Mickey’s Speedway USA Nintendo Retrospective

Ace developer Rare has done it again, filling this Pak with subtly modeled characters, extremely detailed texture maps and spot-on play control that put the “Wow!” back in the go-kart genre.

Rare’s 1997 smash hit Diddy Kong Racing broke new ground by mixing classic go-kart elements with an elaborate adventure mode. Mickey’s Speedway USA also mixes racing and adventure, as Mickey and friends must race to rescue Pluto, who has been dognapped by the dastardly Weazles.

As in DKR, the game has five Grand Prix circuits that range across the good ol’ U.S. of A. Each circuit has three tracks, plus a hidden fourth track. Only by finding items hidden in the first four circuits can players open up the fifth circuit.

The Pak is filled with terrific animations that show off Rare’s trademark attention to detail, including Huey (or Dewey – or is it Louie?) hovering with the start signal, elk dashing across a field by a track, and a storm-cloud power-up that literally rains on a rival.

The drivers include Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and — surprise! — Pete, the villain in Mickey’s Racing Adventure GBC.

Racers collect coins and power-ups and get speed boosts by hitting DKR-like zippers. The twisty courses include shortcuts.

Mickey’s Speedway USA will also feature four-player split-screen racing and a battle mode.