Mario Kart
Encyclopedia
is a series of go-kart
-style racing
video games developed by Nintendo
as a series of spin-off
s from its trademark Mario
series of platformer adventure-style video games. The first in the series Super Mario Kart
was launched in 1992 on the Super NES with critical and commercial success.
To date, there have been four Mario Kart games for home consoles, two portable games, and two Namco co-developed arcade games. The seventh game of the Mario Kart series on Nintendo systems will be Mario Kart 7.
series competing in a go-kart
race. One of the features of the series is the use of various power-up
items that can be found by driving into item boxes laid out on the course. These range from Super Mushrooms that can give the player a speed boost, Koopa Shells that can be fired at opponents, Banana Peels that can be laid on the track and Lightning that can shrink all other players. The type of weapons that can be earned often depends on the player's current position in the race. Players running at the back of the race may receive more powerful items whilst the leader will only receive small defensive items.
Each game slightly differs in its game play mechanics including the variety of items that can be obtained, as well as methods of obtaining speed boosts. There are also some mechanics unique to certain games, such as Double Dash's partner system and Mario Kart Wii
's use of motorbikes.
Each game features a variety of modes, the most recurring modes in the series being Grand Prix, Time Trial, Vs. and Battle. Grand Prix is the main mode in which players compete in various grand prix cups of several consecutive courses each with many difficultes. By ranking highly in each race, players earn points with the goal to have the most points at the end of the cup. Time Trial is a single player mode in which the player attempts to complete any course in the fastest time possible with three speed boost items to be used at the player's discretion. Vs. mode allows multiple players (the number of which varies depending on the system) to compete against each other on any course. Battle mode is a multiplayer mode in which players are placed in an arena with a set number of balloons, the goal being to use items to attack opponents and make them lose all their balloons before the player loses theirs.
in particular featuring a stage based on one of Mario Kart DS
's courses. Certain courses from the series have also appeared in F-Zero X
and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
. Various items from the series can also be seen in games such as Nintendogs
and Animal Crossing
.
Notes
style Mario Kart DS Figure-8-Circuit. It comes with Mario and Donkey Kong figures, while a Wario and a Luigi are available separately. A line of remote-controlled Mario Karts are available in stores. Each kart has a Game Boy Advance
-shaped controller. It features forward driving and rotates when put in reverse, instead of steering. The current line-up of karts are Mario, Donkey Kong and Yoshi. There are three large karts that depict the same trio. These karts are controlled by a GameCube controller shape. Japanese figurines of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Wario, Donkey Kong, and Bowser are also available for purchase as well as for Mario Kart 64
, figures of Mario, Luigi, Wario, Bowser, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi were made by Toybiz. There is also a land-line telephone featuring Mario holding a lightning bolt whilst seated in his Kart. as seen here.
K-NEX has released Mario Kart Wii sets, with Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and Bowser in karts and bikes.
listed it as being one of the greatest multi-player experiences, citing the diversity in game modes as well as the entertainment value found.
Guinness World Records
awarded the Mario Kart series with five world records in the Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008, including "First Console Kart Racing Game" and "Best Selling Handheld Racing Game". Guinness World Records ranked the original Super Mario Kart number 1 on the list of top 50 console games of all time based on initial impact and lasting legacy.
Kart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
-style racing
Racing game
A racing video game is a genre of video games, either in the first-person or third-person perspective, in which the player partakes in a racing competition with any type of land, air, or sea vehicles. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to entirely fantastical settings...
video games developed by Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
as a series of spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
s from its trademark Mario
Mario (series)
The video game series, alternatively called the series or simply the series, is a series of highly popular and critically acclaimed video games by Nintendo, featuring Nintendo's mascot Mario and, in many games, his brother Luigi. Gameplay in the series often centers around jumping on and...
series of platformer adventure-style video games. The first in the series Super Mario Kart
Super Mario Kart
is a go-kart racing video game developed by Nintendo EAD for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . The first game of the Mario Kart series, it was launched in Japan on August 27, 1992, in North America on September 1, 1992, and in Europe on January 21, 1993. Selling eight million copies...
was launched in 1992 on the Super NES with critical and commercial success.
To date, there have been four Mario Kart games for home consoles, two portable games, and two Namco co-developed arcade games. The seventh game of the Mario Kart series on Nintendo systems will be Mario Kart 7.
