Favorite Mario Kart

[Daneel]

Another vote here for the N64 version. Damn, I had some good times playing that in my early teen years, by myself and with my friends. I'll echo the sentiment that it was an excellent multi-player game, and it remains a fond memory of my childhood amongst some not-so-fond ones. Like canadaboy_32, my friends and I would always fight over who got to play as Yoshi -- with me usually winning by virtue of it being my game and my system.

One of my favourite cheats was jumping from a high point in the track to a low part on the other side in Rainbow Road. I managed to pull it off a few times, but man was it tricky.

The only other version I played was the Super NES game, and it didn't really do as much for me. Maybe it was because I didn't own that one, and thus never really got the chance to practice and get too skilled at it.

This is really making me want to dig out my N64 and play some Mario Kart. If only I had somewhere I could hook it up...

 

[Akiraprise]

The N64 version by a ton. Played that game over and over. Two player grand prix was sweet. I preferred the SNES battle mode for some reason.

Wii is fun too, but not with that wheel thing. I tried it once and never went back. It sucked. Also like has already been said the cheapness in the Wii is frustrating as all hell. You can race awesome the entire race and still end up losing thanks to a blue shell, bullet bill, or some other chap computer screw over. Too bad the N64 version can't be played online. I do like that aspect of the Wii version.

 

[Mr Light]

Wow, it's amazing how well 64 is winning since it's a decade old game! I agree the Wii Wheel is absolute crap and I only play with the GC controller, but even that still feels awful to me. Of course I didn't play it that long, we put it away pretty fast. Now I only play it when I visit my sister with her little nephews.

 

[Rob Hal]

I've only played the Wii version a bit with the GC controller... managed to clear all the Cups with the first two speeds using just the Wheel, but I would certainly need the controller to efficiently clear some of the Cups with 150cc.

 

[Starbreaker]

N64. Still provides hours of entertainment... and cursing.

 

[Smiley]

Here's a corollary question: what Rainbow Road track is the best? Each Kart game has a unique take on it.

I'd probably have to say SNES on that one. Electrified Thwomps beat loose Chomps, and the lack of walls make it much more of a skill test. Artistically, others may be superior, but the actual racing is best on the original Kart's Rainbow Road.

 

[Mr Light]

Ugh, I HATE the Rainbow Road. Why does it have to be so LONG? And so boring. I guess the GC one is my favorite.

 

[Rii]

MK64, no contest. MKWii would've been a contender if Nintendo hadn't castrated Battle Mode. The idea behind Battle Mode is that players die, Nintendo.

You know what's missing from all the post-64 MKs? Punchy sound effects. Hit up Youtube and make a comparison between shell impacts in MK64 and later versions, the difference is night and day.

Oh, and MKWii features the best Rainbow Road track.

 

[General_Phoenix]

I still enjoy the N64 one, I also like the SNES one too. I never cared for Double Dash, and while I do enjoy Mario Kart Wii, those blue shells get me so infuriated sometimes that I have to dock points off just for that alone. Yeah, may be unfair, but man those blue shells just irk me to no end sometimes. The multiplayer aspect of Mario Kart Wii is golden though, I must say.

 

[The Great Meech]

DS, pretty well by virtue of being the only one I've played aside from ten minutes of the Wii version.

 

[MyCylon]

The definitive version for me is the SNES one. The feel of the karts is just spot-on for me, the battle mode is ace and you can actually win the races by being good.

The truth is, I would be more than happy to go out and buy a new Super Mario Kart SNES just to get more battle mode tracks. That's essentially my biggest complaint about the original. Four tracks wasn't much to begin with. And the only ones I ever really played with friends were 2 and 4 (IIRC).

I hated the N64 with a passion. I didn't like the look (but then I didn't like the look of N64 games in general - all so washed-out and blurry), I didn't like the feel of the karts, I hated the fact that races were decided in the last lap or last curve (irrespective of how well you'd been driving) and I felt they'd wasted the opportunity of creating really interesting battle mode tracks.

I quite enjoy the Wii version. Playing with the wheel actually works quite well, I think. Plus it's a blast to see your friends frantically steer around in space as they try to control their karts. There's also a very nice selection of tracks and karts. Plus I like the feel of the karts (though not as much as in the SNES original).
What bugs me about the Wii version is the rubber banding (which they unfortunately felt they needed to keep on for some reason) as well as what they did with the battle mode. I don't mind that they opened up battle mode for more players. That's cool. I just wish they hadn't completely tossed out the original version that would let you just play one on one, for example. If you don't have enough players, you'll always end up with some rather sub-par AIs filling in.

I read that the DS version has strong rubber-banding as well. That is why I've steered clear of it so far and don't plan on getting it either. I haven't played any of the other incarnations.

 

[Yoda]

I really thought the N64 version was pretty much the worst in the bunch.

It's interesting how many hate the Wii wheel and go straight to the gamecube controller. The best scheme is the remote + nunchuk.

As for blue shells, they are annoying. Against the computer you don't have much excuse because you should be able to build a 'blue shell proof' lead. Online it can be annoying, you can get into situations where you really get screwed out of a win with a blue shell on the last lap. In general I would say that it's somewhat necessary though, because if someone hops out to an early lead, everyone lagging behind will be killing each other with shells and the like, and only fall farther behind. If you're really concerned about it, just hang out in 2nd place until the end

It's really only the short no-skill tracks like Luigi Circuit where it's really a problem.

 

[Akiraprise]

It's interesting how many hate the Wii wheel and go straight to the gamecube controller. The best scheme is the remote + nunchuk.

That's what I use. That control scheme isn't bad at all.

Here's a corollary question: what Rainbow Road track is the best? Each Kart game has a unique take on it.

I'd probably have to say SNES on that one. Electrified Thwomps beat loose Chomps, and the lack of walls make it much more of a skill test. Artistically, others may be superior, but the actual racing is best on the original Kart's Rainbow Road.

The SNES version is the best Rainbow Road. No walls, a tight course, and electrified thowmps. It didn't need to be ten miles long.

 

[bigdaddy]

SNES, N64, GBA... all good... the rest are all the same BS over and over again.