Introducing Mario to the racing genre is one of the greatest ideas Nintendo has ever had.
THE GOOD
-Smooth controls
-Challenging difficulty
-Excellent track design
-Incredible sound
-Vibrant visuals
-Lots of action out on the track in Grand Prix mode
-Exciting multiplayer
THE BAD
-Tight turns in Battle mode disrupt the flow of the game
OVERVIEW
Welcome to the fantastic world of Super Mario Kart. After years and years of fighting to keep the lands of the Mushroom Kingdom safe, the Mario Brothers decided to take up go-kart racing. Mario and Luigi are accompanied by a bunch of familiar faces from the series like the Princess, Yoshi, Toad, Bowser, Donkey Kong, and a Koopa Troopa. Super Mario Kart isn't an ordinary racing game because you can collect helpful items to give you an edge over your opponents; this makes every race filled with complete and utter chaos!
GAMEPLAY
Super Mario Kart features two single player modes (Grand Prix and Time Trial) and three multiplayer modes (Grand Prix, Match Race and Battle Mode). It really doesn't matter if you play by yourself or with a friend because each mode is highly addictive.
Grand Prix (GP) is pretty much the main mode for the game. In GP you first select one of the eight playable characters. Each character on the top row has the same attributes as the character below. For example, Mario and Luigi are equivalent. Since there are eight playable characters, there are essentially four different types of racers to choose from. The differing attributes are based on the following: top speed, acceleration and handling. Mario/Luigi is well rounded, Yoshi/Princess has excellent acceleration but lacks in handling, Toad/Koopa Troopa has great handling but lacks top speed and Bowser/Donkey Kong has the best top speed in the game but lacks in acceleration. The differences between each character add quite a bit of depth to the game play.
Once you've selected your character, the next task is to choose a Cup and difficulty setting. Initially there are three Cups available: Mushroom, Flower and Star. Each Cup offers five uniquely designed tracks with the option to unlock five more in the Special Cup. The two difficulty settings, 50cc and 100cc, not only depict how aggressive the computer characters will race but it also determines how fast the cars will drive. Think of the "cc" as the volume of cubic centimeters your engine can hold; the higher the number, the bigger the engine. Successfully completing all the 100cc Cups will unlock the 150cc setting. The 150cc setting is really challenging and separates the "men from the boys".
Each race consists of five laps around the track. Along with avoiding other drivers (eight total), there are also other obstacles in the way like warp pipes and Thwomps. Each track has an area where a driver can run over a question block and obtain an item to use. These items consist of coins (for more top speed), shells (to throw and your opponent), banana peels (to drop and cause your opponent to slip) and a StarMan (which gives you ultimate power for a short time period). Items are crucial because they can turn the tides of a race in an instant. This is what really makes Super Mario Kart special because not only do you have to master maneuvering around the track but you need to be able to recover from all sorts of dangers aimed at you.
At the end of each race scores will be awarded to the top four racers (nine for 1st, six for 2nd, three for 3rd, and one for 4th). The racer with the most points at the end of the fifth track will win the gold trophy (silver for second and bronze for third). Not only is racing by yourself extremely fun but racing with another friend is even more exciting. I highly recommend playing with a friend because the two of you could try to team up against the computer or compete against each other for bragging rights. Super Mario Kart is one of the first successful racing games to let two players progress through the story mode together.
Time Trial and Match Race are two extra game modes that aren't as exciting as GP but fun none the less. Time Trial lets one person race around each track without any items or enemies with the sole goal of trying to get the fastest time, whereas Match Race lets two players race against each other with all the items minus the other six computer opponents.
Battle Mode can be just as addictive as GP but it does come with some headaches too. In Battle Mode you and a friend square off against each other in a quasi deathmatch. Each driver has three balloons which surround their kart. The objective is to pop your opponent's balloons before they do the same to you. Every time a driver is struck by an attack object (banana peel, shell or StarMan), they'll lose a balloon. The four separate tracks lend themselves to some great cut-throat action, however, the abundance of sharp, right-angle turns make it rather easy to slam into walls. Even if you're using a driver with good acceleration the pace of the game doesn't feel as smooth as it should.
For the most part the controls are really well done for this amazing racer. Power sliding, via the R and L buttons, makes maneuvering around corners a breeze. You'll also find it easy to control where your attack items go. Super Mario Kart really does a great job with giving the player very responsive controls.
GRAPHICS & SOUND
Graphically, this game stunning. The tracks are filled with vibrant colors making each time around the track a memorable one. The level design is outstanding which gives the player a variety of experiences from sliding around on ice to surfing the shallow waters on the beach. Plus, each track fits the Mario theme.
The audio is another shining star that this game has to offer. The soundtrack is enjoyable and fits the theme of each track while offering a bit of nostalgia for fans of the series. The sound effects work really well too from the roaring go-kart engines to the crack sound when a homing, red shell finds its mark.
CONCLUSION
Super Mario Kart is an absolute gem for the Super Nintendo. This game brings racing games to a whole new level. Not only is the racing smooth but the other unique elements keep this game from getting boring. Trust me; you won't be bored with this addictive racer. Also, the wide range of modes and difficulty settings makes sure that anyone, regardless of skill level, can enjoy. I would highly recommend this game to any racing fan and anyone new to the racing genre. Super Mario Kart is a highly addictive racing game that sets the bar very high for future games in the genre.