Nintendo’s winning streak of rehashing and enhancing classic Super Nintendo games for the tiny GBA screen continues with this surprisingly addictive arcade racer. For those new to the Mario Kart game series, Nintendo mascots (Mario, Donkey Kong, Luigi, etc.) race go-carts along fantastic tracks that feature various offensive and defensive power-ups (banana peels and mushroom boosts, to name two). Accumulate enough points and you’ll win circuit trophies.

Each mascot has a ride that handles and accelerates differently, yet the controls for each racer feel very tight and precise. The highly detailed, cartoony locales of Mario Kart Super Circuit show visuals that are both very sharp and fluidly animated. Though not nearly as fast, Mario Kart Super Circuit looks better and can be more intense than the vaunted F-Zero launch title.

If you perform well enough and collect enough coins in a tournament, you can unlock a plethora of bonus tracks–some of which are from older console Mario Kart titles. The fun multiplayer options include head-to-head racing and a balloon battle mode, in which you blast other racers with power-ups in a huge arena until there’s only one driver left. –Mark Brooks

Pros:

• Bright graphics that are both fast and fluid
• Multiplayer battle mode is loads of fun
• Many, many tracks!

Cons:

• May be too cute for some

Video Game:1-4 Players Simultaneously
Company:Nintendo of America
List Price:$19.99
Amazon Price:$24.98
Used Price:$7.98
Mario Kart: Super Circuit

Tags: nintendo fit, xbox 360, nintendo ds lite, wii, playstation2

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