Seemingly out of the blue, Nintendo released a Mario racing game in 1992, for the Super Nintendo console. Super Mario Kart featured eight racers, and four cups. Each cup had five races, and there were five laps per race. A lot of the courses had different themes and obstacles, such as Monty Moles, or thwomps, to interfere with your race. Racers could also collect power-ups for boosts, or to use as weapons to hinder other karts.
The original game also had a time trial mode, and a vs mode, plus a battle mode where you had to pop your opponent’s balloons. Some of these elements have featured in subsequent Mario Kart games.
Quite what compelled Nintendo to take Mario and stick him in a go-kart is beyond my understanding, but it kickstarted quite a unique legacy. That alone is reason to revere Super Mario Kart, but what is the game itself actually like? Well, I would say it is a great deal of fun. The different characters and different game modes provide some versatility, and good replay value. To unlock the fourth and final cup requires you to beat the other three on 150cc, the fastest and most aggressive series, and then you get to tangle with the likes of the infamous Rainbow Road.
Time trial mode can be very satisfying. I once held the world record for the PAL version of Mario Circuit 1! There is something to be said for refining one’s pace, lap after lap, pushing the limits of each corner. Meanwhile battle mode can bring madcap and hectic fun! It is very pleasing to stalk your opponent, and even more satisfying to pop their balloons!
There are more sophisticated Mario Kart games, and the ones that bring online play into the equation open up a whole new playground, but I am always going to love the original. I don’t know if I can call it the best Mario Kart game, but I will always love it.
8/10