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9) Diddy Kong Racing
Platform: Nintendo 64 (1997)
Many people scratched their heads when Rare described Diddy Kong Racing as being part racing, part adventure game. Those weened on Mario Kart had trouble understanding that the firm delineation between the two genres could not only be erased, but merged into a beautiful, cohesive package. Players spent hours exploring the game world by kart, hover craft, and plane, discovering secrets that led to new characters and race tracks. The racing itself was equally engaging, offering a fine sense of speed and a suite of weapons that could either be deployed immediately or powered up for more devastating attacks. Composer David Wise lent his talents to the title, creating a number of catchy, upbeat songs that were reminiscent of the Donkey Kong Country titles, but also provided the game with its own identity. Diddy Kong Racing further demonstrated Rare’s ability to innovate within seemingly restrictive genres. This title was re-released on Nintendo DS a few years ago, so feel free to hunt down a copy if you never got to play it the first time!
