Super Mario Kart (Super Nintendo, 1992)

This is my #1 Super Nintendo game and if there is a time I do not own it will be due to some cataclysmic event. Here are the game details...


The game Super Mario Kart is a car (or kart) racing game. In the game, you can play by yourself (against the computer) or with a friend...also trying to beat the computer's characters.

You can race on one of 3 courses: Mushroom - Easy
Flower - Intermediate
Star - Difficult

and there are 5 different tracks for each course. There are also 3 different speeds (or difficulty levels) to play at...50cc (easy), 100cc (intermediate) and 150cc (difficult). If you are able to place in the top 3 on the three 150cc courses, then you are awarded access to a SPECIAL track (the most difficult).

You have 8 different characters to choose from, and all characters are familiar, if you have played Nintendo's signature "Mario" games before. Each character has a counterpart who is similar in skill. Sometimes it is a good idea if you are playing a 2-player game, to play the counterpart character to the racer your opponent has chosen (so you will both be evenly matched)

The players are:
Mario (all around average; very good; medium weight)
Luigi (all around average; very good; medium weight)
Princess (relatively fast; light weight)
Yoshi (relatively fast; light weight)
Toad (fast acceleration; low top-speed; super light weight)
Koopa (fast acceleration; low top-speed; super light weight)
Bowser (slow acceleration; fastest top speed; heavy weight)
Donkey Kong Jr. (slow acceleration; fastest top speed; heavy weight)

The easiest to play and win with are Koopa and Toad due to their amazing handling and acceleration. Yoshi and Princess are a little more difficult. I've challenged myself to beat the 150cc Special Cup with a member from each group, but I have still yet to beat it will Bowser or Donkey Kong Jr. - their acceleration only hinders you if you are hit by something and you have to restart again or you play on races with lots of sharp turns where you need to brake (both of which are more frequent on the Special Cup).

All and all I've wasted countless hours playing this game and have not regretted it one bit. I've used this game to solve arguments, gamble with, and to pull all-nighters with.