Editing Mario Kart: Super Circuit

{{infobox

|image=[[File:MKSC.jpg|270px]]

|released='''[[Game Boy Advance]]'''<br/>{{releasedate|Japan|July 21, 2001|USA|August 27, 2001|Australia|September 13, 2001|Europe|September 14, 2001 <ref>[http://themushroomkingdom.net/games/mksc TMK: Release date info], retrieved 9-20-2008</ref>}}'''[[Virtual Console]] ([[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]])'''<br/>{{releasedate|Australia|December 15, 2011|Japan|December 16, 2011|USA|December 16, 2011|Europe|December 16, 2011}}

|genre=[[Mario Kart (series)|Racing]]

|modes=Single player, multiplayer

|ratings={{ratings|esrb=E|pegi=3|cero=A}}

|platforms=[[Game Boy Advance]], [[Virtual Console]], [[Nintendo 3DS|3DS]] ('''Ambassadors Program''')

|media={{container|gba=1|3dsdl=1}}

|input={{input|gba=1|3ds=1}}

'''''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''''' is the third installment in the ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' series and is for the [[Game Boy Advance]]. The game is known under the name '''''Mario Kart Advance''''' in Japan. This game combines the elements from the previous ''[[Mario Kart (series)|Mario Kart]]'' games and contains all the courses from ''[[Super Mario Kart]]''. This game was released on July 21, 2001 in Japan, August 27, 2001 in North America, and September 14, 2001 in Europe. ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' is also the first handheld ''Mario Kart'' game. The game was re-released exclusively to Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors in all regions in December 2011. This is the only ''Mario Kart'' game where the international and Japanese titles differ. ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' is the international title while ''Mario Kart Advance'' is the Japanese title. ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' is the only Mario Kart to be developed by Intelligent Systems, the others (excluding the ''[[Mario Kart Arcade GP]]'' series which have been developed by Namco and ''[[Mario Kart 7]]'' which was partially developed by [[Retro Studios]]) have been developed by Nintendo EAD. Additionally, this is the last ''Mario Kart'' game where the drivers are 2D sprites.

[[File:MKSCSelectScreen.PNG|thumb|left|The character selection screen.]]

The objective in this game is to place first in the races, as with most racing games. Each race has eight contestants. As in other ''Mario Kart'' games, players can drive through [[Item Box]]es which contain [[item]]s, which can aid the players. On the course, [[coin]]s are collected to increase a player's top speed. If the player has zero coins, they spin out if they come in contact with another racer. Fifty-five coins are found on each course.

This game has five cups, and each has four new race courses. These cups are the [[Mushroom Cup]], the [[Flower Cup]], the all new [[Lightning Cup]], the [[Star Cup]], and the Special Cup. If players collects 100 coins in a certain cup, they unlock the Extra Cup version. These cups contain all of the courses from ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' making this game have more courses than any other ''Mario Kart'' game in the series. If the player manages to collect a gold trophy on all of the ''Super Circuit'' cups, the background for the title screen changes to a sunset. If the player manages to obtain a triple star ranking for all ''Super Circuit'' cups, the title screen's background changes to a night time setting. In addition to the aesthetic changes, the intro's theme also changes.

*{{button|gba|Pad}}: Select

*{{button|gba|A}}: Confirm

*{{button|gba|B}}: Cancel

*{{button|gba|select}}: Access options for certain modes

*{{button|gba|Pad}}: Steer left or right

*{{button|gba|A}}: Accelerate (pressing the button when the light turns green lets the player do a [[Rocket Start|rocket start]])

*{{button|gba|B}}: Brake

*{{button|gba|R}}: Hop and Power Slide (when holding for a few seconds, the player gets a mini-turbo)

*{{button|gba|L}}: Use Items, stop Item Roulette

*{{button|gba|B}} + {{button|gba|Pad}}: Drive backward

*{{button|gba|L}} + {{button|Padupdown}}: Shoot Item in certain direction

*{{button|gba|A}}, {{button|gba|B}} + {{button|Padleftright}}: Quick sharp turn left or right

*{{button|gba|start}}: Pause game

*{{button|gba|select}}: Horn

*On the character selection screen, if the player presses the {{button|gba|L}} button, the character the player is on fires a green shell. If the player presses {{button|gba|R}}, the character hops. If the player presses {{button|gba|select}}, the characters honk their horn. However, the horn doesn't work if Random is selected.

''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' has four different game modes. All are accessed by the single player except VS and battle modes. Up to four players can participate using the Game Boy Advance Link cable with even a single game cartridge. However, all players using single cartridge mode are limited to selecting Extra Mushroom Cup using only Yoshi and different colors of him.

