Introduction:

The game that started it all. Super Mario Kart, with its great graphics and very unique racing style, this game has become a true legend, as well as the start of the great Mario Kart series. I remember renting this game over and over again when I was 6. I loved it, and I still do. I would invite some friends over and we would play the battle mode for hours. I would also play the races for hours. Any one who has ever owned a SNES has probably played and loved this game.

Story:

Super Mario Kart doesn't really have a story, its just some Nintendo Characters getting together for some races and battles.

Gameplay:

The gameplay is very unique compared to any racing game. Up until this game all racing games had a similar style. You would race around a track, and in some games you would fire missiles and have some sort of nitro pack for boosts. This game took that fun racing style but made it fun and zany. For starters you will be riding in GO-Karts with great Nintendo Characters. You will have fun weapons. You will shoot turtle shells at other racers. You will use a mushroom as a speed burst, you will use a lightning bolt to shrink people, then drive over them. You will use a star to go faster as well as be invincible. You will use a banana peel to try and make racers spin out of control. You will even have a feather that will allow you to jump high. Don't forget the coins, in this Mario Kart coins will actually make you go faster, so collect those coins. You will be racing on very cool tracks, like a Ghost House, or in Bowsers Castle, with lava surrounding you. There are 4 Cups, Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special. Each Cup has 5 Tracks and each track is 5 Laps. I will just quickly mention those great 8 Mario Kart Racers, Mario, Luigi, Princess, Toad, Yoshi, D.K Junior, Bowser, and Koopa Troopa. Each racer will have his or her own unique racing style. Bowser will have horrible acceleration, but he is very fast. Toad is slow, but has great steering. You will eventually to have your favourite character(s). I like Yoshi, Bowser, and Koopa Troopa. You will race around these different tracks in each cup and try to get 1st place. (Obviously) 1st Place will get you 9 Points, 2nd=6 Points, 3rd=3 Points, and 4th= 1 Point. Whoever has the most points at the end of each cup wins gold, second will win silver, and 3rd will win bronze. You will have to race with great steering and use your items at just the right time to win. There are 3 Different speeds, you can race in 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc. The Higher the number, the harder the race. You can race with 1 or two players. In both 1 and 2 player mode it's a split screen. When you play 1 player, the bottom half of the screen will be a layout of the track and where the racers are on the track, OR, with a the simple click of a button it will become a rearview mirror. I find the rearview mirror very fun. It's exciting to be racing in final lap, and just as you approach the finish line to be watching the racer behind you getting close, maybe even with a shell, or a star. With 2 Players you can play either Grand Prix, VS, or Battle. In Grand Prix, Player 1 and 2 will race computer players, the computer players will be the remaining characters. In VS. mode, you and a friend will select whatever track you want and then  race each other on it, with no computer players. This is fun when you want to play a couple of select tracks, or if you and a friend have gotten much better than the computer. With 1 Player you can play Grand Prix or Time Trials. Grand Prix with 1 Player is just like in 2 Player mode, except the bottom part of the screen will be a map of the track OR the Rearview mirror. In Time Trials you will play by yourself, with no computer players. You will select a track and just drive around it for 5 Laps and try to get a Fast Time. You won't be getting any of those many items in Time Trials. In Battle Mode for 2 players you will select your characters and then pick 1 of 4 Arenas to play in. An arena is just a Big Square with some obstacles inside. Player 1 and Player 2 will start with 3 balloons each, if you lose all 3 Balloons then you lose. So, you race around these arenas and try to make the other player loose their balloons. There are a number of ways to make the other player lose a balloon, the most common way is to use a red shell. (Red Shell are like homing missiles, they will follow the other player, but they are not 100% effective, they will sometimes hit the obstacles and then disappear.)  This game is a very fun game, I should know, I have been playing it for over a decade, and I still play it. This game took those great racing games and gave it the great zany Mario style.

I give the gameplay: 9/10

Graphics:

The graphics in the game are extraordinary. There just purely incredible for the Super Nintendo. They take good use of the power the Super Nintendo can give. It's a great big 3-D environment. The characters look great. You will have the behind view of the characters and it just looks amazing as you turn, and the track turns with you. It just looks incredible. Well, it might not look incredible to people in this day, but back when this game came out it was amazing. For Super Nintendo graphics this game is extraordinary, and it was also an early Super Nintendo Game made.

I give the graphics: 10/10!!!

Sound:

The sound is great. The sound FX are great, as you drive on the many different tracks, or if you get hit with a shell and then spin out of control. The Background sound is great, I love the different sounds as you drive around the many tracks. This sound goes great with the game.

I give the sound: 9/10

Replayability:

The Replayability is incredible. You will be able to play this game over and over again. You can beat every cup and still play. I have played it for over a decade and continue to do so.

I give the replayability: 8.5/10

Challenge:

The Challenge of this game is good. The first time you play it, it will be hard. There is 3 degrees of challenge, as well as 4 cups. There is also 8 characters, so you can master the game with each character. I actually find this Mario Kart the hardest out of the 3.

I give the challenge: 8/10

Value:

The Value of this game is great. I got it when it was new and it has definitely gotten its money's worth. If you have and play a Super Nintendo this is a MUST HAVE. This game is a very fun, and very replayable game. Super Mario Kart will give you years of enjoyment.

Overall:

Overall Super Mario Kart is amazing. The gameplay is one of a kind for the SNES. The style is so cool and interesting, you will just want to play it all the time. The graphics are extraordinary, they will sparkle the eye for the Super Nintendo player. The Sound is great as well as the replayability, challenge and value. This game really doesn't lack anything. It has it all.

I give Super Mario Kart: 9.5/10

Conclusion:

Super Mario Kart set the standard for all the other Mario Karts, and that's a HIGH Standard. It is just a fun game to put in and play. There has been bad imitations of the game over the years, but then again, people always make imitations of great unique games (Don't even get me started on the Mario Party Rip-offs.), but nothing can compare with the original, except the sequels. I have very fond memories of playing this game. I remember sitting on the floor and playing this for hours. In school I would wait impatiently for the bell to ring, because I knew this game was at home waiting for me. So, Race On my fellow Mario Kart Players.

Written by: Joey Anderson

Date Written: April 14th, 2004