Mario Kart is a series of multiplayer racing video games developed and published by Japanese gaming giant Nintendo as a spin-off from the Super Mario series. The Mario Kart series sets itself apart from most other racing games as players are allowed to use in-game items during races to speed themselves up or slow others down.
Super Mario Kart
The first installment in the series, Super Mario Kart, was released for the Super Famicom platform on August 27, 1992. It was then released in North America For the Super Nintendo Entertainment System on September 1, 1992, and in Europe on January 21, 1993.
In Super Mario Kart, the player can control one of 8 different characters (Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Yoshi, Bowser, Koopa Troopa, Donkey Kong Jr., and Toad), each one able to use their own unique items. Up to 2 people can play simultaneously. There are two single-player modes, Grand Prix (where you race against 7 AI-controlled bots) and Time Trial (where you race alone and try to complete laps as quickly as possible). The game also featured three multiplayer modes, Grand Prix, Match Race, and and Battle Mode.
The game sold over 8 million copies worldwide, making it the third best-selling Super Famicom/SNES game of all time. Super Mario Kart was critically acclaimed and has an average GameRankings score of 93.6%.
Super Mario Kart saw a release on the Nintendo Wii’s Virtual Console in 2009.
Mario Kart: Virtual Cup
There was an Mario Kart game planned for the Virtual Boy in 1995 but it was scrapped due to the sad little thing’s failure.
Mario Kart 64
Mario Kart 64 was released in Japan for the Nintendo 64 on December 14, 1996, in North America on February 10, 1997, and in Europe on June 24, 1997.
Thanks to the capabilities of the N64, the track designs were able to be rendered in three-dimensional polygons. Characters and items, however, remained as two-dimensional sprites.
Mario Kart 64 also featured 4-player simultaneous multiplayer gameplay. Playable characters include Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong, and Wario.
The game was generally well-received, with a Metacritic score of 83/100.
Mario Kart 64 was re-released to the Wii Virtual Console in 2007.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Mario Kart: Super Circuit is the first Mario Kart racing game to be released on a handheld console (the Game Boy Advance). It launched in Japan on July 21, 2001, in North America on August 27, 2001, in Australia on September 13, 2001, and in Europe on September 14, 2001. Mario Kart: Super Circuit was also the first in its series to not be developed by Nintendo EAD; the game was instead developed by Intelligent Systems.
The character roster was the same as it was in Mario Kart 64. Up to four players can play at once using link cables.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit received solid reviews, with a GameRankings score of 91.54% and a Metacritic score of 93/100.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is the fourth game in the series, released in November 2003 for the Nintendo GameCube.
Double Dash!! is the first and currently the only Mario Kart game to have two characters riding a kart. It also supports LAN play, which allows up to 16 players to compete at once, using the Nintendo GameCube Broadband adapter. The game has 20 total playable characters.
This entry is still being worked on. Please understand, and please be patient.