 

In this mode, one or two players race against the CPU. The player chooses a cup and plays the four courses it contains. The player earns points by placing within the first four positions. When finished in fifth place or lower, the player must restart the race. The player is able to restart a race three times, with three race flags representing the lives. When the flags run out, the player is unable to restart the race. When playing with two players, if one racer finishes in the Top 4 and the other does not, they both move on to the next race. At the end of the cup, the player with the most points wins. There are 3 different speeds to choose from, each with varying difficulty.

 

*'''150cc''' - The largest engine size. Karts go at their fastest. The computer regularly uses items against the player, such as frequently throwing [[Red Shell]]s, using [[Boo]]s, or even tossing a [[Spiny Shell (Mario Kart)|Spiny Shell]]. This engine size is best suited for expert players.

 

[[File:MKSCCongratsScreen.PNG|thumb|right|The final Grand Prix result screen.]]

Depending on a player's performance in GP, the player can achieve one of the following eight ranks:

*'''Triple Star:''' The player must score first consistently.

*'''E:''' The player has not fulfilled the above stated requirements.

*If Lakitu must pick up the player, the score is lowered. Initiating the mini-turbo at the correct time will negate it somewhat, however.

*Picking certain characters can also affect the score, giving bonus points. This is because some have less grip on the road than others, so the game rewards characters with the least grip the most points.

One player can race against the best times on each course with no CPU opponents. After beating a best time, players can save [[Ghost (Mario Kart)|Ghost]] data onto each time trial course. Whenever the player races on that course again, the player's Ghost mirrors movements of the saved data. Ghost data can also be downloaded from other players using the Game Boy Link Cable. Players are given a [[Triple Mushroom]] for use during Time Trials. Players also have the option to view their Ghost data using the Records option. Players can either turn their Ghost on or off during [[Time Trial]]s using the {{button|gba|select}} before selecting the mode.

Quick Run is a one player mode, unique to ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'', that enables players to race on any tracks they unlocked with no restrictions or regulations. Players can choose what engine size they want to race on, with the difficulty level alongside with the speed. Players can alter the number of laps, appearance of coins, and item boxes by pressing {{button|gba|Select}} before accessing this mode.

[[File:Mksc_multiplayer.PNG‎|thumb|left|Menu for Single Game Pak mode.]]

VS mode is basically a Quick Run mode with two to four players. This mode cannot be accessed by only one player. CPU players are turned off in this mode. The game counts how many times the player won or lost against other players. Players can play with multiple game cartridges or just a single cartridge via Game Boy Link Cable. When using a single cartridge however, players are limited to their choices. Players will use a different colored Yoshi. Player 1 will be Green, player 2 [[Red Yoshi|red]], player 3 [[Light Blue Yoshi|light blue]], and player 4 [[Yellow Yoshi|yellow]]. Aside from that, the only courses available are four SNES courses: Mario Circuit 1, Donut Plains 1, Ghost Valley 1, and Bowser Castle 1.

[[File:MKSCBattle.PNG|thumb|Battle Mode]]

Just like VS mode, Battle mode cannot be played with only one player. The player participates with one to three other players in attempt to pop each other [[balloon]]s using items. Also seen in VS mode, the game counts how many times the players won or lost. When a player loses all of their balloons, the player turns into a [[Bob-omb]]. The Bob-omb can make it more difficult for the other players by either picking up item boxes or blasting into their karts.

<br clear=all>

[[File:Mario Kart - Super Circuit 01.png|thumb|The title screen with all eight playable characters.]]

All playable characters from ''[[Mario Kart 64]]'' return, and there are no newcomers, making this the only ''Mario Kart'' game to not introduce any new drivers. As in all previous games, they also race in the same go-karts, but with different sizes and colors that suit each playable character. Also, as in all previous games, each racer is classified into three categories: lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight, each class with their own advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, in VS play with a single cartridge, all players use Yoshi, with each being a different color.

 

Many other characters appear in the game as nonplayable. Some can help out, such as [[Lakitu]], who can pull characters out of the water, and [[Boo]], who serves as an item. Other characters are mainly there to serve as obstacles to racers, and many hinder the racers by making them spin out.

Characters are divided into three classes depending on their weight: <font color=blue>Light</font>, <font color=green>Medium</font>, and <font color=red>Heavy</font>. Characters' acceleration and weight stats are viewable at the player select screen, although the acceleration stat is erroneously referred to as "speed".

