Latest news with #FreeRoam
The Age
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
Nintendo pulls off an incredible expansion with open world Mario Kart
Mario Kart is one of Nintendo's most popular franchises, producing the single bestselling game on each of the company's last four consecutive systems. So it's understandable that Nintendo chose the party-favourite racing series as an exclusive launch title for its brand-new Switch 2 console. What was less expected is that it would overhaul the design so fundamentally. While each previous Mario Kart has featured a variety of circuits to choose from, World has a completely open and navigable continent to drive across, taking in deserts, grasslands, cities, jungles, snowfields, wetlands and even lava plains. Where Mario Kart 8 – which was updated over the course of a decade – ended up having close to 100 courses to race in on the original Switch, World has 29 major locations, which can function as traditional circuits but can also be driven past, through and between during exhilarating rallies, with a massive 24 racers taking part. The result is a game that feels fresh and exciting, even as it keeps everything great about the series. All the major locations, including 16 original concepts and 13 areas inspired by tracks in previous games, are stitched together ingeniously in the open world. So while Toad's Factory can be raced as a traditional circuit, feeling much like it did originally on the Wii, it's also a location you can come at from any angle; through the front gates, or directly into the central yard after floating down from an overpass. Being able to see the towering Bowser's Castle or DK Spaceport in the distance, or skipping across the ocean from Crown City to Peach Stadium, gives the entire game a cohesion unlike anything previously seen in the series, and the main game modes make great use of that. In the remixed Grand Prix you take a road trip through four locations, with the roads between also serving as part of the race. In the brilliant new Knockout Tour you go on a huge rally, usually coast to coast, with the slowest four racers being eliminated at each checkpoint. And in Free Roam, you can go anywhere you like in the world, completing challenges and hunting collectibles. Out on the road Free Roam is a great way to get to know the game without the pressure of racing, and a showcase for the impressive scale of the map. There are more than 100 buttons scattered around that activate tasks from mini races to stunt challenges, as well as panels and coins that can require some tricky driving to get to. I do wish this stuff was easier to track, or resulted in some tangible rewards – each one nets you a sticker you can attach to your character as bragging rights – but as an addition to the core racing platform, it's a nice option for casual driving. If you've played Mario Kart before, you'll largely know what to expect from the actual racing. You jockey for position and drift around corners, using items like mushrooms and koopa shells to attack and defend along the way. The most powerful items are only found if you're further back in the pack, making comebacks commonplace and first position generally fleeting.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Nintendo pulls off an incredible expansion with open world Mario Kart
Mario Kart is one of Nintendo's most popular franchises, producing the single bestselling game on each of the company's last four consecutive systems. So it's understandable that Nintendo chose the party-favourite racing series as an exclusive launch title for its brand-new Switch 2 console. What was less expected is that it would overhaul the design so fundamentally. While each previous Mario Kart has featured a variety of circuits to choose from, World has a completely open and navigable continent to drive across, taking in deserts, grasslands, cities, jungles, snowfields, wetlands and even lava plains. Where Mario Kart 8 – which was updated over the course of a decade – ended up having close to 100 courses to race in on the original Switch, World has 29 major locations, which can function as traditional circuits but can also be driven past, through and between during exhilarating rallies, with a massive 24 racers taking part. The result is a game that feels fresh and exciting, even as it keeps everything great about the series. All the major locations, including 16 original concepts and 13 areas inspired by tracks in previous games, are stitched together ingeniously in the open world. So while Toad's Factory can be raced as a traditional circuit, feeling much like it did originally on the Wii, it's also a location you can come at from any angle; through the front gates, or directly into the central yard after floating down from an overpass. Being able to see the towering Bowser's Castle or DK Spaceport in the distance, or skipping across the ocean from Crown City to Peach Stadium, gives the entire game a cohesion unlike anything previously seen in the series, and the main game modes make great use of that. In the remixed Grand Prix you take a road trip through four locations, with the roads between also serving as part of the race. In the brilliant new Knockout Tour you go on a huge rally, usually coast to coast, with the slowest four racers being eliminated at each checkpoint. And in Free Roam, you can go anywhere you like in the world, completing challenges and hunting collectibles. Out on the road Free Roam is a great way to get to know the game without the pressure of racing, and a showcase for the impressive scale of the map. There are more than 100 buttons scattered around that activate tasks from mini races to stunt challenges, as well as panels and coins that can require some tricky driving to get to. I do wish this stuff was easier to track, or resulted in some tangible rewards – each one nets you a sticker you can attach to your character as bragging rights – but as an addition to the core racing platform, it's a nice option for casual driving. If you've played Mario Kart before, you'll largely know what to expect from the actual racing. You jockey for position and drift around corners, using items like mushrooms and koopa shells to attack and defend along the way. The most powerful items are only found if you're further back in the pack, making comebacks commonplace and first position generally fleeting.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mario Kart World 1.1.1 update patch now live for Nintendo Switch 2, fixes online bugs and gameplay crashes
