Nintendo goes and slaps the gamer community with a big-funny nostalgia bomb, depositing the quintessential Mario Kart 64 soundtrack on the Nintendo Music app. You heard that right: the legendary raceway bops are now officially streamable. But, you should really know that in keeping with the internet waves, reactions came from all corners of the spectrum-from frustration to hype.
Let’s begin with the music. Mario Kart 64 soundtrack is a time machine into late ’90s days. Documents like Rainbow Road and Toad’s Turnpike are not just background office noise but are etched into people’s memories, especially any soul who remembers drifting over those pixelated roads in the original Mario Kart. Now, just imagine blasting these tunes on your phone while pretending to dodge banana peels in real life.
That drop is an uncomfortable thing for some. Some gamers feel like Nintendo chose MK64 over Mario Kart World, and they’re not happy at all about it. One player tweeted, “Eh it’s not MK World, but MK64 is still a good pick,” while another says, “Mario Kart World Please!” The thirst for World’s soundtrack is real and Nintendo’s just…not delivering.
Then there are those asking, “Why is it not launched in my country?” One user fired a comment, “Then make it available in all countries then,” and honestly, that’s a fair point. The bane of Nintendo’s regional locks is the blockage of certain countries once more, leaving some fans to endure obscure YouTube rips going into 2007.
And the classic Nintendo bashing rolls in – “Shut up and announce the damn direct,” bellowed one user, apparently insinuating that the release of those fire tracks is not enough and that they want the actual game announcement too. Another user snickered at the sight of “Nintendo drip feed,” because, let’s be honest, Nintendo sure likes to tease us at a glacial speed.
But then there were others who did not sprinkle salt on the comments and had simply raced past their finish line. “Me when the Raceway theme hits,” popcorned a comment with a goofy dancing gif. Another added, “We can now listen to all versions of N64 Rainbow Road on Nintendo Music,” which is really, really cool.
So, what’s the verdict? The Mario Kart 64 music drop scored some nostalgia wins but is a glaring reminder that gamers are really angling for more. Whether it’s World’s soundtrack, wider release in more territories, or just that much, much wanted Direct announcement, the rallying never stops.
For now, if you’re geographically fortunate enough to be able to access Nintendo Music, get started on those tunes. Just try not to blue-shell your way to the break room.
