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[Instigator]

The original Wave Race. Not the bastardized Blue Storm sequel, not any of the me-toos in the arcades around the same time or certainly not the soulless clones released early this gen. Instigator is back and ready for some preachin'.

On a platform begging to prove itself, WR64 delivered. While not the smoothest game around, it certainly looked the part. A bit cartoony, but fairly believable (at the time) with its water physics and effects. Jet Moto, released around the same time, looked pitifully inedaquate on a purely visual level.

Where this game shined was the way the water affected gameplay. It gave a pretty good illusion of the randomness of the elements, requiring ever so subtle adjustments in the way you played. And back in that time (late 1996), that was fairly novel.

And while many games may claim to excel in one particular area, WR64 is really about the total package, which few games ever get right. On top of everything covered so far, Simple, yet deep enough controls, a decent number of tracks and gameplay options and perhaps the most underrated aspect of this game: the soundtrack. The N64 was never a powerhouse in the audio department, but the composer for this classic title delivered some classic ditties to help overcome those technical limitations.

Honorable mentions for this category:

Ecco the Dolphin series.
Toobin' (old skool arcade fun)

 

[Ranger X]

Oh yes Waverace was great. I'm yet to find another good game of this genre. The only similar game i liked has been Hydro Thunder.

 

[Docpan]

Iwas thinking waverace 64 as soon as I saw the thread title....

Riding on dolphins > *

 

[Mallrat83]

Iwas thinking waverace 64 as soon as I saw the thread title....

Same here. Don't knock Blue Storm though, while somewhat of a change from the original, I think I may like it just a bit more. Definitely and supremely underrated.

 

[ziran]

oh yeah, defintely.

imo waverace 64 was a masterpiece.

it's my fave racing game of all time, i even prefer it to gran turismo, project gotham and mario kart. i love it!

blue storm was so average, crap compared to wr64, imo.

 

[gofreak]

Some of my fondest gaming moments are of Waverace. It was so fresh and novel, and just pure amazing for the time.

 

[aoi tsuki]

What's with the Blue Storm hate? After i got past the "the waves are kicking my ass, this game sucks" stage, i really enjoyed it.

 

[jett]

Yes. Wave Race 64 is the best racing game ever. W00t. I love Blue Storm too, though.

 

[Shikamaru Ninja]

Blue Storm r0x!!!

 

[Tiktaalik]

I never played the Gamecube Wave Race. What made it "bastardized?"

While on the topic of games in the water, I'd like to take this opportunity to pimp a game my friend wrote last summer, Laser Dolphin because it's pretty damn good. It's essentially ecco the dolphin minus the puzzles and plus a laser.

 

[Zeo]

Same here. Don't knock Blue Storm though, while somewhat of a change from the original, I think I may like it just a bit more. Definitely and supremely underrated.

I agree 100%.

And yeah, I thought the same thing when I read the title.

 

[Shikamaru Ninja]

Blue Storm had a tougher learning curve. Ultimately it was more challenging but much more rewarding.

Some people couldn't be bothered with finding the right driver that suited them. There were different abilities for each rider, and furthermore you could customize and balance them.

 

[op_ivy]

wave race 64 rocked. i used to play in dolphin park for hours

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Blue Storm had a tougher learning curve. Ultimately it was more challenging but much more rewarding.

Some people couldn't be bothered with finding the right driver that suited them. There were different abilities for each rider, and furthermore you could customize and balance them.

I think I need to get Wave Race for the GC again, I did love this game.

 

[Instigator]

I never played the Gamecube Wave Race. What made it "bastardized?"

http://www.gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/reviews/review.pl?sys=gamecube&game=waveracebs

 

[Slartibartfast]

This game has been on my mind a lot recently so I also thought the thread title could be related to the classic WR64. Recently just got a projector and have been playing this and Blue Storm a lot. I admit to loving them both. There is something, however, sublimely relaxing about playing the 64 version. The music, combined with the sound and the slightly slower pace can be hypnotic at times and there seems to be more rhythm to the game than Blue Storm, but both are among the finest racing experiences I've had and seem to offer almost unlimited replayability.

