Kart Fighter [Unlicensed] (NES) Playthrough
4Playthrough of Yoko Soft's 1993 unlicensed versus-fighter for the NES, Kart Fighter.
Yoko Soft’s Kart Fighter, released in 1993 as an unlicensed game for the NES, is a versus-fighter that features characters from Nintendo’s Mario Kart series in a unique and unofficial setting. The game pits iconic characters such as Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach against one another in one-on-one combat reminiscent of Street Fighter, but adapted to the NES hardware with a distinctly quirky charm.
The gameplay involves traditional fighting mechanics, with each character possessing a set of basic attacks like punches and kicks, as well as special moves inspired by their personalities. Players face off in a best-of-three match format, aiming to deplete their opponent’s health bar before time runs out. While the controls are somewhat simplistic compared to polished fighters of the era, they offer a surprising variety for an NES title. Characters have unique animations and slightly different abilities, adding a layer of strategy in choosing who to play as.
Visually, Kart Fighter showcases colorful and recognizable sprites of the Mario characters, albeit with a distinctively off-brand appearance due to its unlicensed nature. The backgrounds are simple but feature elements that evoke the Mario universe, creating a loose connection to the source material. The music and sound effects, while not directly pulled from Mario Kart, are chiptune renditions that feel appropriate for the NES’s technical limitations and add to the game’s charm.
Kart Fighter stands out for its audacity and creativity, even if it is rough around the edges. The game’s controls can feel unresponsive at times, and the hit detection is inconsistent, leading to moments of frustration. However, its novelty as an unlicensed Mario fighting game has given it a cult following over the years, with fans appreciating its bizarre mash-up of genres and its ambitious attempt to bring a fighter to the NES. Despite its flaws, it remains a curious and entertaining piece of gaming history.