Let's get the controversial early opinion out of the way, just so any pitchfork wielders can start sharpening their implements right away: a lot of Nintendo 64 games haven't aged very well. Of course they haven't, because it was a console in which Nintendo was at the bleeding edge of 3D graphical technology, a bold move that seized it a place in history as the company delivered genre-defining home console experiences that simply hadn't been possible before. In terms of consoles, it was a system with games that set the 3D standards in platformers, first-person shooters, action-adventure games, you name it. Mario, The Legend of Zelda and even good-old 007 blew minds back in the late-'90s.
I was 12 years old, and all of the usual classics did indeed excite me a great deal. Yet one of my most played games in that era was Wave Race 64, a jet-ski racer and sequel to a Game Boy title I'd never heard of — and yes, dear readers, it's aged just fine.
Back in the day it was one of the most arcade-like games I'd ever seen on a console; remember this is an era where light-gun games and SEGA Rally on the Saturn were hugely impressive — yes, simpler times. I didn't live in a town with a real arcade, so whenever I saw coin-op machines on a trip I would obsess over playing them (much to my parent's annoyance).
The game would throw you around and let you know to respect the elements
Wave Race 64 had that vibe, for me, and it had that water. It may not look too wild nowadays when we have the likes of Sea of Thieves recreating the sea in stunning detail, but the idea of a game with realistic waves and physics to match seemed fanciful at the time. Yet that's what the game achieved. You weren't racing a jet-ski around as if it was a car on a flat surface; the game would throw you around and let you know to respect the elements.
Of course, as better players and speedrunners know, the waves opened up some pretty fancy jumps and shortcuts, which feel deliberate. I would be lucky to get through a run in 'normal' difficulty, but would sit and watch my older brother tackling the toughest CPU AI and taking every shortcut on offer. It's a game that gets genuinely difficult if you're up to the challenge, so even today there's good replay value. You can be rubbish like me, or really get to grips with the mechanics and dominate — the development team did admirable work.
What really sticks in my mind, alongside the joy of bouncing around on the waves, is the soundtrack. Good grief that soundtrack is pure '90s arcade gaming, with a pitch-perfect synth sound and melodies that will stick in your mind forever. When a colleague mentioned the anniversary was coming up on 27th September, the music started in my head, like a Spotify recommendation that was, for once, good. Kazumi Totaka, take a bow.
All of these memories, of course, were formed on an inferior version, too, though my ignorance was bliss at the time. Being in the UK I was rocking the PAL 50Hz version, and didn't realise it was faster and even better in other parts of the world until years later. For those wondering whether this matters in the here and now, yes it does, so hopefully Nintendo Switch Online won't go that way — although, worryingly, it looks like it just might.
Seriously, just look at the difference. I'm grateful that the young me didn't see this when I was happily enjoying the PAL version:
Wave Race 64 isn't currently on the N64 list for Nintendo Switch Online, and you have to go back a little while to see hints that the series could come back in the future. We sort of had a nod to the idea way back in Wii Sports Resort, but like a certain futuristic racer this series has been dormant since the GameCube era. At the very least we'll hopefully see this classic arrive on NSO eventually, especially as it did get releases on both the Wii and Wii U Virtual Console.
If it's the 50Hz version in Europe, though, I'll definitely be downloading the North American app to play it. Until that time, here's to Wave Race 64 — a classic that was fun, relentlessly optimistic and is still a blast to this day.
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Comments 111
Awesome game. I am long overdue for playing this again!
This is one of my favourite N64 games! I grew up with it, but I still listen to the soundtrack almost every day, it's just so good... I love Totakeke.
One of my faves! Really good!
this was the first game to really woo me with water graphics lol. why is nintendo water so delicious lol
Nintendo does make the best water. Still play both wave race games to this day.
One of my favorite games ever! I liked the gamecube one as well but the controls on this one felt way better.
Can not wait to play it on NSO and try to beat my best time on Drake Lake.
Blue Storm was better.
A sequel would be great, we need to be able to play it online!
Had this on one of the virtual consoles, would much prefer a new game.
My absolute favorite racing-game-series. Nothing compares to it. It will probably forever have a place in my all-time top 10.
It's an unpopular opinion, I guess, but I think I like the sequel a little bit better. Doesn't matter, though. They are almost equal and both amazing.
It breaks my heart that Nintendo seems to have abandoned the franchise ("1080 °", too), but I understand why. It appears they don't have enough mass market appeal.
