Super Mario Kart

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Super Mario Kart

North American box art
Developer(s) Nintendo EAD
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Designer(s) Shigeru Miyamoto (producer)[1]
Tadashi Sugiyama (director)[1]
Hideki Konno (director)[1]
Composer(s) Soyo Oka
Taro Bando
Series Mario Kart
Platform(s) SNES and Super Famicom Disk System
Release date(s) SNES
JP 27 August 1992[2]
NA 1 September 1992[2]
EU 21 January 1993[2]
NA PC 20 May 1996[2]
Virtual Console
JP 9 June, 2009
Genre(s) Kart racing game
Rating(s) ESRB: E[1] (formerly K-A)
OFLC: G[3]
Media 8-megabit cartridge
Input methods Gamepad

Super Mario Kart (スーパーマリオカート Sūpā Mario Kāto?)[4] is a go-kart racing game developed by Nintendo EAD for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The first game of the Mario Kart series, it was launched in Japan on 27 August 1992, in North America on 1 September 1992 and in Europe on 21 January 1993.[2] Selling eight million copies worldwide, the game went on to become the third best selling SNES game of all time.[5]

In Super Mario Kart the player takes control of one of eight Mario series characters, each with differing capabilities.[6] In single player mode players can race against computer controlled characters in multi-race cups over three difficulty levels. During the races, offensive and speed boosting power ups can be used to gain an advantage. Alternatively players can race against the clock in a Time Trial mode.[7] In multi-player two players can simultaneously take part in the cups or can race against each other one-on-one in Match Race mode.[8] In a third multiplayer mode – Battle Mode – the aim is to defeat the other player by attacking them with power ups, destroying balloons which surround each kart.[7][9]

Super Mario Kart received positive reviews and has been praised for its presentation, innovation and use of Mode 7 graphics.[10][11] It has been ranked among the best games of all time by several organisations including Edge, IGN, The Age and GameSpot whilst Guinness World Records has named it as the top console game ever.[5][12][13][14][15] It is often credited with creating the kart-racing sub genre of video games, leading other developers to try to duplicate its success. The game is also seen as having been key to expanding the Mario series into non-platforming games; a diversity which has lead to it becoming the best selling game franchise of all time.[14][16] Several sequels to Super Mario Kart have been released, for consoles and in arcades, each enjoying both critical and commercial success. Whilst some elements have developed throughout the series the core experience from Super Mario Kart has remained intact.[17]

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

See also: Mario Kart#Gameplay

Super Mario Kart is a kart racing game featuring several single and multiplayer modes. During the game players take control of one of a selection of Mario series characters and drive karts around Mario series themed tracks. Whilst racing the player's viewpoint is from behind the kart, the view behind the kart can be displayed on the lower half of the screen in single player mode.[18][19] In race modes players attempt to finish in front of other opponents – which can be computer controlled or controlled by other human players – or aim to complete a circuit in the fastest possible time.[7] There is also a battle mode in which the aim is to attack the other human player.[9] During races players can pick up power ups by driving over question mark tiles on the track; these are used to gain an advantage during the race. Examples of power ups include shells and bananas which cause racers to spin if hit and stars which make the player temporarily invulnerable to attack.[6] Computer players have specific special powers associated with each character, that they are able to use throughout the race.[19] In competitive race modes coins can be picked up along the tracks.[19] Having more coins increases the racer's top speed and protects players from spinning when hit by another kart: they instead lose a coin.[19] Players also lose coins when they are hit by power ups and when Lakitu returns them to the track after they fall off. Players are able to "power slide" around corners in order to maintain their speed, although power sliding for too long causes the kart to spin. Karts are also able to hop which can facilitate faster, tighter turning.[20] Reviewers have praised the gameplay of Super Mario Kart describing the battle mode as "addictive" and the single player gameplay as "incredible".[10][21] IGN has stated that the gameplay mechanics defined the genre.[5]

[edit] Game modes

Single player Mario Kart GP mode. The top half of the screen displays the player racing and a map of the course is displayed on the bottom half of the screen.[19]

