Mario Kart 7 Review

The decision to title the latest 3DS incarnation of the Mario Kart series Mario Kart 7 may seem an odd choice at first, especially considering that there is no game titled Mario Kart 6. Or Mario Karts 2 through 5, for that matter. No, the previous titles all forewent the number system for their own unique sub-titles, such as Double Dash and Super Circuit, or simply specifying what system the title appears on, like Mario Kart 64.

So why the decision to implement a numbering scheme for a series that, until now, has never seen one?

Judging from the game itself I'd assume that it's because, whereas titles like Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart: Double Dash sought to distinguish themselves through new gimmicks (motion control for Wii and two-person karts in Double Dash, for example), Mario Kart 7 is very much a celebration of its past. Rather than implement new and unique elements, it plays with (and fine-tunes) the classic formula that gamers have loved since the release of Super Mario Kart in 1992. Sure, there are still a few spiffy new gimmicks (hang gliders being the most jarring addition), but they are implemented with restraint in relation to the rest of the game.

For those who are unfamiliar with the Mario Kart series, the premise has remained unchanged for the past 19 years: playing as one of various characters from the Mario world, players race their go-karts against seven other racers over several colourful tracks, all the while collecting devastating power-ups that serve to add to the overall chaos. It's fast, frenetic, and a heck of a lot of fun.

Mario Kart 7 is no different. The controls are great, the frame rate solid, and the graphics are cute and cartoony. Considering this is the first Mario Kart to be released in stereoscopic 3D, I was pleased to discover that the developers really held themselves back from having this be a very in-your-face experience similar to that offered in last month's Super Mario 3D Land. In fact, besides the occasional Blooper squirting ink into the screen, there's very little that draws attention to the system's 3D. Rather, it is subtly used to enhance the overall visual experience. Naysayers of 3D in gaming may want to check out this title. You may not think the 3D to be that useful, but try playing this game without the 3D and you'll realize how much you rely on it, whether by gauging the distance needed for a jump, or to determine exactly how far ahead a rival racer is.

As far as gameplay goes, this has the same gameplay Mario Kart fans know and love, only it's incredibly polished. The vehicles have excellent handling, and the controls are intuitive. Fair warning, though: if you're anything like me, your right thumb will be incredibly sore after only half an hour or so of playing, from holding down the A button with all your might.

As I mentioned before, Mario Kart 7 focuses less on game-defining gimmicks and more on fine-tuning the Mario Kart experience. You'll find all the best elements of past games (unless you loved the 2-player karts of Double Dash) collected into one cohesive package, from Super Mario Kart's coin collecting to Mario Kart DS' online modes (more on that later). There's even an optional mode that allows you to steer your kart by tilting your 3DS like the Wii motion controls, but this feature will likely not appeal to most of the owners of this game, and is thankfully easy to opt out of.

That's not to say that Mario Kart 7 is without its new and unique features. As mentioned before, there are now brief hang gliding segments, as well as underwater segments. These are usually very brief, and seem more an afterthought. I've heard some complain that these elements should have been implemented more, but personally I like how their subdued nature doesn't radically change the gameplay, but merely adds a bit of flavour.

The new tracks offered in this instalment of Mario Kart are generally all a lot of fun, and I applaud the idea to make some of the tracks one large course split into three segments, as opposed to the standard small track that is simply lapped three times. Of the 32 tracks offered, 16 of them are brand new, and they are pretty much all great. Most are very inventive, and just wait until you see the new Rainbow Road for the first time. The other 16 are “classic” tracks taken from past Mario Kart games and they range from good to great, though I would have wished for a higher ratio than 1:1 of new tracks to old.

As for the characters, there are a surprising amount of new ones to choose from, especially considering the small roster of just 16 characters. This means that there will be several mainstays who didn't return this time around. While I'm sure many people will lament the lack of certain favourites, I'd gladly trade characters like Waluigi and Toadette for the almighty Lakitu.

Another new feature that I'm a huge fan of is the ability to customize your own kart, hand-picking from a selection of various bodies, tires, and gliders to end up with a kart that suits your driving style. If you favour reaching top speeds as soon as possible, try the Bumble V design. More interested in accurate handling? Then you'll want the roller wheels. These distinctions will seem fairly trivial in earlier, more lenient cups, but they can be the difference between success and failure when racing in 150 cc races, or when you're trying to shave milliseconds off your records in Time Trial mode.

Speaking of Time Trial mode, Mario Kart 7 offers an experience that rivals the standard Grand Prix mode. New data is constantly downloaded to your cartridge through the 3DS's SpotPass feature, allowing you to try your time against racers from all over the world. What's more, you can see exactly where you fit on the worldwide bell curve of each track's Time Trial. Once you've unlocked every character through Grand Prix, you'll probably spend quite a lot of time trying to master each track so you can proudly show you're better than the rest of the world.

Once you're done with Grand Prix and Time Trial mode, besides the occasional dabble in Coin Running and Battle mode, you'll probably spend the rest of your time squaring off against players from around the world in Online mode. This is one of the strongest features of the game. The challenge is intense, as you'll be playing against some of the most hardcore racers (no friend codes required) with very little annoying load times and no lag. Plus, there is the option to form communities where you can fine-tune the rules, such as only allowing a certain item to be allowed. This is great for people who love to play Mario Kart but are afraid of Blue Shells (or, as I like to call those people, babies).

Overall, Mario Kart 7 is a very impressive addition to the Mario Kart franchise, and a must-buy for both fans of the series and newcomers alike. If you own a 3DS, pick up your copy today. And if you're playing Online mode and come across a Lakitu burning tracks in a Koopa Clown kart and roller tires, be sure to say hello.

(last image by Mike Puncekar)