MARIO KART 64 TRACK COMMENTARY ================================================================= ***Mushroom Cup*** LUIGI RACEWAY This is the easiest course in the game, but it can sometimes be difficult in Vs. mode because of its simplicity. The shortcuts are helpful, but only add to its lack of challenge. The straightaways are good to see who's faster, and you can get four or five power slides on each of the turns. The only trouble comes when you refuse to power slide (like my sister). Also, the power-up on the balloon is always a blue shell, which is helpful for one of the short cuts. MOO MOO FARM This isn't hard, but it's not as easy as Luigi Raceway. The gophers are a major pain, and usually you can't cut corners because of them and the hills. On this track, don't turn too much without power sliding. Also, bananas can be doom near the gophers or bridges. There aren't any shortcuts so you, and everyone else, will need to play fair. KOOPA TROOPA BEACH This course has probably the only shortcuts meant to be in the game. Once you get to the Koopa Rock, power slide widely to the right. Try to avoid the jumps (except the cave jump) because they slow you down. Also, in Vs. mode, try putting a banana or two on the cave jump to keep others out. The power-up on the rock after the big jump is a blue shell, although it's nearly impossible to land on straight. KALIMARI DESERT How many times have you gotten a star or a blue shell on this course? Don't be too shortcut dependant. Power slides help, but aren't too critical. The main problem is the train. The other racers will often run right into it. If you hang back by a very small margin and slam the A button as soon as the train is gone, you'll blow past the opposition. In Time Trial, use one or two mushrooms to beat the train on the second lap, or else you'll lose a great deal of time. Use the last mushroom to cut the small S-curve before the finish on the third lap. ***Flower Cup*** TOAD'S TURNPIKE The cars really make the shortcut difficult. So don't try it unless you like losing. Mainly, keep in the middle and have the view close-up so you can judge gaps between the cars. Putting a banana or fake power-up is good anywhere, they'll be slowed down and may be hit. Don't power-slide for the sake of precision evasion. It's very hard on Extra mode because all the cars are coming AT you. A steady hand is required to win. FRAPPE SNOWLAND Take the shortcut. It's very easy to do and can guarentee a win. In Vs, it's fun to see who can pull it off faster. But seriously, watch out for snowmen, they're the main hazard here. Putting a banana or three in the snowman minefield or on the bridge can be death. If you find a way straight through the minefield, you can laugh at how the computer players try to pass you and get an explosive surprise! CHOCO MOUNTAIN The boulders should be ignored. It's rare you'll get hit if you're cautious to not fall in the middle. The first (in list order) should be the only one an ametuer should try. Really, there's not much to say about this track. Power slides and a good start are crucial, and you can really make or break this race on the first lap. MARIO CIRCUIT Did you know if you hit R on the title screen you can see your best time for Mario Raceway? Now you do. The shortcut is near impossible, so don't try it. Powerslides are very important, as is keeping out of the sand and grass. Mushrooms are good for cutting the corners. Again, a good start helps tremendously, and can determine your fate. ***Star Cup*** WARIO STADIUM Unless you made a vow not to cheat, use the big shortcut. You can get multiple chances to jump back over the wall if you hop over the first mogul. In Vs games, the jump is your biggest chance to wreak havoc. Lay some bananas or fake boxes at the end and no one will be able to make it. Also, if your opponent(s) are almost to the top, try a shrinker. Just be careful with shrinking and bananas, if they're done too close to the top and your rivals are going fast enough, they can be spun to safety. SHERBET LAND Power slides, again, are a major part of the winning strategy. Hopping or even sliding over cracks on the more tight turns can save time. The penguins can be VERY frusterating and can cost some valuable time. Like Toad's Turnpike, good depth perception help a gret deal here. It's possible to power slide during your entire stay in the cave and come out with a huge boost. ROYAL RACEWAY The shortcuts are really cheap, so fair players may want to avoid them. Not much to say about this course, just be careful not to get stuck in the castle's driveway :). Be sure to be lined up accurately on the jump or you might miss. Also, the S-curve at the end can dump you right into the water if you don't slide early enough. Or, as an easier alternative you can use a mushroom to cut through the grass. BOWSER'S CASTLE The Thwomps and lava can really get to you. However, some well-placed bananas and fake boxes can place you firmly in the lead. Bananas are best placed on the bridges or jumps, and fake boxes are good under the Thwomps. Most of the corners are right-angles so short, fast power-slides are in order. In the courtyard, a long power slide with a large boost on the end can get you past the bushes easily. And by the way, the circular turn can't be negotiated without hitting the walls. So don't worry about it. ***Special Cup*** DONKEY KONG'S JUNGLE PARKWAY This is probably the least interesting course. I'm sorry, but really the only reason I play it is because there are so many shortcut oppritunities. Try to stay off the sidelines, the nuts or banana bunches or rocks or whatever they are (they look like yellow Koffings to me) slow you down. And worse, if you've been shrunk, they flatten you. Oh, and yes you CAN get hit by the boat! It's rare but devestating. YOSHI YALLEY This is one of the harder tracks. The standings can be frusterating ("Am I second or eighth?"), and the porcupines are a pain in the asphalt. Once the road splits, turn left, then right. You'll run into two groups of porcupines, but you can get past them, right? The giant egg almost never hits you, and if it does, then it will hit the others too. BANSHEE BOARDWALK It Japanese this was named after the sound a water ghost makes, "hyuudoro." Anyway, this is probably the hardest track. It's impossible to NOT make the jump, but the real challenge is the gaps in the railing. Power slides solve that problem. Also, the bats are impossible to avoid, and they even flatten you if you're shrunk. A good start and taking all the turns aggressively with power slides really is the only way to get the win. RAINBOW ROAD This is really, really long. The short cut shortens it signifigantly, but if you miss, you have some real making up to do. The Chomps are annoying, but nothing more than that. You can get quite a few boosts on the corners with power slides. Really, just give it all you've got to secure your win. ***Battle Arenas*** DOUBLE DECK My more weak opponents favor this course. The level differences are easy to tell, but not as easy as in Block Fort. Some of my favorite strategies for this arena are to chase each other around the lowest level. Another is to go to the top and see who gets the better weapon. Then salvo each other, and drop down to get out of the way. My personal favorite also involves the top level. Drop down and wait on the raised area for others. This is also a good place to hang out as a bomb. BLOCK FORT One of my favorites. Rampaging around the overhead bridges and putting some bananas there is good advice. Like always, fake boxes are good in the middle or in front of real ones. This is really the fairest arena, because there aren't many sniping spots. A good tactic for when you're being chased around the floor level is to make a sharp 180° onto a ramp, and then jump off and tail them. BIG DONUT Hurts, donut? The Big Donut really IS big. The lava in the middle isn't too threatening unless you're in a blind panic. The item boxes are spread out so just about anywhere you put a fake is good. Stars seem especially plentiful in this arena, so chasing someone to a pillar and letting loose is pretty effective. Bombs can't be killed by lava, by the way. SKYSCRAPER The ultimate "finish it up in two minutes" arena. The falls are treacherous and plentiful. The main motto for Skyscraper is, "Keep your eyes open!" Sometimes if you lay bananas in the right places you can get two or even three (if you time your next attack correctly) hits in a row. Also, if you have a good attack, use it, or at least hang it off your butt (by holding Z)! If someone gets a ghost it can really backfire on you. And remember that you CAN jump over the gap under the starting points. ====================================================================== ––Cranium 7