Mario Kart Arcade GP

Mario Kart Arcade GP[lower-alpha 1] is an arcade sub-series of Nintendo's Mario Kart series, developed and published by Namco and later Bandai Namco Games under license from Nintendo. In all installments, 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 had a limited role in development, mainly for quality control purposes. 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.

Mario Kart Arcade GP
Logo used for the initial installment, Mario Kart Arcade GP (2005)
Genre(s)Racing
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
First releaseMario Kart Arcade GP
October 10, 2005
Latest releaseMario Kart Arcade GP VR
July 14, 2017

The initial game, Mario Kart Arcade GP, 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.

Installments
Release timeline
2005Mario Kart Arcade GP
2006
2007Mario Kart Arcade GP 2
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013Mario Kart Arcade GP DX
2014
2015
2016
2017Mario Kart Arcade GP VR

The Mario Kart Arcade GP sub-series started in 2005 with the release of Mario Kart Arcade GP. The game has been followed by three sequels: Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 (2007), Mario Kart Arcade GP DX (2013), and Mario Kart Arcade GP VR (2017).

Title Developer(s) Release date Guest Series
Japan North America PAL region
Mario Kart Arcade GP Namco November 19, 2005October 10, 20052005 Pac-Man
Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 Bandai Namco Games March 14, 200720082007 Pac-Man, Tamagotchi
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX Bandai Namco Games July 25, 201320142017 (EU) Pac-Man, Taiko no Tatsujin
Mario Kart Arcade GP VR Bandai Namco Entertainment July 14, 2017October 1, 2018August 3, 2018 (UK/FR) None

Mario Kart Arcade GP
Mario Kart Arcade GP
Developer(s)Namco
Publisher(s)Namco
SeriesMario Kart
Platform(s)Arcade
Release
  • NA: October 10, 2005
  • JP: November 19, 2005
  • PAL: 2005
Genre(s)Racing
Arcade systemTriforce

Mario Kart Arcade GP is the initial installment in the series. Originally designed for the Triforce arcade board (also used for F-Zero AX) by Namco,[1][2][3] players can race as one of eleven characters on twenty-four tracks.

There are a total of six cups, with four tracks in each, totalling twenty-four. The cups are Mario Cup, Wario Cup, Pac-Man Cup, DK Cup, Bowser Cup, and the unlockable Rainbow Cup. 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.

The game features all eight playable characters from Mario Kart 64, as well as guest characters Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, and Blinky for a total of eleven. Most of the game's sound effects came from Mario Kart: Double Dash‼ including the pre-race countdown timer to commence racing.

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2
Mario Kart Arcade GP 2
Developer(s)Bandai Namco Games
Publisher(s)Bandai Namco Games
SeriesMario Kart
Platform(s)Arcade
Release
  • JP: March 14, 2007
  • PAL: 2007
  • NA: 2008
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single player, Multiplayer
Arcade systemTriforce

Mario Kart Arcade GP 2 is the second game in the Mario Kart Arcade GP arcade game series released in 2007.[4][5][6] The game was the first in the series to be developed and published by Bandai Namco Games. The game used the Triforce arcade system board.

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. In the English version, this is done by Justin Berti.[7] All eleven characters from Mario Kart Arcade GP return, alongside new characters Waluigi from the Mario series and Mametchi from the Tamagotchi series. All cups from the first game also appear, with the addition of two new cups, Yoshi Cup and Waluigi Cup.

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX
Mario Kart Arcade GP DX
Developer(s)Bandai Namco Games
Publisher(s)Bandai Namco Games
SeriesMario Kart
Platform(s)Arcade
Release
  • JP: July 25, 2013
  • NA: 2014
  • EU: 2017
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single player, Multiplayer

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX is the third Mario Kart Arcade GP title, which was released in Japanese arcades on July 25, 2013, and in North American and European arcades in 2014[8] (previously announced for end of 2013[9]), but the game was available in all Dave & Buster's restaurants from February 16, 2014 until April 2014.[10]

The game features ten redesigned courses, as well as features introduced in Mario Kart 7 such as 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 records previously set by other players. 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 Mario Kart Double Dash!!.[11]

The racing commentary returns in this game and this time, it is voiced in Japanese by Rica Matsumoto, who also voices Ash Ketchum in the Japanese version of the Pokémon anime, and in English by Jack Merluzzi, who played in the in-game announcer in Fast Racing Neo.[12]

Mario Kart Arcade GP VR
Mario Kart Arcade GP VR
Developer(s)Bandai Namco Studios
Publisher(s)Bandai Namco Entertainment
SeriesMario Kart
Platform(s)Arcade
Release
  • JP: July 14, 2017
  • UK: August 3, 2018
  • NA: October 1, 2018
Genre(s)Racing

