Mario Kart 64

Subsequent titles have bettered this entry in almost all measurable regards, from roster to the number of courses to the variety of courses to the variety of items (I feel the battle mode wouldn’t be improved upon until 8). That said, there’s an ineffable charm to stealing a turboslide boost on a straight road, spending eight million years in the lead on Rainbow Road, and charging into Toad as Bowser so hard, he screams, flips into the air, and crashes out of bounds, requiring him to be pulled to safety. Is this nostalgia? If it is, take a point off.

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