Still, Nintendo's expertise at sucking players into the game world is strongly evident, and Mario Kart Advance offers enough challenges to keep players, both young and old, entertained. Placing a familiar Nintendo personality, such as Mario, Luigi and even the mushroom man behind the wheel of a sputtering go-kart powered by a 50, 100, or 150-cc engine, the game lets players race computerised opponents or up to four other players (via a cable) on a variety of well-designed tracks. Multiplayer is the key to Mario Kart, and though you'll need four cartridges for the full multiplayer experience there are some limited options for four-way play from a single cartridge.
Because karts lack the power and speed of games (and let's face it you aren't in it for the Gran Turismo 3 adrenalin-pumped experience), drivers must focus on collecting power-ups and non-lethal weapons, such as the snowball and minimiser, rather than negotiating hairpin turns on two wheels. Grabbing and using on-track items is the heart of the game's fun: a strategically placed banana peel sends the unlucky victim into a spin, nailing an opponent with a turtle shell launches their vehicle skyward, and a rocket provides a quick boost to near-breakneck speeds.--Kristen Bowditch