Mario Kart World just got its first major update since launching on Switch 2, and it's an important one. Version 1.1.1 brings a bunch of bug fixes to make the game feel more stable. If you've been hit with crashes during online play, annoying item glitches, or map bugs, this patch should help. The update went live on June 17 and is required for anyone who wants to continue playing online. Thankfully, it's easy to install. Just connect your Switch 2 to the internet, hover over Mario Kart World, press the + button, then go to Software Update. Let's take a look at everything Nintendo has fixed. Mario Kart World 1.1.1 patch notes Fixed an issue where items would not work properly during races Fixed a problem that made the controls stop working when choosing a character in Free Roam Fixed a bug that caused the game to crash after a race replay Fixed crashes happening after online races Fixed incorrect rate changes in Knockout Tour and Online Play Fixed frequent communication errors when joining friends in VS Race or Battle Fixed a wall glitch at the end of DK Spaceport Fixed a bug where players wouldn't respawn correctly after falling between Airship Fortress and Bowser's Castle while gliding Why this patch matters for competitive players Mario Kart World update 1.1.1 (Released June 17, 2025)- Fixed an issue where items were no longer able to be used.- Fixed an issue where sometimes controls were inoperable when selecting a character and trying to start Free Roam from the 'Free Roam' map.- Fixed an issue… This patch is especially helpful for players competing online or aiming for high scores in Knockout Tour. Crashes, item bugs, and strange respawn errors could really hurt a player's rhythm or cost a race. Fixing these issues means fewer unfair losses and a much smoother experience in all game modes. So whether you're playing casually with friends or chasing top finishes online, downloading this update is a must. Nintendo has made it clear they're ready to support Mario Kart World long-term, and this patch is a good sign of that.
CNET
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
Mario Kart World: How To Unlock Mirror Mode Tracks
Have you already mastered Mario Kart World's new brand of racing? Have you practiced every wallride and time skip in the game? Maybe it's time to try something new and take on the Mirror Mode challenge. Mirror Mode was introduced in Mario Kart 64 and has shown up in every entry in the series since the GameCube-era Double Dash. This mode flips every race track across the y-axis so that left turns become right turns and vice versa. For gamers who have already mastered the perfect way to drift around every corner, this reimagining of every course interrupts muscle memory and makes old races feel new again. In Mario Kart World, players are able to unlock a version of Mirror Mode that lets them flip each cup around for a different racing experience. You'll also get a chance to mirror the Free Roam area, drastically changing one of the biggest new Mario Kart features. These Mirror Modes unlock in two different ways. Here's how to unlock Mirror Mode races and Free Roam in Mario Kart World. Keep an eye out for Free Roam collectibles. Knocking out P-Switch challenges is important if you want to unlock Mirror Mode. Nintendo/Screenshot by CNET How to unlock Mirror Mode races in Mario Kart World There's a small laundry list of requirements that you'll have to knock out if you want to unlock Mirror Mode races in this game. You'll have to master the existing in-game cups as well as extensively engage with Mario Kart World's new Free Roam feature. Here's everything you need to complete in order to unlock Mirror Mode races in Mario Kart World. Complete all Grand Prix Cups and Knockout Tour Rallies in 150cc You'll have to beat every race in the game at the current fastest speed in order to unlock the Mirror Mode for their tracks. Interestingly, you don't actually need to place first in these cups to fulfill the requirement -- just make sure you've completed these races in the 150cc mode, as the slower races don't count toward unlocking Mirror Mode. Collect 10 Peach Medallions and ? Panels Peach Medallions and ? Panels can be found in the nooks and crannies of Mario Kart World's Free Roam mode. Peach Medallions are often hidden in corners or off the beaten path, whereas ? Panels are more likely to be found in open areas or on wallriding sections of racetracks. You'll need to find at least 10 of each of these collectibles in order to unlock Mirror Mode. Finish 10 P-Switch challenges In addition to picking up collectibles throughout the world, you'll have to find and complete 10 P-Switch challenges. These big blue buttons unlock special timed courses to complete in the open world. You need to fully complete 10 of these challenges to fulfill the Mirror Mode requirement. Complete the Special Cup on 150cc (again) This is the last step to unlock Mirror Mode in Mario Kart World, and you can't complete it before wrapping up the other requirements. If you've already beaten the Special Cup on 150cc before beating the other races and picking up all of those collectibles, you'll have to complete this set of races again. The good news is that you don't need to get first place to unlock the special mode. Just like with the Grand Prix Cups and Knockout Rally Tours, completion is what matters here. Once you finish the Special Cup on 150cc, you'll get a notification alongside a small icon of the Peach Stadium's stained glass window that informs you that you've unlocked Mirror Mode. You'll be able to choose Mirror Mode from the race selection screen -- and this notification gives you a hint about how to enter the new mode in Free Roam. You'll have to pop on top of Peach's castle and enter the stained glass window (top left) in order to enter Mirror Mode in Free Roam. Nintendo/Mixeli/Screenshot by CNET How to enter Mirror Mode in Free Roam in Mario Kart World Free Roam's Mirror Mode won't take nearly as much effort to activate. Instead of filling out a list of requirements, you only need to find a single secret in Mario Kart World's open world to activate this version of Mirror Mode. To flip Free Roam around the y-axis, you'll have to unlock the Mirror Mode for regular cup races first. After you've done that, visit the Peach Stadium track while exploring the world. There's a secret stained glass portrait of Princess Peach that you need to locate on this course. You can find this stained glass portrait on the roof of Peach's castle. Locate one of the parts of the racetrack where you can drive off and land on the roof and then climb toward the middle of the castle. The portrait is front and center on the castle roof -- you can't miss it. Drive through the stained glass to enable Mirror Mode in Free Roam. Disabling Mirror Mode is as simple as driving through the Peach portrait once again. What are the rewards for beating Mirror Mode? Once you unlock Mirror Mode, it's only natural that you blitz through the newly flipped race tracks in each Grand Prix Cup. Just know that there aren't any new racers, karts or tracks to unlock by beating the cups with Mirror Mode on. The only reward you'll earn is a renewed sense of pride and accomplishment for tackling this challenge.
