"A fun, inventive, challenging racing game!"

Introduction: Diddy Kong Racing is a fun racing game with a few flaws. If you've played Mariokart before you should enjoy this, however most aspects aren't quite as good. It can be quite challenging at points and is worth the play through, but after that, it can get a bit tiring...

Graphics: 7/10

The graphics in the game are good. It all looks very nice and there is a wide range of different scenery and characters. All the characters look really good. All the scenery and backdrops look nice as well. All the items, balloons and coins all look really nice and they all have very different looks. The different types of karts look really good such as the hovercraft or plane. But the Kart also looks good as well. Each course looks really good as well and they have different ways you can go depending on which type of vehicle you use. However the graphics could have been improved.

Sound: 8/10

The sound was quite appropriate, but nothing breathtaking. There was so much music as well from simple beeping of the vehicle to each level with its own individual music. As I was saying all the tracks have quite different music to one another and most of it is very good and you will be singing it for a while. When you pick up coins it sound cool as well as picking up and then firing items. Even the beeping from the horns in the vehicles sounds good.

Controls: 9/10

The controls are really good. They are simple to learn and won't take much practice to master. Some are a little more complex and harder to adapt to but overall they are very easy. Once you have mastered the easy controls such as accelerating, breaking and using items you can go onto other controls that are not as useful but still fun such as beeping your horn or doing little jumps and using other items. The controls on Diddy Kong Racing are very simple to learn and easy to use.

Replay Value: 6/10

Playing the game through once is definitely worth it. After that you can enjoy verses mode, which I can say, is really a lot of fun and one of the bes parts of the game. You could also go back and try and get all the balloons, but beyond that, there isn't much point going back to the game...

Challenge: 9/10

This game is very challenging. A lot of the computers are quite easy to beat but there are some really tough ones as well. Beating the boss of the game is no easy task either and will also require heaps of practice. Thankfully the controls are pretty easy so that is one advantage but you will also have to learn to use each kart and all the shortcut to beat all the challenges in this game.

Rent or Buy?

This game is a bit of a toss up-. If you like flying aeroplanes, hovercrafts and driving cars with funny looking characters then god buy it. If not, try renting it first. . There is a lot to accomplish and it will take you a while to beat the whole game and even when you beat it there is still more to do. Especially if you like Diddy Kong.

Overall: 8/10

Diddy Kong is fun racing game that definitely deserves a look, and i'm sure you will enjoy it!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/28/03, Updated 12/16/05