“Mario Kart World,” the newest entry in the “Mario Kart” franchise, was shown in great detail at Nintendo’s latest Nintendo Direct presentation.
This presentation gave details on the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo’s newest console, as well as information on the many games planned to be released for both the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 consoles on June 5.
The game was originally teased in the first trailer for the Nintendo Switch 2 on Jan. 16 with no information given outside of that 10-second gameplay clip. Nonetheless, it left many gamers with bubbling excitement and high expectations for the franchise moving forward.
This trailer, shown at the Nintendo Direct, featured new game modes and available mechanics that change the fundamental gameplay of the “Mario Kart” series.
The trailer emphasized the central focus of this entry which is the open world map, as shown by the large and exciting new tracks compared to previous titles. The theme of “Mario Kart World” promotes the idea that players will be allowed to “drive virtually everywhere.”
With the game’s new rail grinding and wall riding mechanics, driving through courses will be more unique than ever.
In all racing modes, players will compete with 24 players at once – double the number of what the previous entries have allowed – while racing across large landscapes and using items they collect on the way.
Grand Prix remains mostly the same from its previous titles, where racers drive through four different consecutive tracks and gain points based on position to determine the winner.
An important difference made in this new installment would be the inclusion of in-between sections, where racers drive between courses.
Knockout Tour is a brand new game mode, similar to Grand Prix, where players will race through an assortment of courses. The twist is that players will be racing non-stop from place to place.
Racers must maintain a certain position when they reach checkpoints along the way. If they fail to do so, they are knocked out and cannot continue to race.
New to the series is Free Roam mode, which allows players to freely explore the tracks to their heart’s desire outside of the racing modes. It also gives players the freedom to explore the world to find secrets, shortcuts for future races and the opportunity to enjoy the scenery.
Free Roam, alongside the other modes, are available for local multiplayer and with friends online. Players can also take advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2’s game chat function to talk with their friends online and watch each other play.
“Mario Kart World” will be featured as a title to be launched alongside the Nintendo Switch 2. A tie-in bundle which includes both the console and the game itself will be released on the same date, with a price of $500 total. The game itself will be sold at $80 separately.
This standalone price is higher than the Switch’s standard for first-party titles at $60, a change many gamers may find themselves at odds with.
Another Nintendo Direct centered around “Mario Kart World” is scheduled for April 17 and will reveal further details about the game’s many modes and other features.
With more freedom to race around the world of the Mario franchise than ever before, “Mario Kart World” looks to be an exciting new venture for the franchise.
