| Wave Race 64 | |
|---|---|
 North American N64 box art | |
| Developer(s) | Nintendo EAD |
| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Director(s) |
|
| Producer(s) | Shigeru Miyamoto |
| Programmer(s) | Keizo Ohta |
| Composer(s) | Kazumi Totaka |
| Series | Wave Race |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 64, iQue Player |
| Release | Nintendo 64iQue Player
|
| Genre(s) | Racing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Wave Race 64[a] is a 1996 racing video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Gameplay involves the player racing on a personal watercraft on a variety of courses while successfully manoeuvring the vehicle around various buoys. A multiplayer mode where two players can compete against each other on a chosen course is also included. The game supports the Controller Pak, which allows players to transfer saved data from one game cartridge to another. The game is presented in a letterboxed 14:9 aspect ratio.
Originally referred to as "F-Zero on water", the game was intended to feature high-speed boats with transforming capabilities, but these were ultimately replaced with Jet Skis as producer Shigeru Miyamoto felt that the game would not be differentiated enough from other titles on other systems. Wave Race 64 received acclaim from critics, who praised the game's satisfying controls and dynamic watery environments. The game is credited with helping Nintendo effectively make its paradigmatic leap from the 16-bit 2D graphics of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to the Nintendo 64's 3D capabilities. It was re-released for the Wii and Wii U's Virtual Console in 2007 and 2016, respectively, and on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack in 2022. A sequel, Wave Race: Blue Storm, was released for the GameCube in 2001.
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