Super Mario Kart has two single player modes, Mario Kart GP and Time Trial. In Mario Kart GP one player races against seven computer controlled characters in a series of five races, these are called cups. Initially there are three cups available – the Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup and Star Cup – at two difficulty levels, 50cc and 100cc. By winning all three of the cups at the 100cc level, a fourth cup – the Special cup – is unlocked.[10] Winning all four cups at 100cc unlocks a new difficulty level, 150cc.[22][23] Each cup consists of five five lap races, each taking place on a distinct track.[19] In order to continue through a cup a position of fourth or higher must be achieved in each race. If a player finishes in fifth to eighth position they are "ranked out" and the race must be replayed – at the cost of one of a limited number of lives – until a placing of fourth or above is achieved.[19] Points are accrued by finishing in the top four positions in a race; first to fourth place receive nine, six, three and one points.[7] The racer with the highest number of points after all five races have been completed wins the cup. In time trial mode players race against the clock, through the same tracks that are present in Mario Kart GP mode, attempting to set as fast a time as possible.[7]

Super Mario Kart also has three multiplayer modes; Mario Kart GP, Match Race and Battle Mode. The multiplayer modes support two players and the second player uses the bottom half of the screen which is used as a map in the single player modes. Mario Kart GP is the same as in single player, the only difference being that there are now two human controlled drivers and six computer controlled drivers.[8] Match Race involves the two players going head to head without any computer characters on a track of their choosing.[8] In Battle Mode the two players again go head to head but this time in one of four dedicated Battle Mode courses.[8] Each player starts with three balloons around their kart which can be destroyed by power ups fired by the other player. The first player to have all three of their balloons destroyed loses the battle.[9]

[edit] Characters

See also: Mario Kart#Playable_characters
The Super Mario Kart character select screen showing the playable characters as rendered sprites. From left to right: top row - Mario, the Princess, Bowser, Koopa Troopa; bottom row - Luigi, Yoshi, Donkey Kong Jr., Toad.

Super Mario Kart features eight playable characters from the Mario series – Mario, Luigi, the Princess (later named Princess Peach), Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong Jr., Koopa Troopa and Toad.[10] Each character's kart has different capabilities with differing levels of top speed, acceleration and handling.[6][9] [6] During races, computer-controlled characters have special items, or superpowers, which they are able to use.[19] These powers are specific to each character; for example, Yoshi drops eggs which cause players who hit them to lose coins and spin, while Donkey Kong Jr. throws bananas.[10]

The characters are rendered as sprites portrayed from sixteen different angles.[7] The sprites were described as "detailed" by Nintendo Magazine System when the game was first reviewed and were thought to contribute to the "spectacular" graphics of the game as a whole.[10] More recently, Nintendojo called the sprites "not-so-pretty" when they are rendered at a distance, and IGN has commented on the dated look of the game.[7][20] Super Mario Kart was the first game to feature playable characters from the Mario series other than Mario in a non-platforming game and the selection and different attributes of the characters is regarded as one of the game's strengths, IGN describing a well-balanced "all-star cast".[14][24] All of the characters present in Super Mario Kart have gone on to appear in all of the later games in the series except for Koopa Troopa who has only appeared intermittently after being replaced by Wario in Mario Kart 64.[25]

[edit] Tracks

See also: Mario Kart#Recurring tracks

The tracks in Super Mario Kart are based on locations in the Mario series, including Bowser's Castle and Donut Plains from Super Mario World.[14] Each of the four cups contains five different tracks for a total of twenty unique tracks, additionally there are four unique Battle Mode courses.[6][9][26] The course outlines are marked out by impassable barriers and feature a variety of bends ranging from sharp hairpins to wide curves which players can power slide around.[20] Numerous obstacles themed from the Mario series appear, such as Thwomps in the Bowser's Castle levels, the jumping fish from Super Mario World in Koopa Beach and pipe barriers which are found in the Mario Circuit levels.[6] Other features include off-road sections which slow down the karts such as the mud bogs in the Choco Island tracks.[6] Each single player track is littered with coins and power up tiles, as well as turbo tiles which give the karts a boost of speed and jumps which launch the karts into the air.[6]

