Wikipedia

Mickey's Speedway USA

Mickey's Speedway USA is a kart racing game developed by Rare and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color. It is Rare and Nintendo's second collaboration with Disney Interactive following Mickey's Racing Adventure (1999), and features characters from the Mickey Mouse universe racing across the United States. The Nintendo 64 game released in November 2000 to mixed reception, while the Game Boy Color version followed in March 2001.

Mickey's Speedway USA
North American Nintendo 64 box art
Developer(s)Rare
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Composer(s)Ben Cullum
Platform(s)
ReleaseNintendo 64
  • NA: November 13, 2000
  • EU: December 1, 2000
  • JP: January 21, 2001
Game Boy Color
  • EU: March 23, 2001
  • NA: March 25, 2001
Genre(s)Kart racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gameplay

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A screenshot of the Nintendo 64 version showing a race in Indianapolis, with the player controlling Mickey Mouse.

Mickey's Speedway USA features various characters from the Mickey Mouse universe racing in karts to complete three laps around a track as quickly as possible. Scattered along each track are tokens that increase racers' maximum speed, boosters which will give racers a quick burst of acceleration, and items that can be used to interfere with opponents, such as baseballs and paint cans.[1] The Nintendo 64 (N64) version features gameplay similar to Rare's previous N64 racing game Diddy Kong Racing (1997), while the Game Boy Color (GBC) version uses the same isometric perspective as its predecessor, Mickey's Racing Adventure (1999).[2][3]

Both versions of the game include a Grand Prix mode, a time trial mode, and multiplayer racing modes.[1][3] Each Grand Prix is playable at three difficulty levels; earning a gold trophy for each one will unlock new characters, cheats and other features.[4] The N64 version includes a practice mode and a multiplayer battle mode with four arenas,[5] while the GBC version includes "driving school" tutorial missions and a gallery of unlockable images, which can be printed out using the Game Boy Printer.[6]

The game features 20 different race tracks spread across five Grands Prix, all themed after famous American cities and locations such as Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and the Grand Canyon.[5] The selection of tracks differs between versions.[6] The final Grand Prix can only be unlocked in the N64 version by finding four vehicle parts hidden in different race tracks.[5] An additional bonus track can be unlocked in the N64 version via a cheat code and in the GBC version by connecting to a copy of Mickey's Racing Adventure via the system's infrared port.[6]

Six playable characters are included in both versions of the game. These default characters are paired in statistics: Mickey and Donald have average statistics, Minnie and Daisy focus on handling and acceleration, and Goofy and Pete have a concentration in speed and weight.[7] Three additional characters, consisting of Dewey, Louie, and Ludwig Von Drake, can be unlocked in the N64 version through completing objectives in Grand Prix mode;[8][9] a fourth character, Huey, can only be unlocked by connecting to the GBC version through the Transfer Pak.[10]

Synopsis

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Mickey discovers his dog, Pluto, has been kidnapped by the Weasels for his diamond collar. He calls Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy to help search for Pluto, while Pete intercepts the phone call and follows behind. Professor Ludwig von Drake builds race cars for the group to help them search faster, and they travel across America following a series of postcards left by the Weasels. After a final race, the Weasels are found, caught, and sent to jail. Mickey happily reunites with Pluto, revealing the supposed diamonds on his collar are simply glass beads from one of Minnie's old necklaces, and the group heads home.

Development

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In May 1999, Nintendo announced plans to publish 13 Mickey Mouse games for its consoles over the following three years, to be developed by Rare.[11] The company confirmed in November of that year that Mickey's Speedway USA would be released during the 2000 holiday season.[12] The game had a marketing budget of $5 million.[13]

Reception

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The Nintendo 64 version received "average" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[31]

