Super Mario Kart (Japanese: スーパーマリオカートSūpā Mario Kāto) is the first installment of the Mario Kart series. It was released on August 27, 1992 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Players race motorized go-karts as one of eight characters from the Super Mario series. It features advanced graphics for the time thanks to its use of Mode 7 texture mapping. This and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe were the only Mario Kart games where the Cape Feather appears and the only Mario Kart game where Donkey Kong, Wario, Spiny Shell, Triple Mushroom, Triple Green Shells, Triple Red Shells, and Bob-ombs do not appear.
Much of this game is heavily based on Super Mario World with both graphics and general themes being taken from this game. This includes sprites reusing assets from Super Mario World as well as the game's soundtrack rearranging several Super Mario World melodies.
Super Mario Kart was reissued a few times. It was released as a Virtual Console title for the Wii Shop Channel for 800 points (1,000 points costs $10.00 using MasterCard or Visa). The game is compatible with a Nintendo GameCube Controller or a Classic Controller (both sold separately). The game is exactly the same as the original, and one of the only very noticeable changes is the controller used to play it. It was later released for the New Nintendo 3DS's Virtual Console in 2016, then on Nintendo Switch Online in 2019.
The game's success spawned the Mario Kart series, while also helping to pioneer the kart-racing genre. The game's success has also influenced the greater Mario franchise, with elements from it appearing throughout it. Examples of these kinds of elements include a level designed after Super Mario Kart's courses appearing in Super Mario 3D World as well as Rainbow Road making an appearance in Paper Mario: Color Splash. Super Mario Kart's use of a wider cast of characters such as Bowser and Peach was the first of many multiplayer-oriented Mario spin-off titles that included a diverse, playable cast of Mario characters such as those from the Mario Tennis and Mario Party series. Additionally, the game has been ranked as one of the greatest games of all time by various organizations due to its aforementioned legacy and its ground-breaking gameplay.
Gameplay[]
The title screen for Super Mario Kart.
In Super Mario Kart, the player takes control of one of the eight playable drivers within the Mario series, as they compete against their opponents in a variety of racetracks. Each driver has their own stats which determine how they control. Mario and Luigi are average in all the stats. Bowser and Donkey Kong have the highest top speed and weight, but the lowest acceleration and handling. Toad and Koopa Troopa have the highest handling, but lowest weight. Peach and Yoshi have the worst speed, but the best acceleration. During a race, racers can collect items from the Question Blocks on the course to gain an advantage over the other drivers. Though some of them can also aid the user.
Super Mario Kart can be played by one or two players. All gameplay uses a split screen view. In single player mode, the top displays the course, while the bottom screen can either display a rear-view mirror perspective, or an overhead view of the whole track, displaying where all the racers are currently. In multiplayer, the bottom screen is assigned to the second player's view. The gameplay is kind of slippery.
Modes[]
The first single player mode is Grand Prix, in which one player races against seven computer-controlled drivers. Engine classes of 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc are available (150cc is available upon acquiring gold in all the cups in 100cc). There are four cups to select: the Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special Cups (100cc and 150cc only). Each cup consists of five tracks and the player must receive fourth place or better to advance to the next track. Places five through eight are given the "ranked out" title, in which case. the race must be tried again. If the player ranks fifth or below without any lives left, the game is over. A single extra life can be earned by placing in the same position three times. The maximum score in a GP cup is forty-five, obtained by winning five times. The three best drivers move on to the award ceremony where they receive their trophies. Third place gives the player a bronze trophy, second gives silver, and first gives gold. The second mode is Time Trial, in which the player races through one track in an attempt to set a record for best lap time or course time.
The first multiplayer mode is Grand Prix, which plays just like the single player version, but with one less computer-controlled driver. In order to proceed to the next track only one player is required to rank in the top four. The second mode is Match Race, which is a one-on-one race on any track. In Battle Mode, two players choose from four levels specially designed for Battle Mode and try to pop the three balloons surrounding the other player with items such as Koopa Shells or Banana Peels. The last player with balloons wins.
In Grand Prix and Match Race modes, racers can collect Coins which affect top speed and acceleration, as well as shield them from other racers. If a player runs into another racer while they have zero coins, they spin out. However, if a player runs into another racer while they have several coins, they simply lose one coin while still being able to continue driving. Having ten coins gives the player the maximum amount of speed they can possess, though they are still able to collect additional coins without gaining any additional speed. Players start each race with a number of coins depending on their rank: first and second start with two coins, third and fourth start with three coins, fifth and sixth start with four coins, and seventh and eighth start with five coins. Players lose four coins if they are hit with an item, they lose two coins if they are picked up by Lakitu by falling off the track, and they lose one coin if they bump into another racer. The number of coins found on each course varies from one course to another. In all modes, Lakitu rescues drivers who have driven off the track.
Racers[]
There are eight playable drivers. These can be classified into four types based on top speed, handling, strength and acceleration.
