Mario Kart (series): Difference between revisions

|''Super Mario Kart'' was the first entry in the series, released for the SNES in 1992. The game has a total of eight playable characters who, when computer-controlled, use special power-up items specific to each character (such as [[Yoshi Egg|egg]]s for Yoshi). The twenty tracks in this game, based on locations in ''[[Super Mario World]]'' (such as [[Donut Plains]]), are all short in length compared to other tracks in the series; thus, they are raced in five laps instead of the usual three. Most of this game's playable characters have reappeared in almost all later entries in the series, the exceptions being [[Koopa Troopa]], who has only returned intermittently, and [[Donkey Kong Jr.]], who would not reappear in the series until ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]''. Unlike other games in the series, ''Super Mario Kart'' allows players only a limited number of lives, which are lost whenever a racer loses and is "ranked out". A notable aspect of the game's presentation is its use of the SNES's {{wp|Mode 7}} graphics technology, which allows for free rotation and scaling of planes to give a three-dimensional appearance.

The game was released for [[Wii]], [[Wii U]], and [[Nintendo 3DS|New Nintendo 3DS]] via [[Virtual Console]], as well as for [[Classics#Super NES Classic Edition|Super NES Classic Edition]] and on [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System - Nintendo Switch Online]] on the [[Nintendo Switch]].

|''Mario Kart 64'', launched in 1996/1997 for the [[Nintendo 64]], was a vast improvement from the SNES original. It moved the series to polygon-based true 3D computer graphics for track design, allowing for track features that were not possible with Mode 7, such as bridges, walls, pits, and elevation changes; however, the characters and items remain 2D pre-rendered sprites. Other new additions include digital voice acting, 4-player support, the modern character weight classification system, Mirror mode, ghost data for Time Trial courses, and new items, including the [[Spiny Shell (blue)|Spiny Shell]] (which targets and attacks the player in the lead), the [[Fake Item Box]], multiples of existing items, and the golden [[Golden Dash Mushroom|Super Mushroom]]. The game features 16 normal race courses, as well as four battle courses. Though there are still eight playable characters, two new characters are introduced: [[Wario]] (replacing Koopa Troopa) and [[Donkey Kong]] (replacing Donkey Kong Jr.), both of whom have reappeared throughout the series.

|''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'', released in 2003 for the [[Nintendo GameCube]], introduced a number of new gameplay features. The most prominent feature is co-op gameplay with two riders per kart, where one player drives and the other uses items. This is also the first game to allow everyone to move on regardless of which position they earned after each race. In addition to 9 of the 10 characters who return from previous installments (excluding Donkey Kong Jr.), 11 new playable characters are added: [[Diddy Kong]], [[Bowser Jr.]], [[Birdo]], [[Princess Daisy]], [[Waluigi]], [[Koopa Paratroopa]], [[Baby Mario]], [[Baby Luigi]], [[Petey Piranha]], [[King Boo]], and the newly-created [[Toadette]]. Each pair of drivers is assigned their own unique special item (e.g. fireballs for Mario and Luigi, or giant bananas for Donkey and Diddy Kong). Individual characters also gain their own unique custom-designed karts. Another new addition is the "All-Cup Tour," which has the player race in every track at the same time; once this is cleared on the highest difficulty setting, the player can unlock a "[[Parade Kart]]," which can be used by any character of any weight.

