By Joseph "Santa's Favorite" Walter
For today's inaugural entry, we're talking about a fantastic kart-racing course from a fantastic kart-racing game. Let the "Christmas Games Countdown" begin!
Frappe Snowland (Mario Kart 64):
The peace and tranquility of this wintry scene are broken only by the sounds of go-karts echoing throughout the otherwise serene surroundings.
Christmas Content:
For starters, it perfectly captures the magic of a December night snowfall. The track's look, feel and atmosphere are all rendered so well that you can practically feel the crisp air and frosty temperature (which is comfortably chilly, not frigid)... and unlike the truly horrendous "Sherbet Land" (sincerely, it's awful), "Frappe Snowland" is actually fun.
The music is also stellar, encapsulating the pleasant spirits of December, winter and snow into a wonderfully-realized package that's worth listening to even outside of the game. So refreshing!
Lastly, there's also a nostalgia component. Before I had an N64, I only got small tastes of the system from friends and cousins. I vividly recall a December where, as a youth, I watched my older cousins blasting through Mario Kart 64 and Goldeneye, totally enraptured by the magic I was seeing on screen. From then on, I've sort of associated both of these games with Christmas, family and good memories, so that gives my enjoyment of this level an extra dose of seasonal spice.
In any case, if you've yet to drive through "Frappe Snowland" this year, do yourself a favor and take five minutes on some cold night to enjoy a quiet and relaxing "Time Trial" through this wintery wonderland.