I would argue that the original 1992 Super Mario Kart on the SNES is still the greatest Mario Kart game of all time.

Yes, Mario Kart 64 was fun, and yes: Mario Kart on the Gamecube is an incredible piece of game design and refinement, but… BUT… Super Mario Kart takes some beating in terms of sheer crying-with-laughter fun – especially playing in Battle Mode.

Ah, Mario Kart Battle Mode… A game where the aim is to burst the three balloons around your opponent’s kart, while at the same time trying to protect your own balloons… Sometimes those games just become the ultimate in player versus player video-gaming shenanigans. And Battle Mode isn’t even the main part of the game – it’s a side show…

Whether you’re racing for records, shooting your friend’s balloons, or simply enjoying Nintendo at their absolute best, Super Mario Kart on the SNES is well worth a play any day of the week.

More: Super Mario Kart on Wikipedia