"Those little karts can go amazingly fast… and so can your money."

Nearly every gamer out there has played at least one iteration of Mario Kart over the years whether it be the old sprite ones or the more modern versions featuring 3d graphics. It was only a matter of time before Nintendo would turn Mario Kart into an arcade title, and whilst Namco has done an excellent job transferring the feeling and culture of Mario Kart to the arcade scene, this game feels far too short, very shallow and seems to cater more for the younger audience than the older dedicated fans who like a bit of a challenge.

For a basic introduction, Mario Kart involves players selecting a Nintendo character, each with different strengths and weaknesses in terms of speed, acceleration, handling, etc… and then racing them against the computer characters on very colourful and creative racing circuits for a few laps. There is no manual transmission to rev, and the only thing the player has to do is accelerate, brake and steer. There is of course the ability to hop to add a bit of skill to the mix, but the classic feature of using pick-ups is what made Mario Kart so unique.

Since the majority of people reading this review are probably going to be Nintendo die-hard fans, I'll focus on what they want to know- What makes this game special?

The first thing you'll notice when you start playing this game is that it uses a magnetic card to save player data such as your name and stats so that you can go to any Mario Kart Arcade GP machine and continue your game where you left off. The card is very similar to the one featured in Namco's other title, Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune and shows information such as your name, driver (character), rank, item, completion of Grand Prix cups, Time attack password and Versus information.

After purchasing or inserting your card into the machine, the camera will ask you to pose for a photograph whereby your face is inserted into the space where the character's face would normally be; such as having Toad's mushroom on your face. This feature, whilst novel, doesn't really add to the game much apart from looking funny. The camera photo it takes is also not saved to your card which was rather disappointing.

The thing which I'm sure many of you are wondering is what is the actual game play like? Without revealing too many details (I'm pretty much going to say what they advertise on the cabinet), it follows a very similar structure to the traditional Mario Kart games where there is a Grand Prix mode with different ‘themed' cups such as Mario and Donkey Kong whereby the tracks reflect different parts of the Nintendo universe. Whilst very creative in design, they are nothing out of the ordinary, but are quite short. Considering that you need to insert another credit for each race you compete in, a 10 minute game of Mario Kart Arcade GP could cost you a few credits. However as you complete the different cups, it updates your rank and Grand Prix stats on your printed card (so you can brag to your friends if you wish)- but more importantly, the more you play, the more coins you can pick up (by driving over them), and the more coins you have, the more items you can unlock for versus mode. Bet you're interested to hear about that aren't you?

During the loading screens before each race, the game tells you which items (such as lightning and bananas) will be in play for that particular race. However, as you progress further, you will be able to select different items which you particularly enjoy using to replace the default options. When racing, after you pick up the items by travelling over the question mark box, randomising the item you receive, you press the Horn button (which conveniently lights up) to release the item whether it be a shell to hit another opponent or a banana to drop behind.

There's also a Time Attack mode whereby, if Namco's Maximum Tune is anything to go by, will become very competitive over time. After setting a record, the machine prints a “password” on your card which you can submit to the online website whereby you will be ranked with players from around the world. This password incorporates your name, rank, etc… and then allows you to add a comment to further distinguish yourself from other players.

Finally, the mode which you probably want to hear the most about- Versus. Unfortunately, Versus mode is not working at our local arcade but based on what I have seen when playing, the items you unlock are meant to be used in Versus mode. Presumably in a fashion similar to selecting items before a race, these items are to be used in races, and then the more you win, the higher the Versus number on your card rises.

So, should I pay to play this game?
The answer for most people will be no. The game, whilst true to Nintendo's heritage and a great tribute by Namco to one of the best and most well known series, lacks the length or appeal which other arcade games have. This game might appeal to younger audiences who are yet to experience the joy of Mario Kart, but it is far too easy to play (both in terms of opponent CPU difficulty and general game play) for the majority of Nintendo's hardcore fans, and not to mention that when it costs $2 per race- it becomes very expensive, very fast.

But if you are one of those hardcore Mario Kart fans, then at least give this game a shot. You'll probably get hooked like I did (and I'm not even that much of a Mario Kart fan!), but once you realise that the value for money just isn't there- you'll probably move on.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 02/07/06