Mario Kart 7 is about what you’d expect out of the seventh entry in the series that has graced every major Nintendo platform since the Super Nintendo. Certainly there are new elements, powerups, modes and tracks; but it’s the same basic experience that it was in the last six outings. For most sequels, that sort of thing would elicit yawns and groans from players. In this case it means more of the classic goofy, delightful experience we’ve come to know and love over the past two decades.
Eight racers still square off in a series of cup competitions with four tracks in each of them. Flying past other racers and grabbing first and holding it for the majority of the race seems like a great strategy in any racing title – not so in Mario Kart. As usual, those pesky spiny blue shells will still come soaring up from the tail end of the pack and blow your dreams of taking the checkered flag to smithereens.
Mario Kart 7 isn’t particularly “fair” all of the time. The great equalizer can show up at anytime to mess up your good time, but this has never been a series that was particularly concerned with fairness. Nintendo’s mascot racers are all about nutty attacks and ludicrous courses that keep you on the edge of your seat as you carefully mix speed and control, all while trying to get a boost going as you peel around that last corner on Rainbow Road without getting squished by a Thwomp. Oh, and of course there’s always the threat of the slightest contact with an opposing racer sending you careening off the unguarded edges into the abyss below.
Yes, this seventh entry brings back one of the series’ greatest tracks: the original Rainbow Road. Nintendo tapped Retro Studios to remake it along with 15 other throwback courses from the franchise’s past. Don’t panic; every little detail that made them so endearing to begin with has been lovingly remastered on the 3DS, and a few exciting new elements were tossed in to take advantage of the new gliding ability (more on that later). There are a few questionable choices in regards to the classic courses, but the team has mostly done an admirable job of plucking some of the finest ones out and depositing them here.
It’s not all old hat, of course. Sixteen brand new tracks join the oldies-but-goodies, and they’re unquestionably the main attraction. Two racetracks set on Wuhu Island are two too many for my tastes, but most of the new courses are excellent. Mario Kart tracks have been heading down a path of less linearity for quite some time now, but Nintendo EAD has taken the concept to a whole new level in this 3DS sequel. There are constant shortcuts and alternate routes that are just begging to be explored. Players will regularly find themselves thinking, “Wow, I’ve got to head left next time and find out what’s over there.” And although three laps around the same track is still the norm, there are even tracks that keep things more varied by utilizing legs instead of laps.
It’s no secret that the game now takes the races both underwater and up into the sky. The first time my kart slipped off the edge of a dock and ended up in the water, though, I still panicked. Nintendo has taught us to expect Lakitu to show up and place us back on track in these situations. That’s not the case anymore in most aquatic situations and it made for a fun moment the first time around. Racing underwater is ultimately not all that different from doing so on the land, so don’t expect it too much out of it.
Conversely, the addition of gliders actually does add a bit to the experience. Sailing through the skies and trying to get that extra bit of airborne distance by catching the wind just right is awesome. Hang-time can also be extended by steering into columns of air. There are even some incentives in the form of obstacles in the air and item blocks on the ground to not just always go for the farthest distance while flying. As mentioned, their inclusion also adds plenty of new options and excitement to the retro race courses.
One of the biggest draws of the series has always been its usually stellar battle mode. It was with extreme trepidation and one eye scrunched shut that I reached forward with a trembling thumb to jump into online play on a Nintendo platform. That’s why the ensuing experience was so shocking. Online matches in Mario Kart 7 are surprisingly enjoyable and there is nothing aggravating about getting into a match. Nintendo has actually got a decent system on their hands here. Color this reviewer surprised.
As for the battles themselves, balloon fight is back again with a twist that has players replenishing their own balloon stock by blasting away those of their opponents. The new variation is a lot of fun, and certainly much more so than the ho-hum coin collection mode. While the devs deserve some credit for trying something a tad bit different, the coin battles just aren’t very enjoyable. On the bright side, there are more battle courses than there are in most games in the series; all but one of them are superb.
Even though Mario’s latest kart racer is essentially the same experience that could be gotten from its six predecessors, it’s still a game worth grabbing for any 3DS owner. This might be Nintendo’s best online effort yet, and the new powerups (such as the raccoon tail) and kart customization options (alternate karts, tires, and gliders) that affect parameters such as speed and handling make for some extra strategic maneuvering while also reminding you of why you fell in love with this formula all those years ago. Add in some masterfully remade classic tracks, and a magnificent new take on Rainbow Road, and Mario Kart 7 is easily one of the most exuberant handheld gaming experiences around.