 

[gofreak]

There is something, however, sublimely relaxing about playing the 64 version. The music, combined with the sound and the slightly slower pace can be hypnotic at times

This captures my feeling on it quite well

 

[Kuramu]

Loved WR64, hated Blue Storm, and all because of one little factor. In WR64 you could push forward to ride down the backside of a wave, then pull up to get air off the next wave. so much fun. couldn't do it in blue storm though, because you would end up diong a handstand from the up/down move. suck

 

[TheJollyCorner]

ahhhh sweet "OMFG LOOK @ THE WATER!!!" nostalgia

 

[aoi tsuki]

I never played the Gamecube Wave Race. What made it "bastardized?"

While on the topic of games in the water, I'd like to take this opportunity to pimp a game my friend wrote last summer, Laser Dolphin because it's pretty damn good. It's essentially ecco the dolphin minus the puzzles and plus a laser.

The Prime Minister was abducted by aliens and Laser Dolphin is the only one who can save him. Unfortunately the aliens have taken the Prime Minister light years away, so you will need a spaceship to find him. Once you have acquired this spaceship you will search the galaxy for the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister needs you help, so download Laser Dolphin now!

:lol :lol :lol

i love this game already.

 

[Gek54]

WaveRace64 was the last Nintendo game that I truely loved. What an amazing experience.

 

[opkal]

wave race 64 rocked. i used to play in dolphin park for hours

Same here, I easily spent more time fooling around in dolphin park than actually playing the game, it was such a simple area but so much fun could be had.

 

[Instigator]

WaveRace64 was the last Nintendo game that I truely loved. What an amazing experience.

I wouldn't go that far, but it was all downhill on N64 after WR64.

 

[M3wThr33]

At school, one of my teachers was the guy responsible for all the water physics in Wave Race, I think.
He knew his stuff, but his classes were unfairly difficult.

 

[Ghost]

I loved Hydrothunder, especially in the arcades with those two huge speakers either side of your head, i couldn't hear for 15 minutes after i finished my first race...awesome.

 

[Version 3.0]

Ah, yes, Wave Race. It's still the best water racing game out there, with the best water physics--no "at the time" disclaimer needed. Very few jetski games even bother with waves, and even fewer put any physics on the water. You may as well be piloting a hovercraft. Check out Splashdown, probably the best of the "hovercraft" games.

I liked Blue Storm a lot, it'd be tough to choose which is "better". I suppose I'd give the nod to the original just for being so groundbreaking if I couldn't otherwise decide. It's amazing that nobody else has nailed this genre yet, after all this time. Here's to Wave Race Revolution!

 

[Ruzbeh]

Yeah. This game is nice. I can remember the nice graphics. The water was awesome. But when I look at that screen...

 

[Mallrat83]

Some bastard erased all the date and progress on my memory card that I had worked timeless hours for in Blue Storm. I wish there was a code to open up all the courses and weather types to save me some time, but damn it'll be fun to jump right in and earn everything back I guess!

 

[Oracle Dragon]

I wouldn't go that far, but it was all downhill on N64 after WR64.

Wasn't WR64 a launch game? :lol

 

[Zeo]

I wouldn't go that far, but it was all downhill on N64 after WR64.

.. That's a joke right?

 

[Gek54]

Wasn't WR64 a launch game? :lol

No it came out the following year iirc.

 

[btrboyev]

No it came out the following year iirc.

it came out not long after n64 launched...just a few months.

 

[TheDuce22]

I dont even like racers and Waverace 64 is one of my alltime favorite games.

 

[midnightguy]

if this WaveRace demo had been the actual Gamecube WaveRace @ 60fps, it would kicked so much fucking ass.

 

[Version 3.0]

it came out not long after n64 launched...just a few months.

Yeah, Wave Race 64 was only the 3rd N64 game in the US (maybe ~5th in Japan). Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64 launched, then nothing came out for over a month. Wave Race 64 came out Nov. 5th 1996.

 

[Sho Nuff]

Blue Storm sucked. Wave Race 64 was awesome. Even though it had

OKAY
OKAY
OKAY
OKAY
MAXIMUM POWERRRRRRRRRRRRRR
OKAY
OKAY

 

[Ulairi]

Bluestorm is a better game. Only little girls who cannot handle the learning curve think otherwise.

 

[bionic77]

I wouldn't go that far, but it was all downhill on N64 after WR64.

