Super Mario Kart

In a nutshell Italian megastar plumbers and friends race go-karts round an assortment of tracks while players turn the air purple with expletives (hitting banana skins), exultation (stealing power-ups ) and screaming (sheer, unadulterated fun). Long game Taking up the mantle from platform maestros Mario and Luigi, Super Mario Kart first hit the SNES in 1992, paving the way for numerous sequels and lesser imitations and making it the longest-running franchise of its kind. In its reincarnation on Wii's Virtual Console, SMK gives us another chance to play as banana-throwing heavyweight Donkey Kong Jr, who was never to be seen again in the series. Pole position Next generation progeny Mario Kart Wii may trump the pioneering SMK with better graphics and ingenious floating steering wheel. And better gameplay and… well most things really, but SMK still offers a fabulous racing experience and importantly the most addictive and ruthlessly competitive split-screen multiplayer this side of GoldenEye . What's new? Absolutely nothing – it's exactly as you remember it. The soundtrack alone will have you weeping for a long forgotten youth. Play any of the four classic cups, each with five utterly brilliant tracks, or take on a friend in one of the four Battle Mode courses. Gimme gimme gimme Hold your horses, there still one banana skin to dodge. Proving that travelling in time is never as easy as it looks, SMK may only cost 800 Wii points to download but you still need a Classic Wii (£15.99) or Gamecube controller to play it. Gah!