At least, I hope licensing issues don't get in the way and we'll get "Wave Race 64" for NSO N64 with online-multiplayer eventually.
@Crockin,
I was awesome, the physics of the water just felt to real, and all this on the N64, totally ground breaking at the time.
Riding backwards for a whole lap like a boss. Good times.
Best water racer ever. Nothing has the same wave feeling as this game. Not even the gamecube sequel. And contrary to what the manual says Miles Jeter is by far the easiest character for beginners.
No game has matched the brilliant design of Wave Race. No game has a dynamic track that you're constantly adapting to. I have no idea how they achieved this technologically on the 64.
Once this is made available for NSO, then I’ll jump on board. With a little 1080 for good measure. Also, these games should support 16:9 and some form of online play
Wave Race Blue Storm is the first GameCube game that I played and it's still one of my favourite racing games. Wave Race 64 is sluggish in comparison. Blue Storm has great variable circuits, some of them inspired by the first game and impressive visuals.
@Migoshuro I wonder if that would change today with the Switch as popular as it is and with social media as a means of getting the word out there. I feel like as great as the N64 was, it was a moment where many seem to move on from Nintendo. Just a couple of days ago, I had a friend on Facebook post a hot take on how the N64 sucked, followed by responses on how it only had a handful of games worth playing. One other friend even pointed out how Square choosing the PlayStation was a reasoning for abandoning Nintendo until the Switch arrived. So to make a long story short, I wonder if games like Waverace, 1080 and F-Zero would find an audience today with the Switch and Nintendo riding high like it is.
I absolutely loved this game back in the day. I got it day one, and played the heck out of it. It's a bit of a shame that it doesn't hold up super well today because it only runs at 20fps, but it's still a fun ride to bust out every now and then.
That said, I feel that it must be said that Wave Race Blue Storm on the Gamecube is soooo much better. That game is a masterpiece.
My biggest beef with this game was that cheat in Stunt Mode where if you pressed pause just when you were about to hit the water after doing a stunt, you earned a boat load of points at the end as long as you did no more stunts. When I was in birding school, someone brought their N64 and this in and once this cheat was discovered almost everyone did it to get the top score. Made it all real boring to watch.
Wave Race will be the only reason for me to take the more expensive NSO subscription, with N64 included. Once it arrives.
I LOVE WAVE RACE!
Blue Storm is fun too but less so then 64, imo. But MAN...I want a new installment in the series so badly! Doesn't look like it's gonna happen though.
I miss the days when Nintendo would make games like Wave Race and 1080. I would be nice if that made a comeback.
I think I only played Wave Race once when I first got my N64 back in the day. It was one of those games that seemed meant to show off the system's capabilities.
Racing games are not my jam and Wave Race does bring up fond memories of those early weeks with the N64 when the graphics still blew your mind.
Was playing it last night actually. Still holds up.
Never owned an N64 so it's possible I never played the original bug I still have the GameCube version and it was a lot of fun.
And since no one has mentioned it yet PS3 had a fun jetski indie game awhile back. More about the tricks and gimmicks than racing but it was fun. Jet skis are just fun, even in Sports Resort. I think Wii Go Vacation had jet skis as well. Remember them more than Sports resort actually.
Love Wave Race. Adding it to NSO would be welcome, and a whole new game even more so!
Did the GB version ever get a VC release? Id hoped it would come to the 3DS VC but that never happened. I’m sure it’s inferior to later games, but I would love to play where it all started!
@Crockin I remember the first time I saw this game I really wanted to taste that water, same thing in Mario Sunshine, I don’t know how Nintendo Does it, Kirby and The Forgotten Land’s water also seems delightful
Coming to NSO when they feel like it because having a release schedule that’s clearly communicated to paid subscriptions is for lesser subscription services.
@rjejr is there a virtual console release of it on the Wii U? :0
This game got so many positive reactions, I'll really have to check it out once it does drop on N64 NSO.
We all paid for full price these 64 games yet we didn’t get to play these in full speed.
Never played this one but I did play a ton of Wave Race: Blue Storm!
@Edwirichuu Good question. I think my Wii U works but it's been awhile. Hasn't Nintendo shut the whole online down so they can pretend the Wii U never existed? 😝
I'd be signing up for the Nintendo Online + on day one if they had announced Wave Race 64 with online multiplayer, hope it comes soon!
@Edwirichuu it's a thing. more recently, new horizons and origami king have very nice water. I remember the first time I fired up metroid prime and was blown away by the water droplets on samus' visor lol.
