Super Mario Kart is a unforgiving and unfair racing game that had me throwing my controller in frustration.
User Rating: 7 | Super Mario Kart SNES
Having missed out on the SNES back in my childhood I decided to download the games that were considered the best on the system. Super Mario Kart is one of those games and despite my best attempts to enjoy it, I just found the game too unfair and unforgiving. Now don't get me wrong I like challenging games (F-Zero GX for example) but only when the challenge is fair. Super Mario Kart isn't fair. Mostly because all the computer opponents have the ability to use power ups that you don't have access to. So DK Jr can keep throwing bananas but your not allowed to? Where's the fairness in that? The game has a punishing difficulty that even on 100cc you will struggle and repeat constantly. In terms of controls the game doesn't feel as tight or as responsive as other racing games. Turning around tight corners is easy to pull off but the racer will turn so widely while doing it that its easier to just let go of the accelerator. However the game does have an excellent variety of modes such as Grand Prix, Time Trial and numerous 2 player modes which greatly improves the games replay value. In terms of presentation the game obviously makes good use of Mode 7 although the graphics in F-Zero (a launch title for the SNES) looks better then this with tracks that feel more vibrant and alive. Overall I found myself more angry then joyful when playing this game which isn't very good since games are supposed to be fun. Had the game not been this punishing and ridiculously unfair, I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more.
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