AbstiroMario Kart 64 Wario Stadium: The Legendary 5.96-Second Three-Lap Record
About Mario Kart 64
Mario Kart 64 was released by Nintendo in 1996. Even 30 years later, world records are still being broken in this much-loved game.
Nintendo's official page
Mario Kart 64 | History | Mario Portal | Nintendo
World records and historical archive
MK64 WR History
The world's largest unofficial ranking site
Mario Kart 64 Players' Page - World Records
Wario Stadium shortcuts and world records
Wario Stadium's shortcuts are well known in Mario Kart 64, especially the one that lets you jump over the left wall near the start.
You can also jump over the wall from the opposite side. A video of that run is available for the 3-lap world record of 14.52 seconds (PAL).
MK64 WR History
A video is also available for a 1-lap run of 0.94 seconds (NTSC). The player completes the lap without jumping over the wall from the opposite side.
MK64 WR History
The legendary record
In fact, a three-lap record faster than the one on the world-record ranking site was set in Japan more than 20 years ago: 5.96 seconds for three laps. (Since it is an old Japanese record, it was probably set on the NTSC version.)
The site where the record was posted has since closed, but it is preserved in the Internet Archive.
Homepage
https://web.archive.org/web/20040606215751/http://www.cmo.jp/users/noppe/
Record page
https://web.archive.org/web/20040614040617fw_/http://www.cmo.jp/users/noppe/marika-64/wariosutaziamu.htm
The technique is named the “Boomerang Technique + Jump-Only Technique.” Based on that name, I suspect there may be a way to complete a lap without jumping over the wall, similar to the 0.94-second lap record.
Perhaps it is possible to complete a lap without jumping over the wall on the finish-line side, or to cross to the other side and cross the finish line three times without jumping over the wall.
There is no video of the 5.96-second three-lap record being performed.
Still, I believe the record is credible. The player who set it later posted several outstanding records and gameplay videos in other Mario Kart games.
(I have omitted information that could identify the player.)
Conclusion
Of the Mario Kart 64 records, Wario Stadium's record is the only one that has yet to be beaten on the official/main world-record ranking site.
I hope someone will reproduce this technique and set a new world record.
Mario Kart 64 can still be played today by purchasing a Nintendo Switch 2 and subscribing to Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.
Search Amazon for Nintendo Switch 2 / Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack