Mickey's Speedway USA

• Title — Mickey's Speedway USA • Developer — Rare • Publisher — Nintendo • Composer — Ben Cullum • Platforms — * Nintendo 64 • Game Boy Color • Released — Nintendo 64 Game Boy Color • Genre — Kart racing • Modes — Single-player, multiplayer

• Illustration — 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 "Oomph 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. 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). Both versions of the game include a Grand Prix mode, a time trial mode, and multiplayer racing modes. Each Grand Prix is playable at three difficulty levels; earning a gold trophy for each one will unlock new characters, cheats and other features. The N64 version includes a practice mode, a multiplayer battle mode with four arenas, and unlockable cheats to modify gameplay, 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. Each version of 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. The selection of track locations differs between versions. In the N64 version, four special vehicle parts are hidden in different race tracks; all four must be collected to unlock the final Grand Prix. 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. 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. In the N64 version, completing objectives in Grand Prix mode will unlock three additional characters, consisting of Dewey, Louie, and Ludwig Von Drake; a fourth character, Huey, can be unlocked by connecting to the GBC version through the Transfer Pak.

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.

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