Mario Kart World – Nintendo’s most feature-rich Mario Kart ever

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Mario Kart World could give the impression of being a safety-focused launch game for Switch 2, but here’s an interesting fact: The racing series starring Mario has never served as the flagship title for a brand new console before. Fortunately, Nintendo is going all out to ensure this version becomes the most feature-rich Mario Kart game yet!

This newly released game delves nine levels into its core, drawing influence from prominent genre trailblazers such as Forza Horizon, while broadening the franchise’s horizons by offering a vast open world brimming with the enchantment unique to Nintendo.

Prior to trying it out, I had worries that changing the conventional style of Mario Kart might lead to a weakening or, at best, a watering down of the authentic arcade feel.

Spending numerous hours on Switch 2’s main game, Nintendo’s intent with Mario Kart World becomes apparent – it doesn’t compel players to extensively explore its expansive world. Instead, it allows for flexible gameplay and transitions smoothly based on your preferences.

Welcome detour

Consider Mario Kart World’s open exploration like playing in a spacious park where you can freely run through various track courses solo or with companions, perfect your tricks, pause to take pictures, or search for hidden treasures.

Scattered all over the world’s map are P-Switches. Give them a whack with your chosen character or kart, and they’ll initiate a short time trial challenge for you to finish.

As an ardent enthusiast, my journey uncovered only a scant few of these treasures amidst the races, but every single one I discovered was distinctly special. Navigating through coins while dodging reckless Shy Guys (they’re terrible drivers) and reaching the finish line, or executing a series of seamless rail grinds – there’s never a lack of intrigue in this game!

In another part of the game, I stumbled upon a collectible coin adorned with Peach’s face, perched atop some intricate scaffolding. Grabbing it needed a bit of brainwork, like figuring out how to use a pressure-sensitive manhole cover. However, before I could add another coin to my collection, I was whisked away for another race, leaving the prize just out of reach.

You’ll find something interesting to engage with wherever you turn in this game’s vast world. Even the occasional distractions during free-roaming exploration seem carefully designed not to overstay their welcome, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience.

It’s time to race

Hosts of a multiplayer free-roam session can initiate races whenever they wish. It’s entirely up to you whether to join or not, and the host has the power to adjust several factors such as the duration of the break between races.

Making this game design choice creates an engaging play cycle where, upon finishing a race, you’re invited to take a short break and engage in various overworld activities – solo or interacting with competitors you’ve just raced against. The sequence then repeats, offering a captivating gaming experience.

Just as anticipated, the world’s many stages function as the main attraction, each vying to outdo the other in grandeur and spectacle. Here, there are no traditional laps to complete. Instead, each stage presents a unique race to the finish line, offering an exciting cross-country journey that feels like an epic tour.

DK Spaceport effectively encapsulates the charm of this innovative design. It starts off in an area reminiscent of a construction site, filled with nods to the classic NES Donkey Kong game at each juncture. The journey escalates into a nearly vertical ascent up zigzagging scaffolds, followed by a trip into space while dodging barrels hurled by a colossal Robo DK.

In the Mario Kart world, I didn’t anticipate experiencing visual storytelling, but each location seems to tell its own unique tale.

Or:

The visual narrative wasn’t something I was prepared for in a Mario Kart game, yet every single world location appears to have a story to share.

In previous games, you might have noticed that there were chances to outpace your teammates using different pathways. However, in this game, these opportunities seem significantly broader. Some of these paths can exclusively be reached by executing rail grinds or wall-driving stunts, which frequently demand a combination of both moves to stay on the route.

Some are so detailed that they seem like separate chapters, making them a delightful payoff for the effort put into understanding their structure.

Racing Royale

In contrast to past versions, VS and Battle modes make a comeback with additional features for enhanced multiplayer experience. However, what truly captivated me during the demonstration was the innovative introduction of Knockout Tour.

The classic VS and Battle modes are back in this iteration, boasting new elements to enhance multiplayer interactions. Yet, it’s the freshly introduced Knockout Tour that left a lasting impression on me during the sneak peek.

In this setup, 24 competitors take part in a unique race. At certain points along the track, the number of participants who move forward gets reduced as they pass these checkpoints. If a competitor doesn’t meet the required minimum at each checkpoint, they are eliminated from the competition. They then have the choice to watch the rest of the event or seek out another exciting challenge.

This new feature really enhances Mario Kart’s status as a popular choice for group gaming sessions. Invite your friends over, add the traditional array of power-ups and resurgence mechanisms, and enjoy the cheers and jeers as victories and defeats unfold throughout the game.

Keeping up

During my five hours playing Mario Kart World on the Switch 2, I didn’t experience any performance issues when it was docked. However, the frame rate dropped below 60 FPS only during four-player split-screen mode. Interestingly, the game deliberately decreases to 30 FPS in this situation, but still maintains a 60 FPS benchmark for two-player side-by-side play.

In the first round of the final knockout tournament, I was quickly knocked out. But despite the early exit, I became fascinated by the fresh Mario Kart gameplay format. It seems designed to introduce a new era for Nintendo’s console gaming.

Compared to a traditional numbered sequel, Mario Kart World appears to represent a more significant advancement in the series’ evolution. With fewer new games anticipated for the Switch 2 launch, Mario Kart World seems poised to become a timeless classic, offering enjoyment that will last throughout the console’s lifespan.

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2025-06-03 17:19