It’s tempting to think that when it’s time to bring out a new Mario Kart, Nintendo bring out a large fruit machine from their basement, pull the lever, and whatever it comes up with is what they include in the next game. “So we’ve landed on coins, Daisy and blue shells. So coins have to come back, Daisy has to be a character and blue shells return for the 6th bloody time.”
I say this because of how with each new Mario Kart, Nintendo experiment with a host of fresh ideas while bringing back a host of old ones, and sometimes it can make the series seem a little random. The constant chopping and changing of the battle mode, toying with new race features and often bringing old ones from the dead; you certainly can’t accuse them of not being willing to experiment. Mario Kart 7 is in many ways an eclectic mix of past games in the famous series. Case in point, the return of gold coins, last seen in Super Circuit on the Game Boy Advance, is an indication of just how far back Nintendo has searched the series history for what works and what doesn’t.
The result is a game that is quintessentially a Mario Kart and is proud of it. It makes no apologies for its gravity defying tracks and eclectic cast of characters. It has no qualms with bombarding your path with heaps of power ups. And it most certainly will not apologise for leaving you incandescent with rage as you lose on the line from another blue shell attack. And of course, this makes it the same old Mario Kart we all know and love, and a phenomenally strong racing game as a result.
That’s not to say it fears powersliding into new territory. The most obvious addition is gliders attached to the vehicles that allow you to soar over the track and rival racers, and gives the developers an excuse to fill the tracks with plenty of whopping great jumps. Also added are underwater sections where your kart is powered by a rotor blade, which don’t drop the jaw quite as much but do offer plenty of multiple routes for you to explore and exploit.
Other changes are more subtle but just as important. A decent vehicle creation screen adds to the traditional light/medium/heavy character selection conundrum, with the choice of kart, wheels and even parasail affecting your characters performance. It’s a simple, yet clever addition, and ensures one character does not steal the spotlight from the others. It’s just as much about car selection as it is about character choice, adding an added layer of strategy and plenty of unlockable extra parts to discover.
The tracks are far from restrained, and are much more of a celebration of the Mario universe then other instalments. A romp through a piranha plant infested tunnel clearly influenced by level 1-2 of Super Mario Bros, an ice world surrounded by floating globes from Mario Galaxy, a massive jump of a mountain while gliding past a maze of green pipes and a race through DK’s jungle with a clear influence from the recent Donkey Kong Country Returns, are all highlights. And it culminates with the craziest, longest and most colourful Rainbow Road to have yet graced the series. Though was it entirely necessary to have two tracks set on Wuhu Island from Wii Sports Resort?
The selection of retro tracks has largely been influenced by the ones the developers feel would be best suited to the underwater and gliding additions, but in that case, why no Royal Raceway from 64? They have picked the best tracks from the Wii and DS games, but otherwise it’s a strange selection, though it’s always nice to see the SNES rainbow road again.
There’s a much stronger selection of characters to choose from in this game, much improved from the fillerific Wii game and the strange cast of the DS title. Queen Bee and Wriggler are odd choices granted, but better than having baby versions of Mario, Luigi, Peach and Daisy. Though many are still waiting for Magikoopa to turn up, after he was tragically cut from 64, Rosalina, Metal Mario and at long last Lakitu are all inspired selections.
In single player it’s all about Grand Prix and Time Trial, with the option of indulging in a battle mode designed to be played with human opposition. There is no single player VS mode, a strange and unwelcome omission for those who fancy a quick blast on a certain track without having to indulge in a full-on Grand Prix. Yet Time Trial and it’s unique brand of ghost busting remains as addictive as ever, and it will take you a while to unlock everything there is to unlock in the Grand Prix’s.
Of course, the slightly trimmed single player is all to compensate for a strong online, one which takes Nintendo another inch closer towards a competent online network. Expecting them to adopt an Xbox Live rival overnight is asking too much, but they at least are beginning to understand why it is people play online. They do so to compete and communicate with likeminded players with an equivalent level of skill, and as a result do not need to hide away behind friend codes. Nevertheless, a buttery smooth online combined with a decent lobby system is very progressive stuff from Nintendo.
As Mario Kart Wii played to the strengths of the system, so does 7. It provides some of the best 3D graphics Nintendo’s new portable, and sometimes you can’t tear yourself away from the fantastic 3D effects. A return to analogue controls (naturally) will appease the old time fans, and it offers a precise and responsive control scheme that will see you powersliding from corner to corner. Though mercifully snaking has been eradicated thanks to a tweak to the sliding system.
It’s simple enough when it comes down to it. It’s Mario Kart, and you know exactly what you’re getting. It’s frantic fun from the first countdown and offers plenty from the seasoned racing game pro to the part time gamer. If you’ve played and loved any previous game in the series, you will love this game. Yet behind this simple conclusion is a hidden message of intent from Nintendo. That they are not content to rest on their laurels when all they could do is bring out another identical title and watch it sell. The tweaks and additions ensure that while you are fully aware you are playing a Mario Kart, you in no way regret it.
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