Graphics: *
Mixed reviews here... although the graphics are three-dimensional, it has a Super Nintendo feel. Take the Bowser’s Castles for example. The place has no real walls, just these tiny rims on the edge of the road, and a large pool of lava. I didn’t know Bowser’s Castle was all lava, and I feel walls should be there, or else it’s just a plain road, and not much for graphics. Same for the parts where you jump over other parts of the track, it looks like you’re just crossing the other part of the road on that level, because it doesn’t really make hills noticeable. And there’s just little walls blocking off other roads and not much detail to the courses... all right, the graphics aren’t that bad, but I thought the Game Boy Advance was supposed to be revolutionary... oh well...
Sound: ***
Always a good category for Mario games, the sound is good in this game, but not great. The music isn’t catchy, like it was in Mario Kart 64, but it does have that music when you win the trophy. I really was hoping for a couple more flashbacks to those “classic” songs, but the Shy Guy Beach music is pretty good, and probably the best.
Difficulty: ***1/2
If you buy this game, you'd better like tough games, or be good at them, because the cheating A.I. is back and better than ever! It’s particularly annoying when you hold a lead for two and a half laps and lose it on the last turn because you hit something and spin out.
Characters: ***1/2
The classic characters... Mario, Luigi, DK, Yoshi, Peach, Wario, Bowser, and Toad. This time supposedly the heavyweights are the fastest, but I can’t imagine Bowser speeding by everyone else... anyway, if you pick Yoshi, you’ll win! Except in Battle mode... And I know a lot of you are probably glad Waluigi didn’t come along, but unfortunately, since most of the time you’ll be playing one-player, you'll probably just stick to the acceleration. Why do I say one-player? I’ll explain later...
Controls: ****
Great! A is accelerate, B is brake, L is weapon, and R is jump or turbo slide. The Control Pad isn’t quite as good as the Analog Stick, because precision movements are easier with the Stick. Oh, and Select is horn, but most of the time there’s no time to use it, no reason to use it, and no way to use it, with your thumb on the Control Pad.
Weapons: ****
Look, however any other game may copy these items, they are the classic kart weapons. Shells, Bananas, Star, Mushrooms, Boo, and Lightning. The six classic items from MK64, and the best ever! The Banana Bunch and ¿ Block didn’t make it. I guess it was too much for the game to handle. Unfortunately, a downside to this game is that the items are really spread out. With few items, you can’t make a last-second comeback. I don’t like other racing games because they don’t offer these items, just racing tracks and none of these nice items. Anyway, the coin system is pretty good! But, I hate that you’re graded by how many coins you collect. Winning should be the only thing, not collecting stupid coins for better grades. Even if I’m going slow, other weapons can win it for me, not faster speeds. I also hate the fact that if you nail anyone personally (run into them), you lose a coin. If you’re Bowser and you hit Toad, Toad should spin out, not you if you have no coins. That’s a fundamental rule of Mario Kart, that little guys go flying, not you! What’s the point of heavyweights then?! Oh well... The biggest new thing is that Red Shells can be shot backwards, a big plus for first-place racers to knock out their second-place chasers! Also, items are more random this time. For example, I’ve gotten Blue Spiny Shells twice in first place, and accidentally nailed myself both times. Red Shells don’t bounce off walls; they have deadly accuracy, making them a dangerous item this time around. One last thing, Stars and Boos wear off instantly when the music ends. It doesn’t last a couple of extra seconds after the music, so once it ends, you can’t nail someone a second later, because there goes a coin.
Tracks: **1/2
Well, here we go with the tracks: ... The raceways are boring, the Bowser’s Castles just too... bland, and Cheese Land was the substitute for Choco Mountain. I guess Nintendo loves food tracks, and I like cheese, but I ain’t Mario! Anyway, Koopa Troopa Beach became Shy Guy Beach, Kalamari Desert became Yoshi Desert (with that extremely cute Yoshi sphinx!), Choco Mountain became Cheese Land, Banshee Boardwalk became Boo Lake, and Rainbow Road became Ribbon Road. I haven’t yet unlocked those unlockable tracks in the Special Cup, but they’re probably good. The trouble is, bad graphics really ruin some tracks. I really like Shy Guy Beach. I like that background music to it, and that Shy Guy Skull Flag on the Pirate Ship. Unfortunately, there are so many hairpin turns and 90-degree turns with those tiny walls that it gets annoying after a while. As for those puddles on Luigi Circuit... oooh! Don’t get me started!
Grand Prix Mode: ***1/2
This is where you’ll race for serious reasons, like unlocking the Special Cup. Of course, you’ve got those infamous computers who cheat, and only three continues hurts (even on 50cc!), but you want to see those last four courses and probably mirror courses too, so you’ll have to deal with them. How? With the weapons, of course! The coins are used to grade you, so collect them, but you’ll probably lose if you focus on coins and not the road, turning, and weapons.
Time Trials Mode: **1/2
Race alone and beat a time. Unfortunately, this game dumbly decides it will add its own times, which are hard to beat. (The programmers, I mean.) Oh, yeah, this ain’t anything like MK64, where you’re so used to the tracks you know EXACTLY where to use the Mushrooms. You just must guess where to use them, unless you’re hopelessly addicted to this game...
Quick Run Mode: ****
Want to practice a track against A.I. computers? This is for you, the best one-player mode. Try these tracks over and over until you win and you’ll be ready for the Grand Prix. (In fact, the Grand Prix will be a bit easier, because you’ll have a better starting position in three races, but also a little harder, because three mistakes is it.)
Multi-player Vs. Mode: ****
I must admit, I haven’t played multi-player, simply because no one else I know has a Game Boy Advance. But, however, I know how good it was on the N64, and it has to be great, although all the Game Link cables are annoying...
Multi-player Battle Mode: ****
Look, no matter what, this is the best racing mode EVER, hands-down. Even without playing it, I love it. However, WHY CAN’T NINTENDO MAKE A ONE-PLAYER BATTLE MODE VS. COMPUTERS? Sorry, I had to take my chance to vent...
Gameplay: **1/2
Good, but not too good, considering tight, tough turns, cheating computers, not-too-graphical courses, and not enough ? Blocks. Still, the racing is pretty fun! ...
Fun Factor!: ***1/2
... Which brings me to Fun Factor! Fun, yes, but if it’s not multi-player, it’s kind of frustrating, but still fun!
OVERALL: ***1/2
A very good game,
if you can take the poor graphics and not-too-detailed tracks. Here’s a
question: why are the Thwomps (in the Bowser’s Castles) gray like Whomps?
Anyway, buy this game, especially if you loved Mario Kart, and ESPECIALLY
if you have other people with Game Boy Advances and Game Link cables. I
can’t wait until the day I actually get to play multi-player modes... This
was a very highly-anticipated game, and wasn’t quite as perfect as I hoped,
but was better than the last two Mario handheld games (Mario Tennis for
Game Boy Color and Super Mario Advance). So buy it, and remember that Yoshi
always wins!