Below are user reviews of Super Mario Kart and on the right are links to professionally written reviews.
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User Reviews (1 - 11 of 40)
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This one is definitely on my Top 10 list of all time!!!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 12 / 13
Date: December 22, 2001
Author: Amazon User
It's hard to think of where to begin in a review of a game as great as Super Mario Kart. Super Mario Kart was the first racing game of its type, and now there are a lot of games that have copies its formula, such as Looney Tunes Racing.
In Super Mario Kart, you can choose from many of the famous Nintendo mascots. They are: Mario, Luigi, Princess, Bowser, Donkey Kong Jr., Toad, Yoshi, and Koopa. Each of the racers are equipped with a go-cart, and they all have their own sets of strengths and weaknesses. For example, Toad has fast starts, but is weak and will get bumped around a lot. Bowser is big, so he has slow starts, but doesn't get bumped around that easily. And Mario doesn't have any major ups or downs, he's average in all aspects.
The trend that Super Mario Kart began in racing games is being able to use unlikely weapons such as turtle shells, bolts of lightning, banana peels, and more, against the other racers on the tracks. Each of these weapons have different effects. When a racer runs over a banana peel, or when a turtle shell hits them, they will spin out and come to a complete stop for a few seconds. Lightning causes all the players to shrink, which slows them down and makes them more vulnerable to being run over and flattened flatter than a pancake. Stars give the racer temporary invincibility, mushrooms allow for a short burst of speed, ghosts allow you to steal somebody else's weapon, and feathers will make you jump so high that Michael Jordan would even be jealous.
There are at least 20 tracks that are available to race on in Super Mario Kart. The tracks all have great variety. There are beach tracks, chilling ice tracks, normal dirt tracks, a road made of rainbow, haunted ghost tracks, and many more.
There are a few modes that are available in Super Mario Kart. First is the Mario Kart GP mode. This is the mode that you can race in a one-player game or a two-player game, in which you go up against several computer-controlled players. Once you complete a few laps and finish the race, the standings will come up. If you come in a good enough place overall, you have the chance of winning a bronze, silver, or gold trophy, and possibly opening up new tracks. That brings me to my next point.
In GP (Grand Prix) mode, there is a 50cc, 100cc, and a 150cc mode. 50cc is the easiest, with 100cc and 150cc getting progressively harder since the computers will get much faster. While racing in the GP mode, you can use the various weapons and powerups I described earlier, and you just need to come in first place if you can.
Next is the Time Trial option. In Time Trial, it's just you against the clock. When you complete a race, your overall time will be saved on a list of the best times if you were fast enough.
In the VS. mode, you and a friend can race against each other on any of the tracks in a two-player game. This is a good way to bring up a lot of trash talking.
Finally and best of all, is the Battle Mode. In Battle, you and somebody else (it's two-player, you can't go up against the computer in Battle Mode), go to one of four specially designed tracks and duke it out against each other using the turtle shells, bananas, stars, and more. Both you and your opponent have three balloons circling your go-cart. Every time you get hit, you will lose a balloon. The first player to lose all three of their balloons, is the loser.
Everything about Super Mario Kart is simply classic. The graphics are colorful and well-rendered. This was the first game to use the Mode 7 graphics chip, and it was definitely a plus. All the characters are well designed, and the tracks themselves look detailed for a 16-bit game. The sounds sound just like a Mario game should, which is different, but great nonetheless. The music is very catchy and classic. As for control, it's a cinch to make your racer/battler do anything that you need them to do, without any frustration included.
Super Mario Kart is simply one of the best video games ever made! It's one of those games that NEVER gets old no matter how much you play it and it's so fun that fun isn't a good enough word for it. Whether you like racing games or not, you will love Super Mario Kart! I'm not a huge fan of racing games and it's one of my 10, if not 5, favorite video games of all time!!
If you have a Super Nintendo and don't have Super Mario Kart yet, get this game now!! Your SNES collection isn't complete without it!
A classic
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 12 / 13
Date: November 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User
Super Mario Kart (Super Nintendo, 1992.) The first game in the Mario Kart series.
Ever since 1980, Mario had been the big star of the video game world. From his origin in Donkey Kong to his own wildly successful platformer series spanning three consoles, the artist formerly known as Jumpman has become a living legend in a mere decade. But come 1992, and Nintendo would put Mario in a place he had never been before - a racing game. Was this a good idea on Nintendo's part? Read on for my review of Super Mario Kart.
