Diddy Kong Racing

Developed by Rare and published by Nintendo, Diddy Kong Racing arrived on Nintendo 64 in 1997, releasing in Japan, North America and Europe that year. Rather than simply following Mario Kart’s tire tracks, it built its racing around an adventure: a connected island hub, collectible Golden Balloons, boss races and courses that sent you back with new objectives. Diddy got top billing, but the supporting cast included Banjo and Conker before either had starred in his own released game.The big twist was the vehicle selection. Karts, hovercraft and planes each demanded a different touch, with available vehicles depending on the course or mode. Repeatedly collecting the same color balloon upgraded your weapon or power-up, adding a little planning to the scramble for position. Silver Coin Challenges made learning each course matter beyond simply finding the fastest line, while David Wise’s soundtrack gave the island’s different areas plenty of personality. It’s a racer with an unusually substantial single-player game, alongside four-player competition.This complete-in-box US copy is in good condition. It was inspected, cleaned and tested by hand at Broad Street Exchange in Woodbury, NJ.