History YMMV / MarioKart64

* SequelDifficultyDrop: This game is ''much'' easier to play and beat than the original ''VideoGame/SuperMarioKart'', even in 150cc mode. This is mainly due to the improved drifting system, more responsive turning, larger tracks, and more exploitable computer-controlled characters, even with the RubberBandAI. It also helps that you can try a Grand Prix track as many times as you want until you finish fourth place or above.

* NightmareFuel: Banshee Boardwalk. It's the game's BigBoosHaunt (and the visuals don't disappoint), it's widely considered the game's biggest ThatOneLevel (see below), and just listen to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FrZnmZiu7k its music]].

** "BUP"[[labelnote:Explanation]]A short, reversed and sped up sample of Toad's "AWOWOWOWOWOWOWO" voice clip, popularized by ''VideoGame/SuperMario64'' speedrunner [=SimpleFlips=] and commonly invoked in reference to Toad's N64 appearances.[[/labelnote]]

** The theme for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4FZgWjBas0 Choco Mountain]] is upbeat and exciting.

** Yoshi Valley is a huge labyrinth on narrow cliff sides, and no fencing makes it very easy to fall off. Worse, there is a huge egg near the end that can crush you. Finally, there's some InterfaceScrew with just this course, where the positions and rankings of everyone is hidden. The only way you can find out what place you finished in is by crossing the finish line. It's somewhat easier in its return in ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'', which not only evens out the routes, but also adds railings to many of them, and also shows the positions.

* MostWonderfulSound: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk_MPBMzg2M The victory theme]] coupled with your character celebrating its victory.

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYwZT3CvpMw&fmt=18 The Staff Roll]], such an amazing, happy and heartwarming song.
** The theme for [[http://youtu.be/K5xdue7GFcc Rainbow Road]] is also pretty catchy.

** "Luigi is the pope!" [[labelnote:Explanation]]In the Japanese version, Luigi's "Luigi is the top" is [[{{mondegreen}} misheard]] as this.[[/labelnote]]

* SelfImposedChallenge: A very strange example in which [[SpringtimeForHitler it is ludicrously difficult to get 8th Place as your final placement in the 1-Player Grand Prix]], due to the game not letting you progress unless you get at least 4th place each race. This means you are required to get 1 point every race, and as a result, it is impossible to complete a Grand Prix with less than 4 points. In order to place 8th overall, you need to make sure that all of the computer-controlled racers have at least 5 points at the end of the cup (since tie goes to the player). This means that, out of the four races in the cup, all seven other racers need to either get first or second place at least once, or third place at least twice (they will never get fourth because you will always be occupying that position yourself). Achieving this requires being extremely good at manipulating the A.I. and preventing any racers from hogging all of the points. The [[Website/YouTube YouTuber]] Captain Forest Falcon is [[https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL02A78FB303E7BAE0 one example of someone who has successfully completed the challenge.]]

--->'''Koopa Troopa''': Yes officer, it was a fat man in purple overalls who stole my cart!

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tmFmp7Gw80 Toad's Turnpike]] sounds like an equally catchy preview of the aforementioned Rainbow Road.

** Yoshi Valley is a huge labyrinth on narrow cliff sides, and no fencing makes it very easy to fall off. Worse, there is a huge egg near the end that can crush you. Finally, there's some InterfaceScrew with just this course, since the computer doesn't keep track of what position the racers are in, since technology of the time couldn't track it that fast. The only way you can find out what place you finished in is by crossing the finish line. It's somewhat easier in its return in ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'', which not only evens out the routes, but also adds railings to many of them, and also (due to advances in technology) can keep track of the positions.

** Among the Battle stages, Skyscraper is far and away the hardest course to navigate through, no thanks to the narrow pathways and nealy invisible bottomless pits without guard-rails. It's entirely possible for players to completely lose without ever managing to get an item, let alone use it.

** Among the Battle stages, Skyscraper is far and away the hardest course to navigate through, due to the insane number of bottomless pits in it. It's entirely possible for players to completely lose without ever managing to get an item, let alone use it.

* ContestedSequel: Many people consider it inferior. Others consider it the part where the series began GrowingTheBeard.

