If you like the original SNES Mario Kart, you might like this, though it's not without it's problems.
Graphically the game looks great for the era it's chasing after. The racers themselves are detailed quite nicely with the exception of a few problems that I'll get to later, as well as the tracks that each have their own unique look (the lava track is my personal favorite). And there are various powerups you can get by running into crates, one that places mines behind, or makes a hole in the ground. Then there's one that makes you jump. Then you've got the two "turtle shells" (except in here they're just little colored discs). One that just goes straight and bounces off the walls, and another that homes in on people. As well as a boost, which you'll see a lot of if you're in last place, because that's all you'll get to try to help you keep up. The last track in the game though, even with it's transparent roads looks a little empty otherwise. Although it is infuriatingly difficult. :)
The sound … well the music has kind of a kooky kart style beat to it that works fine for me. It kinda reminds me of Burger King game called Pocketbike Racer if you've ever played that. But the sound effects themselves are few and far between. You have the sound of the kart engines, screeching tires when people spin out that doesn't sound all that great. And the little "thock" of karts slamming into each other. Good music, but really weak in the sound effects department.
The gameplay however, is great. The Grand Prix mode is what I typically play, and I use the Time Trials to practice tracks. The Grand Prix mode basically works like a tournament. You get so many points for winning a series of races. There are 4 different cups, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. And you just go through and attempt to come in first. You can either race against 7 other CPU opponents, or 3 other people can join in on it in the race for first place. The Battle Mode's 4 stages are pretty evenly balanced out and can be tons of fun. Time Trial is something I'll probably never really be good at, because I really suck at the game, and my Gamertag is slowly disappearing from the list. :)
Now with what I was talking about with the graphics earlier, it's immediately apparent as soon as the game starts. The racers themselves never change expression. Ever. Which isn't really a big deal considering that's about the only time you ever really see their faces, but it would've been a nice addition. And it would've went well if the game just had more sound effects. You don't get the little "zoom" when you pass someone up, you don't hear the characters complaining when they get hit by something. Or when they pass someone, hit someone with something or win. Winning animations would have been great. Even speech balloons would've been nice.
And there are some major balancing issues with the karts. For example, if you pick the ninja at the very first race … you more than likely will not even place because damn near everyone is so much faster. It doesn't matter that he has better control and acceleration, if you get out in front you'll lose it pretty quick. And when you smack into a wall it results in a DEAD stop and it's a major pain getting off of that wall. And if you go off into the dirt or shallow water, pretty much the same thing, you slow down to a complete crawl until you get out of it, which will completely obliterate any chance you had of winning no matter WHAT character you chose.
And it would've been nice to have different control setups, because my natural reaction to make the kart go into a drift to make it around these tight corners is to pull the right TRIGGER and not the right BUMPER. But it's just a matter of getting used to it. I don't really understand the logic in it considering the triggers aren't even used in the game.
It's not perfect by any means, and it has it's problems and annoyances. But it's still a hell of a fun, especially if you've got some buddies over who are for an old school style racer that just wants to be fun. Kart balancing issues aside and the irritation of of the walls and dirt aside, this is a great game. I don't know if it's worth the 400 points, you can be the judge of that, which will be a little difficult, because in the 8 minute trial … it takes 3 times that long to really get a feel for the game.