![]() ![]() As the title implies, Double Dash allows for two characters to fit into each kart. The most significant change to the series' format came in this awesome 2003 title, and it's one that Nintendo has never repeated. If you haven't played it before, this version probably seems bare-bones and completely dated by comparison with the rest of the series, but it was a pretty fantastic experience back in 1992. My dad and I played this so much that he would time his lunch breaks at work so that he could rush home and sneak in a quick grand prix with me before heading back. I have tons of great memories of playing one of my first Super Nintendo games for a ridiculous amount of hours. Mario Kart 64 may be the high nostalgic point for most gamers, but this is the one for me. It's so fondly remembered that I've even seen bars host Mario Kart tournaments, and the entry of choice has always been this one. I'd guess that the majority of gamers over the age of 20 have had at least a few fun sessions spent staring at one quadrant of a screen. ![]() Debuting a few months after the Nintendo 64's 1996 launch, it was one of the first titles to really deliver on the promise of four-player local multiplayer. In terms of pure nostalgia, this entry may be the strongest for many gamers. Being able to race in first-person was touted as a new feature, but it was a jarring and difficult (and completely optional) viewpoint to see the course from. ![]() Racing became possible by air and by sea thanks to the new glider and underwater sections, which proved to be a fun addition. Players were able to customize their karts for the first time, allowing for stat tweaks via different frames and wheels. The best portable Mario Kart is this 2011 entry, which introduced several new elements. Neither of these modes proved to be especially popular, but it was still nice to see the franchise try something new. ![]() A mission mode was also included that tasked players with completing tasks with with a set scenario and racer. It was also one of the few titles to branch out with new game modes, such as the competitive multiplayer Shine Runners mode. Even though it's low on this list, this entry introduced solid new elements such as bikes and stunts.Ĭonsidering how slow Nintendo has traditionally been when it comes to embracing online multiplayer, it's surprising that this DS debut featured it back in 2005. Motion control worked alright, but most players saw it as a gimmick and quickly reverted to the Wii remote and nunchuk scheme. In 2008, Mario and the gang arrived on their trusty karts, complete with a wheel accessory for the Wii remote. The Wii launched to a ton of fanfare and commercial success, but Nintendo's iconic plumber was nowhere to be seen in the launch lineup. That said, it was still an entertaining first portable attempt for the franchise. Its visuals always looked a little muddy and cheap to me, and controlling the karts always felt a little loose. I was excited about being able to take Mario Kart on the go with this Game Boy Advance entry, but it wound up being my least favorite in the series. Mario Kart: Super Circuit (Game Boy Advance) Note: Yeah, I know there were a few Namco-developed arcade versions of Mario Kart. Here's my purely personal ranking of one of my favorite franchises. While I did my best to rank them based on my own personal preference, I found that even the entries at the very bottom were great games. With Mario Kart 8 on the horizon, I've put together a similar feature that proved to be much more difficult. It wasn't too hard to put those together, as the quality spectrum was fairly wide. In the past, I've posted stories where I rank long-running franchises like Call of Duty and Tony Hawk. ![]()
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