• Review: Mario Kart 7

    by
    Jason Arriola
    Published on 12-12-2011 01:47 PM
    1 Comment Comments


    Mario Kart 7

    Developer: Nintendo EAD, Retro Studios
    Publisher: Nintendo
    Platform: Nintendo 3DS
    Genre: Racing
    Rating: Everyone
    Release Date: December 4, 2011

    The seventh installment in the highly popular Mario Kart series has made its very first appearance on the Nintendo 3DS. A treat for Mario Kart fans racing solo or with friends, Mario Kart 7 is one to pick up for a great time regardless the way you play. If you require something new for your Nintendo 3DS, give the ever pleasing gameplay of Mario Kart 7 a spin!

    Presentation
    There’s not really a story to be had here in Mario Kart 7. Mario, his brother, Luigi, Princess Peach, his greatest adversary, Bowser, and a wide cast of both friends and foes join the mustachioed plumber in some good natured racing action. Mario and friends will travel throughout the Mushroom Kingdom’s various raceways competing to be the one to come in first place and the recipient of the Gold trophies in each Cup. It’s always been the same formula for the Mario Kart games. For that reason, you’re expected to choose your favorite character, hop in a kart, and go crazy.

    Graphics
    Mario Kart 7 looks great on the 3DS game system. In fact, Mario Kart veterans may notice the resemblance it shares with Mario Kart Wii. The 3DS continues to show us what its graphical capabilities can reach, and Mario Kart 7 is no exception. The race tracks are wonderfully detailed and have a terrific color palette. The tracks inspired by Mario Kart games of the past are a treat to experience with the 3D feature enabled. Green shells, red shells, and banana peels whiz right before your eyes as you race to come in first place. The blooper’s (squid) ink also appears to blind you like never before. The feature is handled very cleverly and should not be neglected. If your eyes can handle the 3D effect, I suggest giving it a try.

    Sound/Music
    Everything that makes a Mario game sound like a Mario game is jam packed into that small 3DS cartridge. All your favorite characters' whimsical sound effects, including their victory and defeat gestures, haven’t lost their touch. It’s to be expected from a Mario Kart game, of course, but it’s all part of the complete package.

    Players will be treated to a variety of the best Mario Kart tunes from games past, as well as a collection of new material inspired by the latest Mario games. Even a tune and race track inspired by Donkey Kong Country Returns can be spotted.

    Gameplay
    If you have plenty of experience with the Mario Kart games you should be able to pick up on Mario Kart 7’s learning curve without any difficulty. Newcomers to the series should have an easy time getting familiarized with the controls as well. A cool new feature in Mario Kart 7 is its first-person mode. Pushing up on the cross pad puts players directly behind the steering wheel of their kart. Additionally, this first-person mode also enables the use of the gyro controls. With a good amount of free space you can tilt and turn the 3DS as you would a steering wheel. The feature is easy to use and is a welcome change of gameplay for those who wish to try something new. While in the first-person view you can also use the control stick to drive, or a combination of it with your body’s movement. You can easily switch back to the third-person view by pressing up again on the cross pad.

    What’s a Mario Kart game without its items? Fan favorites such as the Green shell, Red shell, the game changing Spiny shell, Mushrooms, Bob-ombs, Super Star, and more, return to the race track. Mario Kart 7 has introduced three new items exclusive to the 3DS game. The Fire Flower allows the player to throw multiple fireballs at their opponents to make them spin out of control. The Super Leaf, which gave Mario his raccoon powers in Super Mario Bros. 3, gives your kart a raccoon tail that can deflect incoming enemy projectiles and knock your opponents away from you. Finally, there’s the Lucky 7 item which grants you with seven items to use, than the standard allotment of one item.

    Some other new features to Mario Kart 7 are the hang-glider attachment and the ability to drive underwater. Their use is occasionally seen throughout the various tracks. However, it’s the hang-glider that is the most useful new feature. You can adjust the velocity and rate at which you ascend or descend to get to otherwise unreachable areas, or to put yourself ahead of your opponents by swooping down in front of them. Another useful technique is hopping while driving over a ramp or bump in the road for a quick burst of speed. Drifting on wide turns for an extended period of time also rewards you with a burst of speed.

    There are 32 race tracks to dominate, which means eight different Cups in total. There are three race options (difficulties) to choose from, 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc. You’ll notice that the CPU will get faster and smarter as you move up the game’s difficulties. There are 16 new tracks, and 16 tracks compiled from previous Mario Kart games. Bring a box of tissue as you race to the finish line on the hardest difficulty because you’ll find yourself the victim, time and time again, of some of the most ridiculous use of items by the CPU. I’ve found myself just a few feet away from the finish line when I’ve been attacked by the CPU, then by another, or knocked to the side, and wind up in fifth place. It can be so frustrating, especially when you’re trying to unlock the hidden characters, which can only be done by getting first place overall on the 150cc tracks . It was an issue in Mario Kart Wii, and it’s is again in Mario Kart 7. You've been warned, so try not to throw your 3DS across the room.

    To help overcome the staggering difficulty you can create the ultimate race kart by designing a vehicle to your liking. For the racing enthusiast, you can improve factors such as mobility, acceleration, weight, and handling by swapping out different parts. Whether you’re one for speed or power, or if you prefer a good balance, you can mix and match to your heart’s content to find something that works. It’s a really fun feature, and I found my racing skills improved by taking the time to design an effective kart.

    Lasting Appeal
    Generally, Mario Kart games were instant pleasures in the past, and perhaps the best when played with friends on the same TV screen. However, Mario Kart 7 has features worth coming back for, and there’s plenty to keep you busy for hours and hours.

