Waluigi's Taco Stand
Platform: Nintendo 64
Media: Cartridge
Genre: Platformer > 3D > Adventure
Release Year: 1996
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1
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Despite being such a popular Nintendo character, Waluigi has never had a game to call his own. But a new Super Mario 64 ROM hack, Waluigis Taco Stand, finally corrects this grave injustice.

This new N64 game is the work of renowned Super Mario 64 modder Kaze Emanuar. Theyve made a number of mods, including the recent mash-up Super Zelda 64: Ocarina of Time.

Jumping on a wooden post in Waluigi's Taco Stand for N64

Whats Waluigis Taco Stand about?

Waluigis Taco Stand is based on a fanfiction of the same name.

After blowing all his coins at the local casino, Waluigi is unable to make his rent. To repay his debt and avoid eviction, he must run his Koopa Troopa landlords taco stand.

Waluigi's rent is due in Waluigi's Taco Stand for N64

But its not a case of simply handing over tacos to hungry customers. For every single order a sombrero-wearing Waluigi must enter a mini-level and personally source the ingredients.

Customers are very picky. So its important to remember what theyve ordered. If you dont collect exactly what they ask for, youll have to do the whole order again.

Taking an order in Waluigi's Taco Stand game for Nintendo 64

The game is set across four stages. As you make more tacos, youll rank up and progress to the next stage.

Unsurprisingly, Waluigis Taco Stand plays almost exactly like Super Mario 64. Waluigi has the same innate jump and attack abilities. He can also use the classic Wing Cap power-up.

Waluigi jumping across pillars in Waluigi's Taco Stand for N64

However, Waluigis clearly superior physical prowess has not been forgotten. He cant take any damage from enemies or falling great heights. What a champ!

Free-range ingredients
Searching for taco fillings is fairly straightforward. Tomatoes and lettuces are found in the ground, whereas meat ingredients come from enemy creatures.

Picking up a lettuce for an order in N64 mod Waluigi's Taco Stand

If you ever thought beef came from cows then youre wrong  its actually Goombas. Slightly more worrying is the fact that Goombas also endorse cannibalism, given how many of them order beef tacos at the stand.

Second level in Waluigi's Taco Stand

Some ingredients are surprisingly tricky to get hold of. To source chicken, for example, you have to use the Wing Cap and fly into a Klepto.

Once youve collected every item you need, you can then choose to serve the taco using the pause menu.

Flying with the winged Sombrero cap in Waluigi's Taco Stand for N64

Waluigis Taco Stand is short, simple and endearingly silly. It re-uses a lot of Super Mario 64s assets, but also includes music and sound effects from other N64 games, such as Mario Kart 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Best of all, there are plenty of Waluigi voice clips to give the game a truly authentic feel. Theres more than enough WAH factor here.

Waluigi burns his butt in Waluigi's Taco Stand N64 ROM hack

How can I play Waluigis Taco Stand?
You must download the files and patch them to a clean ROM of Super Mario 64.

You can find a link to the files in the Waluigis Taco Stand launch video description. However, you will have to find the Super Mario 64 ROM elsewhere. This may be a bit difficult as many ROM sites are currently closing down.

Jumping up blocks in Taco Canyon stage in Waluigi's Taco Stand for N64

The video below provides an overview of the patching process. The Waluigis Taco Stand download files include patching software, so you dont need to source this separately.


Will it run on original hardware?

Yes! This is one of the very few Kaze Emanuar mods that actually works on original N64 hardware.

You will need to use a flashcart, such as an EverDrive 64, to load Waluigis Taco Stand on an N64. The game also requires an Expansion Pak in order to run.

Riding a creature across the red-hot lava in Waluigi's Taco Stand

We played through the entire game on original hardware, and initially didnt encounter any performance issues. However, the game froze during our second playthrough when we tried to pick up the Wing Cap power-up. So your mileage may vary  it may be that we just got lucky the first time round!

Its nice to see Nintendos hugely under-represented anti-hero get the sort of attention he deserves. And that fact its on the N64  the very console where Waluigi made his first appearance  makes it all the better.