|''Mario Kart DS'', released for the [[Nintendo DS]] in 2005, is the second title to be released on a handheld gaming system. It returns to the one-person karts used before ''Double Dash!!'', and includes a new Mission Mode, where the player must complete eight missions (ranging from collecting coins to attacking enemies) in one of seven sets, and engage in battles with bosses from ''[[Super Mario 64 DS]]''. The game makes use of the DS's dual-screen features by using the top screen to display the racer's kart and the bottom screen to show either a course overview or a bird's-eye view of the immediate vicinity. [[Dry Bones]] and [[R.O.B.]] (and [[Shy Guy]] for one-cartridge multiplayer mode) make their ''Mario Kart'' debut in this game, with this being R.O.B.'s sole appearance in any game using the ''Super Mario'' branding. The [[Blooper]] and [[Bullet Bill]] also make their debut as usable items in this game, and have appeared in every main series ''Mario Kart'' game since. ''Mario Kart DS'' features a multiplayer mode where players can race each other using the {{wp|DS Download Play}} feature or a multi-card {{wp|Wireless LAN|wireless LAN}} service; additionally, it was also playable online via the [[Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection]] service until its termination in 2014. Furthermore, the use of unlockable retro tracks from earlier installments was reintroduced here and made a permanent feature of the series.

|''Mario Kart Wii'' was released for the Wii in 2008. For the first time in the series, the player can race using [[Bikes|motorcycles]] (labeled in-game as "bikes") and perform tricks while driving that produce speed boosts, such as mid-air stunts, slipstreaming, and wheelies. The game is primarily played using the plastic Wii Wheel accessory, which uses the controller's {{wp|Motion controller|motion sensing}} to simulate operating a steering wheel. The game features 24 playable characters, the largest roster of the series at the time ([[Baby Daisy]] makes her debut in the ''Super Mario'' franchise, and other new additions to the ''Mario Kart'' series include [[Baby Peach]], [[Funky Kong]], [[Dry Bowser]], and [[Rosalina]]; [[Mii]] characters saved in the console's Mii Channel are also playable). The [[POW Block]], [[Mega Mushroom]], and [[Thunder Cloud]] make their first and only main series ''Mario Kart'' appearance as usable items in this game. The concept of retro tracks is expanded to the Battle mode, with one retro battle course from each game in the series. When Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection was in existence, ''Mario Kart Wii'' allowed the VS and Battle modes to be played by up to twelve participants, and also featured the "Mario Kart Channel," which was available as an optionally selectable channel on the Wii Menu and allowed players to check their regional or global Time Trial rankings, send and receive ghost data, and participate in worldwide tournaments on modified courses with special objectives.

|''Mario Kart 7'', released in 2011 for the Nintendo 3DS, features optional 3D stereoscopic graphics and can be played using the console's {{wp|Gyroscope|gyroscope}}, which allows players to race in [[First-Person View|first-person]] and steer vehicles simply by turning the game system. Other features unseen in previous installments include the ability to build customizable vehicles with unlockable parts such as frames or tires; retractable hang gliders, which allow players to glide through the air, skipping over parts of the track or locating new routes/shortcuts that are otherwise inaccessible; fully submersible karts; and segments of tracks that are completely [[Underwater driving|underwater]]. The game features 4 new characters: [[Metal Mario]], [[Lakitu]], [[Wiggler]], and [[Honey Queen]]. This is also the first ''Mario Kart'' game where [[Shy Guy]] can be played as without playing in multiplayer mode. The player can play online via [[Nintendo Network]], participating in races or battles with up to seven other players, and exchange game data with other Nintendo 3DS consoles. Two of the new courses are set on Wuhu Island from the non-''Super Mario'' game ''{{wp|Wii Sports Resort}}''.

|''Mario Kart 8'', released for the Wii U in 2014, introduces [[anti-gravity]] sections that allow players to drive on walls and ceilings, allowing for more alternate paths in courses. In these sections, a player can bump into other racers or special bumpers to trigger a Spin Boost, which gives them an extra speed boost. The game also introduces [[All-Terrain Vehicle|all-terrain vehicles]] (ATVs), allows the player to view replay data from others and upload highlights to {{wp|YouTube}} via "[[Mario Kart TV]]", introduces the [[Koopalings]] as new playable characters, and allows up to four people to play in Grand Prix races. [[Baby Rosalina]] and [[Pink Gold Peach]] are also introduced as new characters to the ''Super Mario'' franchise. Additional characters, vehicles, and tracks have been released as downloadable content, including actual {{wp|Mercedes-Benz}} vehicles. Characters that have been released as add-on content include [[Cat Mario|Cat Peach]], the returning [[Tanooki Mario]] and Dry Bowser, [[Link]] from ''The Legend of Zelda'', and the [[Villager]] and [[Isabelle]] from ''Animal Crossing''; tracks themed after various non-''Super Mario'' game series have also been made available as add-on content. Additionally, ''Mario Kart 8'' is notable for being the first game in the series to boast HD graphics and live-orchestrated music, as well as the first to receive post-release updates adding new features and enhancements, including rearranged post-race options, 200cc, and support for Nintendo's [[amiibo]] line of figurines. The year it was released, a browser game on [[Play Nintendo]] called ''[[Mario Kart 8 Party Starter]]'' was made based on the game.

