"Yes it’s a clone. But it’s a good one!"

OPENING STATEMENT
Diddy Kong Racing is one of the most blatant Mario Kart 64 clones I have seen in a while. It is also one of the best Mario Kart 64 clones I have seen in a while. Why is it the best clone? Read on.

GAMEPLAY--9
This is the only part of the game that is innovative. Instead of RARE going for all of the money it could get, it combined three fairly separate racing games into one. Each of the three vehicle types is completely different, therefore, making three different gameplay sections is a must.

KART GAMEPLAY--
The kart gameplay is the most in depth, and it works the best. The karts play exactly like the do in Mario Kart 64, so if you have played that game, you will be a master at these. You drive the carts, who have the best handling of all three vehicles, around the racetrack, just as you would in Mario Kart 64. You can pick up weapons and items to use against your opponents, as well.

HOVERCRAFT GAMEPLAY--
The hovercraft gameplay is the least in depth, and it seems to have been included as an afterthought, with the tracks converted from planes. The hovercraft handling is the worst, since it seems to be an afterthought. The hovercraft itself probably looks the coolest though. And you can pick up weapons and items as you can in the kart gameplay.

PLANE GAMEPLAY--
The plane gameplay seems to have been included from the start, but the developers had nothing to base it off of so it did not evolve as good as the kart gameplay did. The handling of the planes is right smack dab in between the kart and the hovercraft handling. You can pick up weapons and items here too. Plus, planes are the only vehicles that can use the zippers in the air.

So there you have it. Three similar, yet different, gameplays. All blended and melded together, when they could have been marketed separately.

GRAPHICS--8
The graphics are eerily similar to Mario Kart 64. Everything seems the same. The characters keep the same cartoonish, yet somewhat realistic look. The characters at times look almost FMV quality. Their vehicles look shiny, especially in the right lighting. In the lack of light (such as underground) the characters and their vehicles look dim, just like they are supposed to. The lighting is probably the only realistic effect in this game.

The backgrounds are the other great graphical effect in this game. Everything about them looks realistic enough so that you will be in awe of them, but they look cartoonish enough to make sure they fit in with the rest of the game. The water does not look as good as it does in Wave Race 64, but what does. It does not look horrible either.

MUSIC--5
SOUND--7
Well, this is repetitive annoying music to say the least. It is all a little too happy, peppy, and childish for my tastes. It speeds up when the you in single player, or the first one playing in multiplayer, begins their third lap. There is different music (yes!) on each different tracks. Or different tracks for each different track. The music is average at best, mediocre at worst.

The sound is much better. They still can get annoying though. Especially in multiplayer when T.T. will sometimes end up saying “Lap Two!” “Lap Two!” “Lap Two!” “ Lap Two!” as the four human controlled characters cross the line in quick succession. The zipper sound effects are especially well done, and they sound like a rocket ship.

CONTROL--7
Some vehicles are easier to control, and others next to impossible. This is due to the purposeful variance in handling to make driving each vehicle a different experience. So, the control is differentiated quite well, and it makes everything easier or more difficult as it should be, to make them all different. The game responds well to everything you command it to, except for when you are in the hovercraft. I assume this is deliberate, but I am not certain, but either way it is very, very annoying.

FUN--8
I am disgusted with RARE’s decision not to include a Battle Mode in Diddy Kong Racing. This was my favorite thing about Mario Kart 64, and that is one of the biggest reasons I picked up Diddy Kong Racing for. Other than this glaring omission, Diddy Kong Racing is a fun racing game. The tracks are well laid out, and they are especially fun in two or more players. The Story Mode is fun while the interest lasts, but after a while, I was only playing it to unlock all of the tracks and stuff like that. There are two Battle T.T.’s Challenges that are as close as you come to a Battle Mode in Diddy Kong Racing.

CHALLENGE--MEDIUM TO HIGH
Sometimes this game is comically easy. Other times this game is unbelievably difficult. This averages out to a little higher than a medium difficulty. Some of the races especially (Wizpig, coin challenges) are absurdly impossible, while others (most of the early ones) are impossible easy. And I think I have made my point here...

REPLAY VALUE--MEDIUM
After beating the game, I rarely played any of the races again. Most all I every play in Diddy Kong Racing, are the two T.T.’s Challenges that involve battling like you would in a Battle Mode. The Story Mode I never played after I had to, and the races, though fun for the occasional run through, just did not have the staying power of those two Challenges.

PROS
*Graphics are great.
*Sound effects add a new dimension of realism.
*Large selection of tracks.

CONS
*No Battle Mode.
*Hovercrafts seem like a last minute addition to Diddy Kong Racing.
*Song for the over world will get very repetitive.

CLOSING STATEMENT
Diddy Kong Racing has some things much improved over Mario Kart 64, and some things hat are not executed as well. It is still one of the better racing options on the Nintendo 64, but I must recommend Mario Kart 64 over this one.

OVERALL--8

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/16/00, Updated 07/18/01