If you're interested in Mario history or seeing what some of your friends might have grown up addicted to (if you didn't have it yourself on GBA), this is a diversion worth checking out for a little while. I basically just played through every cup to get a win on 100cc and roll credits ... had I spent more time with the game trying to take it seriously, I think the more frustrating aspects would have gotten on my nerves far more. But I don't need to unlock the SNES courses because I already played way too much SMK growing up (which may be why I was primed to cut this game some slack).

Still, I think the aesthetics and track ideas here are really nice, considering the limitations they had to work with, and started to lay the groundwork for some of the really cool ideas the MK series went on to explore. Intelligent Systems brought the same care and creativity for the Mushroom Kingdom that they were introducing in Paper Mario at this time (even literally including Bowser's floating castle from the first PM game). Including their love of Yoshi's Island elements and stylistic inspiration.

I dunno, people seem quick to write this one off, but I think it has its charm. There's very little reason to go back to it, of course, except as a curiosity. See what it's all about, and if you hate the controls, it's fine to leave this one in the past.