Wave Race was not a well known series prior to its arrival on the Nintendo 64. Actually it wasn't a series at all, but rather a single release: a top-down racer on the Game Boy. With its 64-bit machine offering the opportunity for new 3D gaming experiences, Nintendo decided to have another crack at a Jet Ski racer and came up with the very impressive Wave Race 64.
The main mode of play in the game is "Championship". There are four characters to chose from with differing abilities (speed, grip, acceleration et cetera); you pick one and then compete against the other three in a series of 3-lap races, passing buoys, jumping ramps and avoiding obstacles. Pass a buoy on the correct side and your engine power (and thus your speed) increases. Miss a buoy and your engine drops to its lowest setting. Points are awarded based on your finishing position, with 7 points for first, down to 1 point for fourth (0 if you retire). The person with the most points at the end is unsurprisingly declared the winner - you might not make it to the end, however, as a certain amount of points are required for you to proceed to the next race. Of course, this being a video game, this rule is not applied to your CPU controlled competition.
Visually Wave Race 64 opts for a bright and colourful look. Whilst not being able to throw out as many polygons as later games machines, good designs give the game an impressive stylised look and the on-screen action is fast and smooth. There are some good details such as birds flying through the sky or the lights and LED screens that illuminate "Twilight City". Banners can be seen around the courses and unlike previous re-releases these include Kawasaki ones. The skies offer some variety to the stages with some opting for a bright blue whilst "Marine Fortress" goes for a murky look, and "Sunset Bay" has a warm orange glow. One particularly good effect is the mist on "Drake Lake", at first appearing like a Turok-type attempt to cover up technical shortcomings, it clears up as the laps progress to give you a clear view of your surroundings. Not everything looks good, however, with some very flat looking trees and spectators who appear to be cardboard standees – although they're not the kind of things you notice when you're busy racing.
The most impressive visual aspect is the water itself. It ripples and bobs away as reflections and sometimes fish can be seen in it. Waves rise up then come crashing down and the way these affect your Jet Ski is remarkable. The degree of violence exhibited by the water varies between stages and during different points of a course, but however the water is buffeting your Jet Ski about it always feels right. Sometimes there's a gentle wobble, in choppier waters you fight for control and other times it feels like you'll be thrown violently from your watercraft – sometimes you are. A misjudged aerial movement, an overly ambitious turn or a hard impact can lead to some spectacular looking crashes as your rider is thrown off their Jet Ski, flailing about or disappearing off-screen as the machine flies off in a different direction.
Complementing the impressive water physics are the spot on controls. You use the control stick for movement and a button for your throttle (A or ZL is the default on Wii U controllers). Tight turns are possible by pulling back as you make the movement, and shifting your centre of gravity is useful for dealing with difficult landings. There are buttons to help with tight turns and to soften the bouncing as you ride over waves, but you can mostly get away with just using the throttle and control stick. Speeding around a course is a lot of fun and your rider does exactly what you ask of them, meaning any falls or collisions feel like a misjudgement on your part – apart from when some prat just rides into you. Once you've got the hang of the controls you may feel the urge to throw in some stunt moves. Manipulate the stick in certain ways, in certain situations, and you will be able to perform a variety of impressive manoeuvres including barrel rolls, flips and even a handstand. The tutorial level explains how to perform these moves (as well as the basics) and it can provide a small chuckle as you cross the line riding your Jet Ski backwards.
There's a variety of good music in the game that can be breezy, energetic, sometimes intense and which will largely go unnoticed during gameplay. The true soundtrack to the game is the revving engines and the crashing waves. These work well at immersing you in the action and there are others that are good too: thuds and clanks as you clip something, smashes as you hit an object hard and grunts and yells when riders collide. This eShop release may not be the (Japanese exclusive) Rumble Pak version of the game, but the sounds combine well with the onscreen action to make you feel every bump your rider takes. Also adding to the atmosphere is the announcer, an excitable chap who will count down to the start of the race, comment "nice" or "good" when things are going well and "don't sweat it" or "no problem" when they're not. He'll also give you updates on your progress ("you're still in first", "you've been overtaken"), shout when your engine is at "maximum power!" and go ALL CAPS to yell "BANZAI!" should you manage a fault-free race.
Championship mode is available in Normal, Hard and Expert flavours; clearing the final course on one difficulty setting opens the next. Normal has six courses for you to race through and the difficulty is well judged. The opener "Sunny Beach" is a basic oval circuit, with subsequent courses introducing ramps, obstacles, tighter turns and rougher conditions. Moving on to the Hard mode there is some disappointment in the fact that you race on the same six courses with a seventh thrown in too (Expert adds an eighth). Thankfully there are some changes to stop things being too similar. You'll find the water is choppier, there are more buoys and obstacles about and there are some alternate routes to be found. There is a noticeable bump in difficulty from Normal to Hard, where mistakes are soon punished and a crash late on will ruin your race.