The tracks have received positive commentary with GameSpy describing them as wonderfully designed and IGN calling them perfect.[21][24] When naming its top five Mario Kart tracks of all time in 2008, 1UP.com named Battle Mode Course 4 at number three and Rainbow Road – along with its subsequent versions in the series – at number one.[27] The track themes in Super Mario Kart influenced later games in the series; recurring themes that first appeared in Super Mario Kart include haunted tracks, Bowser's castle and Rainbow Road.[25] Some of the tracks from Super Mario Kart have been duplicated in later games. All twenty of the original tracks are unlockable as an extra feature in the Game Boy Advance sequel Mario Kart: Super Circuit.[28] Remakes of Mario Circuit 1, Donut Plains 1, Koopa Beach 2 and Choco Island 2 appear as part of the retro grand prix series in Mario Kart DS and remakes of Ghost Valley 2, Mario Circuit 3, and Battle Course 4 appear as part of the retro cup and battles in Mario Kart Wii.[29][30]

[edit] Development

Shigeru Miyamoto, the producer for Super Mario Kart, has been involved in the development of every Mario Kart console game.

Super Mario Kart was produced by Shigeru Miyamoto and directed by Tadashi Sugiyama and Hideki Konno.[1] In an interview Miyamoto has said that development team originally set out to produce a game capable of displaying two players on the same game screen simultaneously.[31] In the same interview Konno stated that development started with a desire to create a two player racing game in contrast to the single player gameplay of SNES launch title F-Zero.[31] Computer and Video Games suggest that this initial emphasis on creating a two player experience is the reason why even in the single player modes, a horizontal split-screen is utilised during gameplay.[19] The intention to create the racing modes of the game had been present from the start of the project and Battle Mode was developed from the desire to create a one-on-one mode where victory was not determined simply by competing for rank.[31] The game did not start out as a Mario series game and the first prototype featured a generic man in overalls in the kart; the team decided that characters three heads tall would best suit the design of the karts.[31] The decision to incorporate Mario series characters into the game didn't come until two or three months after the start of development.[31] The choice was made after the development team, when observing how one kart looked to another driving past it, decided to see what it would look like with Mario in the kart.[31] Thinking that having Mario in the kart looked better than previous designs, the idea of a Mario themed racing game was born.[31]

Notable in the development of Super Mario Kart was its use of Mode 7 graphics.[32] First seen in F-Zero, Mode 7 is a form of texture mapping available on the SNES which allows a plane to be rotated and scaled freely, achieving a pseudo three-dimensional appearance.[11][32] 1UP.com have credited the use of Mode 7 with giving the game graphics which at the time of release were considered to be "breathtaking".[11] Retrospective reflection on the Mode 7 visuals has been mixed with IGN stating that the once revolutionary technology now looks "crude and flickery" whilst the Video Game Bible describes them as "beautiful" and adding to the game.[9][20] Super Mario Kart featured a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) chip; DSPs were used in SNES games as they provided a better handling of floating-point calculations to assist with three-dimensional maths.[32] The DSP-1 chip that was used in Super Mario Kart went on to be the most popular DSP chip to be used in SNES games.[32]

[edit] Reception

 Reception
Aggregate scores
Aggregator Score
GameRankings 95%[33]
GameStats 8.9/10[34]
MobyGames 93/100[36]
TopTenReviews 3.3267/4[35]
Review scores
Publication Score
Allgame 5/5 stars[18]
Electronic Gaming Monthly 8.5/10[33]
GamePro 5/5[33]
Nintendo Magazine System 92/100[10]
Nintendojo 9.5/10[7]
HonestGamers 10/10[8]
Thunderbolt 10/10[37]
Cubed³ 9/10[38]

Super Mario Kart proved to be a critical and commercial success; it received a Player's Choice release after selling one million copies and eventually went on to sell eight million copies to become the third best selling game ever for the SNES.[2][5] Aggregate scoring sites Game Rankings and MobyGames both give an average of more than 90% whilst GameStats and TopTenReviews give averages of over 80%.[33][34][36][35] Critics praised the game's Mode 7 graphics; in 1992 Nintendo Magazine System described them as superb and the graphics have since been described as among the best ever seen on the SNES.[5][10]Another aspect of the game to have been praised is its gameplay, which Thunderbolt has described as the "deepest [and] most addictive... to be found on the SNES console".[37] Nintendo Magazine System showed a preference for the multiplayer modes of the game and stated that whilst the "single player mode becomes dull quickly" the "two-player mode won't lose appeal". Retrospective reviews of the game have been positive with perfect scores given by review sites including Thunderbolt and HonestGamers. The use of the style and characters from the Mario franchise was also praised as well as the individual characteristics of each racer.[8][37][39] Mean Machines describes the game as having "struck gold" in a way that no other – not even its sequels – has matched and GameSpot named the game as one of the greatest games of all time for its innovation, gameplay and visual style.[14][40]

