Mario Kart Arcade GP

Mario Kart Arcade GPis a sub-series ofarcade gamesinNintendo'sMario Kartseries developed specifically forarcadesin collaboration withNamco(laterBandai Namco Gamesand Bandai Namco Amusement). To date, four entries have been released—Mario Kart Arcade GP(2005),Mario Kart Arcade GP 2(2007),Mario Kart Arcade GP DX(2013), andMario Kart Arcade GP VR(2017). The first three entries are considered to be relatively rare outside of Japan, with the fourth title not seeing a release outside of Japan at all. The games have been generally been well-received by critics, who have praised the game's transition of traditionalMario Kartgameplay into an arcade game format, while lamenting that none of the entries have been released outside of the arcade format onto any of Nintendo'shome video game consoles.

Mario Kart Arcade GP
Logo used for the initial installment,Mario Kart Arcade GP(2005)
Genre(s)	Racing
Developer(s)	Namco Bandai Namco Studios Monolith Soft
Publisher(s)	Namco Nintendo Bandai Namco Amusement
First release	Mario Kart Arcade GP October 2005
Latest release	Mario Kart Arcade GP VR July 14, 2017
Parent series	Mario Kart

Gameplay

The arcade cabinet of the game

Mario Kart Arcade GPplays and controls similarly to most entries in theMario Kartseries,except for the differing input methods: instead of joystick and buttons to steer, accelerate, and brake, thearcade cabinetscontrol with asteering wheel,gas pedal,andbrake pedal.The goal of the game remains the same; players must drive theirgo-kartthrough a given course in hopes of completing it faster than competing racers. Like priorMario Kartgames,Arcade GPfeatures"rubber band" physics,a feature that generally makes the game harder for players who are doing well, and easier for players who are struggling, to help balance competition among players.The game consists of three different game modes - "Grand Prix", "Time Trial", and "Multi-player".Grand Prix works similarly to other entries in the series, where the player races against computer-controlled opponents in a series of four races, earning points based on what place they finish a race.However, real-world money must be paid to participate in each individual race, or the cup is ended in forfeiture.If the player completes all four races, they may play a special "Bonus Mission" similar to the "Mission Mode" fromMario Kart DS.For example, one mission requires the player to push an oversizedmelonthrough a course across a finish line.Time Trial mode removes all other characters from the course, and the player simply races solo, aiming to achieve the fastest possible completion time.Multiplayer Mode involves up to players competing against one another on up to four connected machines.

Mario Kart Arcade GPfeatures race tracks organized into six sets ( "Cups" ) with 4 race courses in each.Races grouped together in cups generally share a common theme of sorts, such as sharing elements from various franchise such asSuper MarioorDonkey Kong.Selectable playable racers include eight characters from Nintendo'sMariofranchise—Mario,Luigi,Princess Peach,Wario,Bowser,Toad,YoshiandDonkey Kong—alongside three character's from Namco'sPac-Manseries—Pac-Man,Ms. Pac-Man,andBlinky.

Despite many similarities to the mainlineMario Karttitles, some key differences were implemented intoArcade GP.Rather than simply bumping into characters when colliding, characters now punch at one another.The game also uses Namco's "NamCam" system; once a player sits down in the arcade booth, it takes a photo of one's face.The photo is altered depending on what character the player chooses—for example, choosing Mario adds Mario's hat on the photo—and the photo hangs over the player character, making it easier for other players to recognize real people from computer-controlled ones.While the game still involves the collection and use of item to either attack other players or help boost one's own place in the race, the game contains far more items than most entries, upwards towards a 100 different items, though not all are available in all races.It contains many staple items fromMario Kartgames, such asKoopa Shellsasprojectile weaponsto be shot at other racers to slow them down, andMario mushroomsto give a speed boost.Many new items were implemented as well, such as aDr. Mariovirus that blurs the players screen, andtornado,oil can,and "square tire" items that that can be fired an other players to disrupt and slow them down.Players may also purchase a rewritable "memory card"that can be inserted into the arcade machine to save information, stats, save items, and submit information in contests.

The sequel,Mario Kart Arcade GP 2retains and adds upon the content of the originalArcade GP.The game retains all of the playable characters from the firstArcade GPgame, and adds two new ones—Waluigifrom Nintendo'sMariofranchise andMametchifromBandai Namco'sTamagotchifranchise.In addition to the original's race tracks and Cups, another two Cups of tracks are added toArcade GP 2.New items were added to the game, such as theF.L.U.D.D. water devicefromSuper Mario SunshineandTamagotchi toysthemselves.The original "NamCam" system was improved in both image quality and expanded to have further alterations and effects added.Entirely new features include an announcer that provides play-by-play commentary on the race, and the ability for advanced players to unlock alternate hidden karts.

The third title,Mario Kart Arcade GP DX,drew inspiration fromMario Kart 7in includinghang glidersand underwater driving segments, and a co-op mode similar toMario Kart Double Dashwhere two characters ride on a single vehicle, and the two players share control.The game also added a new set of courses themed around Namco Bandai'sTaiko no Tatsujinseries, and added its mascot, "Don-Chan",as a playable character.