If you are struggling on a couse a visit to the Time Trials menu is recommended where you can practice on any course you've reached so far. Of course the main reason to visit the Time Trials menu is to set quick times. With no other riders weaving about it's all about doing the best you can and then replaying the courses repeatedly as you attempt to shave fractions from your best times.
An alternative way of playing is provided by Stunt Mode. Available on all courses you earn points by riding through rings and earn yet more points from performing any stunts that you feel like in-between. It's fun, but not as fun as the 2P VS. mode. Although there is a downgrade in visual detail, it moves along fluidly and the ability to race a friend adds considerable replay value to a game that already offers you good reasons to return.
As a final note, the European release on Wii U is the 60Hz US version of the game, which is a welcome improvement for the region.
Conclusion
It's a game with simple controls that work well, combining with effective sound effects and great water physics to immerse you in the action as you speed around the various courses. It's highly enjoyable to play through the Championship and further entertainment can be found in the Stunt mode and Time Trials - the latter offering plenty of replay value as you try to improve on the best times. Throw in the ability to race a friend in the two-player mode and Wave Race 64 is a game that comes highly recommended.
Comments (55)
Love this game so much. Waited forever for it to be released on the Wii U's virtual console. Would love a sequel, though.
Another excellent and forgotten IP. I wonder how good the waves would look like in stereoscopic 3D.
Huzzah for the high score. Converted this over from the Wii, has aged superbly.
I loved this and the Gamecube sequel. Hope we get a new one on NX.
I finally got to play this game in my review. Absolutely loved it, gutted I missed out on it back in the day. Same with 1080'.
@LostHeaven There was a sequel on the gamecube. Wave Race Blue Storm.
Sadly there was nothing more after that to my knowledge. They was both fun games an largely in my childhood growing up.
Wave Race, 1080 and F-Zero, all great games that we're probably not going to see updated versions of because they don't sell as well as a 2D platformer than can be produced for half the cost and will sell ten times as well.
Still play it on a regular basis on the ol' N64. One of its very best games, and a testament to the system's power — and Nintendo's game design — at the time.
@Varelius Right, I meant to say a new game on the series, made from scratch for the Wii U. I did have Blue Storm, but never enjoyed it very much, for some reason. Not sure if it was the music or the tracks... or maybe just nostalgia.
@Shiryu Nice, never thought of a 3DS remake, but playing this in 3D would be superb!
Need a new wave race and 1080 so badly!
I remember being in electronics boutique when I was erm maybe eight deciding whether to buy snowboard kids or wave race! Having only box art to go on I chose snowboard kids which was the most fun multi player ever 'who dropped that rock!!!!' So any way I never played the 64 version so probably will pick this up.
The only thing I don't like about that score is it's not yet available in NA! Still love this game!
Damn right this is a 9/10! This game blew my mind upon release, and is still just as good today.
A new Wave Race for the NX could be quite the launch title. It would be a graphical showcase, lure in racing fans after something a bit different, & people like me who have wanted a new entry drooling in anticipation!
Ah the good ole N64 days.....Ninty had some balls back then!
I never played the GCN sequel...
@sandman89 Yeah Snowboard Kids was one of my favourite n64 multiplayer games!
Never had this on N64, got Blue Storm still, though tempted to get this and 1080 before the offer stops. Would be good gamepad play.
@sandman89 that's brought back some memories......I also bought snowboard kids from an electronics boutique and remember it fondly. Great game and the shops used to be really helpful, recommending favourite games before the internet replaced specialist in store knowledge. Looked like a dated diner even back then so no surprise it's gone now!
I simply LOVE this game. Bought it again on cartridge last year and I'll probably buy this once I have money because it exposes how worn my analogue sticks are on my n64 pads. I still get the giggles at the thought of riding the dolphin!!!
One i actually never owned but my cousin did, and we had a lot of good times on it. I hope one day it will make it to the US eShop, but I doubt it.
Played this game all the time at my friends house back in the day. I picked it up the VC on Wii some years ago. I hope someday there will be a new Wave Race game.
This is a must own game for the N64. I still have my cart but would purchase it in a heartbeat on the Wii U VC if it ever got released in NA.
Why is the NTSC 60hz version got black borders around the top and bottom of the screen because when playing it on an NTSC N64 plays in full screen 4:3 on a 1080p plasma very annoying as i was about to buy it, it looks like the old crap PAL port which was notorious for being really clunky and having huge black borders.
@Retroking1981
Well I noticed. But, yeah I did have the same thought/hope as you.