Since being released Super Mario Kart has been listed among the best games ever made several times. IGN ranked it as the 15th best game ever in 2005, describing it as "the original karting masterpiece" and as the 23rd best game ever in 2007, discussing its originality at time of release.[5][41] The Age placed it at number 19 on their list of the 50 best games in 2005 and in 2007 Edge Magazine ranked Super Mario Kart at number 14 on a list of their 100 best games, noting its continued influence on video game design.[12][13] The game is also included in Yahoo Games' list of the hundred greatest games of all time which praises the appealing characters and power ups and 1UP.com's "Essential 50", a list of the fifty most important games ever made.[11][42] The game placed 13th in Official Nintendo Magazine's 100 greatest Nintendo games of all time.[43] Guinness World Records ranked it at number 1 on a list of the top 50 console games of all time ranked on their initial impact and lasting legacy.[15]

[edit] Legacy

Further information: List of Mario games by genre and Sports games in the Mario series

Super Mario Kart has been credited with inventing the "kart racing" sub-genre of video gaming and soon after its release several other developers attempted to duplicate its success.[14][21][44][45] In 1994, less than two years after the release of Super Mario Kart, Sega released Sonic Drift; a kart racing game featuring characters from the Sonic the Hedgehog series.[11] Also in 1994 Ubisoft released Street Racer, a kart racing game for the SNES and Sega Mega Drive which included a four player mode not present in Super Mario Kart.[11] Future games that followed in the mould of Super Mario Kart include South Park Rally, Konami Krazy Racers, Diddy Kong Racing and several racing games in the Crash Bandicoot series.[11][46] Response to the karting games released since Super Mario Kart has been mixed, with GameSpot describing them as tending to be bad whilst 1UP.com notes that countless developers have tried to improve upon the Mario Kart formula without success.[11][47] Super Mario Kart is also credited as being the first non-platforming game to feature multiple playable characters from the Mario franchise.[14] As well as several sequels Nintendo has released numerous other sporting and non-sporting Mario spin-offs since Super Mario Kart; a trend in part accredited to the commercial and critical success of the game.[47] The Mario characters have appeared in many sports games including those relating to basketball, baseball, golf, tennis and soccer.[47] Non sporting franchises using the Mario characters have also been created, including the Super Smash Bros. series of fighting games and the Mario Party series of board game based, party games. Mario series characters have also made cameos in games from other series such as SSX on Tour and NBA Street V3, both published by EA Sports.[47] The genre spanning nature of the Mario series that was sparked off by the success of Super Mario Kart has been described as key to the success and longevity of the franchise; keeping fans interested despite the infrequency of traditional Mario platforming games.[11] Following this model the Mario series has gone on to become the best selling video game franchise of all time with 193 million units sold as of January 2007, almost 40 million units ahead of second ranked franchise (Pokémon, also by Nintendo).[16]

[edit] Sequels

See also: Mario Kart
Arcade cabinets for Mario Kart Arcade GP, the first Mario Kart arcade game.

