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


*''']''' – Players compete in various "cups," groups of four courses each (five in ''Super Mario Kart'') with four ]: 50 ], 100 cc, 150 cc and ]. Players earn points according to their finishing position in each race and the player with the most points overall at the end wins a ]. All titles before ''Mario Kart DS'' let a second player play in this mode. *''']''' – Players compete in various "cups," groups of four courses each (five in ''Super Mario Kart'') with four ]: 50 ], 100 cc, 150 cc and ]. Players earn points according to their finishing position in each race and the player with the most points overall at the end wins a ]. All installments before ''Mario Kart DS'' let a second player play in this mode.
*''']''' – A ] in which the player races alone to finish any course in the fastest time possible with three mushrooms (with the exception in ''Mario Kart DS'' having one or two mushrooms on certain karts) to be used at anytime. The overall time is then saved as a ], which the player can compete against in later trials. *''']''' – A ] in which the player races alone to finish any course in the fastest time possible with three mushrooms (with the exception in ''Mario Kart DS'' having one or two mushrooms on certain karts) to be used at anytime. The overall time is then saved as a ], which the player can compete against in later trials.
*'''VS''' – Multiple human players race against each other on any course with customized rules. Later installments allow VS races for single player. *'''VS''' – Multiple human players race against each other on any course with customized rules. Later installments allow VS races for single player.

Revision as of 11:57, 2 September 2013

Video game series
Mario Kart
Logo used for the main installments since Mario Kart DS (2005).
Genre(s)Racing video game
Developer(s)Nintendo
Intelligent Systems (Super Circuit)
Retro Studios (Mario Kart 7)
Namco/Namco Bandai (Arcade GP series)
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Creator(s)Shigeru Miyamoto
First releaseSuper Mario Kart
August 27, 1992 (1992-08-27)
Latest releaseMario Kart Arcade GP DX
July 2013 (2013-07)

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 Mario franchise. The first in the series, Super Mario Kart, was launched in 1992 on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to critical and commercial success.

To date, there have been four Mario Kart games released for home consoles, three portable games, and three Namco co-developed arcade games, for a total of ten. Additionally, Mario Kart 8, for the Wii U console, is currently in development. The most recently released game of the Mario Kart series is Mario Kart Arcade GP DX.

History

The first game in the Mario Kart series was Super Mario Kart released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) in 1992. The development of the first game was overseen by Shigeru Miyamoto, the Japanese video game designer that created the original Super Mario Bros. as well as many other successful games for Nintendo game consoles outside of the Mario series. Some believe that the original success of Super Mario Kart was down to the inclusion of characters previously seen in the Mushroom Kingdom in other Mario Bros. games, while also being an almost entirely new type of racing game.

Gameplay

File:Rocket Start (Mario Kart Wii).jpg
Koopa Troopa racing on one of the courses in Mario Kart Wii, Koopa Cape.

In the Mario Kart series, players compete in go-kart races, controlling one of a selection of characters from the Mario franchise. Up to eight characters can compete in each race (six in the Arcade GP series, and twelve in Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 8).

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 track as hazards. The type of weapon received from an item box is random and often influenced by the player's current position in the race. For example, players lagging far behind may receive more powerful items while the leader will only receive small defensive items. This gameplay mechanic –called rubber banding– 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 elements in order to keep the gameplay fresh. Changes typically include new items, new courses, and new methods of obtaining speed boosts. Changes new titles have brought to the series include: Mario Kart 64 introducing 4-player racing and bringing the series into the third dimension, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! featuring co-operative play and the Double Dash!!, Mario Kart Wii's use of motorbikes and 12-player racing, Mario Kart 7 featuring hang gliders, submarines, an alternate first-person perspective and kart customization, and Mario Kart 8 featuring anti-gravity racing.

