Mamma mia! Hold on to your seat belts, budding kart enthusiasts, because we're going to heat up the rubber on a hack that's more mind-blowing than a blue shell thrown at full speed! Imagine that 32 years after its original release, the legendary Super Mario Kart on SNES just received an unofficial update that would make Lakitu himself pale.
Baptized Super Mario Kart Horizonsthis mod concocted with love over no less than 10 years by a certain gridatttack promises to delight our eyes and ears. So, are you ready to rediscover this classic in a new light? Here we go my kiki!
Let's start with the main course: no less than 20 new circuits divided into 8 thematic cups! Something to delight fans who know the original plots by heart. On the menu: green plains worthy of a Zelda, abandoned mines that would make a Bomberman shudder, jungle ruins à la Tomb Raider, and even snow-capped peaks that remind us of a certain DK Mountain. Each circuit benefits from its own visual and sound atmosphere, just to fill our retinas with each turn. I particularly loved the “Sunset Peak” circuit, where you slalom between the clouds at sunset. A pure feast for the eyes!
But that's not all! Virtual castagne fans will be delighted to learn that 4 new battle arenas have been added. Gone are the days of going around in circles on the same hackneyed maps. Make way for new environments full of devious shortcuts and vicious traps. I personally spent hours chasing my friends around “Haunted Mansion,” a labyrinthine arena full of fake walls and secret passages. Believe me, Battle Mode games have never been so intense!
On the technical side, gridatttack did not do things by halves. THE graphics have been completely revised to stick to the spirit of modern Mario Kart games, while retaining the pixelated charm of the original. The sprites of the characters, objects and settings have all been carefully reworked. The result is stunning: we have the impression of playing a game straight from Nintendo studios in 2024, but with this very particular retro touch. Even the legendary Rainbow Road has been given a complete facelift. Prepare to be amazed!
But the best part of it all is that Super Mario Kart Horizons is fully compatible with the original hardware ! Yes, if you are lucky enough to own a real Super Nintendo and a flash card, you will be able to enjoy all these new features on your good old cathode ray TV. The perfect opportunity to bring out the cable controllers and give yourself tendinitis like the good old days!
And what would a good Mario Kart be without one rocking soundtrack ?
Here again, Super Mario Kart Horizons hits hard with original compositions for each circuit and menu of the game. I particularly appreciated the jazzy theme of the “Neon City” circuit, which made me want to bust out my best dance moves. (which is not necessarily recommended when playing Mario Kart, I grant you). The music fits perfectly with the atmosphere of each environment and gives a real personality to this mod.
Gridattack has also completely overhauled the game's interface. New title screens, selection of cuts, characters, results… everything goes ! The style remains faithful to the spirit of the original, but with that little extra that makes the difference. We feel that every detail has been thought of to offer a coherent and refreshing experience.
When it comes to gameplay, a few little surprises await you. THE mirror mode is now unlockable on all difficultiesjust to spice things up a little. And for purists who find that the game lacks challenge, a mode difficile has been added. Believe me, facing AI opponents in 150cc on these new twisty circuits is no cakewalk! I had to try it several times before getting first place in certain races.
A nice little novelty: you now have to finish 7th or better to move on to the next circuit, and the points scale has been revised. Enough to make tournaments between friends even more competitive! And for those who like to collect, know that new items can be unlocked as you progress. Enough to keep you in suspense for a while!
Technically, Super Mario Kart Horizons is a real tour de force. The hack exploits the capabilities of the SNES to the maximum while remaining compatible with the original hardware. The developers had to juggle with the limitations of the 16-bit console to integrate all this new content without sacrificing the fluidity of the game. This is a real feat when we know that the original game already used Mode 7 of the SNES extensively to create the illusion of 3D. The addition of new circuits and visual effects while maintaining the 60 frames per second of the original game demonstrates an impressive mastery of the hardware.
For the curious who would like to understand how this hack works, here is a little technical overview. The mod uses a technique called “ROM expansion”, which allows the size of the game to be increased beyond the original limits of the SNES cartridge. This provides more space to store new graphics, music and levels. Developers also optimized existing code and used advanced compression techniques to fit all this new content.
Now, the question you're all asking yourself: how to get your hands on this little wonder? Well, imagine that it's easier than finding the shortcut on Choco Island! You just need to go to the official project website and download the patch. Then, all you have to do is apply it to your original Super Mario Kart ROM (which you legally own, of course). And there you have it, you are ready to rediscover this classic in a new light!
For die-hard collectors, know that gridatttack has even created a whole bunch of bonus to accompany his mod. A personalized cover, a detailed instruction manual, and even stickers to customize your cartridge! Enough to make your geek friends drool with envy at your next retrogaming evening.
In conclusion, Super Mario Kart Horizons is much more than a simple mod: it is a true declaration of love to one of the most iconic games in video game history. The work carried out by gridatttack commands respect, both for its scale and its quality. This hack breathes a welcome breath of fresh air into a title which, despite its classic status, was beginning to show the weight of the years.
For those who would like to embark on the adventure, here is a short tutorial to install Super Mario Kart Horizons:
- Download the IPS patch from the official project website
- Get an original Super Mario Kart ROM (USA)
- Use software like Lunar IPS to apply the patch to your ROM
- Check that the CRC-32 of your patched ROM matches that indicated on the site (cd80db86)
- Launch the patched ROM in your favorite emulator or on your flash card
- Enjoy the new tracks and features!
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