image credit: The Gamer
Mario Kart World launched worldwide alongside the powerful and popular Nintendo Switch 2, going along with the console generation’s motto of “All Together, Anytime, Anywhere” by bringing out a game full of multiplayer fun for people to play wherever and whenever they want. The question is, has Mario Kart World lived up to the hype, and how can it continue throughout the consoles’ lifespan as one of its best games ever.
Mario Kart World aims to completely change the game mechanics people are familiar with when it comes to standard racing. Not only can you drive on roads and terrain, in the sky, and on top of water, but an array of new movement options were added to the game to give it a very platforming, or rather a very “Mario” feel. With the ability to now rail grind, wall ride, charge jump, and even move the camera manually to aim at other racers, there are many new ways to improve and master racing. The simpler vehicle system, difficulty settings, and accessibility options allow for anyone to play even if they haven’t played before, and the multiple online and offline multiplayer modes of VS Race, Battle, Grand Prix and Knockout Tour are all designed with fun in mind and it shows.
One of my main issues with Mario Kart World, however, comes with its course and world design. The main gimmick of Mario Kart World is the world aspect itself; you have the ability to freely roam around a carefully constructed world with tracks and interconnecting roads, secret spots and mini tracks to discover which hold references to older games in the series with hundreds of missions, hidden panels, and medallions for users to collect as they explore. The number of tracks in the game is 30, which is smaller than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s 64 on release, and instead of extra tracks there are over 150 interconnecting roads which are more or less straight lines that players are forced to drive on during Grand Prix and online Vs Race modes, which are incredibly unengaging and only work in the Knockout Tour mode, where they are excellent due to the constant adrenaline and frenzy the mode creates. It’s a shame as well, because a lot of the new and old actual race courses such as Great Question Block Ruins, Wario’s Galleon, Bowser’s Castle and Dandelion Depths have some of the best design in the entire game, but people can not play the actual courses for an entire 3 laps and instead have to deal with an uninteractive and boring highway into only one lap of a course.
image credit: r/mariokart from user SkeletronDOTA, showing an example of a highway track and how long and boring it can be
The game is a visually and mechanically impressive game. Every soundtrack that belongs to the game from the courses to the opening theme to the big band or techno remixes of classic Mario, Yoshi, and Donkey Kong music is absolutely astounding to a point where many people online think Mario Kart World will easily win an award for its soundtrack. The new gameplay mechanics make for the best racing in the series ever, with insane shortcuts and fun track design working hand in hand to create an incredibly enjoyable experience for everyone playing, and the actual visual design of the world is stunning, ranging from meadows, mudlands, and forests to volcanoes and deserts, to even the bizzare places like a giant ice cream sundae, one of Bowser’s airships, and the magical Rainbow Road.
image credit: Dexerto, showing Acorn Heights at a beautiful sunset
There is another small issue, being the game’s roster of playable characters. There’s obvious mainstays like Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, and Bowser, but a number of fan favourites like Funky Kong appear to be completely absent and replaced with a number of “NPC” or “Enemy” characters, which are unlocked by the Kamek item, and a lot of the main characters have an extensive amount of costumes to unlock through the food that can be found around the world. While this does seem like something that plans to be expanded upon, as evidence suggests the possibility for DLC characters and costumes to be added later, it felt like something that the developers did lazily to fill out the roster even further to cut corners, especially with characters like Donkey Kong and Pauline only receiving one costume each.
Mario Kart World aims to succeed in, and rightfully succeeds, in two simple tasks: be the best Mario Kart game to date, and to sell the Nintendo Switch 2 and its motto. Between fast-paced and action-filled racing, amazing aesthetics, an awesome and satisfying list of new mechanics to make use of, and an incredibly fun vibe, Mario Kart World is a game that can be played all together, anytime, anywhere, even with the small hiccups that were made along the way to greatness. Mario Kart World gets a comfortable 9/10, and could increase that score in the future.
image credit: The Gamer, showing Yoshi driving through the air in Crown City, having fun!
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