Courses

Many courses, or course themes, recur throughout the series. Most of these games are based on an existing area in the Mario series, such as Bowser's castle, although there are a number of tracks that have not appeared in other games but still belong in the Mushroom Kingdom, such as Rainbow Road. Most games have featured at least two circuit courses, a desert course, a beach or island course, a jungle course, an ice or snow course, Bowser's Castle and Rainbow Road. Less common genres include stadium courses, and city or highway courses with traffic. Each game in the series includes 16 original courses, with the exception of Super Mario Kart and Super Circuit, which each have 20 original courses. These courses are divided into four cups: Mushroom, Flower, Star, and Special, while Super Circuit included the Lightning cup. Most courses in the series can be done in three laps, while some courses have more or less. There are also three to six original battle arenas in each game, designed exclusively for Battle mode. Thus far in these seven games, there are 120 original courses and 30 original arenas. Additionally, there are 48 Retro courses and 10 Retro arenas. These consist of older material recreated for later games, and appear in four cups named Shell, Banana, Leaf, and Lightning. The first game to feature retro courses was Mario Kart DS, although Super Circuit featured the 20 courses from Super Mario Kart, but these were extremely similar to their SNES counterparts, but for some background differences and the exclusion of hazards.

Recurring items

  • Banana peel: deployed as an immobile hazard on the track.
  • Green/Red Koopa shell: projectile fired at other players. Green shells go straight and bounce off walls while red shells home in on a specific person.
  • Spiny shell: indestructible projectile that homes in on the player in first place. Also known as Blue Shells.
  • Starman: gives temporary invincibility and an increase in speed. The player can attack other karts on contact while invincible.
  • Mushroom: gives user a speed boost.
  • Golden Mushroom: gives user many speed boosts for a short time.
  • Coin: the coin raises the kart's top speed when collected.
  • Bob-omb: A bomb that explodes after a set amount of time or on contact, affecting all karts in its proximity.
  • Lightning Bolt/Thunderbolt: causes all opponents to temporarily shrink and slow down.
  • Boo: makes user temporarily invisible (to opponents) and invincible, and stealing another opponent's item.
  • Fake Item Box: immobile hazard that appears similar to a real item box.
  • Bullet Bill: temporarily transforms the player's kart to an automated bullet which moves forward at a high speed, knocking out any opponent in its path.
  • Blooper: obscures the view of opponents by squirting ink on the screen.

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: 50 cc, 100 cc, 150 cc and Mirror. Players earn points according to their finishing position in each race and the player with the most points overall at the end wins a trophy. All installments before Mario Kart DS let a second player play in this mode.
  • Time Trial – A single-player mode in which the player races alone to finish any course in the fastest time possible with three mushrooms (with the exception in Mario Kart DS having one or two mushrooms on certain karts) to be used at anytime. The overall time is then saved as a ghost, which the player can compete against in later trials.
  • VS – Multiple human players race against each other on any course with customized rules. Later installments allow VS races for single player.
  • Battle – Multiple human players use race 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 in later installments, as well as single-player battles.

List of Mario Kart games

Original logo used up until Mario Kart Arcade GP 2.

Console games

Arcade games

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. Certain courses from the series have also appeared in F-Zero X, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, Fortune Street, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games and Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Various items from the series can also be seen in games such as Nintendogs and Animal Crossing.

Characters

Characters indicated in gray need to be unlocked, and are thus not playable at the start of the game.

Console characters

Driver Super 64 Super
Circuit 		Double
Dash!! 		DS Wii 7 8 Total appearances
Baby Daisy Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN ? 1
Baby Luigi Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Red XN ? 2
Baby Mario Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Red XN ? 2
Baby Peach Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN ? 1
Birdo Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Red XN ? 2
Bowser Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 8
Bowser Jr. Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Red XN ? 2
Princess Daisy Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 5
Diddy Kong Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Red XN ? 2
Donkey Kong Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 7
Donkey Kong Jr. Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN 1
Dry Bones Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Red XN ? 2
Dry Bowser Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN ? 1
Funky Kong Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN ? 1
Honey Queen Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY ? 1
King Boo Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Red XN ? 2
Paratroopa Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN ? 1
Koopa Troopa Green tickY Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 5
Lakitu Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY ? 1
Luigi Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 8
Mario Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 8
Metal Mario Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY ? 1
Mii Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY ? 2
Petey Piranha Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN ? 1
Princess Peach Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 8
R.O.B. Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN 1
Rosalina Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY ? 2
Shy Guy Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Green tickY ? 2
Toad Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 8
Toadette Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Red XN Green tickY 3
Waluigi Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Green tickY 4
Wario Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 7
Wiggler Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY ? 1
Yoshi Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 8
Total 8 8 8 20 13 25 17 12 --
Notes
  1. Miis are selectable as two different characters in Wii: Mii Outfit A and Mii Outfit B.
  2. Shy Guy is only available in DS as a playable character during Single-Card Download Play races.