Several sequels to Super Mario Kart have been brought out for successive generations of Nintendo consoles, each receiving commercial success and critical acclaim.[48] The first of these, Mario Kart 64 was released in 1997 for the Nintendo 64 and was the first Mario Kart game to feature fully 3D graphics.[49] Although reviewers including IGN and GameSpot felt that the single player gameplay was lacking compared to its predecessor the simultaneous four-person multiplexer modes – a first for the Nintendo 64 – were praised.[20][49] The second sequel Mario Kart: Super Circuit was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2001. It was described by GameSpot as more of a remake of Super Mario Kart than a sequel to Mario Kart 64 and featured a return to the graphical style of the original.[28][46] As well as featuring all new tracks players are able to unlock the original SNES tracks if certain achievements are completed.[28] Mario Kart: Double Dash! was released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2003, unlike any other Mario Kart game before or since it features two riders in each kart allowing for a new form of cooperative multilayer where one player controls the kart's movement and the other fires weapons.[50] Mario Kart DS, released for the Nintendo DS in 2005, was the first Mario Kart game to include on-line play via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.[20] It went on to become the best selling hand-held racing game of all time, selling 7.83 million units.[51] The most recent instalment in the series – Mario Kart Wii – was released for the Wii in 2008 and incorporates motion controls. Like Mario Kart DS it includes on-line play; it also allows racers to play as user created Miis (after unlocking the Mii character)[52] as well as Mario series characters and comes packaged with the Wii wheel peripheral which can act as the game's primary control mechanism when coupled with a Wii remote.[44][53] Mario Kart Wii went on to be the best selling game of 2008 in North America ahead of the critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto IV.[54][55] Two Mario Kart arcade games have also been released, Mario Kart Arcade GP in 2005 and Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 in 2007. Both were developed jointly by Nintendo and Namco and feature classic Namco characters including Pac-Man and Blinky.[56] Super Mario Kart has not been re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console; when naming it as one of the most wanted games for the platform in November 2008, Eurogamer stated that problems emulating the Mode 7 graphics were responsible for its absence.[57] However, the OFLC in Australia has given the game a rating indicating a probable Virtual Console release in the near future. Japan is the first to get this game on the Virtual Console on June 9, 2009.[58]