@XyVoX NTSC version always had borders, it's just the PAL had even bigger ones. Sounds like that plasma is zooming the image slightly to crop them out.
MAXIMUMMMMM POWERRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@MegaWatts Agree with you there Martin: still love getting out the Japanese cartridge of this and having a race. Just wish 4-player had been available but other than that, a near-perfect racer.
I didn't own a N64 back in the day I went with the Playstation so Jet Moto 2 was my go to game. My cousin own a N64 I remember playing Mario 64, Cruis'n USA, Killer Instinct Gold, Mario Kart 64 at his house some great times. I might would get this game if NOA would actually release it here to see what all the buzz is about.
I've been belly-aching since the 3DS's inception for a 3D port. I actually can't believe N hasn't done it. LOVED this game!
9/10. ?
Ok we are not reviewing graphics in reviews any more. It looks old and dated. There may still be fun to be had for a fiver and a 'not bad' score is as good as it gets.
But a 9 is just throwing another rubber ring to the sinking Wii U.
A 3d version for the 3ds would have worked.
10/10
Pass the yellow boobies on the left.
Pass the red boobies on the right.
if only their N64 VC emulator ran the games natively at 1080p I'd consider picking ANY of them up....
Really glad this got the score it deserved, one of my favourites on the n64.
My favourite N64 game. The physicals were so awesome and still are.
A 20 year old game wich still is the best in his kind.
Awesome game! This series needs to return on next Nintendo console along with Pilotwings and F-Zero.
Glad this scored high, it's bucket loads of fun, and one of my all time favourites. Shame the sequel ran dry (despite looking gorgeous).
Watching it now doesn't convey how jaw dropping this was back in 1996. Amazing graphics for its time. Great game.
This was one of the few games I didn't care about when I was a kid, I was not into sports or racing that excluded carts/cars. But if this comes to NA in the summer I'll delve into it this time. I'm more into this kind of stuff now lol
@Other_Dave well thing is ive gamed on my N64 NTSC using several TV's some old CRT's and i never see any borders top & bottom even looking on You-tube you can see the capture in most vids is full screen using the N64 version.
I became a fan since Wave Race Blue Storm was released, it was my first GameCube game! I really love it and still play it which is unusual for a GameCube launch title.
This is the first time I have Wave Race 64 and it's the Wii U version, so I'm thankful because Wave Race 64 PAL version was bad. However, now that I can play both games, I think the GameCube one is better. And yes, I want a Wii U or NX new Wave Race title!!
I thought of Wave Rave whilst playing Piranha Pit on Splatoon. Bought and loving it! Pilotwings 64 next please Mr Nintendo sir
I would happily pay up to £5 for this. I'm guessing it's £10.99
Never played this, but it seems to be an unanimous opinion that this is a good game. Maybe I'll try it sonetime
Wave Race 64 looked incredible on release, journalists and gamers worldwide were astounded by the lifelike physics, detailed animations, beautiful courses, 'realistic' water, the tricks, the speed, the dolphins! Who will ever forget the helicopter scene on the Port track with the gigantic ships? I remember many saying it single handedly showed the difference between the 64 bit and 32 power.
The spectators are of course going to look like cardboard cut outs now it was 1996 designed for 240p remember - but seriously Drake Lake is like the 4th track into the game and the only one to use intense fogging - I think it was pretty clear fogging was never an intent to hide technical short comings considering the lack off in the first three tracks and there after lol.
N64 VC has given us games so far with no fogging issues - isn't it funny how n64 haters use a
1st gen release like Turok 1 give rise to the fog, and Super Mario 64 gave rise to the 'large simple polygons' mantra despite Nintendo estimating they only used 40% of the N64's potential? In the 32/64bit fanboy wars PS1 fanboys forget about the likes of Wave Race 64, the Rare collections, 1080, Factor 5, Iguana, Ubisoft, Activision and even EA sports vastly superior graphical showings on the N64 console!
@liveswired
And then people got annoyed by the 'fuzz' which I never found that big a deal. These days, N64 games have stood the test of time better than PS1 games. I was never a huge PS1 fan anyway but most games on it look dreadful these days. Even on a small screen like the Vita.
@3MonthBeef Pffffhahahaha! Yeah. I don't know why I made that mistake; I know the difference. Editing.
@XyVoX With the vast majority of NTSC N64 titles, yeah, there will be no borders. Wave Race was an exception to the rule however, as even the NTSC version had borders when it was released (the PAL version made these borders even worst in additional to the usual issues concerning bad PAL ports).
Any image/videos of Wave Race that appear full-screen on a TV/youtube, etc, have most likely been stretched to fit by the TV/youtube user. The game's correct aspect ratio will have borders top and bottom.
