How Mario Kart World Pushes the Boundaries of the Racing…

Mario Kart World is the long-awaited new entry in the Mario Kart series. After over a decade since the initial release of Mario Kart 8, fans are now finally able to see what the next generation of the series looks like with Mario 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.

Although Mario Kart World is 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 like Mario Kart World’s camera controls, but it also plays with new mechanics that are unexpected in this genre but may be typical in others.

Every New Feature Confirmed For Mario Kart World So Far

Mario Kart World has just been officially revealed, and its announcement trailer was packed to the brim with exciting new features for the franchise.

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By Cameron Swan

Mario Kart World Seems Inspired by Mario’s Platforming Roots

Mario Kart World seems 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 new Free Roam mode. Fans of open-world racers might draw comparisons to other racing series like Forza Horizon and Need for Speed, but Mario Kart World still 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 the Super Mario series: 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 the experimental Sonic R. Mario Kart World appears 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, but Mario 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 on Mario Kart World showcased some of these missions, and many seem to be platforming challenges, another indication that it is leaning into this genre.

The reintroduction of one classic Mario Kart item is another indication of the game’s platformer inspirations. Mario Kart World’s Feather item last appeared in Mario 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 that Mario Kart World is subtly acknowledging its 3D platformer influences is in this Nintendo Direct. When details were given on the Free Roam mode, longtime Super Mario fans may have recognized that the music used is from Super Mario 64’s iconic Bob-Omb Battlefield. It likely isn't a coincidence that Mario Kart World’s platformer-inspired mode is revealed using the soundtrack from the first 3D platformer in the Super Mario series.

Mario Kart World Doubling Down Controversial Feature

Mario Kart World is Doubling Down on the Series’ Most Controversial Feature

A few of the smaller additions to Mario Kart World have added up to paint the picture of an even more chaotic environment than usual.

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By Liam Ferguson

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 resurgence in recent years, and it seems like Mario Kart World may be drawing from them. Games like Super Mario 64, Banjo-Kazooie, and Donkey Kong 64 place 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 will unlock Mario 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. This expands on Mario 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 as Mario Kart World offers. It’s not clear yet if these costumes are available for every character, particularly the standard Mario enemies, 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 from Forza Horizon with Mario 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 World seems like an evolution of the classic Mario Kart formula, 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 could influence the Mario Kart series moving forward, but it could also inspire other racing series to push the boundaries too.

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