Gameplay
The primary gameplay in the Mario Kart series sees players control one of a selection of characters from the MarioMario (series)
The video game series, alternatively called the series or simply the series, is a series of highly popular and critically acclaimed video games by Nintendo, featuring Nintendo's mascot Mario and, in many games, his brother Luigi. Gameplay in the series often centers around jumping on and...
series competing in a go-kart
Go-kart
thumb|A [[Kart racing|racing kart]] at the [[Commission Internationale de Karting|CIK-FIA]] European Championship 2008A go-kart is a small four-wheeled vehicle...
race. One of the features of the series is the use of various power-up
Power-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
items that can be found by driving into item boxes laid out on the course. These range from Super Mushrooms that can give the player a speed boost, Koopa Shells that can be fired at opponents, Banana Peels that can be laid on the track and Lightning that can shrink all other players. The type of weapons that can be earned often depends on the player's current position in the race. Players running at the back of the race may receive more powerful items whilst the leader will only receive small defensive items.
Each game slightly differs in its game play mechanics including the variety of items that can be obtained, as well as methods of obtaining speed boosts. There are also some mechanics unique to certain games, such as Double Dash's partner system and Mario Kart Wii
Mario Kart Wii
is a racing video game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series and the second Mario Kart title to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The game was released worldwide...
's use of motorbikes.
Each game features a variety of modes, the most recurring modes in the series being Grand Prix, Time Trial, Vs. and Battle. Grand Prix is the main mode in which players compete in various grand prix cups of several consecutive courses each with many difficultes. By ranking highly in each race, players earn points with the goal to have the most points at the end of the cup. Time Trial is a single player mode in which the player attempts to complete any course in the fastest time possible with three speed boost items to be used at the player's discretion. Vs. mode allows multiple players (the number of which varies depending on the system) to compete against each other on any course. Battle mode is a multiplayer mode in which players are placed in an arena with a set number of balloons, the goal being to use items to attack opponents and make them lose all their balloons before the player loses theirs.
Series
- Super Mario KartSuper Mario Kartis a go-kart racing video game developed by Nintendo EAD for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . The first game of the Mario Kart series, it was launched in Japan on August 27, 1992, in North America on September 1, 1992, and in Europe on January 21, 1993. Selling eight million copies...
(1992, Super Nintendo Entertainment SystemSuper Nintendo Entertainment SystemThe Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
, Virtual ConsoleVirtual consoleA virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
) - Mario Kart 64Mario Kart 64is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It is the second installment in the Mario Kart series. It was released in 1996 in Japan and in 1997 in North America and Europe. In January 2007, Mario Kart 64 was released on Nintendo's Virtual Console service for the Wii...
(1996, Nintendo 64Nintendo 64The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
, Virtual ConsoleVirtual consoleA virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
) - Mario Kart: Super CircuitMario Kart Super CircuitMario Kart: Super Circuit, known in Japan as , is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance in 2001. It was the first Mario Kart released on a handheld game system; in 2005, a second handheld Mario Kart game titled Mario Kart DS was released...
(2001, Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy AdvanceThe is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
) - Mario Kart: Double Dash!!Mario Kart: Double Dash!!Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is a racing game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo GameCube in 2003. The game is the fourth installment in the Mario Kart series, following Mario Kart: Super Circuit from 2001...
(2003, Nintendo GameCubeNintendo GameCubeThe , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
) - Mario Kart Arcade GPMario Kart Arcade GPMario Kart Arcade GP is an arcade-only iteration of Nintendo's Mario Kart series, developed by both Namco and Nintendo. Designed for the Triforce arcade board , players can race as one of eleven characters in twenty-four tracks...
(2005, ArcadeArcade gameAn arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
) (Co-developed by NamcoNamcois a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
) - Mario Kart DSMario Kart DSis a racing game developed and published by Nintendo. It was released for the Nintendo DS handheld game console in North America, Australia, and Europe on November 14, 2005, and in Japan on December 8, 2005. The game is the fifth installment in the Mario Kart series of video games, and the first to...
(2005, Nintendo DSNintendo DSThe is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
) - Mario Kart Arcade GP2Mario Kart Arcade GPMario Kart Arcade GP is an arcade-only iteration of Nintendo's Mario Kart series, developed by both Namco and Nintendo. Designed for the Triforce arcade board , players can race as one of eleven characters in twenty-four tracks...
(2007, ArcadeArcade gameAn arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
) (Co-developed by NamcoNamcois a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
) - Mario Kart WiiMario Kart Wiiis a racing video game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series and the second Mario Kart title to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The game was released worldwide...
(2008, WiiWiiThe Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
) - Mario Kart 7 (2011, Nintendo 3DSNintendo 3DSThe is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. The autostereoscopic device is able to project stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or any additional accessories. The Nintendo 3DS features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS series software, including Nintendo DSi software...