As the series has progressed many aspects included in Super Mario Kart have been developed and altered. The power up boxes which are flat against the track in Super Mario Kart due to the technical limitations of the SNES became floating boxes in later games.[19] The roster of racers has expanded in recent games to include a greater selection of Nintendo characters including some which had not been created at the time of Super Mario Kart's release – such as Rosalina from Super Mario Galaxy who appeared in Mario Kart Wii. Multiplayer has remained a key feature of the series and has expanded from the two-player modes available in Super Mario Kart; first to allow up to four simultaneous players in Mario Kart 64 and eventually up to twelve simultaneous on-line players in Mario Kart Wii.[49][53] Many of the track themes have been retained throughout the series, including Rainbow Road – the final track of the Special Cup – which has appeared in every Mario Kart console game.[25][27] Other features present in Super Mario Kart have disappeared from the series. These include the "super-powers" of the computer characters, the feather power up which allows players to jump high into the air and having a restricted number of lives.[19] The only other Mario Kart game to feature the coin collecting of the original is Mario Kart: Super Circuit.[19] The aspects of style and gameplay from Super Mario Kart that have been retained throughout the series have lead Nintendo to face criticism for a lack of originality but the franchise is still considered to be a beloved household name by many, known for its familiar core gameplay.[5][17][44][50] Despite the technical innovations that have taken place since the start of the series many still consider Super Mario Kart to be one of, if not, the best game of the franchise line.[41][44][57]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Super Mario Kart Tech Info". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/snes/action/supermariokart/tech_info.html?tag=tabs;summary. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Super Mario Kart Release Summary". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/snes/driving/supermariokart/similar.html?mode=versions. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  3. ^ "SUPER MARIO KART Computer Games (Nintendo Wii)". Australian government. 22/04/2009. http://classification.gov.au/www/cob/find.nsf/5c2433d416948a0bca25759f00820d25/b9420683cb43ac88ca2575a900276bc0!OpenDocument. Retrieved on 10-05-2009. 
  4. ^ "スーパーマリオカート" (in Japanese). Nintendo. http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n02/shvc/mk/index.html. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "ign's 100 top games Of All Time 2007". IGN. 2007. http://top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_23.html. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Super Mario Kart". Nintendo Power (Nintendo) 41: 83-91. October 1992. 
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Heckel, Nathan. "Reviews - Super Mario Kart". Nintendojo. http://www.nintendojo.com/reviews/SNES/view_item.php?1052508795. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  8. ^ a b c d e f Venter, Jason. "Super Mario Kart > Staff Review". Honest Gamers. http://www.honestgamers.com/systems/content.php?review_id=200&platform=Super+Nintendo&abr=SNES&gametitle=Super+Mario+Kart. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  9. ^ a b c d e f Slaven, Andy. Video Game Bible, 1985 - 2002. Trafford Publishing. pp. 169. ISBN 1-55369-731-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=PnPRd6QwvbQC&pg=PA169&dq=%22super+mario+kart%22#PPA169,M1. 
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h "Super NES Review - Super Mario Kart". Nintendo Magazine System (EMAP) 1: 20-24. http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/pdf/supermariokartsnes.pdf?PHPSESSID=8de0bbed3648828556a66b0145ad1041. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hirandand, Ravi. "The Essential 50 #29". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3134033. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  12. ^ a b Edge Staff (02/07/2007). "EDGE'S TOP 100 GAMES OF ALL TIME". Edge. http://www.edge-online.com/magazine/edges-top-100-games-of-all-time?page=0%2C8. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  13. ^ a b Hill, Jason (06/10/2005). "The 50 best games". The Age. http://www.theage.com.au/news/livewire/the-50-best-games/2005/10/04/1128191720699.html. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  14. ^ a b c d e f g Navarro, Alex. "The Greatest Games of All Time: Super Mario Kart". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/features/6136230/index.html?tag=result;title;4. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  15. ^ a b Ivan, Tom (28/02/2009). "Guinness ranks top 50 games of all time". Computer and Video Games. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=209385. Retrieved on 14-03-2009. 
  16. ^ a b Jenkins, David (10/01/2007). "Mario Tops Best Selling Game Franchise List". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=12349. Retrieved on 01-01-2009. 
  17. ^ a b Parish, Jeremy; Bob Mackey (10/04/2008). "Retronauts Crashes Into Mario Kart". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3167341. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  18. ^ a b Weiss, Brett Alan. "Super Mario Kart". Allgame. http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=1:2628. Retrieved on 07-01-2008. 
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hicks, Chris (10/04/2008). "10 forgotten features of Super Mario Kart". Computer and Video Games. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=186509. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  20. ^ a b c d e f Thomsen, Michael (25/04/2008). "Generation Gap: Mario Kart". IGN. http://insider.ign.com/articles/869/869652p1.html. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  21. ^ a b c "Super Mario Kart (SNES)". GameSpy. http://cheats.gamespy.com/super-nes/super-mario-kart/. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  22. ^ Bramwell, Tom (27/09/2001). "Mario Kart Super Circuit". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_mksc_gba. Retrieved on 29-12-2008. 
