If, like us, you’re excited for N64 games to finally arrive the Switch, then you might want to learn how to drift in Mario Kart 64.
Maybe you’ve never played Mario Kart 64 before, or perhaps you never even knew that you could drift.
Listen, it’s the only way I’ve managed to beat all my friends over the years. Drifting is the key to success in most racing games, but that’s especially so in Mazza’s debut racing title on the 64.
Don’t worry, it’s not a complicated process. And, once you master it, you’ll be passing Bowser, DK, and all the other characters on those corners like the calculated speed freak you are.
So, without further ado, let’s put the pedal to the metal and turn into racing gods already!
Learn How To Drift In Mario Kart 64!
Drifting in Mario Kart 64 might not seem like the most important thing when you’ve got a blue shell coming towards you or when you’re at the back of the pack.
But trust me, it’s a secret technique that you can use time and time again to up your race rankings.
You see, dear reader, every time you successfully pull off a drift, you can charge up a mini boost.
The longer you hold the drift for, the bigger the boost!
Here’s how to do it.
Before you get to a corner and while holding A to accelerate, press the R-button to do a little jump. When you land, hold the control stick in the opposite way to the direction that your kart is turning.
So, if you’re going right, hold your control stick to the left, and if you’re going left, jam that bad boy to the right!
If everything has gone to plan, then you should start to see smoke coming out from behind your kart.
Now you’re drifting!
How To Do A Mini Boost In Mario Kart 64
Ok, so we’re drifting, but how do we get that mini boost?
If you’ve followed the initial steps on how to drift in Mario Kart 64, then you’re pretty much there. All you need to do now is quickly move your control stick from right to left or left to right, depending on which way you’re drifting.
Each time you do this joystick shuffle, the smoke behind your kart should change colour. If you’re doing it right, you’ll see the smoke turn into little red E symbols.
Once you’ve done this back and forth trick around 3-4 times, your kart will be charged up and ready to let loose. Simply release the R-button and watch as your character zooms down the road.
You’ll also hear them shout or reel off a catchphrase when they blast off too!
And there you have it! Now you know how to drift and pull off impromptu mini boosts to get ahead of your opponents in Mario Kart 64!
Let us know your drift success stories and best lap times over on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!
Seb Santabarbara has bought every Nintendo console that has ever been released in his 33 years on Planet Earth. His favourite game franchise is Zelda, and he’s patiently waiting for Banjo-Kazooie to come back to the fold. When he’s not playing games, he’s travelling the world in his self-converted camper van.