Never owned an N64 (only Nintendo console I've not owned, except Virtual Boy) so never really got into this. My friend did have it but when I had Mario Kart and Goldeneye to play on, those took most of our time.
So yeah, totally hope it comes to the NSO!
Definitely need a new game in the series. Long overdue.
One of the best arcade racers of all time.
A remake is long overdue.
It’s begging for an update, it still feels soooo perfect, just the graphics let it down a bit these days.
25 years old !!!
I had this on import for my jap N64.
Where does the time go !
Amazing game. I remember just watching the waves for ages and the feeling that you got when you hit a wave head on was crazy. Revolutionary water effects for its time.
This is most certainly going to arrive on the switch at some point. Im guessing they are holding a few big ones back like wave race, 1080 snowboarding and hopefully pilotwings64. I imagine the release schedule will be very slow so they will want to drop these big names in amongst the tat.
I love the game so much
I dunno, HYDRO THUNDER is a better water racer. Wave Race is fine, and the water effects are good for the time, but I feel there are much better N64 racers out there.
Splashdown is way better.
Another N64 classic ran over and destroyed by its superior GameCube sequel.
I got Blue Storm and Rogue Leader with my GC and whilst they were both nails, I persevered with WRBS and got really good at it.
I was actually very disappointed with Blue Storm. Maybe because of how much I loved WR 64...
I got a Gamecube on release and that was one of the games I got with it.
I seem to remember the reviews not being glowing and they weren't wrong imo.
I like Wave Race 64 but it's pretty short.
I hope we get this with the new NSO expansion pass, and please don't make it the PAL version 🙏🏻
I played Blue Storm before the N64 game (which I played subsequently). Was totally floored by the amazing simulation of the water physics involved. Also totally taken by how courses were transformed by the weather and the tide.
I was slightly underwhelmed when I played 64 years later but it was understandable and not unexpected.
Such a great game and indeed a great series.
Is criminal Nintendo have left it in the dust…
I was absolutely bedazzled by the graphics on this game as a 13 year old gamer back when it released in November of 96! Still holds up well. THAT SOUNDTRACK.... still stuck in my head all this time. 25 years is too long to wait for a worthy follow up to one of my all time favorite Nintendo 64 games. Unfortunately Blue Storm I have to pretend didn't exist because it lacked the polish and refined control the original had. I wanted to love it, gave it so many chances but it always lacked the magic and polish of the original. I always blamed that on the fact that the sequel was developed by Nintendo Software Technology and not Nintendo EAD themselves. I can only hope one day, maybe years from now, Nintendo will make a worthy follow up.
the game was a breath of fresh air.
Waverace 64 is one of the few N64 games that hold up amazingly well. Why this franchise was completely abandoned I will never understand. With how many games that were crowd funded and inspired by the game you would think that would give Nintendo a wake up call.
Games like Wave Race and 1080 Snowboarding show a side to Nintendo that's sorely lacking these days...
Drake pond lake course was the best! Had to be om point to zig zag those gates
It's a disgrace that it has been forgotten!
Be interesting to see if it's the same as the Wii/Wii U version that replaced sponsor logos with Wii and DS ads. Will they just have those or go the extra step and replace those with Nintendo Switch ads and ads for the Mario Movie? XD
I can’t see this not coming to NSO. The Wii U version had already removed the Kawasaki references, so there shouldn’t be a licence issue. Hopefully 1080 makes it also.
I have never understood why Pilotwings 64 never previously made it to VC. Any ideas?
"Warm up time - follow that dolphin!"
Can you imagine if we got Wave Race 64, Pilotwings 64, Diddy Kong Racing, Cruis'n USA, and StarCraft 64? And they're all online games like Mario Kart 64?
I wane this on my switch now! Maybe I should plug in my n64 again
This game would benefit so much from online play.
WaveRace 64 is still the benchmark for water racing games, it just plays so well. I can only assume the reason the series was abandoned was because Blue Storm was missing that X factor that Wave Race 64 had and didn’t sell as well because of it.
This was a classic. I remember 1st seeing those waves…felt they were going to splash out of the screen at me!
I fell in love with this game when a local-ish shop had an import N64 setup with it. So satisfying to battle the waves and put together a speedy lap, whilst maybe throwing in some fancy tricks to show off. I always have a great time when I go back to it.
But yeah, PAL version was rough. I encountered in on a demo unit in an Argos and was horrified. At least it's just a case of downloading it in a different app if we need to should it come to Switch.
