Mario Kart World Direct review: Start your engines

With each new system that comes out, comes a range of launch titles that help sell the system, weather it’s that first party exclusive or the third party showcase that new system’s potential. This is true when the Switch 2 has a new Mario Kart game launching on the same day as the new system, titled Mario Kart World. 

 

Like any cart racer game, Mario Kart World is a racing game where you play as your favorite Mario characters as you aim for first place across multiple tracks. This time, however, all these courses are connected with an open world that you can explore anywhere on roads, fields, the sky, and even the sea. Some of these new courses you’ll race on include Mario Bros Circut, the illuminus Crown City, venice-inspired Salty Salty Speedway, the winter wonderland Starview Peak, the haunted Boo Cinema, and so many more. While these new courses look fun to race on, I feel like this game might be a bit too ambitious. 

 

You can’t forget about the racers for a game like this, and Mario Kart World has alot of them to fill up that 24 racer slot. You have your iconic racers such as Martio, Luigi, Peach, Bowser, and Yoshi, but this game includes brand new racers such as Goomba, Spike, and a Moo Moo Medows Cow. While this game doesnt have the kart customization like some previous titles, it makes up for it by having a ton of karts for everyone to drive.

 

With that out of the way, they showcased two types of racing that you can do. From the classic Gran Prix of four courses at a time plus the ability to drive to the next course, making it 7 races per cup. The second type of racing is known as Knockout Tour, which you race from one end of the map to the other, going through 6 courses along the way. But you need to stay above a certian place in order to stay racing. 

 

What better way to showcase Mario Kart Tour is with a showcase of items. Tons of previous items return, like the classic green shell, bananas, and even the dreaded blue shell, but they also added items this time around. Some of these include the Coin Shell, which lays coins on the track, the Ice Flower gives you the ability to freeze enemies. The Hammer Item lets you throw hammers. The Mega Mushroom, which makes its return from Mario Kart Wii, lets you become a giant. And the feather item, which was only used in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s battle mode, lets you leap over items and racers. These new items can change the way the game is played, along with the other old ones, that makes for unpredictable elements in any race.

 

Theres even some helpful tools for those new racers who are just getting into MArio Kart, including Smart Steering, Auto Accellerate, and Auto use Item.

 

One of the more unique things ive seen in this game is the appearance of drive through meals which lets you unlock costumes for your characters, depending on where you get the food from. 

 

With each new Mario Kart game, theres brand new tricks that add mobility to the races, like jumping and wall riding, so you can get a leg up on the competition. There’s also the added rewind feature, which lets you try again at times, but you will lose positions. 

 

Other nifty features that the game include time trial mode, which you race by yourself for the fastest time. A vs mode, which are fun races that arent connected to the grand prix for you and local friends. And also a battle mode, which lets you either pop your enemies balloons, or gathering the most coins. 

 

Perhaps the most interesting thing about Mario Kart World is the ability to free roam the entire map. No stress, no rush, no other racers firing items at one another, just you, some friends, and the open world, filled with secret missions, discovering new shortcuts, and tons more. This, I think, might be the best addition to the game. They even added a photo mode, so you can make memories while racing. 

 

When it comes to Mario Kart, alot of people like myself always like the fact that you can play with friends and family, and Mario Kart World is no different. You can play up to 4 people on one system, 16 people on 8 systems, and online up to 24 players, both with races and battles. 

 

In conclusion, despite the pricing issues of the game, Mario Kart World is shaping up to be a knockout hit for the Switch 2 as it launches same day as the system on June 5th. It’s fast paced, it looks fun, and its new gimmicks is surly going to change the way we see this franchise forever. Let’s just hope it can live up to the controversial price tag of 80 USD.

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8/10