Arcade characters

Driver Series Arcade GP Arcade GP 2 Arcade GP DX Total appearances
Blinky Pac-Man Green tickY Green tickY Red XN 2
Bowser Mario Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 3
Bowser Jr. Mario Red XN Red XN Green tickY 1
Don Taiko no Tatsujin Red XN Red XN Green tickY 1
Donkey Kong Mario/Donkey Kong Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 3
Luigi Mario Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 3
Mario Mario Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 3
Mametchi Tamagotchi Red XN Green tickY Red XN 1
Pac-Man Pac-Man Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 3
Ms. Pac-Man Pac-Man Green tickY Green tickY Red XN 2
Princess Peach Mario Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 3
Toad Mario Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 3
Waluigi Mario Red XN Green tickY Green tickY 2
Wario Mario/Wario Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 3
Yoshi Mario/Yoshi Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY 3
Total 3 (6 including sub-series) 11 13 12 --

Merchandise

The Mario Kart series has had a range of merchandise released. This includes a Scalextric style Mario Kart DS Figure-8 Circuit. It comes with Mario and Donkey Kong figures, while Wario and Luigi are available separately. A line of remote-controlled karts are available in stores. Each kart has a Game Boy Advance-shaped controller. It features forward driving and rotates when put in reverse, instead of steering. The current line-up of karts are Mario, Donkey Kong and Yoshi. There are three large karts that depict the same trio. These karts are controlled by a GameCube controller shape. 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 including the start of the race, tricks, and items. There is also a land-line telephone featuring Mario holding a lightning bolt while seated in his kart, as seen here. There are also soundtracks from Mario Kart 64 as well. K'Nex has released Mario Kart Wii sets, with Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and Bowser in karts and bikes along with Donkey Kong and tracks from the game. K'Nex also released Mario Kart 7 sets as well. Club Nintendo also released merchandise from the series including a platinum soundtrack from Mario Kart Wii featuring 43 songs from the game, a Mario Kart Wii stopwatch and three gold trophies from Mario Kart 7.

Reception

Nintendo Power listed the Mario Kart series as being one of the greatest multi-player experiences, citing the diversity in game modes as well as the entertainment value found.

Guinness World Records awarded the Mario Kart series with six records, including "First Console Kart Racing Game", "Best Selling Handheld 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.

See also

Portal:

References

  1. Crecente, Brian (2009-26-2). "Mario Kart: Most Influential Video Game in History." Kotaku. Retrieved 2012-1-27.
  2. Jones, Darran. "Super Mario Kart: The Complete History of Nintendo's Kart Racer". Now Gamer. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  3. ^ Dan. "Mario Kart Franchise Retrospective". WatchMojo.com. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  4. Sato, Yoshi (February 6, 2008). "Mario Kart Wii Detailed". 1up.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  5. "Virtual Console バーチャルコンソール" (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
  6. "Download New BIT.TRIP Kicks, Speeding Karts, Magic Castles and More". Nintendo of America. November 23, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
  7. Mario Kart Wii U Driving Into E3 This Year - Wii U News @ Nintendo Life
  8. Arcade Heroes Namco Formally Announces Mario Kart Arcade Grand Prix DX - Arcade Heroes
  9. "Smash Bros. DOJO!!". Smashbros.com. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  10. "K'NEX Mario Kart Wii Building Sets". Knex.com. October 20, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  11. Nintendo Power 250th issue!. South San Francisco, California: Future US. 2010. p. 47. {{cite book}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  12. Ivan, Tom (February 28, 2009). "Guinness ranks top 50 games of all time". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved March 14, 2009.

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