Kids these days don't put together go carts and race against their neighbors. Most don't even know what a go cart is. Mario's new ride tries to capture some of the fun of the sport and update their classic Nintendo franchise.
When the game launched in Japan in November it made number one but will its cute graphics and old school game play capture a new audience? Chances are it's going to be one of the first games on their holiday wish lists.
The Mushroom Kingdom, home to all the Mario games, is the setting for the all the racetracks in the game. Choose from a large cast of characters including Mario's brother Luigi, Donkey Kong and the Evil Bowser. Each character has their own attributes and cart styles.
As a single player game the time trials offer up a fairly good challenge, but the game is really meant to be played versus other players. By having two characters to a Kart as one player drives and the second player in the kart causes damage to rivals and manages items.
The big disappointment comes when players realize there is no online support. Instead Nintendo offers up the option of hooking up multiple TVs and GameCubes connected by a LAN connection. This mode allows up to 16 players to compete at one time, with up to eight karts. It would have been a great title for people who shelled out the money for the rarely used modems.
Adult fans of series the will enjoy looking back nostalgically, but aren't likely to ask any one their age to get on the starting line. Kids won't be able to get enough of the caffeinated rush of speed or the sugary graphics. Just make sure they get outside
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