Wave Race 64
What Is It?
Wave Race 64 was released at a time when 3D racing games were just starting to get their footing. Thanks to games like Daytona USA on the Saturn and Ridge Racer on the PlayStation, the polygonal racing genre was off to a great start and quickly becoming one of the best loved types of games around the globe. Wave Race 64 sent waves across the genre when it managed to not only be one of the best racing games on the market, but also gave us some of the most realistic water physics we had seen up to that time. Ten years later it's hard to recommend a game because of its great water effects, so thankfully Wave Race 64 stands on its own as a stellar racing game with enough content to keep you (and three of your friends) busy for weeks to come. What sets Wave Race apart from most of the other racing games of the time (and any time, for that matter) are the evolving courses, which change as you go from one lap to another. Even today's best arcade racers (like Burnout) have you essentially going over the same set course three or four times before the race ends. But in Wave Race you can memorize the ins and outs of one lap only to find that the very next lap is completely different. Why aren't other companies pinching this brilliant idea from Wave Race? I certainly wouldn't complain if the next Need for Speed did this. Alas, Wave Race 64 was way ahead of its time, and easily one of the best racing games on the Virtual Console.
Does It Still Hold Up?
Even if you look past the evolving levels (which you shouldn't do, since those evolving levels are one of the best things about Wave Race) you still have a solid racing game full of amazing level designs and fast arcade-style action. It's also worth mentioning that we don't get a lot of racing games where you actually have to fight the environment, but the water in Wave Race is just as much a character as the blocky man riding that wave runner. While it's hard to go back and enjoy Ridge Racer or Daytona USA these days, Wave Race 64 still manages to be one of the best racing games of all time and a must-own for anybody who owns a Wii and loves racing games.
Is It Worth the Money?
While some could argue that $10 is a bit much for a ten year old game, the fact that there's nothing else like it on the market makes this a very attractive download. Don't even think about buying that crummy GameCube sequel over this Nintendo 64 version, the original Wave Race is where it's at. Chances are you won't even need to trick people into coming over and playing this game with you, Wave Race 64 is just that much fun.
Track & Field
What Is It?
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I have never been a fan of the Track & Field style of video game. I can appreciate what this 1983 arcade game tried to do, but I have never been a fan of mashing buttons as fast as I can to recreate running, throwing and other outdoor sports. The problem with this game is that it's not the Nintendo Entertainment System version of Track & Field, a cartridge that actually offered a lot more depth and excitement to the overall experience. Instead this is the short and shallow arcade game, where you have to slam your fingers as fast as you can and hope for the best. The good news is that this version offers online support, leader boards, and slightly upgraded (read: smoothed out) graphics. Even with all that going for it Track & Field remains a terribly short experience that is only fun for a few minutes ... if that. If you're a fan of these kinds of games then you're better off just waiting for Track & Field II on the Virtual Console, at least with that game you get canoeing, taekwondo and skeet shooting.
Does It Still Hold Up?
What was fun in the arcade 24 years ago is definitely not fun on your Xbox 360 control. This is the kind of game where they expect you to hurt your hand mashing buttons trying to make your little guy go as fast as he possibly can. The good news is that this version of the game offers you a slightly remixed control scheme, which involves you waggling the left analog stick back and forth. While that's a good idea, I can't help but notice that it makes it hard to use that set up and jump/throw at the same time. There are far too many events (hurdles, javelin, etc.) that require you to not only run fast but push that action button at a moment's notice. At the end of the day your two control options are to choose something that hurts your hand or something that makes it hard to throw and jump.
Is It Worth the Money?
Even though this game is only five dollars (and gives you Xbox Live support), Track & Field is just one of those games that is impossible to recommend. I'm sure there are people out there that love this game, but I couldn't get into it then and I can't get into it now. If you like hurting your hand while playing a devilishly short game then by all means buy Track & Field, I'm certainly not going to be the one that stops you. At least the game is cheap; unfortunately it's also five dollars too expensive.
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