Mario Kart

Mario Kart
The current Mario Kart logo style, used since Mario Kart DS.
Genres	Racing
Developers	Nintendo Intelligent Systems (Super Circuit) Retro Studios (Mario Kart 7) Namco/Namco Bandai (Arcade GP series)
Publishers	Nintendo
Creators	Shigeru Miyamoto
First release	Super Mario Kart August 27, 1992 (1992-08-27)
Latest release	Mario Kart Arcade GP VR July 14, 2017 (2017-07-14)

Mario Kart (マリオカート, Mario Kāto) is a series of go-kart-style racing video games developed and published by Nintendo as spin-offs from its trademark Super Mario series. The first in the series, Super Mario Kart, was launched in 1992 on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to critical and commercial success.^[1]

There have been six Mario Kart games released for home consoles, three portable games, and four Namco co-developed arcade games, for a total of thirteen. The latest title in the main series, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, was released on Nintendo Switch in April 2017. The series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide to date.

History

The original logo style, used up until Mario Kart Arcade GP 2.

The first title in the Mario Kart series is Super Mario Kart which was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992. The development of the first game was overseen by Shigeru Miyamoto, the Japanese video game designer who helped create the original Super Mario Bros., as well as many other successful games for Nintendo. Darran Jones of NowGamer suggests that the original success of Super Mario Kart was the result of including characters previously seen in Mario Bros. games, while also being a new type of racing game.^[2]

Gameplay

Mario driving upside-down using the anti-gravity mechanic introduced in Mario Kart 8.

In the Mario Kart series, players compete in go-kart races, controlling one of a selection of characters, typically from the Mario franchise. Up to twelve characters can compete in each race, the exact number varies between titles.

One of the features of the series is the use of various power-up items obtained by driving into item boxes laid out on the course. These power-ups include mushrooms to give players a speed boost, Koopa Shells to be thrown at opponents, and banana peels that can be laid on the course as hazards. The type of weapon received from an item box is often random, though sometimes influenced by the player's current position in the race.^[3] For example, players lagging far behind may receive more powerful items while the leader will only receive small defensive items. Called rubber banding, this gameplay mechanism allows other players or computers a realistic chance to catch up to the leading player.

As the series has progressed, each new installment has introduced new gameplay elements, such as new courses, items, modes, and playable characters.^[3] These changes include:

• Mario Kart 64 introduces 4-player racing and 3D graphics.^[3] This game also introduced Wario and Donkey Kong as playable characters, as well as the blue shell as an item.
• Mario Kart: Super Circuit introduces the ability to unlock all of the Super Mario Kart tracks.
• Mario Kart: Double Dash features co-operative LAN play and two-player karts.^[3] Also introduces eleven new playable characters (Princess Daisy, Birdo, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Paratroopa, Diddy Kong, Bowser Jr., Waluigi, Toadette, Petey Piranha, and King Boo). The game also features special items that are specific to each character. Finally, this game introduced unlockable characters to the series.
• Mario Kart DS features dual-screen play and introduces online multiplayer (via Wi-Fi) & retro battle courses. Introduces Shy Guy (exclusive to DS Download Play), Dry Bones, and R.O.B. as playable characters. DS was also the first Mario Kart game to feature retro tracks from all previous versions of the game. It also introduces two new items: the Blooper and Bullet Bill.
• Mario Kart Wii features motion controls, performing tricks, 12-player racing, and introduces motorbikes.^[4] Six new playable characters were introduced, being Baby Peach, Baby Daisy, Rosalina, Funky Kong, Dry Bowser, and two outfits for Mii characters. It also introduces three new items: the Mega Mushroom, Thunder Cloud, and POW Block.
• Mario Kart 7 features stereoscopic 3D graphics, introduces hang gliding and submersible karts, and features an alternate first-person perspective and kart customization.^[3] Introduces Metal Mario, Lakitu, Wiggler, and Honey Queen as new playable characters.
• Mario Kart 8 features anti-gravity racing, introduces ATVs, uploading highlights to YouTube via Mario Kart TV, up to four local players in Grand Prix races, downloadable content, and is the first in the series to boast HD graphics. Introduces the Koopalings, Baby Rosalina, and Pink Gold Peach as new playable characters, and Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach, Villager, Isabelle from Animal Crossing, and Link from The Legend of Zelda as new DLC playable characters.^[5] The Nintendo Switch version, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, also adds the Inkling Girl and Inkling Boy from Splatoon as playable characters for the first time in the series, as well as a new battle mode, "Renegade Roundup", which plays similarly to a game of tag.

Courses

Many course themes recur throughout the series. Most are based on an existing area in the Mario franchise (Bowser's Castle being among the most prominent), but there are a number of courses that have not appeared elsewhere, but still belong in the Mushroom Kingdom, such as Rainbow Road.^[3] Each game in the series includes at least 16 original courses and up to 6 original battle arenas.^[3] Each game's tracks are divided into four "cups", or groups in which the player has to have the highest overall placing to win. Most courses can be done in three laps. The first game to feature courses from previous games was Mario Kart: Super Circuit, which contained all of the tracks from the original Super NES game. Starting with Mario Kart DS, each entry in the series has featured 16 "nitro" (courses belonging to its own game) and 16 "retro" tracks (courses from previous Mario Kart titles), spread across four cups each with four races. In Mario Kart 8, 16 additional tracks are available across two downloadable packages, eight for each package downloaded, including seven retro courses, four original courses, and five courses based on other Nintendo franchises, including Excitebike, F-Zero, The Legend of Zelda, and Animal Crossing.^[5]

