LogFAQs > #933856626

#74. Super Mario Kart


Ah yes, the Mario spinoff game that started it all. What would the series (or even gaming in general) look like today if this game had never existed? Im always impressed at how consistently popular Mario Kart is from system to system throughout the generations. Its near the top of every Nintendo system in sales, if not at the very top, which is just wild. People never seem to get tired of Mario Kart. As for me, my devotion to the series isnt what it used to be. I didnt like Mario Kart DS at all, and I skipped Mario Kart Wii entirely. I played Mario Kart 7 for a little while, and that was enough. I really enjoyed Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Switch, but even that one didnt hold my attention for that long. Part of it is what Ive alluded to before: I just dont have people to play it with anymore.

That certainly was not the case back in the day for Super Mario Kart. My best friend and I played this all the time. Im not sure either one of us ever actually owned it, or if it was just a regular rental. I just know wed blow through the cups in 2-player mode, and then play a bunch on battle mode. I feel like I won more consistently in the cups, and he won more consistently on battle mode, but my memory is kind of fuzzy on that one. I do remember loving the fact that the tracks were so short on Super Mario Kart (as well as the fact that you did 5 laps) that you could lap other racers if you were playing on 50cc. We used to make it a challenge to see if we could lap the entire field, and we occasionally could on some of the Bowsers Castle tracks. The Bowser Castle tracks were my favorite ones. I can still hear the song that plays during those tracks in my head. I also liked the Choco Island and Koopa Beach tracks. They were pretty fun. I remember Rainbow Road being particularly brutal due to the fact that you could go off the edge at any point, as well as the Super Thwomps that automatically spun you out if you hit them.

Anyway, as far as racers go, Ive always been a Luigi guy. Thats just who I like to roll with, even if hes never actually the best character statistically. Ill play and try to win all the Cups with every character in the games with smaller rosters though. A couple of minor quibbles: First, I didnt like how every character basically had a CPU rival in Grand Prix mode, so if you were Luigi, Mario was always the one hot on your trail. Wouldve been cool if they mixed it up a bit more. I also thought it was a little lame that the CPU had access to items that you didnt, like the poison mushroom or the fireball. Those are little things though, like I said. Super Mario Kart is a fun game that Ill still pick up and play a cup or two from time to time. I know it feels dated compared to its successors, but I dont really mind that much. I still have fun with it.

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