The first thing that struck us upon booting up Mario Kart 7 was the excellent visuals and silky smooth frame-rate. The graphics are very easy on the eyes, with vivid modelling and bright courses. The game also makes very good use of the 3D display. Zooming along the track in three dimensions is an integral part of the racer, and like Starfox 64, it subtly immerses you into the fast-paced gameplay. The 3D feature can also prove handy at other times. In one instance, we were hit with a blooper, but the 3D screen depth helped offset the large ink blots otherwise obscuring our screen. Mario Kart 7 controls excellently with the circle pad, and it feels far superior to using the directional buttons in Mario Kart DS. Complimenting this is the left trigger, which is used for activating power-ups, and the right trigger that you use for hopping.
You kart catch me.
Some of most notable additions to the latest Mario Kart include the under-water and mid-air segments during races. With the aid of a glider or propeller, players will find themselves racing though the deep, or flying through the open sky, with a few colourful competitors in hot pursuit. These new sections aren’t simply a gimmick, with several of the tracks that we road tested featuring gliding and sea-based interludes. During these segments, players still maintain full control over the handing of the kart, and if played skilfully enough, you can overshoot or propel ahead of your opponents. In one intense moment with our kart shooting through the air, we bounced off a giant mushroom and stripped our competitor of their lead. Nevertheless, there are obstacles to deal with and weapons to collect in these new areas. For example, a red shell can still remove another racer, whether they be propelling ahead in the abyss or overflying your new set of wings.
Fans can expect to see the same stable of characters returning in Mario Kart 7, including Luigi, Yoshi and Bowser, to name a few. After selecting your character, and in a first for the series, players are given the chance to pick the various component of their kart. You have a trio of choices to make when customising your vehicle – the frame, wheel size, and glider design. Your customisation decisions can have certain implications during the race, depending on the track conditions. For example, electing to use a set of smaller wheels will allow you to go quicker in the gliding sections of the race, but offer less traction on land. At the other end of the scale, a larger collection of wheels will give your machine better handing and propulsion during under-water sequences.
Underwater races are one of several new features.
Finally, Nintendo representative Jamie Wilson kindly pointed out one of Mario Kart 7’s noteworthy revisions, which fixes a major issue plaguing long-time fans of the game. Snaking – the horrendous drift-boosting manoeuvre used for gaining momentum in Mario Kart DS – has been done away with. Instead, Mario Kart 7 mirror’s the approach taken in Mario Kart Wii, with the speed boost kicking in after holding a slide for a short period of time.
Mario Kart 7 will appeal to both the casual and dedicated fanbase that the series has created over the years, with robust controls, bright presentation, excellent use of the 3D feature, and a swathe of new courses to master. The addition of the underwater and airborne segments add a fresh layer to the title, without altering the core gameplay that players have come to know and love. Though out time with portable racer was brief, Mario Kart 7 is shaping up as another must-own title in the growing library of Nintendo 3DS games.
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