Mario Kart Worldis making changes to the traditionalMario Kartformula with a full open world to explore in Free Roam and interconnected tracks in Grand Prix. All of these new changes solidifyMario Kart Worldas the true next-generationMario Kartexperience that players have been waiting for.
As well as altering the standard gameplay of the series and adding someMario Kartnewcomers,Mario Kart Worldalso introduces a new racing mode: Knockout Tour. The mode is a great new addition to freshen up the series, and it may also be the answer toF-Zero’s future.
Knockout Tour’s Eliminations Fit the Frenetic Gameplay of F-Zero
Knockout Tour Is a Racing Battle Royale
Mario Kart World’s Knockout Tourpits 24 racers against each other in a race across six segments of the map, and the bottom four players are eliminated as they reach each checkpoint. Players will need to use every shortcut and item at their disposal to remain ahead of the pack, or they will risk getting knocked out.
In standardMario Kartraces, players in lower positions are compensated with stronger items like the Bullet Bill or the dreaded blue Spiny Shell, but these are not a comfort in Knockout Tour because of the looming threat of elimination. Things become more dangerous for leading players, too, as the fewer racers there are on the track, the higher the chance that someone nearby has access to one of the more powerfulMario Kartitems.
Why Knockout Tour Is Perfect for F-Zero
InF-Zerogames, players must fight against the course as much as other racers. The hazardous terrain and sharp turns can result in a machine losing power and being eliminated from the race. The core game design, being focused on staying in the race to avoid getting knocked out, aligns itself well withMario Kart World’s Knockout Tour mode. TheF-Zeroseries prides itself on difficulty, relying on the player to push through the intense races, which is the exact experience offered in Knockout Tour.
The battle royale spin-offF-Zero 99shares even more similarities withMario Kart’s new mode. In particular, the rank out system works very similarly to knockouts in Knockout Tour, which thin the player count with each successive lap.Mario Kart Worldups the intensity by removing a more significant percentage of racers, and this is somethingF-Zerocould learn from. WhilerecentF-Zero 99updateshave raised the stakes somewhat, it would be interesting for the series to adopt Knockout Tour’s rules within its main mode.
As much as both are tests of endurance, the gameplay gets particularly hectic the further back in the race the player is. InF-Zero 99, players are equipped with abilities to knock other players out early by draining their energy, so those in a lower position are likely to desperately claw their way to a secure spot. In thisnewMario Kartmode, items don’t mean instant elimination, but they can be the difference between survival and knockout if used thoughtfully.
Mario Kart Shares DNA With F-Zero
It makes sense thatMario Kart World’s new Knockout Tour mode fits withF-Zero, as the series are closely related to one another. Players are already able to experience the exhilarating speeds ofF-Zero’s Mute City andBig Blue inMario Kart 8, by using the Captain Falcon Mii costume and Blue Falcon kart, should they want a familiarF-Zeroexperience. WithMario Kart’s common references toF-Zero, it’s possible that the Knockout Tour eliminations were inspired by the series.
F-Zero Is Ready for a Revival
The future of theF-Zeroseries looked bleak for quite some time, but the recent release ofF-Zero 99has breathed some life back into the series. However, it is not a completely new installment, but rather the addition of a battle royale mode to the SNES original with some minor tweaks. By leaning into the battle royale concept and makingMario Kart World’s Knockout Tour fit the series, it’s not impossible forF-Zeroto be revived for the Switch 2.
Even if it is similar to the mode inMario Kart World, a newF-Zerotitle could still stand on its own. Knockout Tour is undoubtedly intense, but the items keep the mode casual, giving players close to elimination more opportunities to catch-up.F-Zeroinstead relies fully on the player’s mettle and their capabilities to control their machine at blistering speeds. Rather than players only being eliminated passively,F-Zerowould also allow them to actively knock others out, making for a more chaotic race experience. The producer ofF-Zero GXhas expressed interest in a new project, andMario Kart Worldmay have provided a golden opportunity.
Mario Kart Worldis an impressive new take on the series, daring to go against tradition to try new gameplay features. The Knockout Tour mode stands out as a bold direction for the franchise, but the parallels with theF-Zerogames cannot be hidden.F-Zerohas not received a new mainline releasein around two decades, but the newMario Kartmode could present a path forward for the series. By emphasizing the destructive gameplay of the originals and incorporating the focus on elimination introduced inF-Zero 99andMario Kart World’s Knockout Tour,F-Zerocould have a promising future ahead.