So true. :lol

After playing Mario64 and Waverace64 within months of each other I was ready to buy into whatever bullshit Nintendo was ready to sell me and I really thought the N64 might end up being the greatest videogame console of all time.

How wrong I was, I think it took like 9 more months for another decent game to come out. :lol


Still, for a few weeks the N64 really felt more 'next-gen' with Mario and Waverace than any of the current consoles felt to me when they were released. Hopefully we are all equally blown away by the soon to be released consoles.

 

[Soul4ger]

Yeah, Wave Race 64 was only the 3rd N64 game in the US (maybe ~5th in Japan). Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64 launched, then nothing came out for over a month. Wave Race 64 came out Nov. 5th 1996.

Actually, Mortal Kombat Trilogy was the third N64 game in the US. By one day. BELIEVE IT.

And the music was amazing. DEFINITELY underrated.

 

[Mike Works]

Blue Storm sucked. Wave Race 64 was awesome. Even though it had

OKAY
OKAY
OKAY
OKAY
MAXIMUM POWERRRRRRRRRRRRRR
OKAY
OKAY

You forgot;

GOOOD....

 

[Senretsu]

OKAY
OKAY
OKAY
OKAY
MAXIMUM POWERRRRRRRRRRRRRR
OKAY
OKAY

gah, beat me too it

 

[KINGMOKU]

I never played the Gamecube Wave Race. What made it "bastardized?"

While on the topic of games in the water, I'd like to take this opportunity to pimp a game my friend wrote last summer, Laser Dolphin because it's pretty damn good. It's essentially ecco the dolphin minus the puzzles and plus a laser.

It's so hard that you want to smash the controller into a million pieces.

After you get over that faze, and accept that the game WILL own you like a little bitch, it becomes quite enjoyable. Amazing water effects, GREAT multiplayer action, and overall, just oozing quality.

Best part? Beat the game COMPLETLY, and you get to race with full storm effects. It doesn't get any better. Just brilliant. Lighting crashes, thunder, 12 foot waves, man the game is just beautifull.

*Warning* WILL make you seize with anger.

 

[lordmrw]

I knew it would be Waverace when i saw the thread title. I spent a solid month back in 1997 playing this just beating my best laps and such, and i never got tired of it. I bought Blue Storm but never really put time into it before I sold it and a few other games for money. I'll have to pick it up again.

 

[mr_sockochris]

I didn't think Blue Storm was that hard, I just much prefered the N64 game. Better tracks, better control and a faaaaaaar better soundtrack (one of my favourite ever soundtracks if I'm honest )

 

[Error]

I remember my aunt gave me this game on christmas of 1996 and my cousin received Shadow of the Empire I was so pissed because that was the game I wanted, looking at that situation now I'm glad I got the better part of the deal :lol

 

[Coen]

I loved racing Drake Lake. The heavy fog vaporising halfway through the race just blowed my mind.

 

[BatmanX]

The bastardized sequel was miles better than the original in the water physics department, is more challenging and has a beautiful ost.
Really one of the most underrated game of all time the only thing missing sadly was the online play and maybe one or two tracks.
Just for saying

 

[StRaNgE]

Oh yes Waverace was great. I'm yet to find another good game of this genre. The only similar game i liked has been Hydro Thunder.

A buddy and i used to go to a nickle arcade and play the shit out of Hydro thunder. Loved it on the full sized arcade, was so -so on the home console.

 

[Version 3.0]

Actually, Mortal Kombat Trilogy was the third N64 game in the US. By one day. BELIEVE IT.

And the music was amazing. DEFINITELY underrated.

I thought MK came out the week after Wave Race. IGN has it listed as Nov 14th, seems about right. Nintendo.com has them both listed as releasing on Nov. 1st, 1996, and Killer Instinct Gold, too. That's definitely not right.
I almost bought Mortal Kombat Trilogy and Killer Instinct Gold, simply because there was nothing else to get. Lucky for me, they showed up to rent at my local Blockbuster by the time I was done with Wave Race, so I could find out they sucked and save myself $80 apiece.

 

[Hydro_Alexis]

I wouldn't go that far, but it was all downhill on N64 after WR64.

indeed golden eye was a terrible game so was ocarina of time.

I downloaded this game on emulator as i have never played it although i had blue storm and this quite frankly pisses on it like a drunken teenager its so much fun its weird how i seem to be hooked on a n64 game.