I don't care for kart games, but I can't stop playing this one!!

When Mario Kart first came out on the SNES in the early 90’s, who would have thought that it would spawn so many copy cat kart games? Heck, who would have thought it would even take off, period? Think about it, a bunch of goofy characters, chasing each other around in go-karts, trying to dodge obstacles and run over coins? Well, Nintendo proved that Mario the plumber can do more than hop mushrooms and throw toadshells, as he and his posse are racing karts, and this time, their doing it on the Game Boy Advance (GBA).

Mario Kart Super Circuit was originally slated to be a launch game when the GBA was released in early June. However, since “Super Mario Advance” was already a launch game, Nintendo figured that it would hold off, and release Mario Kart Super Circuit at a later date, thus getting the most out of its flagship character. Of course, what would a Mario game be without a few of the chubby plumbers friends or enemies? Not much, which is why Mario Kart Super Circuit has a gang of eight playable characters, each with their own variables on speed and weight: Mario, Luigi, Peachy, Toad, Yoshi, DK, Wario, and Bowser. Add the 16 tracks that are available on Mario Kart Super Circuit, and you have a one fun game.

Gameplay - Mario Kart Super Circuit has three levels of play difficulty (50cc, 100cc, and 150cc), as well as three different modes of play: Mario GP, Time Trial, and Quick Run. Mario GP and Quick Run are races against the other seven characters, while Time Trial is just a three-lap run to record the best time (thankfully, the times in the Time Trial can be saved). And while each character has its own strengths and weaknesses, it’s on the 16 different tracks, spread over four different cups (and another one which is hidden), that these are really noticed. Race locations such as “Bowser Castle”, “Peach Circuit”, “Cheese Land”, “Snow Land”, “Riverside Park”, and of course, “Mario Circuit”, offer just about any terrain that a kart racer would desire.

Control - Control on Mario Kart Super Circuit is simple: the “A” button is the gas, “B” button is the brake, and the D-Pad controls the direction of the kart. The learning curve on this game is about 30 seconds, and control is smooth and responsive. Expect to get calluses from the D-Pad (if you don’t already have them), as this button is continually pushed, and the edges of the thumb can get sore.

Sound - The soundtrack for Mario Kart Super Circuit is a simple, rhythmic track that sets the pace for the game, accompanied by the sound of the karts. Of course, as with nearly all Mario games, the sound gets old within 30 minutes, but it still well done and sounds good, nonetheless.

Graphics - Here is where Mario Kart Super Circuit really shines, as the graphics are really well done, especially considering that this is a hand held cartridge. Despite the fact that the karts and characters are small, details can still be made out on the screen. Small items such as hats, horns, and distinctive markings are all clearly visible. Tracks, background images (trees, shading, etc), are also very well done, and greatly adds to create a nice setting to the game. It does take a few laps around the track to get used to the 3-D race setting, but once this is done, you will be hooked.

Replay value - Mathematically speaking, with eight different characters, 16 tracks, three levels of play, and four circuits, one could play Mario Kart Super Circuit 1,536 times, before repeating it. Simply put, Mario Kart Super Circuit offers a great deal of variety, as well as fun for just about anyone. Plus, since the laps take under 25 seconds to run, this is the perfect game to play if you don’t have much time, or simply want to waste a few hours running around in circles. Oh yeah, did I mention that this game can be linked up with up to four players with only using one cartridge?


Overall thoughts - Mario Kart Super Circuit is really a fun, addictive game. Quite honestly, I found myself instantly hooked on this one within just a few laps, and had to force myself to put it down (and I really am not into kart-style games). Numerous gaming options, great graphics, and a ton of fun make Mario Kart Super Circuit a fun game. If you are looking for a great racing game, look no further than to Mario and his pals.

As always, thanks for reading!