    First, unlockable characters. You start out with eight characters, but there are many more to be unlocked by coming in first place in each Cup in the 150cc difficulty. Fans may be disappointed that characters like Waluigi, Dry Bones, Petey Piranha, Baby Mario, Baby Luigi, Baby Peach, and Baby Daisy, among others, are absent in Mario Kart 7. New playable characters not seen in a Mario Kart game before have taken their places. I won’t spoil the characters for you, so you’ll have to see who can be unlocked by winning the gold in your races.

    A fan favorite, Balloon Battle, has returned not only for multiplayer, but single player as well. Balloon Battle pits you against your opponents with the goal of popping other racers' balloons for points. The racer with the most balloons popped is the winner, and all of the game’s items can be used at your disposal.

    Coin Runners, a mode first seen in Mario Kart Wii, is also present. The goal here is to collect as many coins as possible before the time limit runs out, and the racer with the highest amount of coins comes out the victor.

    The best way to experience Mario Kart 7 is taking it online solo or with a group of friends. For those who have friends who don’t own the game, a single game cartridge can be used to all play together locally via Download Play. Playing online with your friends also provides for a great time. While waiting in the lobby for the race to start, you and your friends Miis can chat with each other by sending/receiving premade messages. You can also look at each other’s statistics and past race experience. When playing with players you’ve never met, your own skill level is matched with others for balancing your races. I’ve taken the game online with several friends and each race had no lag whatsoever, a great sign that the game’s online mode has plenty to come back for.

    Communities are another online feature of the game. You can join or create a community where play styles of other racers match your own and you can adjust the rules of a race to your liking. For example, you can mix and match various race tracks, enable Mirror-Mode, and more.

    Finally, there is the Mario Kart Channel, which is coupled with the 3DS’s StreetPass and SpotPass features. With StreetPass enabled you can exchange community information and ghosts of the players you tag in public, who also own Mario Kart 7. With SpotPass enabled you can receive ghost data as well as recommended communities to join from players all over the world, provided that you have a Wi-Fi connection.

    Conclusion
    Mario Kart 7 brings back a lot of the old and a whole lot of the new. Players, old and new, should also find themselves enjoying the game for hours on end. While the game could use work on the item balance, which is its greatest flaw, there’s so much to look forward to in this game. The best way to go about playing Mario Kart 7 is to take it online with friends, or entirely new players. Hidden characters and hidden parts to create your ideal kart is always a pleasure for this racing game. In fact, Mario Kart 7’s online functionality should be a reference for other 3DS games to take notice to. Mario Kart has always been a household name, there’s no reason why Mario Kart 7 shouldn't be either.

    Score:
    9.0/10

    Comments 1 Comment
    1. Gusto's Avatar
      Gusto - 12-12-2011
      This is the best 3DS game in my opinion and I did notice the crazy comparison to the Wii's version and I think this one blows it away in grafix and everything else. Great review, this is a must own for every 3DS owner, heck maybe even a reason to own one.

  • Review Scale

    Score 10- Flawless Victory: A score not handed out to every game. Games earning this rare score sit at the very pinnacle of excellence. These games act as the examples for which all others should be measured with. They are instant classics from the beginning. These games not only deliver what was expected of it, but also exceed the player’s expectations. The game’s features are innovative and original. No game is without its absolute flaws, but the finished product you bring home surpasses the anticipation the game has formed. A day one buy is a must. The game you hold in your hands with this score is a video game jackpot.

    Score 9 - 9.5- Outstanding: Games earning scores such as these absolutely must be played. Games that achieve this high ranking do so because they define the genres that they are in. Flaws are few and barely noticeable. Features seen in the game have been renovated to provide something new and fresh. The story, gameplay, graphics, and lasting appeal are all fantastic and is reason enough to bring the game home and to enjoy with family and friends. Every penny you spend on the game is so worth it.

    Score 8 - 8.5- Great: Any flaw the game may possess is overshadowed by its fun factor. These games would be great for gamers to play. These great games appeal to gamers more and more outside its normal player base because of what it brings to the table.

    Score 7 - 7.5- Good: Flaws do exist in these games, but the positive features of the game can counterbalance the flaws. Additionally, players who are predisposed to liking a game of a particular series or genre with this score should enjoy the game. These are in no way bad games, and much fun can be had with them. An overall good game is worth taking a look at, whether you are willing to buy the game or rent it first. That or you can also wait for the game to reach a good price.

    Score 6 - 6.5- Decent: Games falling into this category may suffer from numerous flaws (for example, graphics or gameplay), but are still worth playing. Granted, the player should be aware that a game with these scores may not guarantee them full satisfaction.

    Score 5 - 5.5- Average: An average game is one in which a game’s features are neither good nor completely terrible. Instead, the finished product is manageable. Little has been done to hold the player’s interest. If anything, rent this game before you consider buying it so that you can at least get a feel for the game’s overall experience.

    Score 4 - 4.5- Poor: Games falling into this category may only keep gamers entertained for a short while. While the game may seem enjoyable for moments at a time, it can quickly grow old and may never be revisited again. The game’s overall function is lacking in quality and may not hold the player’s attention for long. The game leaves little or nothing else to return back to.

    Score 3 - 3.5- Bad: If any positive qualities about a game in this category exist, it is not enough to redeem the game for its shortcomings. Sure you may find yourself playing it, but for how long? You will wind up not giving the game a second glance.

    Score 2 - 2.5- Horrible: Games such as these may not be totally unplayable, they nearly are. Additionally, they may lack, or greatly suffer in, the fundamental functionality of the software as a whole. The game simply does not come close to meeting industry standards at the time of its release.

    Score 1 - 1.5- Appalling: Gamers should avoid this game at all costs. The game was clearly not ready to make its way to store shelves in its status. Save your money and find something else. See it in the bargain bin? No! Stay away! Keep moving and look for something else.

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