Mario Kart Worldis the long-awaited new entry in theMario Kartseries. After over a decade since the initial release ofMario Kart 8, fans are now finally able to see what the next generation of the series looks like withMario Kart World. It offers similar gameplay and the classic tracks that players have come to expect, but with enough unique twists and mechanics for a fresh experience.
AlthoughMario Kart Worldis still abiding by the standard racing game formula, the gameplay shown in the recent Nintendo Directs suggests that the game isn’t afraid to go beyond tradition. This includes quality of life additions likeMario Kart World’scamera controls, but it also plays with new mechanics that are unexpected in this genre but may be typical in others.
Mario Kart World Seems Inspired by Mario’s Platforming Roots
Mario Kart Worldseems to be staying true to its name, emphasizing the world aspect of the game. Players are encouraged to pump the brakes on the high-speed item-throwing action by taking the scenic route in the newFree Roam mode. Fans of open-world racers might draw comparisons to other racing series likeForza HorizonandNeed for Speed, butMario Kart Worldstill manages to differentiate itself. Though it still undoubtedly falls within the racing genre, it is not limiting itself to just this, seemingly borrowing elements from another genre familiar to theSuper Marioseries: the 3D platformer. Players are no longer confined to the road thanks to the new Wall Ride ability, allowing them to overtake from overhead.
Merging racing elements with exploration and platformer mechanics is not a new concept, experimented with by Mario’s former corporate rival almost 3 decades prior in theexperimentalSonic R.Mario Kart Worldappears to take this idea further, though, making the karts themselves more agile without losing the feeling of standard racing game controls.
Free Roam Can Make the Most of New Platforming Abilities
The new Charge Jump, Grind, and Wall Ride abilities will all likely be essential for achieving top times in races, but where these features may really shine is the Free Roam mode. Some players may use this mode as an opportunity to take a leisurely drive, or plan out future routes for upcoming races, butMario Kart World’s Free Roam is full of secrets, including extra side missions to find in the open world. The Nintendo Direct which focused entirely onMario Kart Worldshowcased some of these missions, and many seem to be platforming challenges, another indication that it is leaning into this genre.
The reintroduction of one classicMario Kartitem is another indication of the game’s platformer inspirations.Mario Kart World’s Feather itemlast appeared inMario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Battle Mode, but has not been available to use in standard races since the first game in the series,Super Mario Kart. Players will find this useful for avoiding oncoming items, but its increased jump strength when compared to the Charge Jump gives players a lot more height, possibly enough to make some shortcuts.
Another hint thatMario Kart Worldis subtly acknowledging its 3D platformer influences is in this Nintendo Direct. When details were given on the Free Roam mode, longtimeSuper Mariofans may have recognized that the music used is fromSuper Mario 64’s iconic Bob-Omb Battlefield. It likely isn’t a coincidence thatMario Kart World’s platformer-inspired mode is revealed using the soundtrack from the first 3D platformer in theSuper Marioseries.
Mario Kart World’s Collect-a-thon Influence
Free Roam Is Covered With Different Collectibles
A platformer sub-genre that was popular during the Nintendo 64 era was the collect-a-thon.Collect-a-thons have seen a resurgencein recent years, and it seems likeMario Kart Worldmay be drawing from them. Games likeSuper Mario 64,Banjo-Kazooie, andDonkey Kong 64place players in large open spaces and task them with finding an assortment of different collectibles. From the gameplay shown,Mario Kart World’s Free Roam mode fits within this genre too.
Throughout the open world, players can expect to find the usual stacks of coins, as well as the new hidden Peach Medallions scattered around. Though their purpose is not yet known, it is speculated that these willunlockMario Kart World’s characters or vehicles. These aren’t all players will need to search for, though, as multiple hidden panels can be found across the map, with the total number of them activated being tracked per area.
There is also the Dash Food, another type of collectible. These each represent different cultural cuisines, and once eaten, an outfit inspired by the food is unlocked for the player’s character. Thisexpands onMario Kart 8’s customization, adding more ways for players to tailor their experiences to their own preferences by adding something else for them to collect. This should inspire fans who are looking to fill out the game’s roster to try out each of the game’s characters and collect Dash Food for them all, unlocking as many outfits asMario Kart Worldoffers. It’s not clear yet if these costumes are available for every character, particularly the standardMarioenemies, so players should look out for this when the game is released.
The Best Use for Mario Kart World’s New Rewind Feature
This new entry in the series appears to borrow fromForza HorizonwithMario Kart World’s new Rewind feature, allowing players to go back to an earlier point in the track and try it again. This doesn’t hold their place in the race, so rewinding could be detrimental to those with a strong lead. Instead, this may be more useful outside of races, giving players another chance at a jump to reach certain secrets.
Mario Kart Worldseems like an evolution of the classicMario Kartformula, and by channeling aspects of platformers and collect-a-thons, it’s changing how the whole racing genre is seen. It’s exciting to consider how this couldinfluence theMario Kartseries moving forward, but it could also inspire other racing series to push the boundaries too.
