Graphics:
SMK- 4/5
MK64- 3/5
MKSC- 2/5
MKDD- 5/5
MKDS- 5/5
These graphic ratings come from what I think the system they were on could handle. SMK's graphics were about what I'd expect from the SNES, but nothing truly spectacular.
I really expected more from MK64, however; Super Mario 64's graphics looked so great, but, for some reason, MK64's just aren't what the N64 is capable of. The karters are all cardboard cutouts, and the backrounds are all made of paper. Could be way better.
MKSC was a true downer compared to other
GBA games, like the SMB3 remake and Superstar Saga. MKDD and MKDS, on the
other hand, really showed what their respective systems were capable of.
Everything in both games looks absolutely gorgeous, from the karters to
the vibrant, colorful tracks.
Controls:
SMK- 5/5
MK64- 5/5
MKSC- 5/5
MKDD- 5/5
MKDS- 5/5
Wow! I don't think I've ever seen a
series of games with better controls! Honestly, this couldn't get any easier.
A is go, B is stop, tilt the control stick to turn, and R to powerslide.
The fire button varies on the different controllers, but it's always easy
to reach. When I first bought SMK years ago, I remember having the controls
mastered in about half an hour. MK64's powerslide may give you a bit of
trouble, but it isn't that hard to do, and isn't quite as necessary as
it is in MKDD or MKDS. Other than that, everything's perfect.
Characters:
SMK-3/5
MK64-4/5
MKSC-4/5
MKDD-5/5
MKDS-4/5
All of the Mario Kart games had a very
good selection of characters, and I was generally pleased with the choices.
Just a few notes: I also don't consider Koopa to be a major character that
should be a karter, nor do I think that the babies and Diddy should have
been in MKDD. And I don't really know who that Rob guy is, but I don't
think that he or Dry Bones ought to be in MKDS. But, as long as my personal
"core" characters - Luigi, Wario, and Peach - are in the games, I'm happy.
Tracks:
SMK- 2/5
MK64- 5/5
MKSC- 3/5
MKDD- 4/5
MKDS- 4/5
Again, all the games are pretty good
in the track department. I absolutely adore MK64's tracks, and those of
MKDD and MKDS are close behind. I found MKSC's tracks, however, to be a
bit boring, and don't even get me started on some of SMK's tracks, like
Koopa Beach (cool music, though). On the plus side, most of the
tracks are well-designed, but I think
that MKDD's DK Mountain belongs in Paper Mario Kart with all its flat,
painted-on features (like the grass). Special kudos to MK64's Wario Stadium,
Choco Mountain, and Rainbow Road; MKDD's Yoshi Circuit and Waluigi's Stadium;
and MKDS's Airship Fortress and Shroom Ridge. All in all, every Mario Kart
game has mostly great tracks.
Sound/Music:
SMK- 3/5
MK64- 5/5
MKSC- 2/5
MKDD- 4/5
MKDS- 3/5
I was a bit disappointed by all of these
games except 64 and DD. While, I wouldn't call any of this music bad, some
games just had a rather dull soundtrack. A few of my favorites from the
games: Koopa Beach (SMK), Koopa Troopa Beach (MK64), Toad's Turnpike (MK64),
Choco Mountain (MK64), Rainbow Road (MK64 and MKDD), and Delfino Plaza
(MKDS). As you can see, I like a lot from MK64.
Gameplay:
SMK- 4/5
MK64- 5/5
MKSC- 4/5
MKDD- 5/5
MKDS-5/5
Now THIS is what I call a winning gameplay formula! The same holds true for all the games: grab items, blast your competitors, and win the race! Most tracks have dangerous spots where you can fall of the edge of the course, usually into water. Should this unfortunate event occur, Lakitu will fish you out and replace you on the track nearby where you fell over. Unfortunatly, this costs you quite a few seconds, and you'll probably lose three or four positions.
The learning curve of all the games
is very short, making the Mario Karts great pick-up-and-play games.