)
Appearances in other games
Several Mario Kart-related items appear in the Super Smash Bros. series, with Super Smash Bros. BrawlSuper Smash Bros. Brawl
Super Smash Bros. Brawl, known in Japan as , often abbreviated as SSBB or simply as Brawl, is the third installment in the Super Smash Bros. series of crossover fighting games, developed by an ad hoc development team consisting of Sora, Game Arts and staff from other developers, and published by...
in particular featuring a stage based on one of Mario Kart DS
Mario Kart DS
is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo. It was released for the Nintendo DS handheld game console in North America, Australia, and Europe on November 14, 2005, and in Japan on December 8, 2005. The game is the fifth installment in the Mario Kart series of video games, and the first to...
F-Zero X
, is a futuristic racing video game for the Nintendo 64 console. Developed by Nintendo's EAD division, it was released in Japan, Europe and North America, in 1998. In 2000, an expansion of the game was exclusively released in Japan providing numerous extra features not in the original game. F-Zero...
and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games
is a 2009 sports video game developed by Sega. It was published by Nintendo for Japan and by Sega for North America and Europe. The game is officially licensed by the International Olympic Committee through exclusive license International Sports Multimedia...
. Various items from the series can also be seen in games such as Nintendogs
Nintendogs
is a real-time pet simulation video game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console. It was first released in Japan, and was later released in North America, Australia, Europe, and other regions. It was originally released in three different versions:...
and Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing (series)
The Animal Crossing games have garnered positive response. The first three games are among the best-selling for their respective consoles. Animal Crossing has sold 2.321 million copies; Wild World 10.79 million; and City Folk 3.38 million...
.
Playable Drivers
| Driver | Super Mario Kart Super Mario Kart is a go-kart racing video game developed by Nintendo EAD for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System . The first game of the Mario Kart series, it was launched in Japan on August 27, 1992, in North America on September 1, 1992, and in Europe on January 21, 1993. Selling eight million copies... |
Mario Kart 64 Mario Kart 64 is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It is the second installment in the Mario Kart series. It was released in 1996 in Japan and in 1997 in North America and Europe. In January 2007, Mario Kart 64 was released on Nintendo's Virtual Console service for the Wii... |
Mario Kart: Super Circuit | Mario Kart: Double Dash‼ | Mario Kart Arcade GP Mario Kart Arcade GP Mario Kart Arcade GP is an arcade-only iteration of Nintendo's Mario Kart series, developed by both Namco and Nintendo. Designed for the Triforce arcade board , players can race as one of eleven characters in twenty-four tracks... |
Mario Kart DS Mario Kart DS is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo. It was released for the Nintendo DS handheld game console in North America, Australia, and Europe on November 14, 2005, and in Japan on December 8, 2005. The game is the fifth installment in the Mario Kart series of video games, and the first to... |
Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 | Mario Kart Wii Mario Kart Wii is a racing video game developed by Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development and published by Nintendo for the Wii video game console. It is the sixth installment in the Mario Kart series and the second Mario Kart title to use the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. The game was released worldwide... |
Mario Kart 7 |
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| Baby Daisy | |||||||||
| Baby Luigi | |||||||||
| Baby Mario | |||||||||
| Baby Peach | |||||||||
| Birdo Birdo Birdo, known in Japan as , is a fictional character in the Mario series of video games, who first appeared in Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic, which was localized for English audiences as Super Mario Bros. 2 and is an enemy to Mario... |
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| Blinky | |||||||||
| Bowser | |||||||||
| Bowser, Jr. | |||||||||
| Daisy | |||||||||
| Diddy Kong Diddy Kong , originally known as Donkey Diddy, is a fictional character in the Donkey Kong series of video games, first appearing in the 1994 game Donkey Kong Country. He lives on Donkey Kong Island in the Kongo Jungle, and is identified by his red hat, which has a Nintendo logo on it, and shirt... |
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| Donkey Kong | |||||||||
| Donkey Kong, Jr. | |||||||||
| Dry Bones | |||||||||
| Dry Bowser | |||||||||
| Funky Kong | |||||||||
| Honey Queen | |||||||||
| King Boo | |||||||||
| Paratroopa | |||||||||
| Koopa Troopa | |||||||||
| Lakitu Lakitu Lakitu, known in Japan as , is a video game creature in the Mario series. It was created by Shigeru Miyamoto. It first appeared in the Nintendo Entertainment System video game Super Mario Bros., where it dropped enemies called Spinies on the stage. It has a striped green shell, wears thick... |
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| Luigi Luigi is a fictional character, featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by prominent game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the slightly younger fraternal twin brother of Nintendo's mascot Mario, and appears in many games throughout the Mario series,... |
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| Mario Mario is a fictional character in his video game series, created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Serving as Nintendo's mascot and the main protagonist of the series, Mario has appeared in over 200 video games since his creation... |
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| Mametchi | |||||||||