The fourth title,Mario Kart Arcade GP VR,represented a major change in direction and gameplay.The game is played in a hybridarcade cabinet/virtual realityset up with anHTC Vive.Racing is done from afirst person perspective,and through aVive Tracker,has motion control aspects, such as actually moving one's hand to pick up items and throw them at other players.Racing is however far more restricted and structured into shorter segments, more comparable to aroller coaster.

Development and release

After losing third party software development support with theNintendo 64,Nintendoexecuted a number of efforts to increase developer support with their follow-up, theGameCube.One of these efforts was a collaboration withSegaandNamcoto create theTriforce arcade system.Its creation was to benefit all parties; for Nintendo, it would help in the creation of home console versions of arcade games, as the Triforce hardware was very similar to the GameCube and easily facilitated ports.Sega and Namco, on the other hand, were allowed to create games using Nintendo'sIP.While Sega would develop and releaseF-Zero AXfor arcades and its subsequent GameCube versionF-Zero GX,Namco would developMario Kart Arcade GP.All of this led to speculation thatMario Kart Arcade GPwould receive a GameCube orWiiversion as well, though no such version was ever announced.

Mario Kart Arcade GPfirst announced in February 2005, with a Japanese release date of Q3 2005.It was later delayed to December 2005.While its initial announcement did not mention any plans for a Western release, in September 2005, it was announced for a North American release.The game was released in North America in October 2005.

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2was first announced in October 2006, as a sequel to the originalMario Kart Arcade GPreleased a year prior.The game was co-developed byNamco Bandaiand Nintendo. With its announcement occurring so close to the launch ofNintendo's then-upcomingWiihome console,some publications expected the game to release on updated an updatedarcade board,but it was later revealed to run on the sameTriforce arcade hardwareof its predecessor.The Triforce arcade board was created in collaboration with Namco andSegato bolster third party game support for Nintendo's ownGameCubehardware; Nintendo allowed for the use of theirintellectual propertyin arcade games in exchange of more third party game support of theirhome video game consoles.However, like its predecessor,Arcade GP 2did not ever receive a GameCube, Wii, or any release outside of arcades.The game was released to arcades in March 2007.

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX,the third entry in theMario Kart Arcade GPsub-series, was released in late 2013.This entry is generally the most-commonly found of the sub-series, particularly in North America.Bandai Namco partnered with theDave and Bustersfranchise to host the arcade machines.

The fourth entry,Mario Kart Arcade GP VR,was released in 2017.It was given a very restrictive release; primarily only being available in Bandai Namco’s VR Zone arcade in Tokyo.The game also costs rough the equivalent of $40 USD to be played.It was temporarily made available outside of Japan in 2018 at an event at theHollywood Bowlinthe O2in London.

Reception

Mario Kart Arcade GPwas generally well-received from publications.IGN,GameSpot,and Nintendo World Report all generally praised Namco's translation of theMario Kartformula to an arcade game format.IGN named it their most enjoyable game of theJapan Amusement Machine and Marketing Association(JAMMA) expo, asserting that "Namco certainly got theMario Kartfeel right, and it didn't have too much trouble with the look, either. The tracks inMario Kart Arcade GPare bright and colorful, fitting in perfectly with the visual look Nintendo tends to go for with the series. "Nintendo World Report similarly praised the game for being fun and having a lot of content for an arcade game,while GameSpot concluded that "a sharp arcade racer with an abundance of charm. The selection of characters should please fans, as will the solid gameplay."Both IGN and GameSpot found the graphics technically better thanMario Kart Double Dashon the GameCube, the most advanced title graphically at the time.Feelings on the controls were more mixed.Nintendo World Reportfound the pedals for gas and brakes "get the job done but aren’t overly interesting" and complained that the steering "feel[s] much looser than their console counterparts" and that due to "a much more sensitive analog wheel" the result was "over-steering constantly."Conversely, IGN was so positive that they concluded that it "controls so well through a steering wheel that going back to a controller may be hard once you've experienced it."The game is generally considered rare and difficult to find in Western regions, with publications lamenting that Nintendo has not released the game on anyhome video game consoles.

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2was praised byGamesRadarfor being a fun improvement over the originalArcade GP,though conceded that the game was closer minor upgrades seen in series likeCapcom'supdated versions ofStreet Fighter 2than a full-fledged numbered sequel as its title suggested.IGNsingled it out as a stand-out title to play in Japanese arcades,and praised the announcer giving play-by-play commentary of the race as a feature they hoped would be moved into future home console iterations of the game.Similarly, publications expressed hopeMario Kart Arcade GP DXwould be released on theWii U,Nintendo'shome video game consoleactive at the time, though no such release would materialize.Mario Kart Arcade GP VRwas strongly praised by IGN for its fun gameplay and having an impressive sense of speed without any sense ofmotion sicknessoften experienced in fast movingvirtual reality video games.