Wave Race

• Title — Wave Race • Developer — Nintendo EAD Pax Softnica • Publisher — Nintendo • Director — Masayuki Kameyama • Producer — Shigeru Miyamoto • Programmer — Masayuki Hirashima Yoshiaki Hoshino • Artist — Hideo Kon • Composer — Taisuke Araki • Series — Wave Race • Platforms — Game Boy • Genre — Racing • Modes — Single-player, multiplayer

• Illustration — Gameplay screenshot The game contains two gameplay modes. In "Slalom", the goal is to take posts by racing through pairs of posts across the track. Each post a racer passes through increases their score by one point. The racer with the most points once all posts have been taken wins. In "Race", players must proceed through certain checkpoints and complete each lap in a set time limit. Two on track powerups are available. The dolphin powerup gives the player increased turning ability, while the octopus powerup allows the recipient to steal from opponents. There are eight tracks for each mode (a combined total of sixteen tracks). In both modes, racers have to navigate a variety of on track obstacles (buoys, pylons, shallow water, whirlpools) 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.

Wave Race on the Game Boy garnered average reception from critics. Nintendo Powers George Sinfield and Rob Noel wrote that the game successfully emulated the feel of watercraft racing. They praised the effect of skidding around corners, and recommended the four-player multiplayer experience. A writer for German magazine Mega Fun commended the game's audiovisual presentation, playability and multiplayer mode. Joysticks Olivier Karali gave the game favorable remarks for its "exemplary" playability, particularly the controls. N-Forces Nick Roberts and Carl Rowley considered it a mediocre and frustrating racing game. While they found the visuals to be well detailed and the soundtrack average, they felt its gameplay lacked depth. Consolemanias Alessandro Rossetto praised the game's realistic controls, sound, and playability, but criticized the graphics for their lack of variety. Selby Bateman of Game Players Nintendo Guide noted the solid feel the personal watercrafts have when turning in the water. Bateman also commended the game's graphical department, multiplayer mode, and auto-save feature. Video Games Michael Paul highlighted the game's controls and difficulty level, stating that "If you're looking for a multi-player game that's also fun to play solo, Wave Race is the right wave for you". Total!s Thomas Hellwig and Sandra Alter found it to be a thrilling title, citing its intelligent opponents and tracks, but saw the poor collision detection and constant flickering as shortcomings. Hobby Consolas criticized Wave Race on the Game Boy for its weak visuals and poor playability. Nintendo Accións Juan Carlos García faulted the game's mediocre graphics, repetitive tracks, and viewing perspective. Power Unlimited recommended the game for "speed enthusiasts who love the Game Boy". Joypads Kendy Ty panned its slow scrolling, and labelled it as a "poor man's Micro Machines". Player Ones Stéphane Pilet lauded its audiovisual department, playability, and multiplayer. Writing for Retro Gamer, Clarance Frank regarded it as "A nice start to the Wave Race franchise which, while differing greatly from its later console counterparts, contained plenty of ideas that transferred successfully into the 3-D versions". In a series retrospective, Jon Partridge of Red Bull Games celebrated its fresh take on the racing genre, tight controls, gameplay, unique setting, and multiplayer.

Wave Race sold well enough that it was eventually added to Nintendo's Player's Choice marketing label (a marketing label that promoted a lineup of the best selling Nintendo games). It was later followed by two sequels: Wave Race 64 and Wave Race: Blue Storm. Unlike the first game, Wave Race 64 and Wave Race: Blue Storm were also released in Japan.