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Nintendo Switch 2 Hands-On: Mario Kart World puts the emphasis on ‘world’ with massive free roam map and hundreds of collectibles
The long wait for a new Mario Kart game and Nintendo console is almost at an end, and I can confirm there's good reason to be excited for both. I got a chance to play Mario Kart World on the Nintendo Switch 2 for several hours last week with other journalists at a hands-on event in New York City, and I'm pleased to say it's indeed a Mario Kart game (because I still suck wholesale ass at it), albeit a more visually and technically impressive entry than ever before. Photo by Scott Duwe Once I got past the oohs and ahhs of it being my first time holding a Switch 2 (the console is gorgeous and improved across the board in handheld mode, and also glorious on a 4K TV), I settled in for some Mario Kart World games and proceeded to get my world rocked. But I enjoyed every minute of it. On top of the standard singleplayer modes like Grand Prix and multiplayer fun where you question friendships with each lap, the new Free Roam mechanic feels like a big point of emphasis for this latest franchise entry. All of the game's racetracks are plotted on the world map, which can be seamlessly explored in Free Roam, but also seen as you move from race to race, some of which begin with a rolling start after you choose which track to move to next. Not only that, but while you wait for friends to join or finish up the settings in a multiplayer lobby, you can drive around and explore it to find an excessive amount of discoverables. Image via Nintendo There are question mark blocks, P-Switches to trigger missions and challenges, and drive-thru consumables called Dash Food that unlock different skins for the game's dozens upon dozens of racers. Each different Dash Food outfit unlocks a different racer of that character in their outfit, bringing the number well into triple digits. Examples I saw of different outfits for racers were Matsuri, Food Slinger, Aristocrat, Biker, Touring, and my personal favorite, Wampire (vampire) Waluigi. On top of other challenges like driving certain distances or completing different feats, all told, the full number isn't known, but I would estimate there are hundreds of unlockable items to be found while playing the game in Free Roam and its other modes. This one should keep fans busy for quite some time. Gameplay-wise, the biggest changes from Mario Kart 8 are the ability to perform a Charge Jump (hold R while on a straightaway) and then barrel-flip onto a rail or wall that you can grind on. All three of these are going to be crucial mechanics when it comes to getting speed boosts and outlasting friends in sweaty races. After Free Roaming for a while, we got to play the battle royale-like Knockout Tour, which forces you to remain in the race or get eliminated. Players are knocked out in the top 20, then 16, then 12, eight, and four, before a solo winner is crowned. This is definitely going to be one of the game's more popular modes at launch. Photo by Scott Duwe One of my favorite moments of the day, however, was when we got to play some couch co-op using the Nintendo Switch 2 camera. When starting up a split-screen race, you can select the zone that the camera will focus on. A Nintendo rep suggested we focus on our faces, but they were fully aware that players are likely going to focus on other "random" body parts as well. Mid-race, as one of the other players zoomed past me when I ate a red shell, an icon above their racer showed the camera's live footage in a circular icon floating above them. It was hilarious, and I can't wait to use this feature specifically with friends and family, as I'm sure it will create some silly memories. After just a few hours of game time, I'm definitely more excited for Mario Kart World than I was initially, and that's even after I was eviscerated by a blue shell literally every time I entered first place, whether in single- or multiplayer. Photo by Scott Duwe And the Nintendo Switch 2, although I still think it should've been called the Super Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Super Switch, is looking like a worthwhile handheld console upgrade for exclusive games like this and others like it. It feels like the "next evolution of Nintendo Switch," as the company described. The post Nintendo Switch 2 Hands-On: Mario Kart World puts the emphasis on ‘world’ with massive free roam map and hundreds of collectibles appeared first on Destructoid.
The long wait for a new Mario Kart game and Nintendo console is almost at an end, and I can confirm there's good reason to be excited for both.
I got a chance to play Mario Kart World on the Nintendo Switch 2 for several hours last week with other journalists at a hands-on event in New York City, and I'm pleased to say it's indeed a Mario Kart game (because I still suck wholesale ass at it), albeit a more visually and technically impressive entry than ever before.
Once I got past the oohs and ahhs of it being my first time holding a Switch 2 (the console is gorgeous and improved across the board in handheld mode, and also glorious on a 4K TV), I settled in for some Mario Kart World games and proceeded to get my world rocked. But I enjoyed every minute of it.
On top of the standard singleplayer modes like Grand Prix and multiplayer fun where you question friendships with each lap, the new Free Roam mechanic feels like a big point of emphasis for this latest franchise entry.
All of the game's racetracks are plotted on the world map, which can be seamlessly explored in Free Roam, but also seen as you move from race to race, some of which begin with a rolling start after you choose which track to move to next. Not only that, but while you wait for friends to join or finish up the settings in a multiplayer lobby, you can drive around and explore it to find an excessive amount of discoverables.
There are question mark blocks, P-Switches to trigger missions and challenges, and drive-thru consumables called Dash Food that unlock different skins for the game's dozens upon dozens of racers. Each different Dash Food outfit unlocks a different racer of that character in their outfit, bringing the number well into triple digits. Examples I saw of different outfits for racers were Matsuri, Food Slinger, Aristocrat, Biker, Touring, and my personal favorite, Wampire (vampire) Waluigi.
On top of other challenges like driving certain distances or completing different feats, all told, the full number isn't known, but I would estimate there are hundreds of unlockable items to be found while playing the game in Free Roam and its other modes. This one should keep fans busy for quite some time.
Gameplay-wise, the biggest changes from Mario Kart 8 are the ability to perform a Charge Jump (hold R while on a straightaway) and then barrel-flip onto a rail or wall that you can grind on. All three of these are going to be crucial mechanics when it comes to getting speed boosts and outlasting friends in sweaty races.
After Free Roaming for a while, we got to play the battle royale-like Knockout Tour, which forces you to remain in the race or get eliminated. Players are knocked out in the top 20, then 16, then 12, eight, and four, before a solo winner is crowned. This is definitely going to be one of the game's more popular modes at launch.
One of my favorite moments of the day, however, was when we got to play some couch co-op using the Nintendo Switch 2 camera. When starting up a split-screen race, you can select the zone that the camera will focus on. A Nintendo rep suggested we focus on our faces, but they were fully aware that players are likely going to focus on other "random" body parts as well.
Mid-race, as one of the other players zoomed past me when I ate a red shell, an icon above their racer showed the camera's live footage in a circular icon floating above them. It was hilarious, and I can't wait to use this feature specifically with friends and family, as I'm sure it will create some silly memories.
After just a few hours of game time, I'm definitely more excited for Mario Kart World than I was initially, and that's even after I was eviscerated by a blue shell literally every time I entered first place, whether in single- or multiplayer.
And the Nintendo Switch 2, although I still think it should've been called the Super Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Super Switch, is looking like a worthwhile handheld console upgrade for exclusive games like this and others like it. It feels like the "next evolution of Nintendo Switch," as the company described.
The post Nintendo Switch 2 Hands-On: Mario Kart World puts the emphasis on ‘world’ with massive free roam map and hundreds of collectibles appeared first on Destructoid.
