Super Mario Kart Review

Talk about classic. Super Mario Kart brings us back to the good old days of racing.

It’s hard to believe that Super Mario Kart is 17 years old.  It was just yesterday that we played this racing favorite on the SNES, holding that cool little dogbone controller in our hands as we made drift turns and unleashed mushroom-fueled power-ups to get in the lead.  If you somehow missed those good old days of gaming, you’re in luck.  Nintendo released the game via Virtual Console.

Like other releases in the series, Super Mario Kart is all about competition.  You’ll race against seven other characters plucked fresh from the Mario universe, from Donkey Kong to the faithful dino companion, Yoshi.  Throughout each lap, you’ll pick up a variety of power-ups, including turtle shells (thankfully none of the purple ones) and mushroom boosters.  These prove useful, especially against more aggressive drivers.

The best part of Super Mario Kart is being able to take on a friend in combat.  While the game lacks the fancy online play that Mario Kart Wii possesses, you can race a friend locally in two-player simultaneous split-screen action.  It’s just as much fun as it was all those years ago, particularly when you unleash a power-up and take the lead at the very last moment.  We guarantee you’ll have a blast pulling off turtle shell attacks. 

Super Mario Kart still looks good after all these years.  The classic Mode 7 graphics are intact, and the game doesn’t slow down for a minute as you navigate turns using power sliding and squeak by the competition.  The music is upbeat and delightful, just as it should be.  We’re glad it hasn’t changed a bit.

What’ll keep you coming back, however, is the gameplay.  Super Mario Kart is still a delight.  You’ll master the turns in no time and make the most out of power-up opportunities so you can retake the lead.  You’ll also memorize roadside hazards, such as Thwomps that plop down on the track or jumping gophers that mess with your driving habits.

We’re glad that Nintendo didn’t mess with this classic.  Everything we remember from the SNES original (the Mode 7 graphics, the fun soundtrack, the energetic gameplay) is intact.  It’s even better when you play with a friend, taking part in Battle Mode or hitting one of the game’s multiple circuits.  For 800 points, it’s nostalgic bliss that won’t steer you wrong.