Developed by Intelligent Systems rather than fixed regulars EAD, Mario Kart Super Circuit plays the Mario Kart formula pretty safe between the lines of the first 2D and 3D iterations of the series (Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64, respectively). Rather than attempt to break ground with new play mechanics, Super Circuit sets its focus on being a well-executed hybrid of previous games.
For players of Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64, the mixed blood elements, namely the combination of the hop and power-sliding, are readily apparent. In Super Mario Kart, a push of the right trigger causes the player to hop, making it possible to leapfrog over minor obstacles, while, at other times, the hop could be jerked out to displace your kart at an angle advantageous for sharp cornering. In Mario Kart 64, players could leap into a power slide, allowing for long drifts around corners, closing with a speed boost if the player could sufficiently wiggle the control stick back and forth. Super Circuit kinda does both, leaning a little more towards the Super NES iteration. Hopping is still useful for bookending long turns and avoiding minor obstacles; however, if the player holds their slide down long enough a boost will automatically be granted—no wiggling required. Part of the problem with this design is that rarely is there a turn wide enough for players to earn a boost. Or putting it another way, the duration of time required to stay in a power slide is largely incongruent with the nippy curves and bends Super Circuit's tracks provide. Furthermore, the tipping point at which you'll gain a boost (or not) is too difficult to judge, leaving you dependent on the safer bet of bunny-hopping each corner in a spasm of undercutting leaps and slides.
We all knew it was only a matter of time before video games became real, and now it seems that the fantasy racing world of Mario Kart has begun seeping into the non-virtual world. The video above depicts a bike lane on a specific street in Portland which has been painted with several power-ups from Nintendo's most popular racing franchise. Bikers can enjoy the speed boost offered by a mushroom or a boost arrow, but they'd best watch out for the banana peel, lest they lose control and careen into traffic. Also, it would be wise to remember that the star is painted on and therefore not real, so touching it and then weaving directly into a semi will still result in disastrous consequences.
More pure joy after the break.
When he was four years old Ben Michaels was diagnosed with "lazy eye syndrome" in his right eye. This syndrome could have caused the eyesight in his right eye to deteriorate to the point of complete blindness unless properly treated.
Typical treatment includes wearing an eye patch, eye drops, or a special pair of glasses. Sure, most kids would enjoy an eyepatch and getting to play pirate, but thankfully, for young Ben Michaels, videogames exist as well.
Ken Nischal, a consultant at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital, came with a special treatment that combines the use of the eyepatch with a DS and Mario Kart DS.
There has been an awful lot of talk about Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing around here lately. I should know-- I'm the one responsible for the vast majority, if not the entirety of it.
But supposing that you have not been persuaded by the charms of Sonic, Ulala, Ryo, and all the rest. Perhaps you feel that there is and shall always be one and only one true kart racer, Mario Kart. In that case, assuming you don't have it already, this deal is for you.
Mario Kart DS, often hailed as the best in the series (and it features R.O.B., so those claims are not unwarranted), is now available on Amazon.com for the low, low price of $27.99, 30 percent/twelve dollars off the regular price, with no tax in most states. And it comes with free Super Saver shipping-- you can't really beat that.
Of course, you may already have the game, so why not grab it as a gift for someone you know? Racing is more fun with a friend, and odds are they'd get tired of being stuck with Shy Guys in ad-hoc mode.
If you are reading this, then it is probably safe to say that you have at least a passing familiarity with Mario Kart. And perhaps you've even seen the toy versions, featuring electric cars with remotes that zoom along a track, just like so many licensed racetracks in the 80's and 90's.
Now, Takara Tomy has produced something that's like that, but at the same time, rather different.
Kotaku is reporting that three of the most desired games for the Wii's Virtual Console are about to make an appearance. This Monday, expect to see Super Mario Kart (SNES) on the service for 800 points. The other two titles, Super Smash Bros. and Pilotwings, will be released on the Virtual Console "sometime this holiday season." Don't take my word for it, but I wouldn't be surprised if the former of the two came out on the Monday before Christmas.
Is this beginning of a slew of most-requested games to be released on the Virtual Console? Many fans, including myself, feel that Earthbound is long overdue for an appearance. Maybe Nintendo is finally starting to pay attention to its fans.
Tara Billinger has posted a most incredible thing on the blog of The Autumn Society. As the headline suggests, a group of 41 artists worked over a period of nine months to come up with one awesome, yet diverse, piece of artwork to celebrate Nintendo's successful Mario Kart series.
At right, you can catch a peek at what is basically 1/41 of what the final image contains. Unfortunately, it's quite large, and would probably not be conducive to being loaded here, but that's fine. They deserve the attention after this.
So head over to The Autumn Society's blog and check out the full picture to see everyone's interpretation of the different drivers, as well as a number of background characters. Not only are Fawful, Vivian, and Tryclyde there, but there's also my favorite: a cool interpretation of Phanto, rockin' that key.
And to those people who host "i am 8-bit," if you're reading this, please grant these artists' wishes and make this a part of your gallery.
Who says that Mario games have no story? This fan-film tells the story of Mario Kart, an epic in which retired racer-turned-plumber Mario must return to the sport he left behind in order to avenge the loss of his little brother, Luigi.
To get ahead, he'll need guts, determination, a lot of training, and a good aim with a Koopa shell.
You know, I'm sort of surprised that a Starman did that to Luigi; that looks more like the work of the accursed Blue Shell to me. Perhaps there is a twist at the end, and it was Waluigi all along?
What would you do if you learned that the person who was in the car next to you learned how to drive through Mario Kart?
Personally, I'd probably reach into the grocery bags and start chucking bananas and eggs at their vehicle until I was a safe distance away, and hope they don't have one of those @#$%ing blue shells.
Fortunately, what one school is doing isn't quite as bad as all of that, though it is nonetheless peculiar. As 9NEWS from Colorado reports, one they're using it to teach teens "the perils of distracted driving."
See for yourself:
I'm really not sure exactly how practical this is, though, to tell you the truth; it almost sounds like someone got a mixed message between Jack Thompson's "games train people to kill" and others' "games have their good points and aren't all bad" defense. I'm guessing the Wii Wheel might have made the package seem more viable.
The other stuff looks pretty good, though, and I'm not saying the idea itself isn't viable; I simply think there are probably better games with which to get the point across than the one where the cloud-riding turtle bails you out on a fishhook whenever you screw up too badly.
What do you get when you cross Mario Kart with Death Race? Well, probably something like Twisted Metal, actually.
But know what else you could wind up with?
This:
Of course, you'll notice that nothing they use in here-- not even the giant truck-- is as race-wrecking as the Blue Shell. But at least they aren't Snaking.
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John Doe