  23. ^ Schneider, Peer (20/02/1997). "Mario Kart 64". IGN. http://ign64.ign.com/articles/150/150502p1.html. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  24. ^ a b Bozon, Mark (25/04/2006). "Retro Remix: Round 8". IGN. http://wii.ign.com/articles/703/703279p1.html. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  25. ^ a b c Anderson, Lark (28/04/2008). "Then & Now: Mario Kart Wii". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/features/6189887/index.html. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  26. ^ Nintendo EAD. Super Mario Kart. (Nintendo). Super Nintendo Entertainment System. (27/08/1992)
  27. ^ a b 1UP Staff. "Top 5 Mario Kart Tracks". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3167467. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  28. ^ a b c Ajami, Amer (17/04/2008). "Mario Kart Super Circuit Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/gba/driving/mariokartsupercircuit/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review. Retrieved on 29-12-2008. 
  29. ^ Nintendo EAD. Mario Kart DS. (Nintendo). Nintendo DS. (14/11/2005)
  30. ^ Nintendo EAD. Mario Kart Wii. (Nintendo). Wii. (10/04/2008)
  31. ^ a b c d e f g "It Started With A Guy In Overalls". Wii.com. http://us.wii.com/iwata_asks/mariokart/vol1_page1.jsp. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  32. ^ a b c d Barnholt, Ray (04/08/2006). "Purple Reign: 15 Years of the Super NES". 1UP.com. http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=4&cId=3152604. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  33. ^ a b c d "Super Mario Kart reviews". Game Rankings. http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/588738.asp. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  34. ^ a b "Super Mario Kart". GameStats. http://www.gamestats.com/objects/006/006884/. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  35. ^ a b "Super Mario Kart". TopTenReviews. http://games.toptenreviews.com/reviews/g27165.htm. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  36. ^ a b "Super Mario Kart". MobyGames. http://www.mobygames.com/game/snes/super-mario-kart/mobyrank. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  37. ^ a b c Kramer, Josh (29/07/2004). "Super Mario Kart - SNES Review at Thunderbolt Games". Thunderbolt. http://www.thunderboltgames.com/reviews/article/super-mario-kart-review-for-snes.html. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  38. ^ Bianco, Karn Spyder Lee (07/09/2003). "Super Mario Kart". Cubed³. http://www.cubed3.com/review/194/. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  39. ^ Scullion, Chris. "What Do You Mean, You've Never Played... Super Mario Kart". Official Nintendo Magazine (Future Publishing) 15: 15. 
  40. ^ "Super Mario Kart review - Super Nintendo". Mean Machines. http://www.meanmachinesmag.co.uk/review/404/super-mario-kart.php. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  41. ^ a b "IGN's Top 100 Games". IGN. 2005. http://top100.ign.com/2005/011-020.html. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  42. ^ "The 100 greatest computer games of all time". Yahoo! Games. http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/specials/100games/1.html. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  43. ^ "20-11 Official Nintendo Magazine". Official Nintendo Magazine. http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/article.php?id=7258. Retrieved on 2009-02-25. 
  44. ^ a b c d Robinson, Andy (09/04/2008). "Mario Kart: From SNES to Wii". Computer and Video Games. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=186448. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  45. ^ Alfonso, Andrew. "Mario Kart Double Dash!! Guide". IGN. http://guides.ign.com/guides/16574/. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  46. ^ a b Bub, Andrew S.. "Reviews: Mario Kart: Super Circuit (GBA)". GameSpy. http://archive.gamespy.com/reviews/september01/mariokart/. Retrieved on 29-12-2008. 
  47. ^ a b c d Ekberg, Brian; Randall Montanari. "History of Mario Sports". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/features/6132408/index.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gsupdates&tag=updates;title;6. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  48. ^ Cowan, Danny (07/05/2008). "Critical Reception: Nintendo's Mario Kart Wii". Gamasutra. http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18524. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  49. ^ a b c Ward, Trent C. (06/02/1997). "Mario Kart 64 Review". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/n64/driving/mariokart64/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;read-review. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  50. ^ a b Davis, Ryan (13/11/2003). "Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (GameCube)". CNET Networks. http://reviews.cnet.com/gamecube-games/mario-kart-double-dash/4505-9583_7-30607866.html?part=nytimes2. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  51. ^ "NINTENDO RECORDS". Guinness World Records Limited. http://gamers.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/nintendo.aspx. Retrieved on 31-12-2008. 
  52. ^ "Mario Kart Wii: Unlockables". Gamewinners.com. http://www.gamewinners.com/Cheats/index.php/More:Mario_Kart_Wii:_Unlockables. Retrieved on 2009-03-01. 
  53. ^ a b Bozon (20/04/2008). "Mario Kart Wii Review". IGN. http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/868/868012p1.html. Retrieved on 01-01-2009. 
  54. ^ Snider, Mike (30/12/2008). "Video games score with variety". USA Today. pp. 3D. 
  55. ^ Lang, Derrik J. (01/05/2008). "MADD attacks 'Grand Theft Auto IV'". MSNBC. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24405072/. Retrieved on 31-12-2008. 
  56. ^ Casamassina, Matt (26/09/2005). "Mario Kart GP Comes Stateside". IGN. http://uk.cube.ign.com/articles/653/653827p1.html. Retrieved on 01-01-2009. 
  57. ^ a b Whitehead, Dan (05/11/2008). "Virtual Console: The Most Wanted". Eurogamer. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/virtual-console-the-most-wanted-article. Retrieved on 28-12-2008. 
  58. ^ Japanese Download releases for June 9, 2009

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Mario sports games
Golf games
Tennis games
Racing games
Association football games
Baseball games
Mario & Sonic
Single games
Cameo appearances
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_Kart"
Personal tools