All the games are nearly flawless, except for one minor flaw in SMK and
MKSC that costs each of them a point: that stupid coin system. Basically,
you grab coins littered throughout the track, which make you go faster.
Getting nailed by an item or falling over the edge makes you lose coins,
subsequently making your kart slower. Other than that, it's perfect!
Difficulty:
SMK- 5/5
MK64- 4/5
MKSC- 5/5
MKDD- 4/5
MKDS- 5/5
All of these games had a just about
perfect difficulty; you won't get totally murdered by those AIs, but you
won't exactly breeze past them every time. 64 and DD both lost points,
however, for a few quarrels I have with those cheating AIs. In MK64, If
an AI gets far ahead (especially in Toad's Turnpike), then you really
need a healthy dose of luck to win,
because even 2 Golden Mushrooms, a Lightning Bolt, and a Star won't help
you (believe me, this has happened before). In MKDD, AIs don't often get
super far ahead, but many times they will get this magic speed boost and
blast by you at the last second, snatching victory from you.
Multiplayer:
SMK- 5/5
MK64- 5/5
MKSC- N/A
MKDD- 4/5
MKDS- 2/5 (WiFi only)
Ah, multiplayer, the heart and soul
of Mario Kart. Most of these games truly deliver in this department. SMK
and MK64 are right on the same level; you can do a multiplayer Grand Prix,
some Versus, or the ever thrilling Battle. Grand Prix is the best because
you can race against friends and those wily AIs, and Battle mode is a lot
of fun, especially when you get 3 other friends in an all-out melee. MKDD
is good, but I have a major problem I want to address:
In MKDD, mini turbos are key to victory. If you can't mini turbo, you can't win. This is the problem. Due to my immense amount of practice in this game (I spend hours at a time trying to perfect my Time Trials times), I have become very good at mini turbos. Most of my friends, however, do not own MKDD, and so are not quite as skilled at mini turbos. Often times, I'll blast ahead of everyone and win without any trouble. While this "invincibility" is fun at first, it gets boring real fast because there is no challenge.
That issue aside, I like how in MKDD's Balloon Battle, anyone can get anyone else's special. Shine Runners, a kind of keep-away game, is all right, but I don't think it's that much fun. What I do like is the Bob-omb Blast Battle mode. Players drive around, picking up only Bombs from the Item Boxes, then zip around the arena hucking them at each other. The action is fast and frantic, and it's even better in open areas like the GameCube and Tilt-a-Kart courses.
Ok, enough about MKDD. I cannot give a score to MKSC, because I have never played multiplayer there. I have only used WiFi on MKDS, and was sadly unimpressed. First of all, I don't like how you can only have four racers at a time. I was really looking forward to an 8-man race with other humans. Also, many tracks were left out, and a lot of my favorites (such as Airship Fortress) are not available on WiFi. One final complaint: no WiFi battle mode. I know WiFi is a relatively new concept, but Nintendo should've worked a little harder to make it better.
Overall opinion: Awesome. this multiplayer
is second only to the Parties.
Fun Factor!:
SMK- 4/5
MK64- 5/5
MKSC- 3/5
MKDD- 5/5
MKDS- 5/5
No two ways about it: Mario Kart games
are a ton of fun. By yourself, they're a blast. With friends, they are
second only to the Mario Party series. Each game is pretty much the same,
but sticking to the winning formula is always a good idea.
Overall:
SMK- 4/5
MK64- 5/5
MKSC- 3/5
MKDD- 5/5
MKDS- 5/5
Wow. Mario Kart is definitely one of my favorite videogame series of all time, and it's right up there with Mario Party and Super Smash Bros. All of these games are great, but, putting them in order from most to least fun:
1) Mario Kart 64
2) Mario Kart Double Dash!!
3) Mario Kart DS
4) Super Mario Kart
5) Mario Kart Super Circuit
All of these games are good additions to the series, but SMK could be skipped. Absolutely get DS and DD, and 64 is already out for the Wii Virtual Console, and I'm hoping to see SMK on there soon.
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