''Wave Race'' is a 1992

personal watercraft A personal watercraft (PWC), also called water scooter or jet ski, is a recreational watercraft that a rider sits or stands on, not within, as in a boat. PWCs have two style categories, first and most popular being a runabout or "sit down" whe ...

racing video game developed by Pax Softnica and published by Nintendo for the

Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles. Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produce ...

Game Boy The is an 8-bit fourth generation handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan on April 21, 1989, in North America later the same year, and in Europe in late 1990. It was designed by the same ...

. It is the first game in the ''Wave Race'' series. The player controls a jet skier around a track aiming to beat the computer or up to three friends using the link cable accessory.

Gameplay

There are two modes in which the game may be played: ;Slalom: The goal is to race through pairs of posts across the track. Each one passed through increases the player's score by one point. The player with the most points once all posts have been taken wins. ;Race: A race in which the player must proceed through certain checkpoints and complete each lap in a time limit. Two powerups are available on the track. The dolphin gives the player increased turning ability, while the octopus allows the recipient to steal from opponents. In both modes, there are a variety of obstacles including ramps, shallow water and whirlpools. There are eight tracks for each mode. The game includes sixteen courses. The tracks have obstacles (buoys, pylons) and jumps. Players begin at a slower class of watercraft and graduate to faster engines. Players can also use a limited turbo boost. The game features four-player multiplayer.

Reception

Nintendo Power ''Nintendo Power'' was a video game news and strategy magazine from Nintendo of America, first published in July/August 1988 as Nintendo's official print magazine for North America. The magazine's publication was initially done monthly by Ninten ...

'' wrote that the game successfully emulated the feel of watercraft racing. The reviewers praised the effect of skidding around corners, and recommended the four-player multiplayer experience.

Power Unlimited ''Power Unlimited'' is a Dutch multi-format video games magazine. It is the biggest gaming magazine in the Benelux. The first issue was released in June 1993. History ''Power Unlimited'' started in June 1993 in Bjørn Bruinsma's basement as a n ...

gave the game a score of 71% writing: "This game is really something for speed buffs who love the Game Boy."

Sequels

''Wave Race'' sold well enough to earn a

Player's Choice ''Nintendo Selects'' (formerly ''Player's Choice'') was a marketing label used by Nintendo to promote video games on current Nintendo game consoles that have sold well. ''Nintendo Selects'' titles were sold at a lower price point (usually $19.99 ...

medal. It was later followed by two sequels: ''

Wave Race 64 is a 1996 racing video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Gameplay involves the player racing on a personal watercraft on a variety of courses while successfully manoeuvring the vehicle around various buoys. A multipl ...

'' and '' Wave Race: Blue Storm''. Unlike the first game, ''Wave Race 64'' and ''Wave Race: Blue Storm'' were also released in Japan. In November 2016, Nintendo applied to renew the ''Wave Race'' trademark through EUIPO, hinting that the series may continue in the near future. During an interview with

Fandom A fandom is a subculture composed of fans characterized by a feeling of empathy and camaraderie with others who share a common interest. Fans typically are interested in even minor details of the objects of their fandom and spend a significant ...

in April 2018, ''Wave Race'' producer

Shinya Takahashi commonly abbreviated as Nintendo EPD, is the largest division within the Japanese video game company Nintendo. The division focuses on developing and producing video games, mobile apps, and other related entertainment software for the company. E ...

suggested that the series may see a revival on the

Nintendo Switch The is a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo and released worldwide in most regions on March 3, 2017. The console itself is a Tablet computer#Gaming tablet, tablet that can either be docking station, docked for use as a home video ...

References

External links

*{{moby game, id=/wave-race 1992 video games Game Boy games Game Boy-only games Multiplayer and single-player video games Nintendo franchises Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development games Pax Softnica games Personal watercraft racing video games Video games developed in Japan