Mario Kart series

## Super Mario Kart

*Super Mario Kart* was the first entry in the series, released for the SNES in 1992 and the only game in the series to be released for the console. The game has a total of eight playable characters who, when computer-controlled, use special power-up items specific to each character (such as eggs for Yoshi). The twenty tracks in this game, based on locations in *Super Mario World* (such as Donut Plains), are all short in length compared to other tracks in the series; thus, they are raced in five laps instead of the usual three. Whereas most other playable characters have reappeared in all later entries in the series, Koopa Troopa has only returned intermittently, and Donkey Kong Jr. would never again be used as a playable character, except for two *Mario Tennis* games. Unlike other games in the series, *Super Mario Kart* allows players only a limited number of lives, which are lost whenever a racer loses and is "ranked out". A notable aspect of the game's presentation is its use of the SNES's Mode 7 graphics technology, which allows for free rotation and scaling of planes to give a three-dimensional appearance.

## Mario Kart 64

*Mario Kart 64*, launched in 1996/1997 for the Nintendo 64, was a vast improvement from the SNES original and the only game in the series to be released for the *N64*. It moved the series to polygon-based true 3D computer graphics for track design, allowing for track features that were not possible with Mode 7, such as bridges, walls, pits, and elevation changes; however, the characters and items remain 2D pre-rendered sprites. Other new additions include digital voice acting, 4-player support, the modern character weight classification system, Mirror mode, ghost data for Time Trial courses, and new items, including the Spiny Shell (which targets and attacks the player in the lead), the Fake Item Box, multiples of existing items, and the Golden Mushroom. The game features 16 normal race courses, as well as four battle courses. Though there are still eight playable characters, two new characters are introduced: Wario (replacing Koopa Troopa) and Donkey Kong (replacing Donkey Kong Jr.), both of whom have reappeared throughout the series.

## Mario Kart*:* Super Circuit

*Mario Kart: Super Circuit* for Game Boy Advance, developed by Intelligent Systems, was released in 2001 as the first *Mario Kart* title for a handheld console and the only game in the series to be released for the Game Boy family. It retains the traditional elements of *Mario Kart* established by its predecessors; however, it is not without its new additions. *Mario Kart: Super Circuit* is the first entry in the series to feature unlockable retro tracks from a previous installment (in its case, the *Super Mario Kart* tracks). It is also the first installment where, in addition to the usual trophy, the player is also awarded with a ranking based on their performance. During a linked VS. Mode with only one cartridge, players can only choose from the four SNES Mushroom Cup courses, and must play as a Yoshi of a specific color. If all players have a cartridge, all racers and courses are available. This is the first *Mario Kart* game to have a feature that allows players to swap ghost data, in its case via the use of the *GBA'*s Link Cable.

## Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

*Mario Kart: Double Dash!!*, released in 2003 for the Nintendo GameCube, introduced a number of new gameplay features and the only game in the series to be released for the GameCube. The most prominent feature is co-op gameplay with two riders per kart, where one player drives and the other uses items. This is also the first game to allow everyone to move on regardless of which position they earned after each race. In addition to 9 of the 10 characters who return from previous installments (excluding Donkey Kong Jr.), 11 new playable characters are added: Diddy Kong, Bowser Jr., Birdo, Princess Daisy, Waluigi, Koopa Paratroopa, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Petey Piranha, King Boo, and the newly-created Toadette. Each pair of drivers is assigned their own unique special item (e.g. fireballs for Mario and Luigi, or giant bananas for Donkey and Diddy Kong). Individual characters also gain their own unique custom-designed karts. Another new addition is the "All-Cup Tour," which has the player race in every track at the same time; once this is cleared on the highest difficulty setting, the player can unlock a "Parade Kart", which can be used by any character of any weight.

## Mario Kart DS

*Mario Kart DS*, released for the Nintendo DS in 2005, is the second title to be released on a handheld gaming system and the only game in the series to be released for the *DS*. It returns to the one-person karts used before *Double Dash!!*, and includes a new Mission Mode, where the player must complete eight missions (ranging from collecting Coins to attacking enemies) in one of seven sets, and engage in battles with bosses from *Super Mario 64 DS*. The game makes use of the *DS'*s dual-screen features by using the top screen to display the racer's kart and the bottom screen to show either a course overview or a bird's-eye view of the immediate vicinity. Dry Bones and R.O.B. (and Shy Guy for one-cartridge multiplayer mode) make their *Mario Kart* debut in this game, with this being R.O.B.'s sole appearance in any game using the *Mario* branding. The Blooper and Bullet Bill also make their debut as usable items in this game, and have appeared in every main series *Mario Kart* game since. *Mario Kart DS* features a multiplayer mode where players can race each other using the DS Download Play feature or a multi-card wireless LAN service; additionally, it was also playable online via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service until its termination in May 2014. Furthermore, the use of unlockable retro tracks from earlier installments was reintroduced here and made a permanent feature of the series.

## Mario Kart Wii

*Mario Kart Wii* was released for the Wii in 2008 and the only game in the series to be released for the console. For the first time in the series, the player can race using motorcycles (labeled in-game as "bikes") and perform tricks while driving that produce speed boosts, such as mid-air stunts, slipstreaming, and wheelies. The game is primarily played using the plastic Wii Wheel accessory, which uses the controller's motion sensing to simulate operating a steering wheel. The game features 24 playable characters, the largest roster of the series at the time (Baby Daisy makes her debut in the *Mario* franchise, and other new additions to the *Mario Kart* series include Baby Peach, Funky Kong, Dry Bowser, and Rosalina; Mii characters saved in the console's Mii Channel are also playable). The POW Block, Mega Mushroom, and Thunder Cloud make their first and only main series *Mario Kart* appearance as usable items in this game. The concept of retro tracks is expanded to the Battle mode, with one retro battle course from each game in the series. When Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection was in existence, *Mario Kart Wii* allowed the VS. and Battle Modes to be played by up to twelve participants, and also featured the "Mario Kart Channel", which was available as an optionally selectable channel on the Wii Menu and allowed players to check their regional or global Time Trial rankings, send and receive ghost data, and participate in worldwide tournaments on modified courses with special objectives.

## Mario Kart 7

*Mario Kart 7*, released in 2011 for the Nintendo 3DS, features optional 3D stereoscopic graphics and can be played using the console's gyroscope, which allows players to race in first-person and steer vehicles simply by turning the game system. Other features unseen in the previous installments include the ability to build customizable vehicles with unlockable parts such as frames or tires; retractable hang gliders, which allow players to glide through the air, skipping over parts of the track or locating new routes/shortcuts that are otherwise inaccessible; fully submersible karts; and segments of tracks that are completely underwater. The game features 4 new characters: Metal Mario, Lakitu, Wiggler, and Honey Queen. This is also the first *Mario Kart* game where Shy Guy can be played as without playing in multiplayer mode. The player can play online via Nintendo Network, participating in races or battles with up to seven other players, and exchange game data with other Nintendo 3DS consoles. Two of the new courses are set on Wuhu Island from the non-*Mario* game series *Wii Fit*. It is the only game in the series to be released for the *3DS*.