Matthew Byrd, writing for Den of Geek in 2017, said that Mickey's Speedway USA could not compete to other similar titles like Diddy Kong Racing, Mario Kart 64, or Crash Team Racing, due to its courses being not nearly as "inventive" (only a basic recreations of US locations), its power-ups as "little slim", its "problematic" artificial intelligence, and its roster of karts and tracks as "thin". Despite its flaws, he thought that Rare managed to produce an engagingly charming and functional kart racing title.[32]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Mirabella III, Fran (November 10, 2000). "Mickey's Speedway USA (N64)". IGN. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Cave, Lewis (October 4, 2011). "Mickey's Speedway USA (Nintendo 64) Review". Nintendo Life. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Harris, Craig (April 10, 2001). "Mickey's Speedway USA (GBC)". IGN. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Four-Eyed Dragon (February 8, 2001). "Mickey's Speedway USA Review for N64 on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Mickey's Speedway USA". Nintendo Official Magazine. No. 98. EMAP. November 2000. pp. 16–22. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Mickey's Speedway USA". Nintendo Power. No. 142. Nintendo of America. March 2001. pp. 62–67.
  7. ^ "A Gang of Gearheads". Nintendo Power. No. 138. Nintendo of America. November 2000. p. 36.
  8. ^ "A Rare Edition". Nintendo Power. No. 137. Nintendo of America. October 2000. p. 33.
  9. ^ "Winning is Just Ducky". Nintendo Power. No. 138. Nintendo of America. November 2000. p. 38.
  10. ^ "Huey Spotted on Mickey's Speedway". IGN. March 8, 2001. Archived from the original on February 12, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2022.
  11. ^ "Mickey for N64, Dolphin". IGN. May 7, 1999. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  12. ^ "Mickey Speeds to N64". IGN. November 5, 1999. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  13. ^ Wasserman, Todd (September 18, 2000). "Nintendo Plots Zelda Battle Royale, Seeks 'The One' as PS2 Attack Looms". Brandweek. Archived from the original on February 27, 2025. Retrieved February 27, 2025 – via Gale Research.
  14. ^ Frankle, Gavin. "Mickey's Speedway USA (N64) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  15. ^ "Mickey's Speedway USA (GBC)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. 2001.
  16. ^ EGM staff (February 2001). "Mickey's Speedway USA (N64)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. Archived from the original on February 11, 2001. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  17. ^ "REVIEW for Mickey's Speedway USA (N64)". GameFan. November 10, 2000.
  18. ^ "Mickey's Speedway USA (GBC)". Game Informer. No. 97. May 2001.
  19. ^ Reiner, Andrew (January 2001). "Mickey's Speedway USA (N64)". Game Informer. No. 93. p. 136.
  20. ^ Uncle Dust (April 25, 2001). "Mickey's Speedway USA Review for Game Boy Color on GamePro.com". GamePro. Archived from the original on November 22, 2004. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  21. ^ Liu, Johnny (November 2000). "Mickey's Speedway USA Review (N64)". Game Revolution. Archived from the original on August 7, 2001. Retrieved December 6, 2014.
  22. ^ Provo, Frank (March 28, 2001). "Mickey's Speedway USA Review (GBC)". GameSpot. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  23. ^ Satterfield, Shane (November 15, 2000). "Mickey's Speedway USA Review (N64)". GameSpot. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  24. ^ Shea, Cam (May 2001). "Mickey's Speedway USA". Hyper. No. 91. p. 70. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  25. ^ "Mickey's Speedway USA (GBC)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 142. March 2001. p. 125.
  26. ^ "Mickey's Speedway USA (N64)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 138. November 2000. p. 124.
  27. ^ "Mickey's Speedway USA". Nintendo Official Magazine. No. 99. EMAP. December 2000. pp. 28–32. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  28. ^ Meinung, Alex (December 2000). "Mickey's Speedway USA". de:Video Games (in German). pp. 84–85. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
  29. ^ "Mickey's Speedway USA for Game Boy Color". GameRankings. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  30. ^ "Mickey's Speedway USA for Nintendo 64". GameRankings. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  31. ^ a b "Mickey's Speedway USA for Nintendo 64 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  32. ^ Byrd, Matthew (June 22, 2017). "Old School Cool: Mickey's Speedway USA". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on October 27, 2021. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
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