Mario Kart Super Circuit

"Mario Kart has arrived on the Gameboy Advance and it continues the legacy of the previous two versions."

The third Mario Kart game is out and it's on the Gameboy Advance. You've already checked out the score I know, however, for those of you who want some justification and some backing to it, read on.

Essentially, Mario Kart Advance is a blend of the original SNES version and that of the relatively newer Nintendo 64 version (although, four and a half years is hardly new in the world of video games). Those who are already familiar with the other Mario Kart games will find the feel of this game to be almost the same expect for the fact that it's now on a much smaller screen. In fact, the only flaw that I can find with the whole Mario Kart Advance set up is that of the screen size. It is not so easy to adapt to Mario Kart on a small screen after playing on a TV for so many years. It is possible to adapt after a while though, and while I still find myself wishing the GBA screen was a little bigger so I could see those turns more clearly, it is no fault of the game itself that the screen is small and this is not a review of the Gameboy Advance itself. Therefore, technically, there is no flaw in Mario Kart Advance - the game, in my mind.

Graphics:
I wouldn't have thought only a couple of years ago that I'd be playing a portable Mario Kart with graphics of this quality. The game engine still consists of the mode 7 technology that was used in the SNES game but the illusion of a 3D world is truly remarkable. The Karts themselves seem to be made out of 3D polygons, whereas the weapons and everything else are sprites, although I could be mistaken here. Seeing the 3D Karts spinning around in the character select menu will make you smile and admire the graphics. I believe the graphical quality is closer to the Nintendo 64 version than to the SNES.

Gameplay/Control:
This is where the Mario Kart games have always shined. This portable game is no exception. Anyone who has played Mario Kart before will be set even before they put the game in the Gameboy. The direction pad is the steering, A is gas/ accelerate, B is brake, R is jump (or powerslide if held down), L is used to fire weapons. Like in the N64 games, if you have something like a green shell in your weapons box, you can hold down L and hang the shell out behind you. Then, depending on the direction pressed and when L is released, you can fire it forward or backwards. This also enables the player to collect an additional weapon while holding onto the other. If you hold down the directional pad downwards while pressing B (brake), the Kart can be made to reverse. All of this should be familiar to Mario Kart players.

One interesting gameplay difference I find in Mario Kart Advance is that unlike in the other games of the same name, is that when going around bends it can sometimes be imperative to lay off the gas. Powersliding helps around hairpin turns but tapping the A button is sometimes useful too and I do not recall having to do this in the other games- I just left the A button pressed down.

Like the SNES games, it is useful to collect the coins scattered about on the course in grand prix mode. Speaking of modes, it is the standard Mario Kart affair including things like grand prix (Mushroom Cup, Flower Cup etc.) with three different classes (50cc, 100cc and 150cc). The game also has multiplayer of course and is playable by up to four people. If two friends have only one Mario Kart catridge between them and two Gameboy Advance with a link cable, it is possible to play a limited multiplayer mode. It is a vs mode with four tracks available (including the classic Ghost Valley 1 track from the original SNES game!) and one player plays as a green Yoshi (the host GBA), while the other as a pink Yoshi. With two cartridges or more, I imagine that drivers would be selectable as well as the other tracks. Also, the battle mode would likely be playable too, but I cannot confirm any of this since I have not had the oppurtunity to play the a two plus cartridge game, only the one.

The weapons consist of the N64 variety with a few exclusions, namely the fake weapon block, spiked shell (I think!) and Nitro Mushroom. Mostly everything else is there though, including the triple shell sets and lightening. It should be noted that in the one cartridge only multiplayer, there are only a few weapons that come up, no triple shells for one thing, only single. The feather does not make a return and unlike the SNES version again, weapons are obtained from floating blocks with question marks on them. Though they appear less transparent in this game.

Finally, to finish of the gameplay sub section, there are at least 20 tracks available (with more possibly unlocked). I've recognised a few of the tracks as being from the SNES game though most seem to be original. There are eight drivers/Karts to choose from. The cast is the same as the N64 version. Those hoping for the return of Koopa Troopa will be disappointed to know that Wario has taken his place again this time round too. The Karts all have different stats in this game (seen on the character select screen) but there is a general three tier system consisting of Mario/ Luigi as average mid-rounders, Princess/ Yoshi/ Toad as fast accleraters but weak, and Bowser/Wario/Donkey Kong as having slow accleration but strong and I think having a high top speed.

Audio:
There are plenty of voice overs in the game. The usual 'here we go!'(Mario) and 'hahahaahahha'(Wario) and expected weapon sound effects. The Kart engines sound good and while the background music is sometimes a little 'tinny', it manages to be cheerful, engaging and does the job well. The Gameboy Advance hardware would probably be at fault here again if anyone has any sound complaints.

Replay:
Are you kidding!? There's nothing to say here but ...it's Mario Kart! Battle mode, 4 player, Grand prix, Vs racing, tonnes of weapons and tracks- the highest of any GBA game so far IMO.

Conclusion:
Mario Kart is a classic on the SNES and on the N64. I believe it will be a classic on the Gameboy Advance as well. Out of the games currently released for the Gameboy Advance, Mario Kart Advance (or Super Circuit in North America) is easily the best. Don't blow your money on lame GBA games please! Get Mario Kart Advance.

Side Note: The game is very import friendly. There is Japanese in the menu's but most of the time there are pictures such as a checkered flag for grand prix mode. Before you import though, I would like to point out that at this point it is unknown as to whether the Japanese Mario Kart cartridge will work in accordance to an American Mario Kart cartridge for dual cartridge (or more) multiplayer. For instance, F-Zero Advance DOES work like this, but Mario Advance DOES NOT. Also note that Luigi in Japan has a very high pitched voices (higher than Mario) and not the deep voice most have heard in the US. Also, Wario has a more evil kind of a laugh too. Toad sounds more 'cute' for a lack of a better word too. These will likely be changed.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/25/01, Updated 07/25/01