Mario Karts

With the Completion of a Review for every Mario Kart for a Nintendo Console, I felt compelled to write a Mario Kart Article. This is my first Article.

Super Mario Kart was released on September 1st, 1992. It was a huge success. It took good of the Super Nintendo's power. The graphics were extraordinary for the Super Nintendo. Not only did the characters have a great 3-D look, but the tracks also. This game was just incredible, it was just what people were looking for in a racing game. Great Characters, cool unique tracks, and  very cool unique items. Most of the other racing games were very similar up to this point. Pick a car, race around a track, and use obvious items. This took that style, and made a fun zany racing game. They also added the famous Battle mode, which was a huge success, there are people that like the battle mode more more than the actual races themselves.

Then on February 1st, 1997 Mario Kart 64 was released. People had VERY large expectations for this game. Super Mario Kart being one of the best SNES games made, and probably the best SNES racing game, people wanted more. They wanted the same fun style, but with more, since this was on the Nintendo  64.  This game was another huge success, people loved it, and still do. A lot liked it more than the 1st. Mario Kart 64 gave us the cool unique tracks and items. Along with an incredible battle mode.

Then on November 17th, 2003 the next chapter of the Great Mario Kart Line was released, Mario Kart Double Dash. People had HUGE hopes for this game, they loved and played the other 2 Mario Karts for years, and wanted a new one. Double Dash gave us the same great unique tracks and items. It gave us a huge assortment of new characters, just what the series needed. But, they add that 2 Characters on 1 Kart feature. To some this was a cool and fun new feature, to others it was stupid, and they didn't like it. Sadly the battle mode in this was the worst of the 3. But regardless of this, the game was a huge success and sold millions. Proving once again, that Mario and his buddies can still bring in gamers with a Kart.

Now, what Mario Kart is the best. Of course whatever I say probably won't change your opinion, everyone has their own opinion and favourite Mario Kart. Well, lets look and compare the games.

Tracks:
What one has the best Tracks? Well, when you look at the entire series they all have great, fun, and unique tracks. I would say it's a tie between all 3 on this on. Maybe the newer ones have a better look, but I am comparing them on what the system could do for this category.

Winner: Tie Between All 3

Battle Mode:
Well, I would instantly kick off Mario Kart Double Dash in this category. It's Battle Arenas are just too small, there is only about 2 arenas that are decent, and even those aren't fun to play in. It comes down to Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64. Well, for the power the system could do, they both tie. BUT! When I want to sit down and play a Battle Game,. I always choose Mario Kart 64, it just is the most fun to play Battles in. The stages are very big and have a very fun design to play in. I would have to say Mario kart 64 has the BEST Battle Mode, so it wins in this category.

Winner: Mario Kart 64, followed by Super Mario Kart, and Mario Kart Double Dash in Last.

Other:
Well, this is where I will talk about mini-categories, and what Mario Kart Game Conquered the others or other in different areas of the game.
Well, For Characters, Mario Kart Double Dash is the clear winner, it has all the characters the others have, plus a whole lot more. Double Dash also wins for having the most unlockables, although the other Mario Kart's couldn't really have anything to unlock, unless they gave use more characters and tracks (That would have been great). Well, there is also a Nostalgia factor, this shouldn't really make the game better, but a good ol' game that you have fond memories of makes it a little more fun, I don't know why. I have fond memories of mainly Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64, because Double Dash is so new. I probably do have the most fond memories of Super Mario Kart though. But this factor  will be dramatically different for each player. There was 5 tracks in each Cup on Super Mario Kart, when there is only 4 on Mario Kart 64 and Double Dash, but the tracks are smaller on Super Mario Kart, that is why you get 5 Laps on Super Mario Kart, where you would usually get 3 on Mario Kart 64 and Double Dash. There is also the Double Character feature in Double Dash, now, does this pull the game ahead, or bring it behind the other 2? Well, It all depends on the person. Some favor it, some do not. I do think this hurts the battle mode. For racing on tracks it all depends what mood I'm in, sometimes I want double kart action, sometimes I don't. But I would say that most of the time I don't.

