We're in the dog days of summer, which can only mean one thing – it's time for Nintendo to take us to the beach! That's right, Wave Race 64 has been added to the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack just in time to help you beat the heat. That's cool and all, but is it actually worth playing in 2022? To answer that question, I decided to flip through the pages of Electronic Gaming Monthly, Die Hard Game Fan, 64 Extreme and more classic magazines to see what the critics said back when Wave Race 64 first came out. Join me for another wet and wild episode of Nintendo Switch Online Review Crew.


When the Nintendo 64 debuted in the United States on September 29, 1996, your game options were limited to Super Mario 64 and Pilotwings 64. That's it, just two games. As crazy as it sounds now, it took another 36 days before Nintendo released a third option. That game was Wave Race 64, the long-awaited sequel to one of Nintendo's more obscure Game Boy releases. On top of simply being a great racing game with colorful graphics and a killer soundtrack, this was the first game to truly show off the Nintendo 64's much-hyped multiplayer modes. It was fast-paced and accessible to everybody, making it the perfect showpiece game for anybody looking for some hot, over-the-top four-player action.

With critics starving for a new Nintendo 64 game, it's easy to see why most magazines were ready to give Wave Race 64 high marks. Electronic Gaming Monthly's sports critics, Dindo Perez, gave it a near perfect score, saying that he's never seen anything like it, and “definitely fell in love with it the moment I saw this game in action. The whole look of the game cannot be matched with any other jet ski racing game or even a road racing game.” His dugout partner, Todd, wasn't ready to go that far, but still called it a “top-notch game. The water physics behave accurately, although the water is very obviously computer-generated.”

You saw similar praise from EGM's competition, including GamePro, who gave it a 5 out of 5 and called it “phenomenally fun.” Believe it or not, Next Generation also gave it a perfect score, arguing that it was “one of the first quality titles released on the Nintendo 64.” And then there's Next Generation magazine, who swooned over Wave Race 64 and gave it their Game of the Month. “This water is real,” proclaimed E. Storm. “It reacts exactly as it should to every situation. Remarkable. The textures are gorgeous, music ... doable.” Chief Hambleton was even more enthusiastic, giving the game a 99% and calling it “racing perfection.” “Remember when you first plugged in F-Zero many moons ago? You'll be feeling that same elation soon enough, believe me! Another astonishing piece of work you'll return to in years to come.”

Wave Race 64 was also a big hit with critics in the UK, with N64 magazine giving it a 90% and calling it a “thoroughly innovative and successfully ambitious racer” and 64 Extreme calling the graphics “ground breaking” while giving it a 95%. Computer + Video Games was not quite as high as his British peers, only giving it a 4 out of 5. Alex argued that “the water and those waves all look so real. When it comes to the game itself, well, that's pretty good too. Making full use of the N64's analogue stick, the control over your ski is incredibly precise. All the levels are beautifully realized, with amazing lighting and sound effects. A great game, just a shame that it all ends so soon.”

Now, in case you're wondering, it was Nintendo Power who gave Wave Race 64 the lowest score. Giving it a 3.8 out of 5, the editors liked the stunning graphics and realistic gameplay, but felt that the voice-overs got monotonous quickly and the game was over too quickly. I suppose it's not that surprising that a first-generation Nintendo 64 game might be light on content, as that's just par for the course with any system. It will be interesting to see if the waves and water still feels as realistic all these years later. Go check it out for yourself and see what you think.