Platform: Super NES
Released: 1992
Developer: Nintendo EAD
Genre: Racing
This is a big one. This was the first mainstream Mario spin-off game, becoming far more popular and beloved than any of the other games we've discussed thus far. Mario and friends hit the race course to compete in various locations taken directly from Super Mario World. The game includes eight characters: Mario, Luigi, Toadstool (Peach), Toad, Yoshi, DK Jr, Koopa, and Bowser. For the first time Mario and Bowser could directly compete to see who was better. The game uses Mode 7, which was introduced to us in F-Zero, and gives a behind-the-back perspective as you race around. It was quite impressive at the time.
The game has a total of 20 courses, two single player modes, and three multiplayer modes. Of course, you start with only 15 courses as you have to unlock the last cup, which isn't an easy task. SMK is known for being pretty tough. Mario Kart was not just a racing game with Mario characters tacked on. No, it had a soul. It was an entirely new racing experience using the world, characters, and items of the Mario universe. The series is still going strong over 20 years later. I would say that the series has evolved and improved over the years.
impressive at the time for sure. A little rudimentary now. Still, the basic concept hasn't changed much from back then, just the interface and graphcis a little, and plus it's 3D now.
I love Mario Kart.
It's always played like a 3D title though. It and DKC and Star Fox blew my 5-year-old mind.
yeah it blew my mind too.
Right, in 1992 it looked and played like it was 3D, which was simply astounding.
Super Mario Kart on SNES is one of my top five favorite games of all time. I played it a ton in high school, and then we got it out again in college and had just as much fun with it. When I first saw it in Nintendo Power, I knew it was going to be a big hit.
And now it's one of Nintendo's juggernaut franchises. Long live, Mario Kart!