AND THE WINNER IS. . . . .
Mario Kart 64!!! I have to say that Mario Kart 64 is the best of the 3. It has the best Battle Mode by far. In the end it came down to Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64. Mario Kart 64 pulled ahead with its great Battle Mode. It's racing is very fun, it MAY have won purely on the Battle Mode. I know some will have wanted Double Dash or Super Mario Kart to win, buts its not a big contest or anything, its just one gamers opinion. This is not to say I don't love and enjoy all the Mario Karts. I play them all, and have fun doing so. I can see anyone of them being your favourite.

Now for a little Player Opinion:

I went to an online forum and made a poll. On what is your favourite Mario Kart? These were the results: Super Mario Kart Gets  4 Votes, Mario Kart 64 Gets 9 Votes, Mario Kart Double Dash gets 4 votes, and there were 3 undecided. According to this vote, the favourite is Mario Kart 64. People had some pretty harsh words for Double Dash, its a great game, it just didn't reach many peoples expectations with its horrible battle mode and its weird double character feature. I didn't mind the Double Character thing that much, but I guess a lot of people did.

I also did a poll for Your Favourite Super Mario Kart Character: These are the Results:

Mario= 3 Votes
Luigi= 2 Votes
Princess= 0 Votes
Yoshi= 1 Vote
Bowser= 2 Votes
DK JR= 0 Votes
Toad= 3 Votes
Koopa= 4 Votes

With that Poll Koopa is the winner. I myself voted for Koopa, I just like his driving style. (Great Turning)
One person said that for 50cc and Battle, Bowser is the way to go, but for everything else it's Toad or Koopa.
Another said Mario All the way, that Mario is a perfectly balanced character.
 

I did Another Poll, On who's your favourite Mario Kart 64 Character: These are the Results:

Mario= 1 Vote
Luigi= 1 Vote
Princess= 2 Votes
Yoshi= 3 Votes
DK= 0 Votes
Bowser= 1 Vote
Toad= 4 Votes
Wario= 4 Votes

With that Poll Toad and Wario are the winners. I chose Yoshi in this poll, he just has great acceleration and a good speed.
One person said that they use Toad for Races and Bowser for Battles. This is totally understandable, Bowser is great in Battle, you can make some characters lose a balloon simply by driving into them. Someone responded to this by saying that Bower is so slow, that you  never really reach his max speed. This is understandable as well, Bowser has his good and bad points, same with the other characters.

Well, I didn't do a poll for Double Dash, Mainly because the poll form I was using doesn't give me enough room for all the characters, I guess I could have just did something like Mario/Luigi, but I didn't!

And now for some other Peoples Opinions:

I asked my Brother what he thinks: He said that Luigi is his favourite character on Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64. But, his Favourite Characters on Double Dash are Diddy and Paratroopa. His Favourite track on Super Mario Kart is the first Ghost House. On Mario Kart 64 his favourite track is Koopa Beach. His Favourite track on Double Dash is DK Mountain.

I asked a fellow Mario Kart 64 Player, this person doesn't play many video games at all, but for some reason plays Mario Kart 64, I don't know why, its like my Mom only Playing Tetris and Dr. Mario. Well, He said that his favourite character on Mario Kart 64 is Mario. His favourite Cup is also Mushroom. Although he does like Rainbow Road. (Except when people take that shortcut that he can't figure out how to do.) He's tried Super Mario Kart and Double Dash, but doesn't really like them. He doesn't mind Double Dash, but doesn't like Super Mario Kart at all. We will usually play Battle Mode in Mario Kart 64 with each other, we will sometimes play this for a long time, we each have our own strategy. (I chase him with a shell, and he dies.) (No, he'll win some and I'll wins some.)

My Sister and I used to play Mario Kart 64 all the time. She moved away so we don't play it with each other anymore, but whenever she visits we bust out the ol' Mario Kart 64. Her favourite character is Wario, and she likes Rainbow Road on it and the original Super Mario Kart. As I recall, she also liked Wario Stadium on Mario Kart 64.

Well, that about wraps up my Mario Karts Article. I love this series and play it all the time. I am excited about the next Mario Kart, even though I've heard no details about it, I'm sure it will be great. My Brother might isn't into video games as much as he used to be, he's into Music now, but as long as I get the Mario Karts, he will come. . . . . . .and play.

Written By: Joey Anderson

Date Written: April 26th, 2004