With “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,” producer Kosuke Yabuki said he felt his team at Nintendo reached a finish line. In an interview published by the company, the developer said they perfected the formula that Nintendo had used since the original, and the team wanted to embark on a new adventure.
They wanted to bring a bigger scope to the, one where tracks are connected together, but they ran into hardware limitations on the Switch during development. “It was difficult for us to incorporate everything we wanted, so we were always conscious of what we were giving up in return,” said programming director Kenta Sato.
The game they imagined had difficulty running on a system that came out in 2016, and that problem found a solution with the Nintendo Switch 2. The console’s power allowed the team to create the natural evolution of the series, bringing it into a dazzling, enormous environment. The game was more than just another sequel with a new number. Yabuki said it deserved a new moniker and dubbed it “Mario Kart World.”
OPEN-WORLD VIA MARIO KART
At first glance, the open-world racing game will draw comparisons to the “Forza Horizon” series, but it doesn’t have that feel. The Nintendo racing game doesn’t have players wandering around a huge space doing quest lines. At its heart, this is still a “Mario Kart” game, and the fun still lies in chaotic competition.
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In “Mario Kart World,” players compete against 24 racers and travel on long, winding and complex tracks. Players will drift and toss items at each other to stall a competitor, so they can move ahead. Rubberbanding is still a factor in the gameplay, with players out front obtaining lower-quality items compared to those running behind, creating comeback opportunities.
What’s different, though, is how the open world impacted the track design and competition. The races in “Mario Kart World” are longer, and they stretch across different environments. Having such long races necessitated a wider competitive field and that created an experience that’s even more riotous, where there’s an equivalent of a NASCAR-like crash at every corner.
The structure also added a new emphasis on tricks. Aside from drifting on corners, players can now Wall Ride, Rail Ride and Charge Jump. These all provide short boosts while also opening up shortcuts for expert drivers. These new skills will take a while to master and they’re vital for success, especially on long straightaways and against computer-controlled opponents who are much sharper and ruthless compared to past games.
Players can race against friends online or on the couch in “Mario Kart World.” (Nintendo)
INTERCONNECTED RACING
All of this racing is framed in a new format. To take advantage of the open world, players drive from one course to the next, giving the eight cups in the Grand Prix a different vibe. It feels more natural like rally race as each track transitions into another. It cements the world in players’ imagination as the environments become less episodic but more of a complete whole.
That unique blending gives “Mario Kart World” a distinct perspective from open-world racing that’s different from “Forza.” It also leads to more fantastical track design. The courses in “Mario Kart World” feel like a Disneyland ride that tells a story with a beginning, middle and end. The pinnacle of this is the new Rainbow Road, which is a transcendent experience for those touching wheels to the technicolor thoroughfare.
Baby Luigi is one of several characters in “Mario Kart World.” (Nintendo)
Aside from the Grand Prix, Nintendo also introduced the Knockout Tour, which is a battle royale-type of competition that’s best played online. It pits 24 racers against each other as they go through several segments, and they have to be in the top 20 in one round, top 16 the next, until it cuts to the top 4. Again, the mode takes advantage of the open-world environment while also creating frantic but fun gameplay.
The last notable mode is the Free Roam, which lets players explore the world that Yabuki and his team crafted. Compared to “Forza,” “Mario Kart World” doesn’t have as many activities. Players will run into P Switch challenges that will test their racing skills and teach them techniques they need to become better drivers. They can also collect Peach Coins or regular ones. They’re needed to unlock Stickers and new cars respectively.
Sadly, there’s not more that players can do, but the world itself has unbelievable potential with so many variations built into the map. It’s a packed playground and Yabuki and his team will likely have more magic coming down the track.
‘Mario Kart World’
Three and a half stars out of four
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2
Rating: Everyone