Diddy Kong Racing

"How do you destroy a massive, evil pig-like villain? Beat him in a race, of course."

Introduction
Diddy Kong Racing is a bright, colorful racing game that contains extreme amounts of fun, and at some points, difficulty. While appearing childish, this game packs a powerful punch, succeeding in a way that Mario Kart did not. This game featured an adventure mode, which opened up a whole new level of play and exploration. One of the earlier N64 games, but definitely one of the best.

Story- 4/10
Oh boy, here we go. This is by far this game's lowest point. I almost wish it had no story, and that you were racing for no reason at all. Well, anyway, a tiger named Timber lives on an island. While his parents are gone, an evil, gargantuan flying pig named Wizpig attacks and uses his freakish powers to curse the race tracks that are spread across the island in four different worlds. Timber immediately contacts his friends for help. So, the kids contact T.T., a talking clock, and he tells them that, in order to save the island, you'll have to break the curses by winning races (…totally serious, here…) And, for some reason, you have to do it before your parents get back. Well, not exactly the tale of the century, but keep in mind it is a racing game. Then again, perhaps no story would have been better. I guess Rare didn't realize that stories and racing games don't mix. Ah well.

Gameplay and Control- 10/10
Here we are! This is where the game is nearly flawless. Upon exiting the title screen (which has a neat little montage of the characters), you'll see all eight available racers, ready to hit the tracks. Now, the game may appear kiddy by the graphics and music, but just hold off on your judgment for now. The racers come in a variety of species: alligator, bear, monkey, mouse, squirrel, etc. Like other racing games, each character has his or her unique stats that add a layer of depth to the game. But the concept of this game that truly made it stand out and succeed was the fact that there were three different vehicles you raced with. The standard was the car, of course, but you could also ride in a hovercraft to easily cross bodies of water, and, even better, planes were accessible, so you could tackle each and every track in a completely new way. Tracks that were originally raced in a car felt like a whole new course when you used the plane or hovercraft. The option of vehicle created a whole new dimension that really gave the game tons of variety.

Now, onto the actual racing. It's fairly simple: you maneuver your character through the course, past obstacles, and attempt to finish the three laps before the other racers like any other standard racing game. Throughout the course, there are multicolored balloons that give you a special item that will aid you in getting ahead. Some contain missiles used for attacking foes, some contain boosts that will shoot you ahead of the competition, and some even contain magnets that will pull you ahead to the racer in front of you. You can also obtain shields that will protect you from enemy attacks, and you can even try to trap the foe by dropping slippery sludge on the ground. This really contributes to the fun aspect of this game. Collecting one or more of the same type of balloon will result in a power up, which accomplishes the same goal as a regular balloon but in a more extreme manner. For example, obtaining a red balloon will give you one missile, while getting two red balloons and getting a power up will allow you to use a homing missile that will hit without fail. Learning how and when to use certain power up is a blast. Also, scattered across the course are arrow-shaped objects called zippers that give you a powerful boost of speed. Another way that the game has depth is bananas. Throughout the level, you will see numerous small bananas. Collecting ten of these little fruits will increase the speed stat of your racer, so strategically obtaining them is a great way to get ahead. This game leaves room for a huge amount of variety by the many features it contains.

Unlike other racing games, Diddy Kong Racing included an adventure mode that really extended the gameplay. Lead by an elephant genie named Taj, you would scout the island in search for golden balloons. Some were found lying around, but most were obtained when you won a race. The racetracks were hidden inside the four worlds that were scattered across the island. Once you had defeated all four races in a world, you were allowed to fight the world's boss. The bosses of this game, especially your first time around, are very difficult. The boss then tells you to try the silver coin challenge, which can be an extremely difficult task. The silver coin challenges are set into the four tracks in each world. You race just as you did before, but this time, you must find and collect eight silver coins scattered throughout the level and then, as if that weren't enough, you have to win the race. Some silver coins are placed in ridiculously hard places, but once you've finally completed all four tracks, you can face the boss one final time. Defeating the boss again earns you a piece of an amulet which will eventually let you face Wizpig himself. As you can no doubt see, the gameplay is really opened up in adventure mode, providing the gamer with new ways of playing the same levels. This game has variety, something that other racing games lack considerably.

The controls are, for the most part, easy to use and well done. The only complaint I have is using the hovercraft. It is by far the most frustrating vehicle to use, simply because of its poor acceleration. It could take a few seconds for you to turn yourself around and take off again. But, other than that, the controls are smooth and easy.

Music and Sound- 9/10
This game has some AMAZING sound tracks. Rareware always has made games that hold great tunes, and this one is no different. Each level has music that fits its level perfectly. For example, in the volcano track, the music is arranged in a wild, mysterious way that really sets the tone for the level. Every piece of music is well done and seems appropriate for the area you're racing in, whether it be a snowy peak or a village full of ghosts. Even the opening theme is catchy and likable. As for the sound, there really isn't much to say other than it works. The character's voices are well done and sound fine, even if they do get a bit annoying after a while (especially at the beginning of the race, when everyone's shouting). The sounds of the items are crisp and work beautifully at what they are illustrating. For example, when you put on a shield, a tinkling sound occurs that seems to fit perfectly. Both the music and sound in this game are very well done.

Graphics- 7/10
Not bad, not bad at all. Not perfect, mind you. The characters were given a kiddy look, but they are designed well. As soon as you turn this game on, you'll see that it's full of bright, colorful visuals that really look good, however childish it may appear. The tracks are just the same: full of color and life which really involves the gamer more. The graphics do what they supposed to do, I suppose, but could have been more refined.

Replay Value- 9/10
This game definitely holds replay value for a few reasons. The first being the option of which vehicle you use. Gameplay can be extended for hours by trying out each level riding a vehicle that you wouldn't usually use. Also, plugging a few more controllers and playing multiplayer is definitely worth your time. There are many ways to replay this game, such as improving personal scored in time trial mode, getting all perfects in the trophy race (grand prix), or by experimenting with the numerous codes that can add tons of fun to the game.

Conclusion
Diddy Kong Racing is an extraordinary game that is often overlooked by serious gamers who feel it looks childish. Admittedly, the graphics are a bit kiddy, but the gameplay is anything but. This is a wildly entertaining racing game that lives up to Rare's outstanding standards. While variety is an issue in most racing games, Diddy Kong Racing does not apply. With its various styles of vehicles, items, modes, and unique ways of replaying old levels (silver coin challenge), this game evades the description of dull and instead receives amazing.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/22/06