Wave Race 64
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| Wave Race 64 | |
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| Developer(s) | Nintendo EAD |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Release date(s) |  September 27, 1996 November 5, 1996 April 29, 1997 November 2003 (iQue) |
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: K–A (Kids to Adults) |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 64, iQue |
| Media | 64-Megabit cartridge |
| Input | Game controller |
Wave Race 64 is a racing game for the Nintendo 64 that was released on September 27, 1996 in Japan and on November 5, 1996 in North America. It is a sequel of the Game Boy game Wave Race (hence the "64"). In Wave Race 64 the player races on jet skis in many different weather conditions, on a variety of different courses. The game featured the Kawasaki Heavy Industries brand.
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[edit] Gameplay
The objective of each race is to not only to beat the other racers but also to successfully weave the jet-ski through various buoys. There are two types of buoys: red colored, which are signified by an R on them and must be passed on the right side, while yellow buoys, which are marked with an L and must be passed on the left side. Each time a buoy is correctly passed, a power arrow will light and the jet-ski will gain speed. Up to five arrows can be lit in order to obtain maximum power.
Failure to do either of these will result in a loss of power (though the arrows can be lit again) and missing five buoys over the course of a race will result in disqualification. Leaving the course, either by leaving the area limited by pink buoys or by getting out of the water and staying in this way for more than ten seconds will also result in disqualification.
The game modes are:
- Championship: where the player must beat a series of tracks and win the first place. Up to four levels of difficulty can be chosen: Normal, Hard, Expert and Reverse (the last being basically Expert with the tracks oriented backwards), with the later ones needed to be unlocked. Also, the difficulty determines the number of courses played of a total nine (six in Normal, seven in Hard and eight in Experet/Reverse).
- Warm Up: While choosing Championship in the Normal difficulty, the player has the option to practice or start the championship. In this mode, the player trains to use the jet-ski in a special course known as Dolphin Park. In the bottom of the screen a prompt will indicate a set insturctions to control the vehicle, though the player can ignore it and practice by himself or herself. The player has also the option to start the championship by select this option in the pause menu or by "disqualifying" (by leaving the course).
- Time Trials: The typical time attack mode in order to perform the best times, which are recorded in the game's data. It can only play the tracks that have been unlocked.
- Stunt Mode: In this mode the player plays solo in order to get points by executing stunts and passing through hoops. The points depend on how many hoops have been passed through without missing, as well as the class of stunt that has been performed, in which conditions it was execxuted and the frequency it has been done (the more is done a single stunt, the less points it is received). The game keeps track of the best scores. Only the unlocked courses can be played, and the warm up level, Dolphin Park, is also available.
- 2P VS.: A versus mode with a second player. The screen is vertically divided in two sections.
[edit] Development
Originally, Wave Race 64 was going to be a racing game based on water-based ships that changed forms when they take a turn. Because of its similarities with the then still-in-progress F-Zero X, the game took a drastic turn in its concept.[citation needed]
Shigeru Miyamoto once stated that Wave Race 64 "taps 80% of the N64's power" and remains one of the most advanced N64 games ever released.[citation needed] The game features accurate wave physics, which are notorious for being difficult to program.
[edit] Characters
Wave Race 64 only has four characters, and they are:
- Ryota Hayami (18 years old, Japan): the most balanced character, Ryota can be used by beginners and experts alike. He could be considered the main character because he appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
- Dave Mariner (32 years old, USA): the biggest, fastest character, Dave has poor handling, grip, and acceleration, is recommended for advanced players.
- Ayumi Stewart (21 years old, USA): the only female character, Ayumi is the smallest, slowest character, but has the best handling and acceleration. She is recommended for beginners.
- Miles Jeter (24 years old, Canada): the only character who did not return in Blue Storm, Miles has the best handling and worst grip, but is average in all other categories. He is recommended for intermediate to expert players.
[edit] Re-releases
Like Super Mario 64, Wave Race 64 was also re-released in Japan in July of 1997, this time taking advantage of the Rumble Pak. [1]
[edit] Wave Race series
- Wave Race 64 is a sequel to Wave Race, a Game Boy game that was released in 1992.
- Wave Race: Blue Storm is a sequel to Wave Race 64 released on November 18, 2001 for the Nintendo GameCube.
- Tomonobu Itagaki, the creator of the Dead or Alive series, included a jet-ski mode on the game Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 because he is a great fan of Wave Race 64.
