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10 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About 'Mario Kart'

10 Surprising Things You Didn't Know About 'Mario Kart'
Michael Rundle

The new Mario Kart is already taking the world by storm (and Red Shelling the competition to bits).

But the game is also 20 years old at heart, and has a long legacy.

In that time the original has become something of a legend, and you might think you've seen all its secrets. On the other hand, you might be surprised by what you don't know.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Mario Kart
There Are Tracks You've Never Played(01 of06)
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The original Super Mario Kart is still played through emulators downloaded on shady 'romz' sites. But many of these use the original code but replace the levels with all-new tracks. A quick Google search should set you on your way.
It's Expensive(02 of06)
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A sealed copy of Super Mario Kart is currently listed for £800 on eBay.
... Or Cheap(03 of06)
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That said, an old, used copy can be picked up for as little as a couple of quid.
It's Number One(04 of06)
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The Guiness Book of World Records placed Super Mario Kart number one in their 2009 list of the top 50 video games of all time, based on initial impact and lasting legacy.
It Wasn't Always Mario Kart(05 of06)
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Mario Kart did not start off as a game about Mario. In fact it was a generic racing game. It only turned into a Mario game three months into development when, on a whim, the designers decided to see what it looked like with Mario in the kart. The rest was history.
It Came In Red(06 of06)
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One for hardcore fans here, but while SMK was known for its turquoise box, it also came in a very, very rare red edition. Current eBay price? £300.

Joe Dowling of London's retro video game emporium Retro Game Base, said that Mario Kart's legacy was hard to match.

"Mario Kart changed the face of console racers for ever," he told HuffPost. "Taking the playability of early multiplayer classics like Super Sprint and Micro Machines and making a more accessible game with much more depth and perhaps the most replay value."

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