Diddy Kong Racing Original Soundtrack

As the name implies, this is the big banana for fans searching for a Diddy Kong Racing soundtrack. Don't waste your time with the crappy American shaped-CD release, this is the complete music from the game.

All tracks are original, varied, and hummable. The very best of these tracks are "Walrus Cove", a wintry track that sounds like a cross between Frosty The Snowman and Winter Wonderland, in a revved-up manner. There are so many other great music tracks like this one. In fact, there are no really poor tracks in the score. Rare just does it again and again.

The Japanese release puts the inferior shaped-CD American release to shame in many ways. It's got all 42 tracks and a lengthy running time of 73 minutes, whereas the American version contained only 16 tracks and had a time of 39 minutes. And to my delight (and relief), there are no game staff voice tracks on this one (the last two Japanese N64 soundtracks, Wave Race 64: Kawasaki Jet Ski and Yoshi's Story, contained them). Also, there is liner information on who composed the music, did the sound effects, produced the album, etc., as with all the Japanese N64 soundtracks.

While not a definitive classic score up in the style of Super Mario 64, Wonder Project J 2, Star Fox 64, and Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon, Diddy Kong Racing Original Soundtrack is a very enjoyable trip.