Any day now NOA.....??
@Humphries90 Best snowboarding game ever!
@Mario_Fart It's £8.99 or £4.49 if bought with 1080'
It still baffles me how good this game has aged, it still looks beautiful despite being so old. Maybe it's like wine and gets better with age?
When it was released on VC I had to immediately buy it and start stunt mode. Still had all the tricks stored in my muscle memory.
@liveswired: The fog in Drake Lake was definitely only for the athmosphere, that's really easy to prove since the fog slowly fades away with each round, in the last round there is no fog anymore.
@Peach64: F-Zero will definitely get a new installment on the next console. Miyamoto hinted at it and that man never does that without having an idea in the back of his head (he actually said something like that once, I think it was before the announcement of Majora's Mask 3D when he was wearing the MM everywhere prior to that).
@electrolite77 Yes, the fuzz was caused by crappy composite leads. My N64 was hooked up to a 20" Sony Trinitron via RF, then S video, which was pristine. If only Nintendo supported the RGB standard. Still atleast diehard fans have the option now for ultraHDMI!
@electrolite77 I still have my ps1, Saturn and N64 connected via s video. The N64 looks the best by far, very solid with some incredible animations, texturing, scale and SFX for its era. People always talk about the N64 having terrible framerates and textures as if it was the only system ever to have such issues...the funny thing is all my big Saturn and ps1 games have the same issues, the most graphically advanced N64 games also have the best texturing aswell. MGS which is largely top down 3D struggles along, I get so annoyed sometimes by the army of mindless PS1 drones throw their uneducated slack around.
@liveswired
Missing RGB was a real shame. My mates Playstation looked great through RGB SCART while I, being a student with an old TV in the late 90s, was stuck with a hideous RF connection on my N64. Early games like Wave Race made it worse by having a shoddy, bordered, slow PAL conversion.
I agree that the N64 has stood the test of time a lot better than the others. VF2 and Sega Rally still somehow look good on the Saturn along with a lot of 2D games. I can't think of many PS1 games that still look good, maybe Crash 3 and Tekken 3? But plenty of N64 games do both because of the machine and the art design on games like Wave Race, Banjo, Paper Mario and Starfox 64. Timeless.
@3MonthBeef
Funniest moment for me is the announcer at the start. He seems way too loud. You get the drumbeat, the music tinkles a bit then 'WAVE RACE!!!!'. Made us laugh anyway.
@shani
Drake Lake still.looks brilliant. Took my breath away first time I saw it. I miss the Nintendo that used to chase graphical tech. They were really good at it.
@electrolite77 @liveswired As far as I know, there are N64's out there with RGB. I'm not sure if they were modded, but you can get RGB on N64 if you want. A friend of mine actually bought one.
But I agree, the N64 games still look good/timeless (unless you put them on a big projector screen, then it looks terrible because of the low DPI). Even back then I didn't understand how some people were of the opinion that the PS1 games had superior graphics. Sure, the N64 didn't have tons of polygons (which the PS1 also didn't have), but at least the textures and everything were... I don't know the exact word what I'm looking for... smooth, sleek, clean... or I think unruffled (thanks to an online translator) is the word that describes it best!
Already back then the PS1 graphics looked extremely grainy, it was hard to even look at. So I never understood what's superior about that.
Disclaimer: And no, I don't have a problem with admitting Nintendo's graphical inferiority in recent generations, but I don't see how the PS1 could've produced better graphics than the N64, which by the way had much more computing power. Actually, the N64 was like the PS4 is today while the PS1 was like the Wii U (only comparing graphics/raw power). Or the N64 was the PS3 and the PS1 was the Wii, doesn't matter. The PS1 and PS2 were technically inferior to the N64 and Gamecube (compare the specs on Wikipedia). And since technical superiority didn't help Nintendo, they changed their strategy and put more effort/money into getting more people to discover the joy and beauty of video games. And it worked superbly, thanks to Iwata.
And yeah, back in the 90's Nintendo was at the top, but then came along a global player from Japan, who probably held a grudge against Big N and just put so much money into becoming #1 that they were able to surpass Nintendo. I don't think this would've been possible if Sony wasn't such a huge company.
So all the people who claim that Nintendo should make consoles with technical prowess on par or better than the competition are forgetting that Nintendo already did that twice with N64 and GC and failed with it, because no matter how strong the computing power is, Sony's marketing is just infinitely better. Nintendo has to stay different and innovative, otherwise they will vanish someday due to insignificance.
So excited this is coming to US VC finally, though I dunno if I'll ever manage to unlock the dolphin this time around...if only I could transfer my save off my N64 cart...
Tap here to load 55 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...