Characters[]
However, some other characters from the series acts as obstacles in the game's tracks, like Thwomps, Gophers, Piranha Plants, and Flopping Cheep Cheeps. Ghosts do not act as enemies, but both as item and as part of the Ghost Valley tracks' background. Yoshi, Bowser, and Donkey Kong Jr. are the only drivers in this game to have their own taunts when surpassing other racers regardless if they are being used by the player or CPU. The others do not have their own taunts and instead the standard beep is heard when surpassing other racers, but can only be heard when used by the player.
As stated in the game's manual, Lakitu is the owner of all the racetracks, thus overseeing all races. He appears on the track to start the race, to warn the player if they are going the wrong way on the course, and when they fall off the edge of the track or go out of bounds. If the latter happens, Lakitu transports the racer back onto the course at the price of two Coins. A Cheep Cheep balloon distributes the trophy to the GP winner.
Tracks[]
Note: All tracks use five laps.
Battle Stages[]
Items[]
Items are obtained through Question Blocks scattered around the tracks. When the player passes over one, it deactivates until all other Question Blocks are used. Once a racer passes over one, with a few exceptions, they receive an item in their box from the following:
- Banana Peel: These can be thrown forward or backward, causing a driver to spin out, A CPU-controlled Donkey Kong Jr. will always drop Banana Peels.
- Green Shells: They travel in a straight line, bouncing off barriers. If it hits a driver, they will spin out. If dropped behind, they remain stationary. A CPU-controlled Koopa Troopa will either throw or drop Green Shells that remain stationary.
- Red Shells: These Red Koopa Shells chase after the nearest driver and make them spin out. They can only be thrown forward.
- Coin: Adds two coins to the player's total coin count, increasing their speed. This item does not appear in both Time Trial and Battle Mode.
- Feather: Lets the player perform a high jump, high enough to take normally impossible shortcuts and to sail over obstacles and other racers.
- Mushroom: Gives the player a speed boost.
- Ghost: Makes the player transparent for a short time and steals another racer's item. This item only appears in both Battle Mode and Match Race.
- Star: Usage of the Star will make the player invincible for a period of time and increase their speed. Contact with other racers will cause them to spin out. Note that whenever Mario and Luigi are CPU-controlled, they will become invincible, except that they don't gain a speed boost, and the effect does not last as long.
- Lightning: The Lightning Bolt will shrink all other drivers except for the player, decreasing their speed and allowing them to be squashed by normal-sized drivers. After a set time has passed, the effect wears off. This item does not appear in Battle Mode.
Other items[]
- Yoshi Egg: Used by Yoshi when he is CPU-controlled. It acts like a Banana Peel, except that it does small hops.
- Fireball: Used by Bowser when he is CPU-controlled. It acts like a Banana Peel, except that it moves in a circular motion, making it harder for a driver to pass by.
- Poison Mushroom: Used by Peach and Toad when they are CPU-controlled. Contact with this item causes a driver to shrink down, as they were hit by the Lightning Bolt. If a miniature-sized driver touches the Poison Mushroom, they will return back to their normal size.
Gallery[]
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To view Super Mario Kart's image gallery, click here.
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External links[]
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[Edit] 
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|---|---|---|
| Racers | Racers | Mario • Luigi • Toadstool • Toad • Yoshi • Bowser • Koopa Troopa • Donkey Kong Jr. |
| Courses | Mushroom Cup | Mario Circuit 1 • Donut Plains 1 • Ghost Valley 1 • Bowser Castle 1 • Mario Circuit 2 |
| Flower Cup | Choco Island 1 • Ghost Valley 2 • Donut Plains 2 • Bowser Castle 2 • Mario Circuit 3 | |
| Star Cup | Koopa Beach 1 • Choco Island 2 • Vanilla Lake 1 • Bowser Castle 3 • Mario Circuit 4 | |
| Special Cup | Donut Plains 3 • Koopa Beach 2 • Ghost Valley 3 • Vanilla Lake 2 • Rainbow Road | |
| Battle courses | SNES Battle Course 1 • SNES Battle Course 2 • SNES Battle Course 3 • SNES Battle Course 4 | |
| Items | Items | Banana Peel • Coin • Feather • Boo • Green Shell • Red Shell • Thunderbolt • Mushroom • Starman |
| Miscellaneous | Other | Beta elements |
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|---|---|---|
| Main Games | ||
| Super Mario Kart (1992, SNES) · Mario Kart 64 (1996, N64) · Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001, GBA) · Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (2003, GameCube) · Mario Kart DS (2005, DS) · Mario Kart Wii (2008, Wii) · Mario Kart 7 (2011, 3DS) · Mario Kart 8 (2014, Wii U) · Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017, Switch) | ||
| Arcade Games | ||
| Mario Kart Arcade GP (2005, Arcade) · Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (2007, Arcade) · Mario Kart Arcade GP DX (2013, Arcade) · Mario Kart Arcade GP VR (2017, Arcade) | ||
| Mobile Games | ||
| Mario Kart Tour (2019, iOS/Android) | ||
| Toys | ||
| K'NEX · Hot Wheels | ||