Mario Kart: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 14:20, 10 September 2014
Mario Kart | |
---|---|
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 release | Super Mario Kart August 27, 1992 |
Latest release | Mario Kart 8 May 29, 2014 |
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]
To date, there have been five Mario Kart games released for home consoles, three portable games, and three Namco co-developed arcade games, for a total of eleven. The latest title in the series, Mario Kart 8, was released on Wii U in May 2014. The series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide to date.
History
The first title in the Mario Kart series is Super Mario Kart and 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
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 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 elements in order to keep the gameplay fresh such as new courses, new items, and new playable characters.[3] These changes include:
- Mario Kart 64 introduced 4-player racing and 3D graphics.[3] Also introduced Wario and Donkey Kong as playable characters.
- Mario Kart: Super Circuit introduces the ability to unlock retro tracks from previous installments.
- 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). Finally, this game introduced unlockable characters to the series.
- Mario Kart DS features dual-screen play and introduces online multiplayer (via Wi-Fi). Introduces Shy Guy (exclusive to DS Download Play), Dry Bones, and R.O.B. as playable characters.
- Mario Kart Wii features motion controls, 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.
- 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, Pink Gold Peach, Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach, Villager, Isabelle and Link as new playable characters.[5]
Courses
Many courses, or course themes, recur throughout the series. Most of these courses are based on an existing area in the Mario series (Bowser's Castle being among the most prominent), but there are a number of courses that have not appeared in other games 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 that the player has to have the highest overall placing to win. Most courses in the series can be done in three laps. The first game to feature courses which had appeared in a previous game was Mario Kart: Super Circuit, which contained all of the tracks from the original Super Nintendo game. Starting with Mario Kart DS, each entry in the series has featured 16 original courses and 16 "retro" tracks drawn from previous titles, spread across four cups each. In Mario Kart 8, new tracks will be available in two downloadable packages, eight for each package downloaded.[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 Mirror (150cc). As the level increases, the vehicles will go faster. There are eight cups in all and they're divided into two types: Nitro and Retro. Players earn points according to their finishing position after each race and the top three players with the most points overall will receive a trophy.
- 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 compete against in later trials.
- VS – Multiple human players race against each other on any course with customized rules such as lap changes and item frequency. Mario Kart DS and later games allow single-player VS races and CPU controlled players to compete in VS races as well.
- 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 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 standard race courses.
List of Mario Kart games
Console games
|
Arcade games
|
At one point, there was also a game in the series planned for the Virtual Boy in 1995. Entitled Super Mario Kart: Virtual Cup, 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.[10]
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,[11] and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS featuring a Rainbow Road stage based on its appearance in Mario Kart 7. Certain courses from the series have also appeared in F-Zero X, Fortune Street, and the Mario & Sonic series. Various items from the series can also be seen in games such as Nintendogs and Animal Crossing.
Characters
Console characters
Arcade characters
Driver | Series | Arcade GP | Arcade GP 2 | Arcade GP DX |
---|---|---|---|---|
Blinky | Pac-Man | |||
Bowser | Mario | |||
Bowser Jr. | Mario | |||
Don | Taiko no Tatsujin | 4 | ||
Donkey Kong | Mario/Donkey Kong | |||
Luigi | Mario | 4 | ||
Mario | Mario | 4 | ||
Mametchi | Tamagotchi | |||
Pac-Man | Pac-Man | |||
Ms. Pac-Man | Pac-Man | |||
Princess Peach | Mario | |||
Rosalina | Mario | 5 | ||
Toad | Mario | 4 | ||
Waluigi | Mario | |||
Wario | Mario (Wario) | |||
Yoshi | Mario (Yoshi) | 4 | ||
Total | 4 (7 including sub-series) | 11 | 13 | 13 |
Notes
- ^ Miis are selectable as two different characters in Wii: Mii Outfit A and Mii Outfit B.
- ^ Shy Guy is only available in DS as a playable character during Single-Card Download Play races.
- ^ Downloadable content
- ^ Six palette swap characters are playable: Strawberry Don, Knight Don, Ice Luigi, Fire Mario, Blue Toad, and Red Yoshi.
- ^ Added in an update to the game.
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.[12] Mario Kart 7 K'Nex sets have also been released.
Nintendo's own customer rewards program Club Nintendo released merchandise from the series as well. These include a Mario Kart Wii platinum soundtrack, which features 43 songs from the game, 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.
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.[13]
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.[14]
The series has sold over 100 million copies.[15] Mario Kart Wii is the best selling entry in the series, selling 35.53 million as of March 2014.[16]
References
- ^ Crecente, Brian (2009-26-2). "Super Mario Kart: Most Influential Video Game in History." Kotaku. Retrieved 2012-1-27.
- ^ Jones, Darran (November 28, 2011). "Super Mario Kart: The Complete History of Nintendo's Kart Racer". NowGamer. Imagine Publishing Ltd. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dan. "Mario Kart Franchise Retrospective". WatchMojo.com. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
- ^ Sato, Yoshi (February 6, 2008). "Mario Kart Wii Detailed". 1up.com. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
- ^ a b Farokhmanesh, Megan (August 26, 2014). "Link, F-Zero and Animal Crossing are coming to Mario Kart 8 as DLC". Polygon. Retrieved August 26, 2014.
- ^ "Virtual Console バーチャルコンソール" (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
- ^ "Download New BIT.TRIP Kicks, Speeding Karts, Magic Castles and More". Nintendo of America. November 23, 2009. Retrieved November 23, 2009.
- ^ Mario Kart Wii U Driving Into E3 This Year - Wii U News @ Nintendo Life
- ^ Arcade Heroes Namco Formally Announces Mario Kart Arcade Grand Prix DX - Arcade Heroes
- ^ "VB Mario Kart". Big N. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
- ^ "Smash Bros. DOJO!!". Smashbros.com. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
- ^ "K'NEX Mario Kart Wii Building Sets". Knex.com. October 20, 2011. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
- ^ Nintendo Power 250th issue!. South San Francisco, California: Future US. 2010. p. 47.
- ^ Ivan, Tom (February 28, 2009). "Guinness ranks top 50 games of all time". Computer and Video Games. Retrieved March 14, 2009.
- ^ Futter, Mike (June 2, 2014). "Mario Kart 8 Speeds To Over 1.2 Million Sales In Opening Weekend". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
- ^ "Financial Results Briefing for the Fiscal Year Ended March 2014: Supplementary Information" (PDF). Financial Results Briefing for the 74th Fiscal Term Ended March 2014. Nintendo. May 8, 2014. p. 4. Retrieved July 2, 2014.