Being one of the very first games released for the N64, Nintendo has a whole lot riding on Wave Race 64. Luckily for Nintendo, they delivered an astounding game.

The graphics in Wave Race are simply unbelievable. The nine different courses all look very different in nature, and they all look incredible. There is one course where you start out by racing in a dense fog, and as the race progresses the fog gradually lightens. The backgrounds are well done and don't look like cardboard cutouts, the racers all have their own unique look, and the water is just amazing. Waves actually look like waves, and still water looks like still water. On the tropical courses, the water is totally transparent, and on the pond level, the water has a greenish algae tint to it. The graphics just have a "wow" factor that doesn't die out very fast.

Another high point are the sounds and music. The sound of your jet ski splashing on the waves actually sounds like it does in real life! Fitting the mood of each track and adding to the overall feel of the game, the music is also great. The music sounds very ambient on the pond and ocean tracks, and it sounds very "industrial" on the Marine Fortress track.

This game plays very well, too. Your jet ski reacts just as it would in real life. Even when you stop giving it gas, your jet ski still drifts in the direction in which you were going. The jet ski reacts to your each and every input (via the analog controller), and the controls are actually kinda sensitive. This is good because once you get adjusted to it (which isn't hard to do), it's very easy to get your jet ski to go where you want it to. Also, the AI is good and provides an ample amount of challenge, yet it doesn't "cheat". If you become good at the game and master a track, it will be reflected by huge margins of victory. This is good because it's pretty easy to wreck without a lot of practice, and that extra "cushion" can mean the difference between first place and fourth.

Bottom line, this game is another excellent example of the genius of Shigeru Miyamoto. The best console racing game of all time, and a fine example of the "Quality over Quantity" mantra.

Overall: 9.2