Mario Kart 64

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{META NAME="Author" CONTENT="Aaron Manvell"}
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{CENTER}{P}{B}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}{FONT SIZE=+3}Mario Kart 64{/FONT}{/FONT}{/B}{/P}{/CENTER}

{CENTER}{P}{B}{I}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}{FONT SIZE=+1}By Aaron Manvell{/FONT}{/FONT}{/I}{/B}{/P}{/CENTER}

{P}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{/P}

{CENTER}{P}{B}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Drivers{/FONT}{/B}{/P}{/CENTER}

{P}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):{/P}

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{CENTER}{P}{B}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Speed{/FONT}{/B}{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}{B}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Name{/FONT}{/B}{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}{B}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Weight{/FONT}{/B}{/P}{/CENTER}

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{CENTER}{P}1{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}Toad{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}1{/P}{/CENTER}

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{CENTER}{P}2{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}Yoshi{/P}{/CENTER}

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{CENTER}{P}3{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}Peach{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}3{/P}{/CENTER}

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{CENTER}{P}4{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}Mario{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}4{/P}{/CENTER}

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{CENTER}{P}5{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}Luigi{/P}{/CENTER}

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{CENTER}{P}6{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}Wario{/P}{/CENTER}

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{CENTER}{P}7{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}Donkey Kong{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}7{/P}{/CENTER}

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{CENTER}{P}8{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}Bowser{/P}{/CENTER}

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{TD} {CENTER}{P}8{/P}{/CENTER}

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{P}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).{/P}

{P}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).{/P}

{CENTER}{P}{B}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Short-Cuts{/FONT}{/B}{/P}{/CENTER}

{P}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).{/P}

{P}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Mushroom Cup{/FONT}{/P}

{P}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Koopa Troopa Beach{/FONT}{/P}

{P}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.{/P}

{P}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.{/P}

{P}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Kalimari Desert{/FONT}{/P}

{P}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.{/P}

{P}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!{/P}

{P}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Flower Cup{/FONT}{/P}

{P}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Mario Raceway{/FONT}{/P}

{P}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.{/P}

{P}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Star Cup{/FONT}{/P}

{P}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Royal Raceway{/FONT}{/P}

{P}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.{/P}

{P}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!{/P}

{P}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Special Cup{/FONT}{/P}

{P}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}DK's Jungle Parkway{/FONT}{/P}

{P}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.{/P}

{P}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Yoshi Valley{/FONT}{/P}

{P}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.{/P}

{P}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Banshee Boardwalk{/FONT}{/P}

{P}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.{/P}

{P}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Rainbow Road{/FONT}{/P}

{P}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).{/P}

{CENTER}{P}{B}{FONT COLOR="#FF0000"}Battle Mode{/FONT}{/B}{/P}{/CENTER}

{P}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.{/P}

{UL} {LI}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.{/LI}

{LI}When chasing someone while armed with three green shells fire all three at them quickly. It makes it harder to dodge.{/LI}

{LI}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!{/LI}

{LI}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.{/LI}

{LI}If you are near a corner when a red shell is fired turn around it sharply and cause it to hit a wall.{/LI}

{LI}Red shells go {U}directly{/U} towards the closest enemy. Hide behind the firer and let them loose a balloon.{/LI}

{LI}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.{/LI}

{LI}Don't forget that you can fire backwards. Surprise someone!{/LI}

{LI}Drop fake item boxes when someone is right behind you.{/LI}

{LI}When you hit a banana and start to slide (before you spinout) brake and you shouldn't lose a balloon.{/LI}

{LI}You can kill players who are bombs by running over them when invincible.{/LI}

{LI}The lighter the driver the faster you can get away and the more manuoverable you are.{/LI}

{/UL}

{P}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.{/P}

{CENTER}{P}{FONT SIZE=-1}By Aaron Manvell ({A HREF="mailto:"}{/A}). It would be nice to be asked {U}before{/U} this is copied (hint hint).{/FONT}{/P}{/CENTER}

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