THE GOOD:
-You can choose from eight different characters - Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Koopa Troopa, Bowser, Toad, Donkey Kong Jr., and Yoshi.
-This was the first Mario game EVER to let you control Bowser!
-Every character is unique in his or her own driving style. For example, Donkey Kong Jr. doesn't turn well and accelerates slowly, but his top speed is astonishingly high. On the other hand, Koopa Troopa has a slow top speed but good turning and acceleration. They say variety is the spice of life - and this game proves it!
-There are two one-player modes - the Grand Prix and the Time Trials, where you can set personal records.
-There are three two-player modes- the Grand Prix, a Match Race (a race between just the two players), and the Battle Mode, where you must pop your enemies balloons with weapons and items before he or she does the same to you.
-There are three difficulty racing classes in the Grand Prix (you must unlock the third one), meaning gamers of all skill levels can play.
-In single-player modes, you can toggle between a course map and a rear view mirror. If an enemy fires a weapon at you, you'll switch to the rear view automatically. This is a huge convenience.
THE BAD:
-The control isn't quite up to the standards of later Mario Kart games.
-Computerized opponents pull off questionable feats rather often. Sometimes opponents even JUMP YOUR WEAPONS! So you can hop a few inches off the ground, but your enemies can leap into the air? I don't think so, Also, computerized opponents have weapons you don't.
-The "coins" system (you have to get coins to go faster) just doesn't work very well (I'm GLAD they ditched it after this game.)
-The game will probably disappoint you if you've played any other Mario Kart game.
-All of the tracks from this game can be found in the Game Boy Advance game Mario Kart: Super Circuit. Since the tracks are all there, why bother with this one?
OVERALL:
If you've got a Super Nintendo that's just gathering dust, and you want one of the best possible games available for it, I strongly recommend picking up Super Mario Kart. Though I had initial doubts about this game, it shattered all of them (this was my favorite game for MANY years!) The Mario name means quality - enough said.
One Of The Greatest Racing Games Ever!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 7 / 7
Date: November 23, 2003
Author: Amazon User
This game is really fun, it's a totally must-buy for your SNES.
Why? Well, it's a racing game with Nintendo characters (Ok, it's not Super Smash Bros Melee but there are many fine characters in Super Mario Kart). There are many options of racing thoughout the game, but the characters are eight: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, Toad, Yoshi, Koopa Troopa and Donkey Kong Jr. I like to race with Mario, most of the time. There are three kind of championships in the game: the Star Cup, Flower Cup, and the Mushroom Cup. There are indeed many choices of racing in this game. With or without other cars, one or two players, it's all up to you.
Graphically, the game is not one of the best, but it's not bad. The soundtrack is great. It goes from happy melodies (90% of the game) until sourt of scary ones like in Ghost Valley (one of the racing circuits). It's useless to say every possibility this game has, and its great replay value. No need to read this review either, I hope it was helpful, but just go ahaed and buy this title! I know it's a little old, but it's much better than many nowadays games.
A Classic Racing Game for a Classic System
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 8 / 9
Date: April 28, 2002
Author: Amazon User
Ever since Super Mario Kart came out it has been a favorite SNES game of mine. Super Mario Kart is the best racing game ever made for the Super Nintendo.
There are 3 different modes you can play in this game: Mario GP (Grand Prix), Time Trial, and Battle Mode. In Mario GP you can choose form eight different characters form Nintendo games: Mario, Luigi, Princess, Yoshi, Toad, Koopa, Donkey Kong Jr. and Bowser. Then you can choose to race in the Mushroom Cup, the easiest, Flower Cup, or Star Cup, the hardest in 50cc, 100cc, or 150cc mode. 50cc mode is the easiest to race in, but in 100cc and 150cc the computer gets a lot faster and more challenging. After you win a Cup you will earn a trophy. If you beat every Cup you will unlock a secret cup which is very difficult. In GP you can play one or two players.
In Time Trial mode you race in any course from the Mushroom, Flower, Star or Special Cup and try to set records for the fastest lap and/or race.
In battle mode you and a friend choose a character to battle against each other. You drive around a course trying to pop each other's 3 balloons. You pop their balloons by shooting green or red shells at them or throwing banana peels at them. This mode is very fun especially if you get tired of GP mode.
If you are looking for a great classic racing game for the Super Nintendo, Super Mario Kart is the game to get.
One Incredibly Fun Rat Race
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 7 / 10
Date: November 25, 2003
Author: Amazon User
Racing games have been a staple of the video game world for years. This game combines just the right mix of silliness with racing to be fun for everyone.