'''Lightweights''' are generally characterized by having high acceleration, but low top speed. They are knocked easier by heavyweights and middleweights and skid easier. [[Princess Peach|Peach]] and [[Toad]] share the same stats as having the most acceleration and the least weight in the game, and [[Yoshi]] offers slightly less acceleration for slightly better weight.

'''Middleweights''' are classified by their all-around stats. They do not excel at anything, nor do they have any significantly low stats. Mario and Luigi, the only middleweights, share the same stats.

'''Heavyweights''' have very high stats in top speed and weight, but suffer from low acceleration. They also skid less than karts of lighter weight. [[Bowser]] offers the most weight and top speed in the game but the worst acceleration while [[Wario]] and [[Donkey Kong]] have slightly worse weight and top speed in exchange for slightly higher acceleration.

<center><gallery perrow=3>

File:MKSC_Mario.jpg | '''{{color-link|Mario|green}}''' <br> Speed: ★★★☆☆<br>Weight: ★★★☆☆

File:MKLG.PNG | '''{{color-link|Luigi|green}}''' <br> Speed: ★★★☆☆<br>Weight: ★★★☆☆

File:MKPC.PNG | '''[[Princess Peach|Peach]]''' <br> Speed: ★★★★★<br>Weight: ★☆☆☆☆

File:MKTD.PNG | '''[[Toad]]''' <br> Speed: ★★★★★<br>Weight: ★☆☆☆☆

File:MKYS.PNG | '''[[Yoshi]]''' <br> Speed: ★★★★☆<br>Weight: ★★☆☆☆

File:MKDK.PNG | '''{{color-link|Donkey Kong|red}}''' <br> Speed: ★★☆☆☆<br>Weight: ★★★★☆

File:MKWR.PNG | '''{{color-link|Wario|red}}''' <br> Speed: ★★☆☆☆<br>Weight: ★★★★☆

File:MKBW.PNG | '''{{color-link|Bowser|red}}''' <br> Speed: ★☆☆☆☆<br>Weight: ★★★★★

</gallery></center>

===Non-playable===

*[[Cheep-Cheep]]

*[[Crab]]

*[[Lakitu]]

*[[Little Mouser]]

*[[Mecha-Koopa]]

*[[Shy Guy]]

*[[Magikoopa]]

==Items==

''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' features all eleven of the items from ''Mario Kart 64'', with no new additions, also making this the only ''Mario Kart'' game to not introduce any items. Like past games, items are found in Item Boxes and are typically used to hinder opponents and assist players who obtain them.

{| width=100% border=1 style="text-align:center; border-collapse:collapse;background:white; margin:0 auto;" cellpadding="2"

! width=100px | [[Banana]]

| width=50px bgcolor=white | [[File:BananaSC.PNG]]

| Obtained commonly by high-ranked drivers, they can be held on the back or thrown forward or dropped behind. They act as obstacles; drivers running over them will spin. The effect can nullified if the driver brakes upon running over it; success of the action is indicated by a music note symbol coming out from the driver. Any type of Shell or Star effects can destroy them.

! [[Green Shell]] || bgcolor=white | [[File:GreenShellSC.PNG]]

| Obtained commonly by high-ranked drivers, they can be held on the back or thrown forward or backward. Once thrown, they can bounce off walls multiple times before breaking; drivers hit by this will spin. Bananas, any type of Shells, or Star effects can destroy them.

! [[Red Shell]] || bgcolor=white | [[File:RedShellSC.PNG]]

| Obtained uncommonly by any-ranked drivers, they can be held on the back or thrown forward or backward. If thrown forward, it will target the next high-ranked driver. If not, it will shoot straight instead and break upon hitting a single wall. If thrown backwards, they stay in a fixed position; if a driver goes near one, it will target them regardless of ranking. Bananas, any type of Shells, or Star effects can destroy them.

! [[Super Mushroom|Mushroom]] || bgcolor=white | [[File:MushroomSC.PNG]]

| Obtained commonly by any-ranked drivers, using it grants the driver a great burst of speed within a moment. They can be used to go off-road more easier, and fly further after going over a ramp. They can also be used to bump drivers out of the way; those with no Coins will spin out instead.

! [[Triple Green Shell]] || bgcolor=white | [[File:TripleGreenSC.PNG]]

| Obtained uncommonly by higher-ranked drivers, three Green Shells revolve around the driver, shielding from most attacks. They act like Green Shells, but cannot be thrown backward.

! [[Triple Red Shell]] || bgcolor=white | [[File:TripleRedSC.PNG]]

| Obtained uncommonly by lower-ranked drivers, three Red Shells revolve around the driver, shielding from most attacks. They act like Red Shells, but cannot be thrown backward in a fixed position to target a driver regardless of ranking.