====Ports/remakes====

|''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'' is an enhanced port of ''Mario Kart 8'' for the [[Nintendo Switch]], released in 2017. In addition to most of the original release's base and DLC content, the port includes additional features. Battle Mode is reworked to be similar to the format from previous ''Mario Kart'' games, and comes with eight exclusive arenas of its own. Boo and ''Super Mario Kart'''s [[Cape Feather|Feather]] are reintroduced as items after long being absent from the series' item lineup, with the latter being exclusive to Battle Mode; and players are now allowed to carry two items at once. More playable characters are added to the roster: [[Bowser Jr.]], [[Dry Bones]], [[King Boo]], [[Gold Mario]], [[Birdo]], [[Petey Piranha]], [[Wiggler]], [[Diddy Kong]], and [[Funky Kong]], who return from previous games, [[Kamek]], [[Pauline]], and [[Peachette]], who return from ''Mario Kart Tour'', and the girl and boy [[Inkling]]s from ''[[inkipedia:Splatoon|Splatoon]]''. Other additional content includes new racing suits for Miis unlocked via amiibo, a simpler steering option, and additional kart parts for customization. Additional courses and characters for the game were released in the [[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]] DLC expansion.

Designed for Nintendo's {{wp|Triforce (arcade system board)|Triforce}} arcade board, ''Arcade GP'' features 11 playable characters and 24 tracks. As in other arcade racing games, players are required to drive to the goal under a limited amount of time. The machine also features many more items than the Nintendo titles, and houses a camera that will take a photograph of the player's face to display above the player-character during multiplayer races. This is the first ''Mario Kart'' game where characters originating from outside the ''Super Mario'' franchise and its sub-series are playable, as three characters from the {{wp|List of Pac-Man video games|''Pac-Man'' games}}, namely [[Pac-Man]], [[Ms. Pac-Man]], and the ghost [[Blinky]], are playable.

|''Mario Kart Arcade GP 2'' was released to arcades in 2007/2008. It features the same playable characters as its predecessor, but also adds [[Waluigi]] and crosses over [[Mametchi]] from the ''{{wp|Tamagotchi}}'' series (the former being previously playable in the main ''Mario Kart'' series, and the latter making their only ''Super Mario'' appearance overall). This game also introduces unique karts for each character, as in the main games from ''Mario Kart DS'' onward; more items unseen in the normal installments; and {{wp|Color commentary|color commentary}}, which can be toggled on or off at any time prior to starting the race.

|''Mario Kart Arcade GP DX'' is the third ''Mario Kart'' game for arcades, released in 2013. It adds ''Mario Kart 7''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s gliders<ref>http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/02/06/nintendo-and-namco-team-for-mario-kart-arcade-game</ref> and submersible karts, plus new playable characters to the arcade installments, [[Bowser Jr.]], [[Rosalina]], [[Metal Mario]], [[Baby Mario]], [[Baby Peach]], [[Princess Daisy|Daisy]], [[King Boo]] and [[Lakitu]], the latter seven being characters added through game updates (while King Boo could only be obtained through a limited-time event). Additionally, [[Don-chan]] crosses over from the ''{{wp|Taiko no Tatsujin}}'' series, and Pac-Man is redesigned to use his appearance from the animated television show ''{{wp|Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures}}''. Two new modes are introduced as well: "Alter-Ego," which uses online functionality to allow players to race against ghosts set by other players; and "Team," which allows two players to face against two computer-controlled opponents, and combine their karts to form a more powerful vehicle.