* SequelDifficultyDrop: This game is ''much'' easier to play and beat than the original ''VideoGame/SuperMarioKart'', even in 150cc mode. This is mainly due to the improved drifting system, more responsive turning, larger tracks, and more exploitable computer-controlled characters, even with the RubberBandAI.

** Toad's Turnpike. The course itself is pretty straightforward, but the course also has various-sized cars that share the road with you in traffic, ranging from a small four-door to a huge double-decker bus. If you so much as touch one of the cars, you're wiped out to a dead stop every time, no matter what size the car is. And there can be cars blocking both lanes, requiring you to squeeze through a narrow gap to avoid getting wiped out. On Mirror Cup, not only the turns are reversed, but the traffic is now ''oncoming traffic'', making it much harder to avoid it. Even the high-level [=CPU=] racers have trouble getting out of the way of the cars on Mirror Mode, and it's not uncommon to get hit by two or three cars in a row before being able to keep going. Expect to retry this one a couple of times if you're going through it in Grand Prix.

** Found in Banshee Boardwalk. They slow you down and are pretty hard to avoid.
** The cars on Toad's Turnpike. Even more so in mirror mode, where they become ''oncoming'' cars.

** Banshee Boardwalk is easily the hardest course in the game, lots of very sharp turns and drop offs, with very little room for error.
** Toad's Turnpike on Mirror Cup, where not only the turns are reversed, but the traffic is now ''oncoming traffic''. And getting hit by one of those cars wipes you out to a dead stop, every time. Even the high-level [=CPU=] racers have trouble getting out of the way of the oncoming cars.

* SequelDifficultyDrop: This game is ''much'' easier to play and beat than the original ''VideoGame/SuperMarioKart'', even in 150cc mode. This is mainly due to the improved drifting system, more responsive turning, larger tracks, and more exploitable AI.

** Yoshi Valley is a huge labyrinth on narrow cliff sides, and the computer doesn't keep track of your places. Worse, there is a huge egg near the end that can crush you. It's somewhat easier in its return in ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'', which not only evens out the routes, but also adds railings to many of them and also (due to the advances in technology) can keep track of the positions.

** Toad's Turnpike on Mirror Cup, where not only the turns are reversed, but the traffic is now ''oncoming traffic''. Even the high-level [=CPU=] racers have trouble getting out of the way in time.

** Choco Mountain, and mostly due to the very last part with a set of three hills before the finish line. Using a Mushroom incorrectly or getting hit by something like a Red Shell can spell the difference between first place and fifth place (being in any place below fourth meant you would have to try the track again), especially in the final lap.

* ContestedSequel: Many people consider it inferior. Others consider it the part where the series began to GrowTheBeard.

* EnsembleDarkhorse: Believe it or not, a ''Thwomp'' got this treatment- the green Thwomp locked in Bowser Castle, actually a regular Thwomp with a lighting in the cell that makes him appear green. Fans gave him the AffectionateNickname "Marty" and posted hackneyed ideas about how to unlock him.

** The cars on Toad's Turnpike. Even more so in mirror mode.
* GoodBadBugs: Smack a CPU-racer hard enough on the spiral tower in Bowser's Castle and they'll fly off into the lava, effectively putting them out of commission for the entire race.[[labelnote:Explanation]]Depending on how hard you hit them, they'll re-spawn but their AI will glitch up, making them unable to move from the location you hit them off the course. A Star will usually accomplish this[[/labelnote]]
* MemeticMutation: "Luigi is the pope!" [[labelnote:Explanation]]In the Japanese version, Luigi's "Luigi is the top" is [[{{mondegreen}} misheard]] as that[[/labelnote]]

* MostAnnoyingSound: Every racer's lines can potentially be this, especially if it's the RubberbandAI constantly passing you.

** Yoshi Valley is a huge labyrinth on narrow cliff sides, and the computer doesn't keep track of your places. Oh, and there is a huge egg near the end that can crush you. It's somewhat easier in its return in ''VideoGame/MarioKart8'', which not only evens out the routes, but also adds railings to many of them and also (due to the advances in technology) can keep track of the positions.