! [[Triple Mushroom]] || bgcolor=white | [[File:TripleMushroomSC.PNG]]

| Obtained exclusively in Time Trial mode. Drivers will have three Mushrooms instead of one. They cannot be replenished once they are all used until the Time Trial is over.

! [[Boo]] || bgcolor=white | [[File:BooSC.PNG]]

| Obtained uncommonly by any-ranked drivers, they steal an item from a random driver if available, attacks the first-place driver, and grants invisibility for a moment. The driver is immune to all obstacles and items, and can pass through drivers without bumping, but it doesn't prevent them from losing speed off-road.

! [[Star]] || bgcolor=white | [[File:StarSC.PNG]]

| Obtained rarely by low-ranked drivers, they grant invincibility and increase their top speed, acceleration, and handling for a moment. Bumping a driver under this effect will spin them out. They are also used to go off-road without losing any speed and can destroy stage obstacles.

! [[Spiny Shell (Mario Kart)|Spiny Shell]] || bgcolor=white | [[File:SpinyShellSC.PNG]]

| Obtained rarely by low-ranked drivers, with rarity determined by engine class, they can be held on the back or thrown forward or backward. It makes a continuously loud noise when used. If thrown forward, it will follow the track and targets the first-place driver; subsequent drivers caught in the path will spin out. If thrown backward, they stay in a fixed position to target the first-place driver passing by. Colliding with a wall or a ramp, falling into a pit or water, or hitting a driver with the star in effect can destroy them.

! [[Thunderbolt (item)|Thunderbolt]] || bgcolor=white | [[File:LightningboltSC.PNG]]

| Obtained rarely by lower-ranked drivers, they shrink every other driver not using a Star or a Boo. Shrunk drivers lose speed and the ability to use Mushroom. Shrunk drivers run over by a normal driver will spin out. Shrunk drivers revert back to normal after a set amount of time or if they go into a pit.

The game features twenty new courses, and brings back the original twenty courses of ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'' (but, due to the Grand Prix Format, they are organized in five cups instead of four). However, most courses brought back have the hazards removed found in them such as the [[Monty Mole]]s in the Donut Plains and oil slicks in the Mario Circuits. The only hazards that have stayed are the breakable blocks in the Ghost Valleys and Vanilla Lakes.

The cups containing ''Super Mario Kart'' courses are unlocked for usage in Grand Prix Mode by finishing their respective cups consisting of ''Super Circuit'' in first place, and then completing them again, while collecting at least 100 coins. Due to these new courses, this game features the highest amount of racing tracks and Bowser Castles (four from this game's tracks and three from the original's tracks) in any ''Mario Kart'' game to date.

There are also new courses introduced in ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''. The player races three laps on these tracks in Grand Prix mode.

<gallery caption="[[Mushroom Cup]]" widths="80px" heights="64px">

File:PeachCircuit.png | [[Peach Circuit]]

File:ShyGuyBeach.png | [[Shy Guy Beach]]

File:RiversidePark.png | [[Riverside Park]]

File:BowsersCastle1.png | [[Bowser Castle 1 (GBA)|Bowser Castle 1]]

<gallery caption="[[Flower Cup]]" widths="80px" heights="64px">

File:MarioCircuit.png | [[Mario Circuit (GBA)|Mario Circuit]]

File:BooLake.png | [[Boo Lake]]

File:CheeseLand.png | [[Cheese Land]]

File:BowsersCastle2.png | [[Bowser Castle 2 (GBA)|Bowser Castle 2]]

<gallery caption="[[Lightning Cup]]" widths="80px" heights="64px">

File:Luigi circuit icon.png | [[Luigi Circuit (GBA)|Luigi Circuit]]  

File:SkyGarden.png | [[Sky Garden (course)|Sky Garden]]  

File:CheepCheepIsland.png | [[Cheep-Cheep Island]]  

File:SunsetWilds.png | [[Sunset Wilds]]

<gallery caption="[[Star Cup]]" widths="80px" heights="64px">

File:SnowLand.png | [[Snow Land]]

File:RibbonLand.png | [[Ribbon Road]]

File:YoshiDesert.png | [[Yoshi Desert]]

File:BowsersCastle3.png | [[Bowser Castle 3 (GBA)|Bowser Castle 3]]

<gallery caption="[[Special Cup]]" widths="80px" heights="64px">

File:LakesidePark.png | [[Lakeside Park]]

File:BrokenPier.png | [[Broken Pier]]

File:BowsersCastle4.png | [[Bowser Castle 4]]

File:RainbowRoad.png | [[Rainbow Road (GBA)|Rainbow Road]]

These courses were originally featured in ''[[Super Mario Kart]]'', and are reused in ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit''. The player races five laps on these tracks in Grand Prix mode.

