Wave Race: Blue Storm Compare Prices

Game Review & Description: Only one of two launch titles published by Nintendo themselves--the other is Luigi's Mansion--Wave Race: Blue Storm is a follow-up to the extremely impressive N64 racer, which until this sequel appeared still had the most realistic simulation of moving water ever. The sequel, naturally, looks even more impressive, with huge rolling waves, water splashing on the camera screen and beautiful reflections everywhere. This is the one to impress your non-GameCube owning mates with--if you think they're not going to become excited by a ghost-themed vacuum cleaning simulator. Although the graphics have certainly been improved, some of the other changes in Blue Storm are more controversial. The biggest problem is the extremely heavy handling of the jet skis. It's no doubt more realistic but to the average player it initially seems like you're driving a water-borne milk float, such is your craft's total inability to take corners at speed. Things improve with practice--especially if you choose the English guy's jet ski with the improved handling--but it does severely limit the game's initial appeal. The cheaty, Mario Kart 64-style AI doesn't help matters either. All this isn't enough to ruin the party, though, and this is still a top notch and, most unusually of all, original racer.--David Jenkins