You can choose to be one of 8 Nintendo characters, from Mario and Luigi to the Princess, Donkey Kong Jr., or Yoshi. The object is the same as any other racing game, be the first to complete the race, in this case five laps. Along the way, you can pick up objects to help you and hinder others like turtle shells, banana peels, or the invincibility star. Keep winning, and you move up.
There are three sets of tracks and two speeds for each, so there is plenty of variety to keep you entertained for a while. Plus you can race the computer or one other human opponent. The head to head races are the most fun because your friend will offer some surprises that a computer won't. Finally, you can always battle it out and try to be the first person to knock your opponent off the battle field.
The controls are easy to get used to. I may not be as good at it as my friends, but I've spent many happy hours driving around these tracks.
The Amazing Classic Kart Racer Game
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 5 / 6
Date: April 23, 2001
Author: Amazon User
One word:classic.Super Mario Kart Has been a favorite game to me since it came out.With different modes like Time Trial and Mario GP (Grand Prix)It easily became the favorite game for America to play.You can choose from eight characters:Mario,Luigi,Princess,Bowser,Toad,Yoshi,Koopa Troopa and Donkey Kong Jr.My personal favorite was Luigi.In Time Trial you can pick races in the Star cup the Flower cup or the Mushroom Cup.Also in the GP you can choose from those cups.There is three modes to race in for the Grand Prix:50cc,100cc and 150cc but you unlock 150cc by beating the game.When you get trophys for beating 100cc you will get a secret cup.Dont be fooled the secret cup is very hard.When you get first place in the secret cup you will beat the game and unlock 150cc.Then once you beat 150cc only then will you be the greatest master of Super Mario Kart.So to end a long story the game is pure classic fun.
The best racing game on the Super Nintendo!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 4 / 4
Date: October 27, 2001
Author: Amazon User
This is a brilliant game. I have had this game for 7 years and I'm still not bored with it. I think its even better than Mario Kart 64 because this has more challenge and excitment. Nice music and funny 2 player make this game so good, I couldn't think of a better racing game.
Race,Race,Race!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 4 / 5
Date: April 30, 2002
Author: Amazon User
Super Mario Kart is a highly enjoyable game.
Choose from Mario,Luigi,Peach,Toad,Bowser,Yoshi,Donkey Kong Jr and my favourite Koopa.Each driver has his or her own unique driving abillitys.
There are a few tracks to choose from but before you do that you must choose one player or two player.If you select one player you can choose from G.P or Time Trial.Two player lets you select either G.P ,Match Race or Battle Mode.G.P lets you race the other drivers and Match Race or Time Trial is just you and or the other player.Battle Mode lets you try to burst the other players three balloons in either one of these courses:field,beach,ice or cement.
The courses vary from Donut Plains to Mario Circut Bowser Castle to Choco Island and Vanilla Lake to Koopa Beach.Oh yes who could forget spooky Ghost Valley?There are also three cups Mushroom,Flower and Star.
Should you manage to complete those three circuts?Then in 100cc a Special Cup will be open.Can you reach it?To find out just Race,Race Race!
Great in all aspects
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 3 / 3
Date: April 21, 2001
Author: Amazon User
Wow! This game is great! I've had it for for a couple years and I still enjoy it. The Musroom Cup, Star Cup etc. (in one player mode) is really fun and my brothers and I could never master one of the levels, which makes us want to play again and again to beat it. Then the other one player thing is time trial, where you choose a course to practice on while being timed. Then you have the two player mode. One option is Battle mode where you and another person get items from the game and battle, while still racing. Then you can also race against another person in a different two player mode. As you can this is a great game.
Characters everyone knows in a fun race
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 3 / 3
Date: September 30, 2001
Author: Amazon User
This is the best non-serious racing game for SNES! Pick from eight racers, Mario, Luigi, Toad, Bowser, Koopa, Donkey Kong, Yoshi and the Princess. Then pick your difficulty and one of three circuits that you want to race on. Each circuit has five racetracks, each is severely detailed from start to finish! The ghost houses have ghosts everywhere, Bowser's castle has thromps to come down and crush you! You can pick up items along the way, like mushrooms that give you a huge boost of speed, stars, which make you invisible, and shells that you fire at the other racers! Throughout the game you can even add to the fun by earning extra difficulties and an extra circuits with five new and cool racetracks like star road. The only downfall is that the game is quite dated, because it is for SNES, and there are versions for Gamecube, N64 and Gameboy Advance.
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