Might I suggest riptide gp renegade to possibly scratch that waverace itch. Closest we'll get to a sequel anytime soon.
i was devastated that it isnt on NSO at launch. it was the main game i wanted lol, i LOVE this game...
I remember first seeing this game on the N64, it put such a big smile on my dumb kid face. Still can't believe this won't be on Switch Online... It was a damn N64 launch game for Yoshi sakes!
I admit I do play it on Project64 pretty often. But I would still love to have it on Switch.
Wave Race, yes; 1080°, yes. Excitebike 64 also deserves a mention, though – another game where you could really feel the track. Add Mario Kart, F-Zero X… Nintendo doesn’t get enough credit for the insane standard of arcade racers on N64. So much potential for NSO revivals with online racing and leaderboards…
I mentioned this before in the other thread but back in the day I was SUPER hype for Wave Race and saved up all my pocket money so it would be my next big purchase after Mario 64. I regularly played an import copy in a local game shop and rented a japanese console for a weekend to play it. As Thomas points out, and demonstrates with the video, the 50hz PAL version was vastly inferior. I literally went to the shop on launch day ready to buy, saw the PAL version running in the kiosk where the import one had been, and kept my money in my pocket and walked out very dissapointed. Its still a great game, but knowing how much worse it was really soured the whole experience for me. Not long after I sold my launch day UK N64, bought an import console and never looked back. Its a fantastic game! (still play it to this day!) Just a terrible localisation.
@MetalMan Not quite a launch game, was 2-3 months after launch in both North America and UK/Europe. I know it doesn't sound like much but those months seemed like YEARS to me at the time, I wanted it soooo much! lol
Wave Race, 1080, and/or Pilotwings 64. Come on, Nintendo! At least give us one of these for NSO, pretty please?!
I am missing this game so much! And 1080° Snowboarding as well. Excellent games.
@Franklin nah it comes in second to wave race
Nintendo would be insane to not put this on NSO. Dolphin Park's song was the best. Amazing game for its time and still holds up
@Migoshuro you’re absolutely right, the sequel is 100% a better game in my opinion. The addition of the boost mechanic made the racing that much more thrilling. A lot of people dismissed the game, saying the handling was too difficult, when in fact if you mastered the combination and interaction of the stick and shoulder buttons for steering it made for a fantastically finely balanced control system that gave the game wonderful playability. Personally I think it’s one of the best racers of all time, even now, and I love it to bits.
I was blown away as a Junior in high school when this was first released on N64. I could not believe how realistic the water was. To this day it’s still the best feeling racing game in water and one of my favorite games of all time.
Yes Wave Race 64 was yet another N64 game we got at launch (or at least very very close to it) and my brothers and I played it for like 15 hours straight on that day. We grew up going to the river and riding jet skis so it had an even bigger fun factor for us cause we all swore it was damn near a perfect simulation. As many have said I personally was a bigger fan of Blue Storm so if I HAD to choose for any kind of re-release I'd prefer Blue Storm with the Skyward Sword treatment. Take my money, Nintendo!
@Crockin ? What other game could have possibly done it? Just curious because you said the first game to woo you... pretty sure it was the first game to woo Anybody with water.
Before wave race Nintendo Power showed maybe two screen shots of a boat racing game. It looked more like hydro thunder. I was really disappointed when the game switched to jet skis. But I do like the game.
@F1at8mot0 the water was great but nothing drifts like ridge racer!!!!!!!
Excuse me, Wave Race 64 still has that water. I pulled it out recently and it still feels the most realistic, especially the interaction between craft and waves, and it looks good too. Interesting about the NTSC vs PAL comparison video that the timer doesn't tick 17% slower on the PAL version. If the game was slower all over, the lap times would be similar.
PS: All my records and settings were still on the cartridge, including the riders' names. I renamed the riders after wrestlers and there was Warrior, Sunny, Rick Rude and Hulk.
Still my all-time favorite racing game. Would love to see the series return, even just a remake of this would be welcome.
Raw thumb for days. Double flips or death.
@sixrings Ha totally! Especially R4!
Awesome game. Couldn't get into Blue Storm because it didn't have the soundtrack magic like 64.
Wave Race and 1080⁰ .
If I had the choice of swapping the selection of N64 games for the Switch games I would. The N64 games on the Switch now with today's graphics. And I would trade todays selection, BotW and all the others.
Awww man, dearly loved this game. Thought it aged well last time I played it.