Modes of play

Each installment features a variety of different modes. The following four modes recur most often in the series:

• Grand Prix – Players compete in various "cups," groups of four courses each (five in Super Mario Kart) with four difficulty levels: 50cc, 100cc, 150cc, and 150cc Mirror (courses that are mirrored in terms of direction). As the level increases, the vehicles will go faster. There are eight cups in all, divided into two types: Nitro and Retro. Players earn points according to their finishing position in each race and the top three players with the most points overall will receive a trophy. Mario Kart 8 is the first to feature a fifth difficulty level in the form of 200cc.
• Time Trial – The player races alone in order to finish any course in the fastest time possible. The best time is then saved as a ghost, which the player can race against in later trials.
• VS – Multiple human players race against each other on any course with customized rules such as team racing and item frequency. The mode also includes single-player VS races and CPU controlled players to compete in VS races as well since Mario Kart DS (except for Mario Kart 7). Super Circuit, however, features a Quick Run mode, which shares similarities with VS mode.
• Battle – Multiple human players use racing items to battle each other in a closed arena. Each player starts with three balloons and loses a balloon with every hit sustained; the last player possessing at least one balloon wins. Different battle types were added as the series progressed, as well as single-player battles. Starting with Mario Kart Wii, there is a time limit for each battle. For Mario Kart 8, the battles take place on race courses. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe reintroduces arena-style tracks.

List of Mario Kart games

Console games

• Super Mario Kart (1992, Super NES, Virtual Console (Wii, Wii U, New 3DS)^[6][7]
• Mario Kart 64 (1996/1997, Nintendo 64, Wii Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console)
• Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001, Game Boy Advance, 3DS Virtual Console, Wii U Virtual Console)
• Mario Kart: Double Dash (2003, GameCube)
• Mario Kart DS (2005, Nintendo DS, Wii U Virtual Console)
• Mario Kart Wii (2008, Wii)
• Mario Kart 7 (2011, Nintendo 3DS)
• Mario Kart 8 (2014, Wii U)
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (2017, Nintendo Switch)

At one point, there was also a game in the series planned for the Virtual Boy in 1995. Tentatively entitled VB Mario Kart, it was likely to be the first sequel to Super Mario Kart. The game was cancelled due to the Virtual Boy's failure, but was revealed in a 2000 issue of German gaming magazine The Big N.^[8]

Arcade games

• Mario Kart Arcade GP (2005, Arcade) (Co-developed by Namco)
• Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (2007, Arcade) (Co-developed by Namco Bandai Games)
• Mario Kart Arcade GP DX (2013, Arcade) (Co-developed by Namco Bandai Games)^[9]
• Mario Kart Arcade GP VR (2017, Arcade) (by Bandai Namco Studios)^[10][11]

Other appearances

Several Mario Kart-related items appear in the Super Smash Bros. series, with Super Smash Bros. Brawl in particular featuring a Mario Circuit stage based on Figure-8 Circuit from Mario Kart DS,^[12] Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS featuring a Rainbow Road stage based on its appearance in Mario Kart 7, and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U featuring a Mario Circuit stage based on its appearance in Mario Kart 8, along with the returning Mario Circuit stage from Brawl.

Certain courses from the series have also appeared in F-Zero X, Fortune Street, the Mario & Sonic series, and Paper Mario: Color Splash. Various items from the series can also be seen in games such as Nintendogs and Animal Crossing.

Merchandise

The Mario Kart series has had a range of merchandise released.

Among them are a slot car racer series based on Mario Kart DS, which comes with Mario and Donkey Kong figures, while Wario and Luigi are available separately. A line of radio-controlled karts have also been marketed, with are controlled by Game Boy Advance-shaped controllers, and feature Mario, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi. There are additional, larger karts that depict the same trio and are radio-controlled by a GameCube-shape controller.

Japanese figurines of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Wario, Donkey Kong, and Bowser are also available for purchase as well as for Mario Kart 64, figures of Mario, Luigi, Wario, Bowser, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi were made by Toybiz. There are also Sound Drops inspired by Mario Kart Wii with eight sounds from the game. A land-line telephone featuring Mario holding a lightning bolt while seated in his kart, has also been marketed.

K'Nex released Mario Kart Wii sets, with Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Bowser in karts and bikes, as well as tracks from the game.^[13] Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart 8 K'Nex sets have also been released.

Nintendo's own customer rewards program Club Nintendo released merchandise from the series as well. These included a Mario Kart 8 soundtrack, a Mario Kart Wii-themed stopwatch, and gold trophies modeled after those in Mario Kart 7. Before Club Nintendo, a Mario Kart 64 soundtrack was offered by mail.

In 2014, McDonald's released Mario Kart 8 toys with Happy Meals. They featured eight of the characters in karts that were customizable with stickers.

Reception

The Mario Kart series has received acclaim from both critics and fans. Nintendo Power listed the series as being one of the greatest multi-player experiences, citing the diversity in game modes as well as the entertainment value found.^[14]

Guinness World Records listed six records set by the Mario Kart series, including "First Console Kart Racing Game", "Best Selling Racing Game" and "Longest Running Kart Racing Franchise." Guinness World Records ranked the original Super Mario Kart number 1 on the list of top 50 console games of all time based on initial impact and lasting legacy.^[15]

The series has sold over 100 million copies.^[16] Mario Kart Wii is the best selling installment in the series, selling 36.38 million as of June 2015.^[17]

References

External links

• North American Mario Kart 8 site
• UK Mario Kart DS site
• Mario Kart at the Super Mario Wiki