Mario Kart 7

Since the release of the 3DS earlier this year, owners of Nintendo’s latest handheld have undoubtedly been eagerly awaiting the release of a new installment of Mario Kart. Now they’ve got Mario Kart 7, the latest game in one of Nintendo’s most beloved series. As a key Nintendo franchise, we’ve all been hoping that this game would really deliver. So, does Mario Kart 7 earn itself a place in the winner’s circle, or does it get left in the dust by this season’s other racing game contenders? Read on to find out.

Modes

Mario Kart 7 has no traditional plot. In lieu of any attempt at narration, the game immediately throws the player into the core racing experience. Upon loading up the game you’re greeted with a seemingly simplistic title menu that consists of the game’s options of single player, local multiplayer and online multiplayer. Looks can be deceiving though, as any one of these choices reveals a deep and varied experience.

The single player options for Mario Kart 7 are surprisingly vast. The first option is the traditional Grand Prix mode, where the player can race in eight different cups, each comprised of four tracks. The first four cups feature tracks that are new to the franchise and exclusive to Mario Kart 7. The other four are remixed versions of previous tracks from the series, remade to accommodate some of the game’s newer innovations as well as 3D. In addition, the player can choose to complete each cup on one of three difficulty settings, ranging from easy to hard, which is great for players of all skill levels. Placing gold in every cup regardless of difficultly setting will unlock the Mirror mode option, allowing players to race tracks in reverse. This is a simplistic but impressive feature, as it ultimately breathes new life into each level and keeps them fresh.

When you first start up the game, there are initially eight character options for the player to choose from. For the most part these are the traditional Mario Kart stars, and include Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Bowser, Toad and Koopa Troopa.  Earning yourself first place in any Grand Prix Cup on the highest difficult setting will unlock up to eight new characters to race as, including the player’s Mii. This isn’t always an easy task, and may take some less experienced players a while to get those secret characters. Though the total amount of playable characters has been pared down since the last Mario Kart, this installment does introduce some brand new characters to the franchise.

For those that prefer to set personal records, Mario Kart 7 also has a Time Trial mode. In this the player can choose to race alone or compete against up to eight ghosts for the best possible time on any given course. If you need a break from racing, there's also has a Balloon Battle mode, as well as a Coin Runners mode. Balloon Battle pits players against one another, as they race circles around a relatively small track and attempt to use power-ups to pop opponents’ balloons. Coin runners is slightly similar, but much more hectic. Players collect and accumulate coins that are scattered around each track, while opponents use various power-ups to inflict damage and steal coins that drop. These battle modes fail to grow old quickly because there are tons of ways that the player can customize each battle. Simply changing the track or the type of power-ups that are available in a battle can change the entire dynamic of the event, and given the sheer amount of options available to tweak and play around with, fans of Mario Kart battle modes could be kept busy for a long time.

Multiplayer has become an integral aspect of any racing game nowadays, and Mario Kart 7 has embraced the concept wholeheartedly. The local multiplayer option allows up to eight friends to play off of one cartridge, which is convenient for those who aren’t ready to make the purchase but want to check out how well the game handles.

The online multiplayer is surprisingly intense, and it’s clear that a lot of thought was put into making it a key feature of the game. Online connectivity is virtually flawless, and players can easily jump into a race with opponents from around the world. This is the simplest method Mario Kart 7 offers for online play, but it’s undoubtedly addictive and players can expect to devote hours of time racing with a global community of fans.

The game also allows players to establish racing communities, which makes for an even more in-depth multiplayer experience. Players can customize cups or races, allowing others with a similar taste to race exclusively within the established community parameters. This is really something great, as it adds such a sense of variety and creativity to the game.

To top all this off, the game also gives players the ability to exchange data via Streetpass and Spotpass, allowing them to connect with other players in interesting new ways. Ghost data used for the time trials, Miis and community types can all be traded using these methods. 

Gameplay

The controls for Mario Kart 7 feel as natural as ever. Though they seem rather simplistic, the truth is they’re easy to learn but will actually take a while to master. The controls are pretty much what you’d expect from a Mario Kart game, with the inclusion of a drifting element. The longer the player drifts, the greater the speed boost at the end of the drift will be. While this is certainly a fun mechanic, it didn’t always feel entirely necessary and somewhat underutilized.

One new innovation added to the control scheme for Mario Kart 7 is the ability to enter a first person point of view. Tapping up on the d-pad engages this, and while in first person the player can steer using the analog stick, or by titling the 3DS itself from side to side. This is a surprisingly nice addition to the generally consistent Mario Kart gameplay, as it gives players an entirely new way to experience the game. While the implementation of the 3DS’s gyroscope and the use of first-person perspective are certainly something new, don’t expect it to be something you rely upon. It’s fun to turn on and off during a race, but it most likely won’t be a perspective that Mario Kart veterans will come to embrace as their preferred viewpoint.

The Mario Kart franchise has long been known for its outstanding track design, and Mario Kart 7 certainly follows suit in this regard. Each course is clearly designed with core gameplay elements in mind, with a plethora of short cuts and alternate routes built in to each track. Like other Mario Kart titles, this one also stresses the concept of risk and reward. Players can opt to take a path that may grant a power-up or shave a few seconds off their overall time, but their decision may be one that involves more skilled driving and perhaps a pitfall that only more skilled players could avoid.

