How High Can You Get?

September 15, 2006 11:40 AM

Year of the Monkey.In the wake of yesterday's Nintendo Wii release information, take a look back at the birth of the company's flagship characters, Mario and Donkey Kong, who turned 25 last month. Play the classic online or check out the Donkey Kong Board Game while listening to "Kong in Concert."
posted by Otis (17 comments total)

Fascinating article, especially the revelation about Popeye/Olive Oyl/Brutus! Thanks.
posted by poppo at 12:45 PM on September 15, 2006

Ya know, I hauled out the old N64 to play Mario and Donkey Kong just the other day. Still good stuff, even if DK64 is the most 'collectingest game ever created' according to somebody I can't recall.... C'mon, Mario on the Rainbow Ride? Talk about yer sweaty palms....
posted by umberto at 2:11 PM on September 15, 2006

I have simultaneously smoked marijuana and played MarioKart on an N64.

I don't think I'm alone.
posted by bardic at 2:23 PM on September 15, 2006

Amen, bardic.
posted by Bookhouse at 2:25 PM on September 15, 2006

I think I bought the board game for 50 cents at a garage sale ten years ago. I don't recall ever playing it, but I also found the barrel-dispensing piece pretty cool.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 2:35 PM on September 15, 2006

MarioKart on N64 is easily the greatest multiplayer console game of all time (even sans chronic).
posted by fusinski at 2:36 PM on September 15, 2006

fusinski speaks the truth.
posted by danb at 2:39 PM on September 15, 2006

It's all about Rainbow Road.
posted by bardic at 2:43 PM on September 15, 2006

MarioKart on N64 is easily the greatest multiplayer console game of all time (even sans chronic).

I always liked Crash Team Racing just a bit better. Better weapons.

/blasphemy
posted by Kwine at 4:11 PM on September 15, 2006

MarioKart64 is great, multiplayer, but Double Dash is better!
posted by aubilenon at 4:15 PM on September 15, 2006

Fifty cents, huh XQUZYPHYR? That make makes me feel better about the [probably incomplete] copy I threw out while packing for my move four weeks ago.
posted by Songdog at 5:07 PM on September 15, 2006

As much as I loathe boomer nostalgia, my generation gets all misty eyed over cartoons, star wars and fucking video games.
posted by dobie at 5:46 PM on September 15, 2006

Nostalgia, hell! I spent a good part of my life with those freakin' people. I spent way more riding in a car with yoshi than half my extended family. Sad, perhaps, but every generation has it's sadnesses. So what if Link would be more appropriate at my high school reunions than half the real people there? So what, I tell ya!

Ah, life became disappointing when I figured out you can't really get a red shell.....
posted by umberto at 6:37 PM on September 15, 2006

DK64 is the most 'collectingest game ever created' according to somebody I can't recall....

Actually, while DK64 (and the Banjo Kazooie games) are very "collecty," they were recently surprassed by Psychonauts.

Psychonauts is a very fun game that Tim Schafer (of various Lucas Arts graphic adventures fame) that worked on. But, oh, man. So collecty.

MarioKart64 is great, multiplayer, but Double Dash is better!

Your favorite Mario Kart iteration isn't the best.

While both are great, the DS Mario Kart does a perfect job of combining the best of both with a few new things as well (plus Internets play).

Double Dash only reigns when you have 4 or 8 people to do two-to-a-cart.
posted by sparkletone at 11:06 PM on September 15, 2006

Man, I can't stand Double Dash. Two to a cart, one to a cart, two players, eight players -- just not as much fun as the 64.
posted by danb at 12:07 PM on September 16, 2006

Nintendo made me the man I am today.
posted by Durhey at 1:50 PM on September 16, 2006

And I think the original Mario Kart was my all-time favorite. Though I'd rather play Double Dash today, can you imagine was it was like picking up the original having never played a kart racer before at all? I'll tell you: It was awesome.
posted by Durhey at 1:55 PM on September 16, 2006