What is Mario Kart 64 for Dreamcast?

Mario Kart 64 for Dreamcast is an open-source port of Mario Kart 64. An existing game or its source code brought to another platform. The original game ran on Other.

Do I need the original game files to run Mario Kart 64 for Dreamcast?

Yes. The project does not include the original game's assets, so you need your own copy. Requires extraction of assets from an original copy of Mario Kart 64 to build the Dreamcast version.

Mario Kart 64 for Dreamcast

PortActivePlayableDreamcast

An existing game or its source code brought to another platform.

Based on Mario Kart 64

Links, repository & details

About

Mario Kart 64 is a 1996 kart racing game by Nintendo for the N64, the second entry in the Mario Kart series, featuring Grand Prix and battle modes with items, obstacles, and local multiplayer. Mario Kart 64 for Dreamcast is a homebrew port of the Mario Kart 64 decompilation to the Sega Dreamcast, using hardware-mixed audio and a native PowerVR Fast3D rendering backend to run at 30fps with local 4-player multiplayer and music. It has been tested and confirmed working on physical Dreamcast hardware; emulator compatibility is currently unreliable.

How it differs from the original

Building it requires extracting assets from an original Mario Kart 64 ROM, and unlike the N64 original, the Dreamcast control mapping is fixed and not user-configurable.

Getting started

Building requires a Dreamcast/KallistiOS toolchain (a specific KallistiOS commit), plus the project's `torch` and `mkdcdisc` tools, and your own Mario Kart 64 ROM placed as baserom.us.z64; the build produces a .cdi disc image to burn, or a DreamShell-compatible .iso. On real hardware, race records and time trial ghosts are saved to a VMU if one is inserted.

Known issues & limitations

emulation: Emulation is known to have many issues; the game is tested and works properly on physical hardware only.
Emulation is known to have many issues; the game has been tested and works properly on physical hardware.

What you need to run it

Original game files required. The project ships code only; you provide your own copy of the game (Other version). Requires extraction of assets from an original copy of Mario Kart 64 to build the Dreamcast version.

The port is for the Sega Dreamcast.

Features

The project uses hardware-mixed audio and a raw PowerVR Fast3d backend.
Options, race records, and time trial ghosts can be saved to a VMU in controller 1 when it has enough free blocks.
The game functions normally without a VMU.

Summarised from the project's README.

Media

Additional notes

Trivia: The port had no working sound until later hardware-mixed audio optimizations made full-speed gameplay with audio possible.

FAQ

What is Mario Kart 64 for Dreamcast?: Mario Kart 64 for Dreamcast is an open-source port of Mario Kart 64. An existing game or its source code brought to another platform. The original game ran on Other.
Do I need the original game files to run Mario Kart 64 for Dreamcast?: Yes. The project does not include the original game's assets, so you need your own copy. Requires extraction of assets from an original copy of Mario Kart 64 to build the Dreamcast version.