Mario Kart World is just two days away and fans’ expectation is rightfully high. It’s the main title that launches for Nintendo Switch 2, the first open world game in the Mario Kart series, and is the sequel to the massively popular Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and, to top it off, this, Nintendo’s very first game priced at $80 since the N64 days and has triggered plenty of discussion on the internet. There’s much going on with this one and I’m happy to say that after having around five hours enjoying unrestricted accessibility to the latest game I’m sure that Mario Kart World’s racing excitement will launch Nintendo’s eighth generation with a blast although I’m not entirely sold on the open-world aspect of it.
My first preview of the demo in April was extremely restricted. When the steering assist was activated and the demo was set to 100cc, and I only saw two options. This time, the training wheels were removed and I tried what I thought was the version you’ll have to purchase in June 5 with an extensive collection of characters (including Cow, everyone’s favorite) Cow) and the ability to select any mode or setting I needed.
Mario Kart World Screenshots
So I decided to be Mario (basic you know) and then switched between several Karts – including the amazing R.O.B. bike – before attempting Free Roam, which is the most questioned aspect of Mario Kart World. A first in the series, Free Roam takes the spotlight off of racing and puts its spotlight directly on exploration and allows players to ride through the vast interconnected highways. Nintendo promises to release thousands of P Switch missions in Free Roam however, although I’m not going over the ultimate number however, I can assure you that it takes only the equivalent of a few seconds driving around in any direction to find the difficulties. They’re everywhere and after being worried that they’d be all too easy based on the videos Nintendo has released thus far I was delighted to discover by the fact that I failed several instances of P Switch missions on my first try – or being unable to complete the task or missing a crucial jump. Some of them seemed like they required the mastery of Mario Kart World’s brand-new Tony Hawk-inspired parkour techniques.
One of the missions within The Bowser’s Castle area had me sliding across walls and slid over at just the perfect moment to transform into an airplane. the timing was extremely difficult and you’re fortunate to have the option to try a new game immediately after failing, instead of having to drive back to the starting point by yourself. The P Switch missions can also bring temporary creatures and objects to the landscape, such as one in which I had to maneuver my aircraft around dinosaurs that popped up. I’ve only played a few of the countless challenges to be faced the players, and I’m not certain if the fun will last for the duration needed to complete each one however I’ve been enjoying the experience so far.
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Mario Kart World: Character Select Screens
Unfortunately, the other aspects of Free Roam hasn’t gripped me at this point. The IGN’s Simon Cardy wrote a feature that addressed his concerns with regard to the open-world experience and, though I believe I’m a bit more optimistic about the subject than he is at this point, I am with the general opinion that there’s not much to do other than those P Switches. There are a few collectibles scattered around via Peach Medallions as well as Block Panels that let you unlock the hundreds of stickers you could apply to the side of your kart. But those I saw were not particularly unique or difficult to locate I was unable to experience the sense of excitement and joy in other Nintendo games such as Tears of the Kingdom and Super Mario Odyssey completely nailed.
Driving around on its own could feel a bit slow when you take a turn off the road in grass or sand. This restriction is understandable for the racing of Mario Kart where leaving the route you want to go without a Mushroom can have severe consequences, but the sensation of a slower speed on more difficult terrains made me less inclined to investigate. I’m still unable to sink the worm into Free Roam, so maybe there’s a game-changing idea that’s waiting to be discovered, but I’m not putting my money on it. So far it’s been a bit disappointing. Roam is more like something to eat with a side dish, instead of the rich and transformative open-world experience that the majority of people want.
It’s possible as the primary focus for Mario Kart World was always going to be racing and it felt at the beginning of my first race on 150cc. It’s a great experience to turn, drift and boosting are all as precise as you’d expect and the open-world layout truly shines in this fresh version of the formula. Knockout Tour remains the star of the show, and playing cross-country with 23 other competitors while trying to make sure you don’t fall into the bottom four players before the next cutoff date is thrilling. Every single shot I fired felt vitally important, and regardless of regardless of whether I was at the front or at the bottom of the pack my heart was racing trying to get into the next round.
The six races run mostly on the roads between Mario Kart World’s designated tracks and, as I walked through fun reimaginings for returning tracks such as Mario Kart 7’s Shy Guy Bazaar and brand-new locations such as the thrilling Uncharted-like Great Block Ruins, I started to realize the vast number of alternative tracks that I’m eager to master when the complete game comes released. If you’re able to time it right, a Golden Mushroom can catapult you from back to front within the quick blink of an eye because certain shortcuts on the highways permit you to cut out a massive part from the course. I can already see that the most dedicated players (myself including) will be having a blast figuring out the most efficient routes and pushing these tracks to the limit.
I’ve been concerned that lengthy and broad straightaways that are present within each Knockout Tour as well as the redesigned Grand Prix – could be boring in comparison with the turns and twists of tracks however Nintendo has stuffed the interstate with vehicles to steer clear of, enemies that shoot projectiles and a lot of chances to grind rails and use the brand-new Charge Jump technique to reach additional zones. In all straightaway sections you’ll find something to grab my attention. There certain instances where I was merely holding A and not doing anything other than that, and the broad roads made it feel somewhat slow in comparison to the racing close-quarters on the designated courses. But, my worries were mostly quelled, and now I’m waiting to find out how these sections stand up to many repeat sessions.
For all the Mario Kart purists who just would like to complete three laps across the various tracks that are available in Mario Kart World, that classic choice is among the major attractions in VS Race and Time Trials and I was happy to discover that the top-quality track design that we have had come to expect hasn’t removed in favour of open-world elements. The new version of Peach Beach took me on a journey through the familiar waters directly of Double Dash before exploring an entirely new community, and DK Spaceport is a fantastic tribute to an arcade title that began everything – including the final music that any Donkey Kong fan will feel nostalgic for. If you’ve worried that the tracks wouldn’t be more unique than previous Mario Kart games, I believe you’ll relax.
The music in Mario Kart World might just have one of the most memorable music tracks that has ever been recorded in Nintendo history. Each race has an individual theme, like the rest, but above that the remixes played in Free Roam and Knockout Tour create Mario Kart World feel like an actual celebration of the 40th anniversary of Super Mario. While playing the game, I saw thematic references towards Super Mario Bros., Yoshi’s Island, Donkey Kong Country, Super Mario 3D World, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and pretty much every other game previous Mario Kart, and a many more. Every track I played was expertly modified to match Mario Kart World’s exciting style of driving, and I’m excited to experience every song it offers. And I won’t need to sit around for long, since Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch 2 will be available in just under 48 hours. Check back later in the week to read our review in progress and then our full analysis of Mario Kart World as we complete more races completed.
