Mario Kart Arcade GP

Mario Kart Arcade GP
Promotional flyer
Developer(s)	Namco
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Director(s)	Noriko Mimura
Producer(s)	Shinichi Odake
Composer(s)	Yoshie Arakawa Koji Nakagawa Yuri Misumi
Series	Mario Kart
Platform(s)	arcade game machine
Release date(s)	Arcade NA: October 2005 JP: November 19, 2005 EU: 2005 AUS: 2005
Genre(s)	Racing
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer
Cabinet	Sit-down
Arcade system	Triforce
Display	Raster, horizontal orientation

Mario Kart Arcade GP (Japanese: マリオカート アーケードグランプリ, Hepburn: Mario Kāto Ākēdo Guran Puri) is an arcade-only iteration of Nintendo's Mario Kart series, developed by Namco. Designed for the Triforce arcade board (also used for F-Zero AX), players can race as one of eleven characters on 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. Nintendo's limited role of development was mainly isolated to ensuring that it was a worthy title for the established franchise.

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's sequel also features Mametchi, a character from the Tamagotchi games, and the third installment includes Don from the Taiko no Tatsujin franchise.

Gameplay

There are a total of six stages, with four tracks in each for a grand total of twenty-four. After a track is completed, the player must insert additional credits to continue the game, even if first place is achieved. After finishing all four 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‼ including the pre-race countdown timer to commence racing.

Sequels

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2
Developer(s)	Namco
Publisher(s)	Nintendo
Series	Mario Kart
Platform(s)	arcade game machine
Release date(s)	Arcade JP: 2007 AUS: 2007 EU: 2007 NA: 2008
Genre(s)	Racing video game, fictional crossover
Mode(s)	Multiplayer, single-player
Arcade system	Triforce

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. During the races, there is color commentary, which can be toggled on or off at any time prior to starting the race. In the Japanese version of the game, this is done by the prominent Japanese voice actor and on-screen personality Kōichi Yamadera.^[1] All eleven characters from Mario Kart Arcade GP return, alongside new characters Waluigi from the Mario series and Mametchi from the Tamagotchi series.

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX is the third Mario Kart Arcade GP title, which was released in Japanese arcade in July 25, 2013, and in North American and European arcade in 2014^[2] (previously announced for end of 2013^[3]), but the game was available in all Dave & Buster's restaurants from February 16, 2014 until April 2014.^[4][5]

The game features ten redesigned courses, as well as features introduced in Mario Kart 7 such as the gliders and underwater racing. Along with Grand Prix and Battle mode, the game introduces two new modes; Alter-Ego and Team. Alter-Ego mode uses online functionality to allow players to race against ghosts set by other players similar to Ghost Versus Battle mode in Wangan Midnight Maximum Tune series. Team mode allows two players to face against two computer-controlled opponents. The two players can combine their karts to form a more powerful kart, with one player driving and the other serving as the gunner (similar to Lucky and Wild). The playable characters in this game are Mario, Luigi, Peach, Rosalina, Toad, Yoshi, Bowser, Dry Bowser, Wario, Waluigi, Bowser Jr., Donkey Kong, Baby Mario, Baby Peach, Metal Mario, and Gold Mario from the Mario series, Pac-Man (using the design from Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures) from the Pac-Man series, and Don from the Taiko no Tatsujin series.^[6]

The racing commentary returns in this game and this time, it is voiced by Rica Matsumoto, who also voices Ash Ketchum in the Japanese version of the Pokémon anime.^[7]

See also

• Pac-Man World Rally

References