This game has been in the
making for sometime but has it been worth it?
Well the answer is yes.
This game has got to be the best Mario
Kart game ever created for any console.
Nintendo have once again given an
instant classic for the GBA.
But what makes Mario Kart so good is
that it’s NOT a port from the SNES version.
Although you can unlock ALL 20 tracks
from the SNES it contains 20 new tracks.
This gives the game whopping 40 tracks.
It’s basically 2 games in one.
Visuals
These graphics are amazing.
The game uses a feature called Mode 7
and it basically makes you think that you are racing in a 3D track.
You can spot the Mode 7 because the
backgrounds never change their position, they always stay the same.
Another way to spot to Mode 7 is to look
at the tracks.
They go left and right but never have a
hills, the race always stays at one level although Nintendo have included jumps
that make you think you are racing at different levels.
But all this features work very well and
suit the GBA.
The overall game looks great.
It might not be fully 3D but you feel as
though it is and that’s all that matters.
The game does not have any slowdown even
with all 7 other characters on screen.
This game almost looks as good as the
N64 one.
Audio
The GBA is not the best for audio quality wise, but Mario
Kart does a good job on giving you some catchy Nintendo tunes. It
has the old tunes from the SNES version and some new ones.
Overall sound on the game is good.
Gameplay
Unlike the N64 version this
game requires you to really concentrate.
This version is like the SNES version.
You can pick up and play this but if you
want to win on 150cc it will take some practice.
You also get a rank at the end that goes
from 3 stars (***) to E.
To get a 3 star rank you must really
push all the right buttons.
You have to get a really good lap time,
collect most of the coins on the circuit and get in 1st.
This takes practice and can take
forever.
My best so far is 2 stars on the first
cup on 50cc.
You should not use the B (brake) button
unless needed because that slows you down.
The should use the R (power slide)
button in order to get good lap times and stand a chance of winning.
There are no new items or power-ups in
this game.
It’s all the basic ones from the SNES
and N64 versions but they work really well
so they have been left here.
The 4-player is the best multiplayer on
the GBA.
You can battle in special tracks or race
in Grand Prix.
I have only tried 3-player so far and it
rocks.
It’s really good and gives everyone a chance even if
they are new to the game thanks to its power-ups.
Xavier’s Bottom
Line
It’s taken time to for Mario Kart to appear on the GBA but it was worth it.
It has everything you could want. You can even save 10 replays of your own and
2 two replays from your friends. I don’t think
Nintendo can improve on this until a more powerful
Gameboy comes out.
It’s near perfect and it fits in your pocket too what
more could you want.
Graphics – 94%
Not really a 3D racer but
looks and feels like one. No slowdown at all helps this rank up.
Get a N64 version picture and a GBA version picture and
compare and you will see that they look nearly the same.
Audio – 92%
Very good use of the headphones and features the
classic Nintendo tunes that we all love so much
Gameplay – 95%
Ha this game will keep you
hooked with its addictive Gameplay.
Getting a power slide right for the first time is the
best feeling or hitting Toad with a red shell right before the finish line also
is fantastic.
Lifespan – 95%
This game will take
forever.
E-mail us and tell us
whether you have a 3 star rank in every cup.
Final
Mark - 96%
Reviewed By Xavier
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