“Mario Kart: Tour” brings the magic of the beloved Nintendo racing game to the free-to-play mobile market. Now, players can race each other anywhere with an internet connection.
The app is mostly the same as “Mario Kart Wii” and “Mario Kart DS” with characters from the Mario series racing against each other for first place on a variety of maps.
Tracks return from the main title games, such as Yoshi Circuit from “Mario Kart: Double Dash” on the Gamecube and New York City from “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.”
The gameplay mechanics are simple and responsive. In the console games, you turn by pressing a specific button and turning the opposite direction you wish to drift in. In favor of simpler controls, Nintendo has removed the need to press multiple buttons to drift.
Certain characters and vehicles are proficient at certain stages, allowing for special stat boosts to aid gameplay.
The characters each have their own special abilities, such as Peach who uses a shield bubble to defend herself, or Bowser, who has an unique shell that can hit multiple players. The items are not overpowered, and the pacing of the matches are well done.
One problem is that the game heavily drains phone battery even more than other games such as Pokémon Go. However, the battery drainage is manageable if power saving mode is turned on.
Given all the negative stigma around free-to-play mobile games being cash-grabs, Nintendo’s new game surprisingly dodges that issue. Users who purchase in-game-content do not have too big of an advantage over non-paying competitors.
Some in-game purchases are not worth the cost, but the gold pass, which costs $4.99 per month, is a good option for players who do not want to spend a lot of money. The pass gives more rewards when you complete a round and unlocks the exclusive 200cc mode.
It is a bit misleading how the tour gamemode is implied to be multiplayer. The opponents have usernames that appear to be real people, but they are actually just computers. The app informs the user that real multiplayer will be coming in a future update.
Although the game is obviously not perfect, it is an excellent addition to one’s phone library, giving fast-paced action and bringing justice to one of the most popular Mario spin-off series.
Only time will tell if it will stay popular after the initial craze has calmed down, but there are high hopes for the mobile game.
TCHS School Newspaper