A thrilling endorphin ride each time, those wizards at Nintendo have done it again.
If there was one game that defined the Nintendo switch era it's Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The game sold around 68 million copies. Million. It’s one of the best selling video games of all time.
Originally a Wii U title, the generous expansions massively increased the number of tracks available, there was no surprise why nearly half of all switch owners had a copy.
So how do you follow that up?
MARIO KART WORLD feels like it’s captured that same lightning in a bottle. It’s absolutely stunning to look at, incredibly fun to play and if you’re kicking off a new console generation this is the way to do it.
3...2...1...Go.
There are three major changes in this game three new feature sets. Let’s start with the standard Grand Prix which takes the four track race series across a number of different courses and connect them together to a new rolling course.
This is the most familiar mode for players of previous games each of the four tracks this time round however linked with a cross-country sprint between each course. It's not absolutely seamless in this mode however, with each track broken into their own section, which you'll need to load into between tracks and see the league table.
That cross-country trek to the new course forms the very first part of every race so you’re not actually spending as much time on each of the individual tracks as you were in the past, usually only a single full lap or two before it's over.
There is a lovely transition as you watch snow turn to grass and grassland to beaches which shows off the big world Nintendo has created here, but it gives the feeling that much of the competition consists of those transitional stages.
It’s a pretty familiar format and once you get used to how these courses work it almost feels like a capstone when you finally reach the course race around the track and hit the finish line.
Okay, let’s take that Grand Prix format and its interstitial races between different stages and let’s ratchet the pressure up a bit. Lets talk about the Knockout Mode.
Mario Kart meets Battle Royale. It's very similar in many respects to the F-Zero 99 format, with the lowest finishing competitors knocked out of the race. So a full grid of racers take to the starting line but each stage the competitors who finish below a decreasomg threshold are knocked out.
It is hectic you are on the absolute edge of your seat each moment as you just try not to make any mistakes that'll count you out. Exhilirating!!
My absolute recommendation is to play this mode online and test your skills against the best the internet has to offer. Just like a Battle Royale, it becomes more fun as you become more skilled.
A lot of the time you’ll come very very close to making the cut off, and missing out ever so slightly it’s heartbreaking.
It’s heart pumping if you can get a bunch of mates together as the SIFTER crew did last night, where every single turn every single drift every jump feels critical and even more so as you go along.
Everyone will know the feeling of being pipped at the line and knocking down the rankings in a Mario kart race, but in knockout mode that could be the end of your comp, I honestly love it.
And finally is the open world free roam mode.
This is where you unlock new costumes for your racers, complete Pow Button missions to unlock stickers.
For the costumes, visit each of the different biomes to collect different cuisine, it's a new speed boosting power available on the side of the road at cafes and on the top of Yoshi trailers in each area.
Pick one of those food boosts and you'll magically transform into a new outfit, with each racer responding to different foods. Once unlocked in Free Roam, they become available in Knockout and Grand Prix.
There is a bit a bit of a trial and error as you visit new areas to find new cuisine and see if that gives you a new costume, and it really encourages you to explore.
Luigi when he picks up a pizza transforms into a classic gondolier outfit, Waluigi can collect popcorn from the Boo cinema and become a Wampire which is perfect, one of the best costumes in the game in my opinion complete with bats appear when you pull off a trick.
When you hit the map you'll be able to see all the different costumes still requiring an unlock with the characters appearing as icons on the map.
Some characters like Pauline and Donkey Kong only have two different outfits, which is weird win more minor characters like Shy Guy or Koopa Trooper have more than that. I can imagine the King of the Kongs with his own game almost here will get a few more in the next updates.
Daisy in my opinion has some of the best outfits in the game with plenty of personality and variety but it’s up to you to decide which one you like the best.
The best thing about Mario Kart World is how familiar it feels, but also how much you're presented with an open road of possibility.
If this game has the same sort of longevity as it’s predecessor then we’re in for a hell of a ride.
It looks absolutely stunning in frantic 4K the stylised graphics mean this game will hold up for a really long time, it's incredible in handheld mode in a way that would feel like magic only a few years ago.
If you’re picking up your Nintendo Switch 2 it’s entirely likely that you’re getting Mario kart at the same time bundled or otherwise it’s a very easy recommendation.
It doesn’t matter how many times I race around these courses every single one is pure joy. This game feels more than just a fresh coat of paint.
I can’t wait to see what happens with this title over the lifespan of the new Nintendo Switch 2. See you on the track.
A Nintendo Switch 2 console and a copy of MARIO KART WORLD was provided to SIFTER for the purpose of this review.
