The game that started the Mario Kart franchise is now on the Virtual Console and works really well too.
In this game you play as 8 racers throughout the entire Mario universe (Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong Jr and Koopa Troopa) to win the coveted gold cup in 3 different cups (a 4th that is unlockable once you accomplish that) on numerous tracks that scream 'Mario' all over it. Once that is accomplished on all 3 cups, a 4th and more challenging cup is unlock which will truly test your driving skills to the max.
Now unlike a lot of simulating racing games like Gran Turismo, Super Mario Kart was flat out crazy, arcade-style fun. Drivers can collect items throughout the tracks to launch projectiles such as shells, banana peels and fireballs to slow others down and take control of the races and coins to keep yourself and your kart in control when you hate hits cause without them it is near impossible to keep control of your kart.
Which needless to say brings us to this next point: unlike the more recent Mario Kart Wii which forgives you for bad driving at times Super Mario Kart will not, especially on the tougher difficulties. You need to be careful with driving seeing as how crashing into anyone causes you to lose coins or drifting for too long will cause you to spin out of control. Add the intense nature of the A.I. on the tougher difficulties and five laps instead of the traditional three since Mario Kart 64 to survive makes Super Mario Kart one of the toughest games of the franchise's history.
Or if 1P mode is not enough for you, there is always the addictive multiplayer mode. From racing your friend to battling on randomly placed arenas, there is a lot of people to do.
Super Mario Kart does not get the amount of love that it deserves due to its difficulty, not many people playing it or the likes of Mario Kart 64 getting all the glory due to its 4-player mode, though it should still be given a chance by anyone who is a fan of arcade-style racing.