NFL does NOT play around with that stuff plus you'd have to pay all those players. 1080 I agree with you on. that ones coming for sure. So yeah I think you're right about a lot of those games but some are just way to wrapped up in red tape to be paid for and given away for free with an online subscription
@RubyCarbuncle I did, but I also had a ps1. and a Sega Saturn and the had way better libraries ( quantity and diversity wise, I still believe Mario 64 Starfox 64 are the best games of that generation) its just the n64 was so lacking in what the SNES had in droves, GREAT JRPGs and fighters. Next to Orge battle and Smash nothing was really worth getting (quest 64 was hot trash) I bought the N64 with my own cash and its the biggest Nintendo disappointment I've ever had after the VB.
@-wc- The dreamcast had over 600 game releases. the N64 had less then 400. Theres nothing wrong with a small library of games but I just wish they had released GB,GBC,GBA games and not caved in because 25-30 year olds loved Nintendos first 3d system.
@Ratmasterd21
i hate to split hairs, here, but I'm in North America, and the numbers here are 248 for Dreamcast, 296 for n64. i dont know where you are of course, but ive a feeling most of those 600 dc titles never made it out of japan.
also, the idea that you are resentful that they "caved in" and made x because so many nintendo fans love x is pretty funny. but, i agree gbc/gba would be alot more exciting for me too, personally. they really should have done n64 and gbc instead of genesis, thatd have gotten my money.
@-wc- I'm going to have to split hairs as well I'm afraid. Your statement was "Dreamcast has one of the best libraries ever and I'm pretty sure it's a great deal smaller than n64's." I wouldnt call 48 releases in a single region (although its the biggest) "a great deal smaller" especially since its 200 games bigger worldwide. I'm in NYC, I've always had access to Japanese and EU games so I suppose I didn't notice.
Also I suppose my use of hyperbole didn't translate well but by "Caved in" I ment "followed the market." Business 101 is supply and demand. If the target customer is openly asking for a product that you can supply relatively easily and with little to no cost, it's just smart to give it to them and charge whatever premium you find most profitable and realistically viable.
That being said I'll make my original point as clear as possible. The Nintendo 64 has some of the best games ever made, but it's library is extremely limited when compared to any other Nintendo console (with the obvious exception of the virtual boy). For that reason I find that while the decision to add N64 games to the premium online service is more then likely the more popular and profitable move, I feel as though ANY other console (but especially the gameboy family of consoles) would have been a better experience for gamers. Mostly because people would find things they haven't yet had legal access to and/or haven't had access to in years.
@Ratmasterd21
we'll see who splits what hairs!
~300 is ~20% greater than ~250. that's ~5 n64 games for every ~4 dc games.
i actually agree with you, for the most part though. personally, im glad n64/gen is "out of the way" so maybe we have a chance if getting some of the more interesting libraries with satisfying deep cuts 🙂👍
@-wc- lol great math. This was legitimately a fun conversation.
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