Best Mario Kart?

[Gregory DG]

Been playing the heck out of Mario Kart DS over the past few weeks. This is really one polished and fun game!

 

Because the DS version includes 16 tracks from the older games, I've gone back and tried them all via emulation (except for Mario Kart DD for Gamecube) and I was wondering which version does everyone think is the best?

[Atariboy]

Super Mario Kart on the SuperNES.

 

I have mixed feelings about Mario Kart DS. I think powersliding should strictly improve the handling like in SMK and not give boost. I'm not crazy about the new DS tracks, and I feel like many of the poorest tracks were picked for the retro tracks (Choco Island for the SNES comes immediately to mind, though the inclusion of one of the Donut Plains tracks was a nice touch). I think many of the missions were dull. I don't like how the tracks with big spectacular jumps are basically on rails with no player involvement (They should be like that jump in Royal Raceway on Mario Kart 64 if you ask me). I don't like how online is so limited (1/3 of the tracks in grand prix mode with just 4 players, other modes like battle mode are completely missing. And I'd like a easier way to manage things like your friends list, like being able to view who's online and pick one of your friends you want to race with rather than the way it works now.

 

Very nice effort though, but I'm looking forward to whatever Nintendo does next for a Mario Kart with online capabilities, should be much improved I'd hope. I'd rate this game at about 8/10, still a great Mario Kart game (With some nice innovations like single player battle mode and reintroducing online play to the series), was worth the $35.

Edited January 9, 2006 by Atariboy

[adams_ale]

Not sure about the DS Mario Kart, but I really don't like the control on the Gameboy Advance version. The SNES Mario Kart can't be faulted as it is one of the best games ever, however I'll take my karting on the Gamecube.

[Gregory DG]

I think the control on the DS version is the best (of the ones I've played.) Not sure how accurate emulation is, but the karts in the SNES, GBA, & N64 versions seem to slide around waaaay too much.

[NE146]

Forget about it man. I was one of the biggest proponents of SNES Mario Kart (I actually had it a long time before the u.s. version came out as I just happened to get lucky and be vacationing in Japan when it was released there ) but it's years later and Mario Kart DS takes the cake.

 

The DS's online play is cool, but what really sealed the deal for me was having 6-8 multiplayer matches amongst family and friends (basically all the nieces and nephews with DS's) back at home over the holidays. Everyone was amazed that everyone was playing the same game while sitting in different parts of the room . The races and balloon battles were crazy fun. That kind of fun just can't be duplicated on any other previous kart without everyone hunching around the boob tube.

 

Anyway you can disagree with me.. but I dig and own every single Mario Kart.. I think the gba and cube versions are near the bottom of my list, while the N64, SNES & DS version are at the top. DS is definitely on top at the moment however

[Atariboy]

I suppose I agree, guess I should say SMK was my personal favorite. MKDS is the better title though.

[bowser724]

I will say that MK64 is my personal favorite. Many days were spent at my friend's house battling on the Double Decker course and Block Fort. Big Donut was cool too ^_^.

[n8littlefield]

I am going to sound completely jaded on this one but I can't stand Mario Kart on the SNES. I never owned a SNES until this spring and skipped the N64 altogether (still never played one) so my first Mario Kart game was Double Dash and now DS. When I first got the SNES I saw the original MK and picked it up expecting all sorts of fun - it really didn't deliver.

 

Throwing the obvious graphical issue aside, the game is too frustrating. Every level has areas that slow you down either by large muddy areas or a TON of pipes in the way. I am trying to race, why are there 20 pipes in the path? I found the course design really annoying and really couldn't enjoy the game.

 

I voted DS (although I've still never played the N64 version).

[figgler]

It's got to be MK DS. It has the most content, a fairly large roster (though not the largest) and the Wifi play is icing on the cake.

 

MK64 comes a close second IMO

[keilbaca]

Anyway you can disagree with me.. but I dig and own every single Mario Kart.. I think the gba and cube versions are near the bottom of my list, while the N64, SNES & DS version are at the top. DS is definitely on top at the moment however

996676[/snapback]

 

Fully agreed here. The DS version is just a more polished game all around, plus online play. Finally some mario kart action without bugging people to play. I can't wait for SSB Online to come out for the Revo

[Lord Helmet]

I love the original. The N64 version is pretty god too. I have yet to play the new DS one, but it is on my list of must buy games.

[kevin242]

The DS version is by far the best. One thing I wish you could do online is if you find

some good opponents you could save them in a list of "favorites" it sucks when there

are 4 of you equally matched and then you never see them again! Also would be nice

if you send msgs back and forth or say something into the microphone...

[Avid Fan]

I didnt dig the SNES version either. I was spoiled by playing the GBA version first. I've never played the DS or NGC versions so I'd have to go with the N64 version

[SS]

I love the new DS version but Mario Kart 64 will always remain top dog in my book. Not only was it revolutionary in both graphics and gameplay, it was also one of the few games that my ex, her son, and I could really enjoy playing together as a family. I have many many fond memories of that game.

[AtariAger]

SNES!...

[Shannon]

I like the

 

SNES

DS

and N64 versions..

 

In that order. DS would be tops, but as posted earlier. I didn't really care for the retro selection. I could think of far better courses that coulda been fixed. Although I did like how they added to the retro courses to give them a more "3D" feel.

[BydoEmpire]

Mario Kart DS. IMHO it featres the best overall selection of tracks, the best selection of characters and karts, online play (maybe not as robust as everyone would like, but hey, it's still Mario Kart online!), great controls, and some nice extra single player to-do's.

[Gregory DG]

Wow, no votes for the GBA version. Eek...

[figgler]

Wow, no votes for the GBA version. Eek...

997200[/snapback]

 

Underappreciated. That, and well someone has to be last. A totally solid game though, that doesn't skimp on the tracks or gameplay. At worst, it's still the 5th best kart racing game ever made

Edited January 10, 2006 by figgler

[SS]

Wow, no votes for the GBA version. Eek...

997200[/snapback]

 

I've walked around a couple of days with the DS version in the top slot and the GBA version in the bottom.

[Avid Fan]

The GBA one is no slouch. Just 64 is better

[Shannon]

The GBA version is good it's just that the other ones happen to be better.

[oesii]

DS in my book, although I spent a lot of time with the N64 which is also just as addicting multiplayer. I made the mistake of skipping over the GBA version when it came out but I recently tried it last month and it's no fun going backwards It probably was a good game for its time but the DS version blows it out of the water.

[IronMongeR]

DS version, mainly because of wireless and online play.

[+Omegamatrix]

I've always liked the SNES version.