Mario Kart 7 has also introduced a couple of new gameplay mechanics, and as a result tracks are made even more complex than those of the franchise’s predecessors. Scattered throughout various courses players will find blue jumps. Launching off of these immediately equips a hang glider to the kart, allowing the player to sail through the air while controlling height and speed. The hang glider may take some a second to get used to, but once you do, it feels completely natural. So natural that it leaves one to wonder why they didn’t include it sooner.

Aside from the fact that it’s a lot of fun to hit a jump and fly through the air, the hang glider adds a new complexity to the traditional Mario Kart gameplay. The player now has to consider whether it would be more beneficial to extend their air time to get at some lofty coins, or to touch down early and get ahead of opponents. Overall, it’s a great addition to the game, as it gives the player even more to think about when navigating each course.

Mario Kart 7 also features underwater segments, as players will inevitably find themselves submersed from time to time. The game feels a lot different during these generally brief periods, as the racers and their karts have a sort of lofty and slightly lethargic quality. While this is an interesting addition, it doesn’t feel entirely necessary, nor does it really change how the level plays out too much. While the hang glider provides Mario Kart 7 with a race changing mechanic, the underwater propeller segments seem included merely as a slight change of pace, rather than a feature that will really force you to question your racing strategy.

One undeniably cool feature that the game has brought to the table is the ability for players to customize their karts prior to racing. Throughout each track there are a number of coins for the player to collect. You can hold ten in all, but getting bashed by a shell or falling off the side of a track will reduce the number you’re holding. Gather enough coins, and various vehicle parts are unlocked. So even though each character in the game offers the same stats, it’s your cart and its components that make the real difference. Do you prefer better handling to speed? If that’s the case, simply swap wheels or change your chassis. The concept of interchangeable and customizable karts is a wonderful addition to the game, as it truly allows players to create a kart that conforms to their preferred play style.

Of course, Mario Kart 7 wouldn’t be a true Mario Kart title without a bunch of power ups. You’ll still find the items that have become staples of the series, the various shells and banana peels. The ink-spewing, screen-obscuring squid returns from Mario Kart Wii along with some of the more recent power ups, but the creators have also added a few new ones to keep the game interesting. Players can now pick up a fire flower, which allows them to toss fireballs for a limited amount of time. A tanooki tail has also been added, which lasts about as long as the fire flower and actually provides a nice offensive as well as defensive tool. The other notable item in Mario Kart 7 is the aptly named “Lucky 7” power-up, which gives players the ability to wield a variety of seven different items. Overall the array of power ups is fairly well rounded, with none of them feeling too exploitative. Many will still experience of the frustration the blue turtle shell, but that’s just Mario Kart for you, and given the sheer amount of enjoyment the game provides, the aggravation should quickly wane.

Presentation

One of the trademarks of the Mario Kart franchise is its extremely vibrant and colorful levels, and Mario Kart 7 surely delivers in this sense.  Each level has its own unique theme, as course design, visuals and sound effects combine to create a memorable experience one race at a time. One track you may find yourself doing laps through a ghost house and its surrounding gardens, dodging iconic Super Mario Bros. specters as they fade in and out. The next course may be something completely different, one comprised entirely of one long stretch of highway, complete with jumps and traffic to weave in and out of. As a result, playing through multiple cups in one sitting fails to get old, as the player never has to sit through multiple levels comprised of the same visuals or thematic elements. 

The use of 3D for the game is well done, but not entirely integral to the overall gameplay. In some courses you may notice it a lot more, and the effects can be quite impressive. In others, though, the 3D doesn’t make a whole lot of difference. To add to this, moving the 3DS itself too much results in significant blurring, which proves problematic if trying to race in first-person mode with 3D turned on. Thankfully, the gmae plays just as well with the 3D off, and none of the fun is lost.

Music and sound effects are very typical of the Mario Kart franchise, with catchy, upbeat tunes to accompany you as you speed through each track. The music is not nearly as infectious as a traditional Super Mario Bros. game, but overall it creates an enjoyable atmosphere and helps to remind the player not to take defeat too seriously. The character voices and sound effects are fun and recognizable as well, and many of them have been staples of the series for a long time. In the end you probably won’t find yourself humming the tunes of Mario Kart 7, but both the music and sound effects do justice to the series and should delight players while racing.

Closing comments

In many ways Mario Kart 7 is an updated version of classic car; it both looks and sounds great, and the improvements made only make it more appealing. With a wide array of single player and multiplayer options, players will certainly get their money’s worth with this title. The added gameplay elements have helped breathe new life into the long running franchise, with the hang glider being the most notable. Though the 3D could have been better utilized, Mario Kart 7 arguably has some of best visuals the franchise has seen to date. Add that to the use of lighthearted music and sound effects and you’ve got a truly enjoyable experience both on a visual and aural level. The bottom line is that Mario Kart 7 is excellent game, and is easily one of the best to date for the 3DS. Despite age or experience, this Mario Kart really has something for everyone to enjoy.

Written By: Rich Kovarovic

For news, reviews, previews and updates on your favorite games, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Have something to say? Leave a comment below.