Graphics: 9
The graphics in the game are pretty good. This is the Game Boy Advance, so the graphics aren't clear unless you have a Sharklight. It would be nice to have graphics of some other game with Mario Kart-like levels. Er... *cough* Yoshi's Safari *cough*. The graphics are really like Mario Kart 64 with a few touchings to them.
Music: 8
In my opinion, the music in the game isn't really that good. The Starman music is starting to get old... but I do like some of the course themes. I like the music of Riverside Park, Snow Land, Ribbon Road, Bowser's Castle, Sky Garden, and Rainbow Road though. It would be nice if each track had different music.
Characters: 5
Only the normal characters in Mario Kart/Sports/Party games. Well, there's Mario and Luigi, who are average middleweights. Toad and Peach are both very high in speed but very low in weight so they can easily collide with heavyweights. Yoshi is possibly the best player in the game with average speed and weight. DK and Wario both have little speed and good weight. And finally, there's Bowser with little speed and high weight.
Tracks: 10
I think the tracks are perfect. My favorites are Cheep Cheep Island and Lakeside Park. There's also the Thunder Cup, which is pretty easy. Rainbow Road is still fun. Some of the tracks are like others in SMK or MK64. Sunset Wilds is like Kalimari Desert, Shy Guy Beach is like Koopa Troopa Beach, and Snow Land is like Vanilla Lake.
Time Trial: 9
The good ol' Time Trial is back so you can time yourself through a level or see what a level is like (which is what I do). Nothing bad here.
Quick Run: 10
Just like the Mario GP but doesn't count. Perfect. It also can give you any strategy with the results.
Battle Mode: ???
I've never played this before so I can't grade it. It requires a Game Link Cable and 2-4 Game Boy Advance controllers. It's just a normal battle mode anyway.
Story: N/A
This is a racing game! No story!
Difficulty: 10
Cheating computers are back... and better than ever. The levels are pretty easy... if you use Yoshi. The Special Cup levels are pretty easy... I got Bronze in it in only one try!
Items: 4
All the normals... the Red Shell, Green Shell, Triple Shells, Star, Mushroom, Lightning Bolt, Spiny Shell and Banana. No other items. It would be fun if we had items like the Fire Flower in this game!
Ending: 1
Bad ending. At the end of each cup a Cheep Cheep balloon will fly and whatever trophy you got (Gold, Silver, or Bronze) will be right over you. It won't pop like it did in SMK. If you ended up in fourth place, your character will get crushed by a platform and it will say "Too bad!". In the Special Cup the credits will roll by while you are racing down the Peach Circuit. Bad music to the ending also... oh well, probably the game's only weakness.
Fun Factor!: 6
The game is pretty good! Get it if you have a GBA or, if you don't have it, you can still get one with it. If you liked Super Mario Kart or Mario Kart 64 then you should buy it!
Recommendation:
Just like I said
above you should get the game. It's probably around $24.99 (on sale) at
K-Mart or Wal-Mart. If you like racing games, then you should get this
game. Oh well, you might see me next time when I review Super Mario Advance
2 (which I don't know when it will come out).