Metro
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
The 5 worst mistakes of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch (and why it doesn't matter)
A reader breaks down the Switch 2 launch line-up and lists the mistakes he feels Nintendo has made, from the marketing to the prices. I'm not sure if anyone seriously thought the Nintendo Switch 2 would be a failure but to the absolute shock of no one sensible it hasn't been. It's the fastest-selling console ever, according to what I've read, and I'm sure that it will go on to have a very long life and plenty of great games. I have one and a copy of Mario Kart World, and I've enjoyed it a lot, but despite what I imagined at the start of the year – and I think a lot of people were like this – Nintendo's roll out of the console hasn't been as slick as I expected. I feel they have made a number of strange mistakes and just generally were too secretive and unclear about things for no reason that can have helped them. Since the console is selling anyway maybe they'll think they made the right decisions. I guess I should just assume they know better, because what do I know, but here's what I think they got wrong. I'm not going to come out and say Mario Kart World isn't worth £75, but then I don't really know because I only paid £35 for it, as part of the hardware bundle. And even if I had bought it separately, I would've bought it digitally, which is considerably cheaper. So why did Nintendo let the games being expensive become the story? Mario Kart is the only one that's that much and yet people are still running around saying it's £80. The launch report on the BBC news was all about how expensive it was, and I feel Nintendo just let all the bad press happen. If digital downloads are the majority now, why wasn't that figure the one that was being promoted, and the physical one was just an optional extra? Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. This is a more minor thing but I feel the hype of new reviews is all part of the fun of a new console launch, but we didn't get anything on launch day, just more previews and then a slow trickle over the coming days, that were obviously rushed or just ignored the smaller games entirely. Again, I don't feel that was a good look for Nintendo and because Mario Kart's reviews weren't completely ecstatic there's always going to be the question of whether they were purposefully trying to delay them until the last minute, which is not something I previously would've thought Nintendo would do. As a continuation of this, I don't think anyone would disagree that the way Mario Kart World uses its open world is weird, especially when it comes to the mostly empty Free Roam. It doesn't spoil the game, but it does remove the one thing that would've made the game a 10/10 all-timer and you really wouldn't have thought Nintendo would miss a trick like that. Also, it's kind of the fault of the marketing for hyping it up. If they'd barely mention the open world people wouldn't have been expecting anything, so I do think the marketing for the Switch 2 as a whole has had problem. It's only slowly come into focus just how bad the launch line-up is for the Switch 2. Not in terms of quality but the almost complete lack of exclusives. Just one proper one for Nintendo, only one kind-of full price one from third parties and everything else is just ports of sometimes multiple years old games. It feels rushed, for what must be the least rushed console ever, in terms of the time Nintendo had to plan for it and launching it in the middle of June – for still no reason that I can understand. This is linked to the previous point, but the future is also looking strangely bleak at the moment. I'm sure it's not overall but Nintendo has done very little to make it seem exciting. Hyrule Warriors 3 and Kirby Air Riders must be the two least wanted Nintendo sequels ever, then you've got that cheap looking basketball game, and then a Splatoon spin-off, and The Duskbloods from FromSoftware. And even that's multiplayer, so it's not as exciting as it first seemed. A new Zelda could be half a decade away at this point and we've got absolutely no idea about a new 3D Mario. More Trending By reader Garrant The reader's features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro. You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@ or use our Submit Stuff page and you won't need to send an email. MORE: Nintendo Switch 2: does it deserve the hate? - Reader's Feature MORE: I've had the Nintendo Switch 2 for one day and I'm not impressed – Reader's Feature MORE: Why is nobody talking about the PS5 anymore? – Reader's Feature