|''Mario Kart Tour'' was released on mobile devices in 2019. The game's courses are divided into "tours" which change every other Wednesday. At the start of each tour, new (or new variants of) drivers, karts, and gliders are added, the challenges and rewards change out, and one or more new courses are often introduced, along with the current selection of playable courses and cups being switched out. The majority of the [[new course]]s are based on real cities (namely [[New York City]], [[Tokyo]], [[Paris]], [[London]], [[Vancouver]], [[Tour Los Angeles Laps|Los Angeles]], [[Berlin]], [[Sydney]], [[Tour Singapore Speedway|Singapore]], [[Amsterdam]], [[List of implied locations#Thailand|Bangkok]], [[Athens]], [[Rome]], and [[Madrid]]). There are also [[Remix course|RMX]] ("remix") courses that use assets from SNES courses but arranged in a new layout. Additionally, the game adds new variants of existing courses (reverse, trick, and reverse/trick variants), a new feature known as "[[Frenzy|Frenzies]]" which are activated when a character receives three of the same item at once and allows the character to use that item continually for a limited time while also becoming invincible, and a score mechanic, where the player earns points for actions such as performing techniques (e.g. [[Mini-Turbo]]s, [[Jump Boost]]s, etc.), interacting with course elements (e.g. driving over a [[Dash Panel]]), or hitting opponents with items. ''Mario Kart Tour'' is free to play, but has in-app purchases available including a 1-month Gold Pass subscription and {{wp|Loot box|loot boxes}} in the form of unlockable elements (drivers, karts, and gliders) being shot out of [[Pipe Cannon|pipe]]s (with [[Ruby|rubies]], the game's premium currency, being spent to shoot items out of said pipes). New playable characters to the series introduced in this game include [[Pauline]], [[Hammer Bro]], [[Monty Mole]], [[Dixie Kong]], [[Captain Toad]], [[Nabbit]], [[King Bob-omb]], [[Kamek]], [[Chargin' Chuck]], and [[Poochy]]; as well as many variants and power-up forms of existing playable characters, such as Mario (Musician) and [[Peachette]]; [[Donkey Kong Jr.]], [[Diddy Kong]], [[Birdo]], [[Petey Piranha]], and [[Funky Kong]] also return after having been absent from multiple successive installments after debuting.

|''Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit'', released in 2020, uses physical kart toys to play the game. The controller is used to control the kart both in real life and on screen, with the real life kart being affected by certain things in the game, and the player can use physical gates to create their own courses.

At one point, there was also a game in the series planned for the [[Virtual Boy]] in 1995. Tentatively entitled ''VB Mario Kart'', it was likely to be the first sequel to ''Super Mario Kart''. The game was canceled due to the Virtual Boy's commercial performance, and was never reported in the media until five years later, when it was revealed in the August 2000 issue of German gaming magazine ''The Big N'', along with other canceled projects for that system.<ref>[[Media:Big N Magazine (Germany) VB.jpg|Big N Magazine. p.19. July-August 2000]].</ref> Even though the GBA already had its own official ''Mario Kart'' game in ''Super Circuit'', a tech demo called ''[[Mario Kart XXL]]'' was made for that system by {{wp|Manfred Trenz}} of the company "Denaris Entertainment Software".

According to {{wp|Elon Musk}}, a ''Mario Kart'' game that would be played on Tesla vehicles was proposed to Nintendo, but Nintendo did not give Tesla a license.<ref>Liz Lanier (November 30 2018). [https://variety.com/2018/gaming/news/elon-musk-mario-kart-for-teslas-1203063715/ Elon Musk Claims Nintendo Wouldn’t License ‘Mario Kart’ for Teslas]. ''Variety''. Retrieved August 2, 2019.</ref>