| Metal Mario | |||||||||
| Mii Mii A is a digital avatar used in Nintendo's Wii and Nintendo 3DS gaming consoles. They allow users to capture a likeness of themselves and others. After creating one using the Wii's Mii Channel or the Nintendo 3DS's Mii Maker, they can be used as playable characters in various titles for the... |
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| Pac-Man Pac-Man is an arcade game developed by Namco and licensed for distribution in the United States by Midway, first released in Japan on May 22, 1980. Immensely popular from its original release to the present day, Pac-Man is considered one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games,... |
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| Ms. Pac-Man Ms. Pac-Man Ms. Pac-Man is an arcade video game produced by Midway as an unauthorized sequel to Pac-Man. It was released in North America in 1981 and became one of the most popular video games of all time, leading to its adoption by Pac-Man licensor Namco as an official title... |
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| Petey Piranha | |||||||||
| Peach Princess Peach is a character in Nintendo's Mario series of video games. She is the Princess of the fictitious Mushroom Kingdom, and often plays the damsel in distress role within the adventure series. In 2007, Princess Peach landed on Forbes magazine's Wealthiest Fictional People list, with a fortune upwards of... |
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| R.O.B. R.O.B. R.O.B. , released in Japan as the , is an accessory for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in July 1985 in Japan and later that year in North America. It had a short product lifespan, with support for only two games which comprised the "Robot Series"; Gyromite and Stack-Up. R.O.B... |
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| Rosalina | |||||||||
| Shy Guy | |||||||||
| Toad Toad (Mario) Toad, known in Japan as , is a fictional character belonging to an anthropomorphic mushroom-like species of the same name in the Mario series, created by Shigeru Miyamoto. A citizen of the Mushroom Kingdom, Toad is one of Princess Peach's most loyal attendants and is constantly working on her behalf... |
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| Toadette | |||||||||
| Waluigi Waluigi is a fictional character in the Mario series of video games. He accompanies Wario in spin-offs from the main Mario series, oftentimes for the sake of causing mischief... |
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| Wario Wario is a fictional character in Nintendo's Mario series. The character was designed as another antagonist to Mario , and first appeared in the 1992 Game Boy title Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins as the main antagonist and final boss... |
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| Wiggler | |||||||||
| Yoshi Yoshi , is a fictional dragon-like character who appears in video games published by Nintendo. His debut was in Super Mario World on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System as Mario and Luigi's sidekick , and he later established his own series with several platform and puzzle games, including Super... |
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| Total | 8 | 8 | 8 | 20 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 17 |
Notes
Supporting Characters
Several characters are featured throughout the Mario Kart series, but are not playable drivers.Merchandise
Mario Kart has had a range of merchandise released. This includes a ScalextricScalextric
Scalextric is a toy brand for a range of slot car racing sets which first appeared in the late 1950s, as a creation of British firm Minimodels. The brand is currently owned and distributed by Hornby.-History:...
style Mario Kart DS Figure-8-Circuit. It comes with Mario and Donkey Kong figures, while a Wario and a Luigi are available separately. A line of remote-controlled Mario Karts are available in stores. Each kart has a Game Boy Advance
Game Boy Advance
The is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
-shaped controller. It features forward driving and rotates when put in reverse, instead of steering. The current line-up of karts are Mario, Donkey Kong and Yoshi. There are three large karts that depict the same trio. These karts are controlled by a GameCube controller shape. Japanese figurines of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Wario, Donkey Kong, and Bowser are also available for purchase as well as for Mario Kart 64
Mario Kart 64
is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. It is the second installment in the Mario Kart series. It was released in 1996 in Japan and in 1997 in North America and Europe. In January 2007, Mario Kart 64 was released on Nintendo's Virtual Console service for the Wii...
, figures of Mario, Luigi, Wario, Bowser, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi were made by Toybiz. There is also a land-line telephone featuring Mario holding a lightning bolt whilst seated in his Kart. as seen here.
K-NEX has released Mario Kart Wii sets, with Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, and Bowser in karts and bikes.
Reception
Nintendo PowerNintendo Power
Nintendo Power magazine is a monthly news and strategy magazine formerly published in-house by Nintendo of America, but now run independently. As of issue #222 , Nintendo contracted publishing duties to Future US, the U.S. subsidiary of British publisher Future.The first issue published was...
listed it as being one of the greatest multi-player experiences, citing the diversity in game modes as well as the entertainment value found.
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
awarded the Mario Kart series with five world records in the Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008, including "First Console Kart Racing Game" and "Best Selling Handheld Racing Game". Guinness World Records ranked the original Super Mario Kart number 1 on the list of top 50 console games of all time based on initial impact and lasting legacy.
External links
- Official Nintendo sites:
- Mario Kart Wiki