Secret Service 56a/SSERVCD_56A.bin/Utils/FAQ/MARK64FQ.TXT

Text File | 1998-02-10 | 8KB | 185 lines

                               Mario Kart 64

                              By Aaron Manvell

Mario Kart 64 is one of the best racing games out, but it can be a bastard
in some aspects of the game. The point of this guide is to help anyone who
is having trouble with the game

                                  Drivers

You should base your selection of driver on your driving style. If you are
a someone who wants speed you should choose one of the lighter drivers;
they have better acceleration and top speeds. If you are a person who likes
to shove people around and bash them into walls you should take a heavier
driver as their shear weight and size give you the advantage in any
collisions. The following is a table of each drivers characteristics
(SPEED- 1 is fastest, 8 is slowest; WEIGHT- 1 is lightest, 8 is heaviest):

                          Speed    Name    Weight

                            1      Toad       1

                            2      Yoshi      2

                            3      Peach      3

                            4      Mario      4

                            5      Luigi      5

                            6      Wario      6

                            7   Donkey Kong   7

                            8     Bowser      8

As you can see, the lighter a driver is the faster they go. You should only
use this table as a rough guide (based on my own observations). In the game
computer-controlled drivers tend to vary their speeds depending on how well
you are going (eg.If you are winning they go faster).

Out of all of the drivers my two favourites are Toad (for his speed and
handling) and Wario (a good balance of speed vs. size). Your driver
selection should also be based on the type of track that you are racing on.
If the track is smooth and surfaced a smaller driver will give you an
advantage but if it is more of an 'off-road' track the lighter drivers tend
to loose traction (no matter what the manual sez).

                                 Short-Cuts

Not every track has a short-cut, but the ones that do can cut down your
laptimes considerably. (These short-cuts are based on the 150cc races
because some require lots of speed, and the names are from the Australian
version of Mario Kart because that is the one that I have. If the names
don't match-up you can usually guess what track I'm talking about).

Mushroom Cup

Koopa Troopa Beach

1st Short-Cut: When you come to the stone arch-way veer right instead of
going through it and you will see a sandbar which takes you to the other
side of the bay.

2nd Short-Cut: Go through the stone arch-way and you will see three ramps
one after another. After these three ramps there is another which leads up
to a cave in the wall. If you are in 150cc mode (and you are a good shot)
you can jump (using the jump button) off the end of the ramp and into the
cave. If your aim is not to good, or your playing in either 50 or 100cc
mode then use a mushroom boost just before the end of the ramp. If you are
having trouble going up the ramp straight and going into the cave (eg. You
keep hitting the walls) they do what I do. Instead of going over the three
precceding ramps go alone the sand to their left. This gives you more time
to line-up with the ramp.

Kalimari Desert

1st Short-Cut: Just after the first railway crossing there is a large
stretch of sand to your right. Using a golden mushroom to boost your way
over it can decrease your lap time.

Hint: Having trouble with the train? In 150cc single player mode the train
is damn long, and impossible to beat on the first lap. Try this before you
get to the crossing slowdown. When the end of the train has passed the
fence accelerate and veer around it's end. If you time it well you will be
zooming down the road before the rest of the drivers have started, and you
will beat the second train whilst the rest have to wait for it. A big time
saver!

Flower Cup

Mario Raceway

1st Short-Cut: Appartentely (according to some people on the Net) there is
a part of the brick wall that you can jump. I have tried this many times
and can't do it. Don't bother if you want to win, but if you do do it, tell
me about it.

Star Cup

Royal Raceway

1st Short-Cut: The middle of the third and forth corners, turn left, aim of
the hill, and use a boost. Press jump right of the edge and if you're lucky
you will roll up the hill and fall into the water. When you get pulled out
you should (if you have done it right) get placed on the end of the big
ramp.

2nd Short-Cut: As you get boosted off the end of the big ramp try to turn
sharply left (not sure exacly when). You might roll down the big hill and
get warped to the finish line!

Special Cup

DK's Jungle Parkway

1st Short-Cut: Just before the finish line in the underground section,
instead of driving around the track drive up the embankment. If you are
driving a heavy drive you should make it, but if your driving a light
driver sometimes you can't. A boost will get you up there easially.

Yoshi Valley

1st Short-Cut: The shortest route is supposed to be the first left and
along the thin section. But when you are going really fast (and when you
can't steer) you usually end up falling off the track and losing any
adavntage you might have had. The simplest that I have found (and the one
that the computer usually takes) is to turn right, then left, then to go
over the bridge. After the first spiney guy keep turning hard left and at
the end jump. You should hit the tower and bounce off, facing the right
way.

Banshee Boardwalk

1st Short-Cut: At the clock go really fast and jump to it's left, cutting
off a corner and making it easier to take the next.

Rainbow Road

1st Short-Cut: This is easily the longest, and most difficult, short-cut in
the game. Just after the start/finish line, just as the road slopes down,
pull hard left and jump the guardrail. You may land on the track down below
(but you probably will miss entirely to the amusment of your friends).

                                Battle Mode

You truly haven't experienced the fun of Mario Kart 64 if you haven't
played a 4-player battle. These are sooooo much fun (especially killing
someones bomb). These hints should give you an advantage during battles.

   * The perfect armerment is three green shells orbiting you with a red
     shell in 'the Box'. This way you are well protected from most attacks
     and it makes it easier to inflict damage.
   * When chasing someone while armed with three green shells fire all
     three at them quickly. It makes it harder to dodge.
   * If someone has three shells around them and you have a red shell goto
     a level above them. This way the red shell will fly over the green
     ones and into their head!
   * Always try to block red turtle shells! (With bananas, fake item boxs,
     both types of shells). This is important. Don't rely on your driving
     skills.
   * If you are near a corner when a red shell is fired turn around it
     sharply and cause it to hit a wall.
   * Red shells go directly towards the closest enemy. Hide behind the
     firer and let them loose a balloon.
   * If you have a bunch of bananas just leave them trailing behind you.
     They will protect you from red shells and you can swerve in front of
     other players and make them spinout.
   * Don't forget that you can fire backwards. Surprise someone!
   * Drop fake item boxes when someone is right behind you.
   * When you hit a banana and start to slide (before you spinout) brake
     and you shouldn't lose a balloon.
   * You can kill players who are bombs by running over them when
     invincible.
   * The lighter the driver the faster you can get away and the more
     manuoverable you are.

And just a tip for both battles and racing; pay attention to where the
opposition. Especially during races when you have a shrinking lightning
thingy. Use it when they are on a sharp corner, or a bridge, and they will
spinout.

   By Aaron Manvell ([e-mail]). It would be nice to be asked
                     before this is copied (hint hint).