From: petitc@vccnw03.its.rpi.edu (Christopher Jon Petit)
Subject: SNES:  Super Mario Kart (Review)
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 02:41:19 GMT

I hear some Genesis owners blasting SMK, and I thought that this would be a
good time to give SMK a detailed review.  Anyhow, here goes...

                    *** Super Mario Kart ***

Maker:   Nintendo
System:  SNES
Type:    Fantasty Racing
Players: 1 or 2

Game Basics:

  You are one of eight very familiar characters (Mario/Luigi, Princess/Yoshi,
Bowser/Donkey Kong Jr., or Koopa Troopa/Toad), and are taking to the Mario
Go-Kart Park, where you race one of your karts in one of several trials (
Time Trial/Mariokart GP for 1 player, or Mariokart GP/Match Race/Battle Mode
for 2 players). There are 4 different karts (Mario and Luigi, the Princess and
Yoshi, Bowser and Donkey Kong Jr., and Koopa Troopa and Toad each have karts
with similar abilities).  They differ on handling, top speed, and acceleration.

  In the Mariokart GP race, you start in 7th or 8th place and race against
all of the other karts.  You progress through a 'cup' (from easiest to hardest,
they are Mushroom, Flower, Star and Special cups) and must be fourth or higher
place to advance to the next track (there are 5 tracks to a cup).  You get
6 points for 1st, 3 for 2nd, 1 for 3rd and 0 for 4th.  Rankings for the Cups
come from that total (added for each race).

  In the Match race, you and an opponent race against each other (the other
karts aren't on the track), on any of the tracks available.

  In the Time Trials, you pick one of the tracks and try to race through it
as fast as possible (you're alone on the barren track---all tracks are based
on worlds from Super Mario World---the Bowser's Castle/Chocolate Island/
Doughnut Plains/Vanilla Lake).

  In the Battle Mode, you go against an opponent, and try to pop his
three balloons which protect his kart.  Four maze-like tracks are used, which
you must race through to find Question Blocks which give items to stop your
opponent.

  In each contest, except for the Time Trials, you must collect Coins (they
make you go faster up to 10 coins, and you surrender a coin from hitting an
enemy kart, as well as losing 2 for 'towing' charges (e.g. you fall off a
cliff or into lava) and 4 for a spinout), as well as try to drive over Question
Mark blocks (which give useful abilities to hurt the other karts, like a Star
which lets you run through karts and spin them out, Turtle Shells which can
be shot at opponents, a Banana Peel to slip them up, a Mushroom for a burst of
speed, a Feather to jump over their heads, a Ghost (only in Battle Mode---you
are invisible and can steal opponent's item), and Lightning (not in Battle
Mode)---causes every kart except you to become tiny and vunerable---squish
them by running them over).

  Finally, when computer controlled, Karts gain deadly abilities to slow you
down.

Important Point:

  If you adore IROC or Indy 500 racing, you'll probably HATE this game.  It's
not as quick, but you have much more to do than just pass the other cars.

Review Comments: (all ratings are 1.0 to 10.0, with 10.0 being high)

Graphics:  10.0

  You really feel you ARE in Super Mario World's Go Kart Park.  Not awe-
inspiring, but quite appropiate to SMW, not to mention quite cute.  Split
screen is well done.

Music:  7.0

  Kind of catchy tunes, but I don't think anyone tapes them and dances to
them.

Sound Effects:  9.0

 Great skidding effects, as well as jumping, and even tires rolling over
boards sound accurate.

Play Mechanics:  9.0

 A bit confusing at first, but very clear with practice.  You have an excellent
feeling of control over your car and can do many different things with your
little kart.

Skill Range:  9.0

 Many different people can enjoy this game and get a thrill out of it, via the
50cc or 100cc races.

Skill Progression:  5.0

 Progress is smooth within a cup, but has a huge jump in skill required from
50cc to 100cc races.  Would have prefered at least 8 levels of difficulty.

Replay Value:  10.0

 Having many different ways to play, in addition to a Secret Cup (with 5 new
tracks), and many 2 player options, means this game is always a thrill to
play just one more time.

Gameplay:  10.0

 Again, quite impressive display.  The game plays very intensely, without ever
really overwhelming the player.

Overall:  8.63

 Very solid game that will appeal to people who look for a different kind of
racing.



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