Mario Kart Arcade GP VR is the fourth Mario Kart Arcade GP title, which was released in Japanese arcades on July 14, 2017. Unlike the previous games, Mario Kart Arcade GP VR was only released in VR Zone arcades in Japan, Korea, the UK, the Philippines, the US, and France. Unlike prior Mario Kart games, Mario Kart Arcade GP VR is played through use of a virtual reality headset and in first person. The game was developed on a HTC Vive Microsoft Windows arcade system. Similar to the prior arcade Mario Kart games, the game is controlled via a steering wheel and acceleration and brake pedals. In addition, items are thrown by making hand movements, which the game registers by an attachment to the player's wrist. For example, to throw a Green Shell, one must make a throwing motion with their open palm. Also, instead of using Item Boxes, the game uses red, yellow, and green balloons to store items. Gliders are also present, and are used similarly to Mario Kart Arcade GP DX.

Characters

Each new game hosts a new selection of characters and often guest characters from featured franchises. The following list displays all available characters for each game.

CharacterMario Kart Arcade GPMario Kart Arcade GP 2[13]Mario Kart Arcade GP DXMario Kart Arcade GP VR[lower-roman 1]
Baby Mario [lower-roman 2]
Baby Peach [lower-roman 2]
Blinky
Bowser [lower-roman 3] [lower-roman 4]
Bowser Jr.
Daisy [lower-roman 2]
Don-Chan [lower-roman 5][lower-roman 6]
Donkey Kong
King Boo [lower-roman 7]
Lakitu [lower-roman 2]
Luigi [lower-roman 8]
Mametchi
Mario [lower-roman 9][lower-roman 10]
Metal Mario [lower-roman 2][lower-roman 11]
Ms. Pac-Man
Pac-Man
Peach
Rosalina [lower-roman 2]
Toad [lower-roman 12]
Waluigi
Wario [lower-roman 4]
Yoshi [lower-roman 13][lower-roman 14]
Total 11 13 19 4
  1. Each model of the arcade cabinet features only one of the playable characters. There are four different arcade models available.
  2. Downloadable.
  3. Dry Bowser is also available as a downloadable palette swap of Bowser.
  4. Not a playable character, but the character participates in races against the player.
  5. Strawberry Don-Chan is also available as a downloadable palette swap of Don-Chan.
  6. Hero Don-Chan is also available as a downloadable palette swap of Don-Chan.
  7. Playable during a limited-time event. Could be unlocked for permanent use through the event.
  8. Ice Luigi is also available as a downloadable palette swap of Luigi.
  9. Fire Mario is also available as a downloadable palette swap of Mario.
  10. Tanooki Mario is also available as a downloadable palette swap of Mario.
  11. Gold Mario is also available as a downloadable palette swap of Metal Mario.
  12. Blue Toad is also available as a downloadable palette swap of Toad.
  13. Red Yoshi is also available as a downloadable palette swap of Yoshi.
  14. Black Yoshi is also available as a downloadable palette swap of Yoshi.

See also

Notes
  1. Japanese: マリオカート アーケードグランプリ Hepburn: Mario Kāto Ākēdo Guran Puri

References
  1. "業務用レースゲーム「マリオカート アーケードグランプリ」を12月発売" (PDF). Namco. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-12-21.
  2. "Mario Kart Arcade GP". Namco. Archived from the original on 2006-02-15.
  3. "UK & Ireland Game Sales". Namco. Archived from the original on 2005-12-19.
  4. "Official page". Bandai Namco Games. Archived from the original on 2007-03-28.
  5. "Press release" (PDF). Bandai Namco Games. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-18.
  6. "Press release" (PDF). Bandai Namco Games. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-01-27.
  7. Gantayat, Anoop (February 16, 2007). "IGN: Mario Kart Back in Arcades". Wii.ign.com. Retrieved September 23, 2009.
  8. McFerran, Damien (July 15, 2014). "Video: Mario Kart 8 Isn't The Only New Mario Kart Game You Can Play In 2014". Nintendo Life.
  9. "Mario Kart Arcade GP DX Confirmed US Release 1st cabinet shot". Arcade Heroes. November 18, 2013. Retrieved November 27, 2013.
  10. "Bandai Namco's Mario Kart Arcade GPDX On Location Test At Dave & Busters Locations Across the US". February 10, 2014.
  11. "Namco Formally Announces Mario Kart Arcade Grand Prix DX". February 5, 2013.
  12. "Mario Kart Arcade GP DX Trailer with Pokémon anime voice actress Rica Matsumoto". YouTube. July 25, 2013.
  13. "Mario Kart Arcade GP 2". Bandai Namco. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
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