Chapter 7: Mario Karting
The original version, Super Mario Kart, which came out in 1992, is definitely on the list of my most favorite games ever. Surprisingly, I actually never did even own the game, although I borrowed it for a period of time. Even though I was still in elementary school then, I got to be very good at it - good enough to finish 150cc Special Cup with all 1st place finishes and no continues - with a SHRUNKEN Donkey Kong Jr. Imagine playing the whole game as if you’ve been zapped with the lightning bolt while all the others are regular sized and can flatten you at any moment. It’s pretty difficult. 
I remember it was the one game I could routinely beat my older brother in.
The memories all came back when I bought Mario Kart DS a couple weeks ago, especially since it has some of the tracks from the original Super Mario Kart. Mario Kart DS has much more of a nostalgic feel to it than Mario Kart 64. Even though Mario Kart 64 was released in 1997, I actually only bought it like two years ago in 2003 and finally played it. I didn’t really like this version all that much, and played just enough to get the gold cups for all the circuits and engine classes. It’s kind of funny, now that I think about it… I had a Super Nintendo, but never bought the game. I never had a Nintendo64 (Elaine bought one, solely for Pokémon Puzzle League), but bought the game. The same goes for the Nintendo DS, which I also don’t own (also Elaine’s, which she bought for Nintendogs) but purchased the game.
I’ve regained my Mario Kart form of the past now in the DS version. As of now, I’ve finished all the grand prix circuits in every engine class with triple star ratings, except the mirror mode. I haven’t started on those just yet. I’ve also beaten all the staff ghost replays in time trial mode, and have also completed every single mission with triple star ratings. Sadly though, I haven’t yet been able to take advantage of the new Nintendo WiFi feature. While I do have a wireless router at Elaine’s place, unfortunately that particular model isn’t compatible with the Nintendo DS. 
Someday, I’m sure I’ll get a chance to hop online to play against others. As for now, it’s time to…
3.. 2.. 1.. GO!
December 13th, 2005 at 2:20 am
Yo Stanley, Just finished reading your blog. Wow from what you just finished describing, you must be really really good. From what I can remember I used to be really good as well…..I loved Mario Kart, but eventually got bored of it because the competition wasn’t there. If you got the time, we should hook up one day and race. I always thought that I holded some records for Mario Kart, but with out the internet back then, it was kind of hard to know, Now that I have internet, I don’t have the game anymore, cause just like you I never owned them, belonged to my friend. Fortunately my friend still has the system and game….Gotta check my scores LOL. Let me know if you wanna race soon ok, TTYL Buddy