Character Review: Mario Kart Series

 SMASH CHARACTER REVIEW

So, this is going to be a little bit different. The Mario sports games and remakes and so on from here will offer up very little for me to work with for each individual character, as the games are more about the gimmick of the sport/etc. being played than the characters playing it. So, I'm just going to do this big lump summary for all of the characters that are already part of the roster, and then tomorrow, we'll start the new stuff.

First up, we have our main man Mario, who appears in all of the Kart games (of course), but the only thing that's really distinctly his is the fireballs that act as his and Luigi's special in Double Dash. As he already has fireballs, nothing to talk about. There are, however, several alts who are separately playable from him, namely Metal Mario and Tanooki Mario. Tanooki already exists as part of Fursuit Mario, and Metal, while you probably could include him as an echo at least, it just kinda feels pointless when you can just have the Metal Box item instead. We'll circle back around to Baby Mario.

Luigi appears in all games as well, likewise playable. Just like his brother, the fireballs of Double Dash are the only thing unique to him. The Princesses Peach, Daisy, and Rosalina all appear in playable form as well. Peach and Daisy get the heart item in Double Dash, which means it can be applied to their moveset, and to be honest, I would absolutely include it as part of Peach's moveset. So, I'd have to check, but if the Down B option is not better than this move, switch them out. Rosalina did not appear in Double Dash, so no unique items for her. Cat Peach and Pink Gold Peach, see: statements on Tanooki and Metal Mario above.

Toad appears in all games, as well as Toadette who was specifically created for Double Dash as a partner to Toad. In Double Dash, their unique item is the golden mushroom that makes them go really really fast. Toadsworth appears in a supporting role, driving the victory car in Double Dash.

Bowser is playable in all games, and in Double Dash, throws out a giant version of his own shell to roll around the stage. Bowser Jr. also appears as his partner in said game, thus gaining that ability as well. The Koopalings also make their own debut in Mario Kart 8, their absence prior likely due to there being seven of them that had to be squeezed into a roster. Dry Bowser also appears a couple of times.

Now for our minion characters, which, oddly, don't actually get that much representation as drivers. Koopas (and Paratroopas), Dry Bones, Shy Guys, Lakitus, and Wiggler all show up as playable, but Goombas, Piranha Plants, Boos, Cheep Cheeps, Bloopers, Pokeys, Monty Moles, Thwomps, Chain Chomps, Mechakoopas, Bob-Ombs, Hammer Bros, and Tiny Mousers only appear in the background or as obstacles on the stage, typically acting much as you would expect them to. Friendly characters like Pianta also appear, and the Honeyqueen (adjacent to the Honeybees on the roster) even appeared as playable in 7.

As far as bigger boss characters, Birdo and King Boo regularly appear as playable, and Petey Piranha appeared in Double Dash. No sign of Boom Boom or Pom Pom yet. (I'd have to remind myself if they've shown up in Tour or not yet). King Bob-Omb also appeared in DS as a boss alongside a number of other bosses from Super Mario 64 DS.

Going outside the main Mario series roster, sadly we have not seen a single appearance from any RPG series character, ever. As for the Donkey Kong series, however, we have seen appearances from Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, and Donkey Kong Jr. In Double Dash, Donkey and Diddy could throw out a giant banana to slip up opponents.

Over in the Yoshi series, we've of course seen Yoshi, who tosses out a giant egg in Double Dash, while Shy Guy we've already covered in the minions category. Kamek sadly has never ever ever been playable, despite his importance in the series as a whole, and despite his coming with a literal vehicle of his own. He has cropped up a couple of times in background roles though. But you know who has been playable? Babies. Lots and lots of babies. Specifically, baby forms of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, and Rosalina, the latter two of whom were created for the series and have not appeared anywhere else except the odd sports game. Baby Mario and Baby Luigi could trail behind a Chain Chomp in Double Dash.

As for the Wario series, sadly, much like the RPGs, we have never seen a single Wario Ware or Wario Land character appear in the series. Even though many of them have built-in vehicles as well (Mona, Orbulon, Dribble & Spitz, Ashley). Nope. It's just Wario. And Waluigi, technically, but we're getting to him. In Double Dash, their unique items was Bob-Ombs.

And then finally we have our guest characters, a handful of characters not from the Mario series at all, but have features as special guest stars here and there. These include ROB from DS, Miis starting in Wii and onward, and Link, Villager, and Isabelle as DLC in 8. I won't cover them here, instead I'll save them for when I cover their own series, but I will at least make a note.

Thanks for reading! Now, we have two newcomers to speak of, and I'll start tomorrow, with Mario Kart!