@FTL don't understand what you are asking me
@andykara2003 Yeah, I absolutely agree. The mechanics where slightly more complex. But that really brings some extra depth to the racing. It's still rather simple and arcadey, that's why I don't get the complaints. But together with the impeccable feel of the game, the course design and brillant physics this makes for a perfectly tuned, thrilling racing experience.
@UmbreonsPapa that is exactly what happened to me. i was at an age where i felt like i was "too old" for Nintendo and their colorful silly games. i was an adult and i wanted boobs and swearing! lmao. now, as an ACTUAL adult, i realize that Nintendo is the most grownup company of them all BECAUSE they don't rely on that stuff to make their games....
Now I know the answer will be “…err you what?” BUT did anyone else think the announcer sounded like Mr Belding (think that was his name - the principal) from Saved By The Bell?
Loved this game. This and Mario Kart were the reasons I always had to take my N64 round to my PS/SNES/Megadrive owning mates’ houses (even though wave race wasn’t actually multiplayer as far as I recall)
I always hoped a re-make would come to 3DS like Star Fox 64... would have been great for that... all of the top N64 would have been perfect for 3DS ports.
For Switch... I would prefer a proper sequel.
@Snaplocket
Wave Race Blue Storm is the sequel on Gamecube.
I so want a new waverace! Or even just a remake would do, come on Nintendo!
@Snaplocket This N64 version is basically both a sequel and a remake to the 1992 Game Boy original but Wave Race: Blue Storm is the true sequel to this one.
Wave Race 64 is one of the most overrated games of all time, probably because of nostalgia. It's a good game, but nothing special. Jet Moto on the PS1 is just as good, and Hydro Thunder on the N64 is better.
@speedyb It's pretty short cause this game was just a 3D remake of the Game Boy original. Whereas that one is an 8-Bit overhead 2D jet ski game, this one is just that but 64-Bit presented in the 3D perspective and in color.
Saw the thumb nail and thought we were getting wave race on the switch online service
What is this? The game didn't even come out this year on NSO. VERY CLICKBAIT
WaveRace 64 nails the feeling of racing those waves and it is easily within my top 5 games of all time. I’d honestly choose this over the sequel - only just - the sensation feels so good. And no I’m not joking. I’ve been doing a lot of N64Digital modding these past few months and my test game is alway WaveRace64 rumble edition. Yeh baby feel that rumble
Hopefully they will use the Wii U US 60hz version for the Switch (which was released in the PAL region too). So I don’t think anyone needs to threat about getting the 50hz version. Amazing game which I still play regularly today. If this gets released then maybe I’ll have to order the new Switch N64 controller after all.
I've been pining for a new installment for years now. I absolutely LOVE the N64 version!! Blue Storm was good too, but it didn't have the same impact on me as the first one. Nostalgia probably. The N64 version will probably be released through the NSO expansion pack soon. But watch Nintendo butcher it up, one way or another...
I had no interest in this game for the longest time but had a lot of fun with it when I finally played it. Since I see it is on Wii U VC(I thought maybe there could be license issues) I assume it will hit NSO eventually.
One of my most anticipated on NSO, since it's one of the N64 classics I missed out on.
They need to add this to the online service.... Make it at least seem as if there is some value to be had from the service.
Dont mind me. Im just echoing the previous 103 comments. What a game. Even playing it now the waves feel realistic. The way they roll and the impact they have on the jet ski still blows my mind. How they did it back then is beyond me.
Super excited to get this on NSO. Have the controller ready to go! Wave Race 64 certainly gave me that arcade feel I was craving when it was released. Got so addicted to it, especially with all the secrets to unlock. So much fun riding the waves and jumping about. I seem to recall a dolphin too...
Agree with some of the comments above, Nintendo does make amazing water effects. The Mario games spring to mind:)
Rented Wave Race 64 with a friend multiple times. The game had a brilliant feature where you could save times to your memory pak, and also the cartridge, and the ability to merge them if I recall, so you could plug em into the cartridge each time you rented, and compete with other renters.
I think if Nintendo 64 games were 60 fps they would have aged much better. The main issue with a lot of them is that they're only 20fps...
Wave race is still my first choice if I have 10 minutes and I fancy a bit of arcade action, wonderful game that needs a reboot.
Such an incredible series! I love all 3 Wave Race games!
Heck - Blue Storm on Gamecube still has better water physics than most AAA games today.
@MetalMan Meanwhile - F-Zero X managed to hit 60fps even in splitscreen on the N64!
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