Mario Kart Arcade GP

Mario Kart Arcade GP
Promotional flyer
Developer(s)	Namco Nintendo
Publisher(s)	Namco
Series	Mario Kart
Platform(s)	Arcade
Release date(s)	October 2005
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Cabinet	Sit-down
Arcade system	Triforce
Display	Raster, horizontal orientation

Mario Kart Arcade GP (マリオカート アーケードグランプリ) is an arcade-only iteration of Nintendo's Mario Kart series, developed by both Namco and Nintendo. Designed for the Triforce arcade board (also used for F-Zero AX), players can race as one of eleven characters in twenty-four tracks. On certain machines, for an additional fee, a player's data can be saved on a magnetic card which can be inserted into the machine again later to retain unlocked items and records.

This game's arcade cabinet houses a camera that will take a photograph of the player's face. The photo can be customized and then will be displayed above the player's character during multiplayer races.

The game is noted for being the first Mario Kart to feature playable crossover characters: Namco's Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and Blinky. The game received a sequel in 2007 in the form of Mario Kart Arcade GP 2.

Example of a Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 magnetic card

Playable characters

Main article: Mario Kart#Playable characters

Arcade GP is the first and only game in the Mario Kart series to have Pac-Man, Namco's official mascot, as a playable character. Available characters are Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Toad, Wario, Donkey Kong, and Bowser from the Mario series and Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, and Blinky from the Pac-Man series.

Gameplay

There are a total of six stages, with four tracks in each. After a track is completed, the player must insert additional credits to continue the game, even if first place is achieved. After finishing all 4 races from each stage, a "challenge game" comes up, in which the player is required to complete a certain task; each of them requires the player to drive to a goal under a certain amount of time while under a certain condition, such as driving backwards through a field of banana peels.

When a player hits one of the item boxes scattered throughout the tracks, the player is given one of the three selected items chosen at the start of a race. Mario Kart Arcade GP features items new and old. Unique to this game is a lock-on feature for the items.

Also unique to this game is a temporary shield that is produced while powersliding which protects players from items thrown at them by the other racers.

Most of the game's sound effects came from Mario Kart: Double Dash‼

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 is the second game in the Mario Kart Arcade GP arcade game series. The game features the "Nam Cam" camera features of its predecessor, and 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc difficulty modes, as well as new items. The Japanese version of the game features color commentary by the prominent Japanese voice actor and on-screen personality, Kōichi Yamadera.^[1] The playable characters are Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Toad, Wario, Donkey Kong, Bowser, and Waluigi from the Mario series, Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, and Blinky from the Pac-Man series, and Mametchi from the Tamagotchi series.

See also

• Pac-Man World Rally

References

1. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (2007-02-16). "IGN: Mario Kart Back in Arcades". Wii.ign.com. http://wii.ign.com/articles/765/765399p1.html. Retrieved 2009-09-23.