Graphics- 8/10Sound- 7.5/10
Gameplay- 7/10
Replay Value- 8/10
Overall- 8/10
One of the first games released for the GBA and still one of the best available. This game is a great addition to the Mario Kart series, and while it has some great parts too, the difficulty level in this game is way too hard, especially as you increase CC's.
This is the first of three games I got for the GBA, (three because I was never really all that impressed with the GBA) and this really spoiled me, it set a standard for GBA game that was only achieved on a very low amount of games. When I started to play this game I was really impressed. The game seemed to capture what the Mario Kart series had been all about up to that point. The game appeared to provide a nice challenge with some really close races that had you jumping out of your seat. I played this game so much when I first got it, but then I finally started to move up in race difficulty and it felt like I hit a brick wall. The game got so ridiculously hard from that point on. I just could not move on to the next races, I would use my three retrys almost right away and it really made me angry... angry to the point that I gave up. I distinctively remember going back to the game a few years later figuring it would be easy because I had grown older and better. I was wrong - I still had trouble with lots of the levels. I might not of cared as much but the thing with this game was that it introduced the retry limit. In other words after you don't place you can only retry a maximum of three times. This would have been much better in Mario Kart 64, but in this game you need an unlimited amount like Mario Kart 64, whereas in Mario Kart 64 a limit should have been enforced.
The game includes - as usual - three modes, Time Trial, Single Race, and Grand Prix. Time Trial and Single Race are fine and dandy but the main point of the game is the Grand Prix. You start off with four different sets of tracks with four courses in each, giving you a total of 16 tracks to choose from and special cup which is unlocked. Some of tracks you may recognize from the previous two games in the Mario Kart series, while some are brand new and they are as well laid out as you would expect. As far as similarities with the other two games in the series, this game brings back the usage of coins that was present in the original SNES version but was unfortunately missing in the N64 version. Picking up coins will increase your top speed in the game; a nice touch but if you have trouble picking them up good luck on the more difficult races. The other similarity is that all of the items that appear in the original (minus the feather) are used in this game, and like before the items add a great touch and really do make the game/series what it is. One of the best features of the game is the graphics. While the characters aren't the greatest and the tracks can be rough at points, they are done really nicely for a portable system; the best graphics however are by far the background graphics, they are fantastic for a GBA game. Another good feature is the sound, more specically the sound effects. The characters "voices" are timed well and sound good as does the engine sound - but unfortunately the music isn't the greatest, the quality is really poor at points and can be distracting.
As far as characters go - they are the classic Nintendo characters you have grown to know and love over the years. Speaking of classic, the cups and tracks from the original are available as extra cups, through getting them is a chore. To unlock these cups, first the Special Cup must be unlocked, and then a gold trophy must be won in that cup. Then you must race in each cup again, winning a gold trophy and collecting 100 coins or more. The appropriate SNES courses are finally then unlocked and while this will keep you coming back, it is really hard. In the end this is a great game for a GBA but it is a little lacking. The game still manages to maintain most of the feel of the series and should be purchased.
Pros: Some graphics, Sound effects, Items, Coins, Characters.
Cons: Difficulty level increases, Retry system, Music.
Review: Dan
