Super Mario Kart is the game that started it all. The game that pioneered a franchise that would captivate millions for twenty years to come. In Super Mario Kart, you pick one of your favourite Super Mario characters (ranging from Princess Peach to Yoshi) and race the AI or your buddies on around twenty different tracks.
The game plays well and looks great. However, the tracks are too repetitive and there isn't much variety, though the game manages to remain fun in it's simplicity whilst simultaneously being menacing in its AI which often takes over you in the last second. You can play on two difficulty classes, although it doesn't seem to make much of a difference in how the AI or yourself handles.
There is also a powerslide/drifting mechanic to the game. However, it mostly served to spin me out and make me lose my winning position. I found that the game is more fun if you slow down and take corners, rather than trying to slide your way around them.
The game also boasts a catchy soundtrack which compliments the wacky game play perfectly. Overall, is this the best Mario Kart game? For me, probably not. Though the simple yet deep learning curve is rewarding when you finally get around to mastering it, the real disappointment comes in the track design. Perhaps I am complaining too much for a game that came out during the SNES era. However, I definitely feel like more environments could have been thrown in. The tracks are essentially different variations of a few different environments. I feel like they should have just made each track unique.
In conclusion, Super Mario Kart is a pioneering game that remains fun and addictive to this very day. However, a lack of engaging tracks and a few gameplay difficulties such as the power slide which doesn't actually help at all means while the game is certainly a classic, it isn't perfect.
4/5 - Good