Releases

The two versions compared on this page are the following:

Title screen

On the title screen, the logo box was enlarged, allowing the block letters to be spread out a bit more. Some of the letters were also redesigned slightly.

Japanese version	U.S. version

Next, we'll isolate the scrolling background. The umbrella and Japanese "Mario Kart" lettering were removed, while the mushroom was moved up and to the left.

Japanese version
U.S. version

Here's a close-up of the removed umbrella drawing, which has "マリオ" (Mario) and "ピーチ" (Peach) written underneath it. Similar to how in America we draw a heart and write two names inside it, Japanese sweethearts draw what's called an ai-ai gasa ("love-love umbrella").

Menu memory

Unlike the Japanese release, the U.S. version remembers your menu choices leading up to the racer select screen, and will have your previous choices already selected the next time you go through the menus. This change allows you to mash the B button to quickly choose the same game mode that you played last time.

Trophy ceremony

Congrats

There were several changes to the trophy ceremony. We'll start by pointing out that the Japanese version uses orange text for the type of race (e.g. "50cc Mushroom Cup Race"), but it was changed to plain white text for the U.S. release. Another easy-to-see change here is the new ribbon graphic behind the big "congratulations" message in the U.S. version. If you finish in 1st place, the ribbon is blue.

There's a red ribbon for 2nd place...

...and a silver ribbon for taking 3rd.

Don't drink and race

After earning a gold trophy, each driver has his or her own celebration animation involving one or more bottles of champagne. In the Japanese version, Bowser and Princess drink the champagne! However, alcohol usage went against Nintendo of America's content guidelines, so they gave Bowser and Princess new animations for the U.S. release.

Bowser chugs his champagne in the Japanese game, but he drinks nary a drop in the U.S. version. Instead, he holds the bottle at a different angle when he puts his arms up. Also, a new frame was added to have him clap with the bottle.

Japan	U.S.

In the Japanese version, Princess is visibly tipsy from sipping her champagne. In the U.S. version, her drinking motion became a throwing motion -- she repeatedly throws the bottle straight up and catches it when it comes down.

Japan	U.S.

Two players, two fonts

For the 2P results screen, the Japanese version stays consistent with the "Ranked Out!" and "Game Over" screens by using a thick font, but the U.S. version uses its skinnier font here. The kanji next to the win/loss totals were removed in favor of "W" and "L" column headings.

Characters

Notes:

• When Super Mario Kart was released, Peach was still known as "Princess Toadstool" in North America.

Cups & Courses

Cups

Courses