Mario Kart: Super Circuit Review





Developer: Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo
Release Date: August 27, 2001 Also On: None

There has been an overabundance of racing games for the GBA. Mario Kart: Super Circuit is a remake of the SNES classic Super Mario Kart. Many still remember when Super Mario Kart actually created the kart-racing genre. You get to control the Mario cast such as Bowser, Peach, Wario, and of course Mario.

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Nintendo is known for rehashing classics onto their handheld systems. Most of the times, these rehashed classics aren’t as amazing as the original, but come awfully close. This game keeps the most important qualities of the original such as its amazing replay value, great multiplayer score, and tight controls.

Like any other Mario Kart game, there are loads of tracks (over 20). You have to unlock most of these tracks by doing miscellaneous objectives. There is great variety between these tracks, but not one of the tracks was very long. I am not trying to brag, but I could finish all the tracks in less than 2 ½ minutes.

Each character has a different speed and control rating. Like most other kart racing games, the larger and heavier characters are slower but are easier to control. The lighter and smaller characters are harder to control but are much faster. You really can’t fault this game for using such an age-old system, considering that the Mario Kart series created it and that the game is still pretty fun.

The multiplayer value is astounding. It is just amazing how you can play track after track with your friends (or enemies) without chucking your GBA at them. If you have three friends that are half as good as me (I am really not that good), and you don’t stink, you could have an extremely fun time. The great number of offensive and defensive items in this game only adds to the multiplayer score. Throwing Koopa shells at the guy who is yelling stupid comments about how good he is, never gets old. There is also a battle mode where up to 4 players can blast each other out of the park. Each player has three balloons, and when they are all popped, you die.

Another good note is that the graphics are great. They are fluid, sharp, and have the unique Mario-style feel. I also feel the same way about the audio, though I sometimes felt that I couldn’t hear it that well. I tend not to focus on graphics and audio with GBA games, but on their unique gameplay scores.

There were some disappointments in this game. One was that when you accidentally crash, it would be near impossible to come in first place. Another disappointment was that the tracks weren’t long enough (I am not against short tracks, but when all of them are short I have a problem). My last disappointment was that I really didn’t feel that my character was going fast enough. Racing games have the unique capability of giving the player the uncommon immerse feeling of speed. I felt that Mario Kart: Super Circuit was somewhat slow, making the races drag on. If you are looking for a better single-player racing game for the GBA, I suggest F-Zero. F-Zero is much faster and more intense.

While Mario Kart: Super Circuit isn’t one of the greatest kart racing game ever made, it is still one of the best kart racing games on the GBA. Mario Kart: Super Circuit has one of the greatest multiplayer scores on the GBA to date. If you have friends with this game, expect a heck of a fun time. Don’t have friends? Then I suggest that you get some or pass this game. Meet you at the finish line sucka (gets knocked out by a Koopa shell).

Graphics: 9.5
Sound: 8.5
Gameplay: 9.5
Creativity: 5
Replay Value/Game Length: 10
Final: 8.9
Written by Simon Review Guide

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