Ms. EL337

The most iconic video game character of all time and the most decorated kart series in gaming are finally back together on the Nintendo 3DS.  Its been 3 years since the 2008 release of Mario Kart Wii and we here at El337 were more than ready to hop into a kart and see how much fun we could have with the newest member in the family, Mario Kart 7. Here’s what we thought…

Our first impressions were that the game looked and sounded great.  The 16 new tracks looked awesome, showing off some of the best graphics so far on the 3DS system.  The 16 retro tracks also felt fresh and new, showing us that the developers actually took their time in adding a fresh coat of paint to levels we know and love, rather than just giving us what we had already seen.  The addition of 3D to the game lends itself very well to the racing genre.  It doesn’t feel overpowering or give you a headache during a race.  Instead it adds the right amount of depth to really make you feel like your a part of the action, especially while racing in first person.

First person view in 3D may seem jarring, but it is actually quite fun. 

With MK7 you’ll want to play with the volume all the way up.  As usual with the Mario Kart series, Nintendo delivers in the sound department.  The new levels sport great and memorable music, one of our favorites being the theme from ‘Rock Rock Mountain’.  The characters also support plenty of sound bites on and off the track, which really makes the classic Nintendo characters come alive.

Rock Rock Mountain Theme

Another exciting feature that MK7 adds is the option to not just choose your kart and character, but to customize your kart to your liking.  While playing through the game and gathering coins (explained later in this article) you will unlock new Karts, tires, and gliders.  Each of these carry with them their own statistics so you can mix and match parts until you find the ultimate racing vehicle that fits your style.  Nothing feels better than coming in first place with your Koopa Clown on some Monster Wheels with a Flower Glider.

Slap on some Monster Wheels if you need to compensate…for speed…

What is a Mario Kart game without the items?  How many times have you held first place for the entire race, only to curse at the top of your lungs when you hear someone fire off a blue shell?  The randomness of items really is a trademark for the series.  Sure we all hate the cheesiness of some items when used against us, but boy do we love them when we are the ones firing them off.  Three new items can be found in MK7.  The Tanooki Tail from the Mario franchise makes its way to the racetrack for the first time.  With the Tanooki Tail you can spin and flip opponents up who are too close to you, or even fend off incoming shells and items. The Fire Flower can be shot in front of and behind you, causing the opponents you hit to spin out of control.  The Fire flower lasts a long time as well which is great.  Lastly, the Lucky 7 will spawn seven random items to use as you see fit, perfect for that last minute comeback.

Yes…come a little bit closer…

There are 32 tracks in MK7 not including the battle modes or reverse tracks.  There are four Grand Prix cups with all new levels and four with retro levels from previous Mario Kart titles.  New levels like Shy Guy Bazaar and Maka Wuhu are great examples of fun new levels where you’ll spend race after race looking for secrets and short cuts.  Retro levels make a return from all platforms including the SNES version of Rainbow Road, to favorites like Coconut Mall from Mario Kart Wii, and even Game Cube’s Daisy Cruiser Level.  MK7 introduces gliders and underwater racing as well.  This adds something fresh and new to the series, and veteran players will have a great time navigating through retro levels which have been outfitted with new underwater or flying areas.

Retro tracks like Maple Treeway have a whole new look and feel in MK7

Coins make a comeback in MK7 all the way from Super Mario Kart for the SNES and add yet another level of strategy to the race.  You can collect up to ten coins which will boost your max speed, but be careful, getting hit by items or falling off tracks will cause you to lose some or all of  your accumulated coins.  First person view can use either standard racing controls or the 3DS’ gyroscope, so you can actually use your 3DS like a steering wheel to race.  Using the gyroscope is fun, but we at EL337 have always been more used to the standard style of racing.

Taking the time to gather more coins could provide the edge in victory

Grand Prix isn’t the only way to play.  Time Trials, Balloon Battle and Coin Runners all make their return in MK7.  Balloon battle has some slight changes to it.  Instead of only having 3 balloons in a battle of survival, you are instead instructed to destroy as many balloons as possible during the time limit.  Coin Runners pits racers against each other to gather as many coins as possible before the time limit runs out.  These are great additions to the standard single player gameplay, especially if you have friends around to battle it out for bragging rights.

Balloon Battle…a game where friends become enemies…

The online play of MK7 is where the game really shines.   Here you have the option of taking on other racers via local network, wifi, or download play if your buddies don’t carry a copy of the game.  MK7 makes it extremely easy to do any of these, which takes some of the stress away from other convoluted online matchmaking systems.  When you play online, you increase what is called a VR rating, which is a numerical rating based on how well you have done in previous races.  The game will then match you with players with similar VR ratings, making online play challenging, but not insurmountable.  You can also create or join online communities created by players at the touch of a button.  In online communities, the rules and level arrangements are dictated by the players, which can lead to some pretty fun races!  The 3DS Street Pass functionality will let you view other MK7 players’ VR data and even download their ghost data so you can try and beat their times.

Online play is faster and easier than ever before in MK7

CHARACTER SPOILERS AHEAD

Sadly, our one gripe about MK7 is the character roster.   The game only sports 17 playable characters as opposed to Mario Kart Wii which had 25 playable characters.  Those Waluigi and Birdo players will no longer be able to choose their favorites, but MK7 does bring in 5 new characters to the roster, each with their own novelty.  Check the image below for a full list of MK7 racers.

No more King Boo, but we finally got Lakitu!

The difficulty in getting the maximum number of stars in all the Grand Prix Modes, and the top times in time trials will give players plenty of achievements to chase as they play through the game.  The most important aspect of the game to give it lasting appeal is the online mode, where newcomers and veterans can test their mettle against people from all over the world.  We here at EL337 personally have been playing feverishly to increase our VR rating and hope to see everyone battling it out online.  We leave you with this MK7 Trailer to get you excited to pick this title up this holiday season. Good luck and happy racing!

C.

Mario Kart 7 Trailer