Diddy Kong Racing Nintendo 64
  • Publisher: Nintendo
  • Release Date: Nov 24, 1997
Metascore
88 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
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  1. Electric Playground
    100
    Diddy Kong Racing is almost too good to be true. It is an exquisitely animated, color-rich racing game that bubbles over with character and charm. A triumph.
  2. Hot Games
    100
    "Mario Kart's" (at least the original one, anyway) biggest strength was its multiplayer mode and of course DKR does what Nintendo did but better.
  3. GamePro
    100
    Take Diddy for a test drive and you'll be hooked. It's the smoothest ride you can buy this holiday season.
  4. Gaming Age
    98
    All I can say is that this is what Mario Kart 64 should have been. Awesome.
  5. TotalGames.net
    95
    Beneath the day-glo grass and cuddly-wuddly wittle characters beats the brutal, steroid-pumped heart of a sadistic beast who eats raw liver and stamps on puppies for laughs. Everything about Diddy Kong Racing is perfect.
  6. Nintendophiles
    95
    The sound in DKR is fantastic. The characters make noises, the cars make noises, and the music fits in perfectly.
  7. Total Video Games
    92
    There are so many subtle touches that only become apparent after many hours of play and the cunningly designed levels match anything Nintendo can offer.
  8. Electronic Gaming Monthly
    90
    DKR looks better than "Mario Kart," but it's a little too cutesy for us. [Jan 2004, p.189]
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  9. All Game Guide
    90
    Buy Diddy Kong Racing for the very good Adventure mode, but don't expect multiplayer action on the same level as the Mario Kart series.

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 39 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Pivot1022
    6
    Have any of you played through the full adventure mode? Okay this game is fuun, and adds alot more to mario karts formula. but the single player adventure gets SO BORING! if i remebre, you have to beat like every track 4-5 times just to beat the adventure mode... and i did. Oh and when you do that, you can do adventure 2... all of the tracks are just backwards... ADVENTURE HO!… Full Review »
  2. Caestus
    8
    Real fun to play and easy better then mario kart 64 with the graphics and all the vehicles in it.
  3. zeta204
    9
    Not all companies can make as fun of a kart racer as Nintendo did with Mario Kart, but Rare was a very close second on the N64 with Diddy Kong Racing. As with other competitive "racers," such as Mario Kart and 1080, this game will have you screaming in joy as your friends pass you again after you just barely nudged ahead. The controls are very fluid and work well even with the N64's oft-awkward controller. Rare made another blockbuster with this game.… Full Review »
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