{| style="text-align:center; width:750px; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellspacing="1"

! bgcolor=#dedede | [[Flower Cup]]

| [[Mario Circuit 2]] || [[Choco Island 1]] || [[Ghost Valley 2]] || [[Donut Plains 2 (course)|Donut Plains 2]]

! bgcolor=#dedede | [[Lightning Cup]]

| [[Bowser Castle 2 (SNES)|Bowser Castle 2]] || [[Mario Circuit 3]] || [[Koopa Beach 1]] || [[Choco Island 2]]

! bgcolor=#dedede | [[Star Cup]]

| [[Vanilla Lake 1]] || [[Bowser Castle 3 (SNES)|Bowser Castle 3]] || [[Mario Circuit 4]] || [[Donut Plains 3 (course)|Donut Plains 3]]

! bgcolor=#dedede | [[Special Cup]]

| [[Koopa Beach 2]] || [[Ghost Valley 3]] || [[Vanilla Lake 2]] || [[Rainbow Road (SNES)|Rainbow Road]]

In addition with race courses, four new battle courses are added. However, no ''Super Mario Kart'' battle courses return despite all of that game's race courses returning. They do go unused though, and are still playable through hacking.

{| style="text-align:center; width:600px; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse;" border="1" cellspacing="1"

| width=150px | [[Battle Course 1 (GBA)|Battle Course 1]]

| width=150px | [[Battle Course 2 (GBA)|Battle Course 2]]

| width=150px | [[Battle Course 3 (GBA)|Battle Course 3]]

| width=150px | [[Battle Course 4 (GBA)|Battle Course 4]]

''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' received critical acclaim. It scored an average of 91.54% based off 39 reviews in GameRankings and an average of 93 based off 24 reviews in Metacritic.<ref>http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/371318-mario-kart-super-circuit/index.html</ref><ref>http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/mario-kart-super-circuit</ref>

Craig Harris of IGN praised nearly all of the game's aspects and noted that the extra development time of the game can make it outstanding. He ended with, "It's a GBA game with very few flaws -- it's a shame that it didn't quite make the system launch, but the extra wait did the game wonders, and it shouldn't be missed." He gave the game a 9.5 out of 10.<ref>http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/08/29/mario-kart-super-circuit</ref> Tom Bramwell of Eurogamer gave the game a 9 out of 10. Though he criticized the lack of backlighting due to the GameBoy Advance system lacking it and the pick-up system of Lakitu, he praised the game for being a vast, improved "conversion" of ''Super Mario Kart'' onto the GameBoy Advance. He wrote, "It has everything a single player, or indeed a foursome of like-minded console gamers, could ever dream of, and all with the added benefit of extensive replayability. With Super Mario Advance 2 still a way off, Mario Kart Super Circuit is the killer app for GameBoy Advance as of now. Buy it."<ref>http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_mksc_gba</ref> Joao Diniz Sanches of Pocket Gamer UK gave the game a 9 out of 10. He praised the game for being universally and immediately fun.<ref>http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/GameBoy/Mario+Kart%3A+Super+Circuit/review.asp?c=395</ref>

Ron DelVillano of Nintendo Life reviewed the ambassador version of ''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' and gave the game a 7 out of 10. Though he noted the game's aging and that the multiplayer is removed in the 3DS ambassador version, he called the game fun and worthwhile to play with.<ref>http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2011/12/mario_kart_super_circuit_3dsvc</ref>.

 

''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'' is the fourth best selling game for the [[Game Boy Advance]], selling 5.91 copies worldwide, as of March 31, 2009.

 

==Beta elements==

{{main|List of Mario Kart: Super Circuit beta elements}}

Early Nintendo Power screenshots showed that the characters had different, "super-deformed" sprites of bigger heads contrasted by smaller karts. The Banana Bunch and Golden Mushroom items were going to be in the game. The unfinished versions can be seen by using a GameShark code. The Banana Bunch won't do anything, and the Golden Mushroom acts like a Mushroom but gives the ability to have infinite boosts even if no item is shown. A Fake Item Box was planned to be in the game but removed for unknown reasons. It has the same functions as a regular Banana.

Image:Mariok53.jpg

Image:Mariok54.jpg

</gallery></center>