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Daily Mirror
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Mario Kart World's new structure is freeing – but hits a few speed bumps
The Nintendo Switch 2's launch is set to be immense fun thanks to all the racing delights Mario Kart World allows for. Just don't expect as revolutionary a jump as the sequel's subtitle suggests. Mario Kart World definitely marks a bold new era for the classic karting series, with Knockout Tour mode bringing a new level of competitiveness despite the actual 'world' somewhat lacking. There's every reason to be excited for Mario Kart World on paper. Even without the weight that comes naturally from being the Nintendo Switch 2 's one true first-party launch title, it's easily the best-looking entry in Nintendo 's premier racing series ever and looks to be making a genuine attempt to push the act of driving into directions not seen before. (Literally, thanks to the addition of Freeroam mode). Alas, after recently getting to play a solid five hours of the colourful karting racer in advance of its release on June 5, 2025, the moments I spent off-road were surprisingly some of the least interesting I experienced. It is, in fact, Knockout Tour mode that is the true jewel in the crown here, primed to become my next multiplayer addiction for all the ways it bottles up and remixes Mario Kart 's fast-paced and frantic action for a new era and generation. First things first, franchise veterans will know that any Mario Kart game is only as good as its tracks – and World absolutely nails it in this area. From space-themed courses that feature a giant, robotic Donkey Kong launching barrels along the track to a ghost ship speedway that encourages you to boost jump along the storm's rocky waves, at least thematically, this is a new collection of circuits that scream creativity and invention at every corner. Better yet, though Mario Kart World does lift the names of fan-favourite courses seen before, I enjoyed discovering all the ways the likes of Moo Moo Meadows and Sky High Sundae have been reshaped and shuffled to make way for this entry's all-new racing mechanics. Easily the most publicised is the addition of grindable rails and walls, only made possible by the Charge Jump mechanic racers now possess. It works like this: hit the ZR button as if you wanted to drift but without turning into a direction on the left Joy-Con's stick, and your character will enter a lower position that will see them jump when released. Time it correctly and you can grind from rail to wall to platform and back again, fully utilizing all the vertical space present providing you're skilled enough to pull it off. It took me a fair few hours to truly get the knack of the Charge Jump down, and even then getting my racer to land where I wanted wasn't an exact science. Whereas before most Mario Kart races could be won simply by making the most of every corner, turning every drift into a boost, the Charge Jump now gives players a way to gain extra speed on straight sections of the track. Due to the increased racer count of 24, they tend to pop up a lot more often in Mario Kart World. The more I played, the more it was made evident that seeking out grindable environments at the edge of the track isn't the way to win; it forces you to move out way too far from the racing line. However, when 20+ racers are trying to share the same space so as to claim an item box? It's good to have this option when pushed to each circuit's farthest edges. It can help keep you in the race. It's a small world Elsewhere, Mario Kart World plays just as well as you'd expect in the likes of Grand Prix and Battle mode. Versus also returns to make racing on a specific cup's track quick and easy as before, too, only now it's possible to combine one course with another, provided it's within sensible reach. This means linking the snowy mountains of DK Pass with, say, the skyways of Starview Peak is suddenly possible, rendering the mode almost as an unofficial 'Mario Kart maker' of sorts to pretty much double the replayability of each track. Where things become less exciting, unfortunately, is the much-discussed Free Roam mode. Touted by some (although crucially not Nintendo itself) as Mario Kart's answer to Forza Horizon 's driveable sandbox, it is definitely true that driving around between the tracks can be a delight and feels especially novel at first. However, the issue I had in my most recent hands-on is that there's just not a whole lot to do in all these interstitial areas – at least during my time hopping off the track. There's just a large amount of open space to drive through right now, which might be okay for finding a picturesque spot and snapping a few selfies using Mario Kart World's built-in Photo mode, yet doesn't do much to make these otherwise incongruent locations feel like a true, well, world. The bulk of side activities found in Free Roam boil down to P-Switch challenges, which, when activated, will task you with pulling off a tricky driving route typically denoted by gates or collectable coins. Such tasks are… fine, I suppose, but don't do much to take advantage of the new Mario Kart World racing mechanics I mentioned earlier. At their best, these P-Switch challenges had me skirting along the back of several brontosauruses in the hopes of beating the timer; at their worst, they me in a tailspin, trying to land an incredibly awkward jump repeatedly. I can definitely see players wanting to seek out every one of these challenges due to the cool stickers they unlock that can then be attached to karts. Luckily, when it fails, it's easy to retry each challenge thanks to the ability to engage an immediate restart. A lot more successful is Knockout Tour, being Mario Kart World's battle royale style mode where races consisting of 24 racers are slowly whittled down to 20, then 16, then 8, and so on. It delivers on providing an increasingly tense and risky way of racing that perfectly encapsulates the chaos and anarchy that comes from trying to always stay ahead of the pack at the mercy of whatever item the next mystery box spits out next. Mark my words, this will absolutely become Mario Kart World's standard competitive mode at launch and beyond, trust me. In the four Knockout Tour races I played with other journalists during the preview session, I couldn't help but stay locked in and focused in the hopes of maintaining my pride, as well as my own Mario Kart chops. Mario Kart World isn't shaping up to be the unabashed homerun most players (including myself) assumed it would be, then. But having said that, living up to the decades' worth of goodwill endured by Mario Kart 8: Deluxe and all its multiple excellent tracks added over time as DLC was always going to be impossible. As a pure value proposition, despite its best efforts, Mario Kart World doesn't appear to come close to its predecessor. However, the addition of the Charge Jump, interconnected tracks in Versus mode, and a jamboree of cool character designs will still make it a must-play at launch, even if heading off-road isn't quite as exciting as it initially seemed to be.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nintendo Exec Devon Pritchard on the Switch 2 Lineup, Viral ‘Mario Kart World' Cow and ‘Working to Ensure a Steady Supply' of Consoles at Launch
Nintendo rocked the video game world last week with the unveiling of its new console the Switch 2, its price and, most surprisingly, a driving cow. The Switch 2, releasing on June 5, will cost $450 for just the console and $500 for a bundle that comes with 'Mario Kart World,' the latest entry in the racing series. Gamers were overjoyed at the first official information on Nintendo's next console, but the high price (the Switch launched at $300 in 2017) left many dismayed. The Switch 2 news also came amid President Donald Trump's rollout of U.S. tariffs that have caused the stock market to drop and prices of many goods to increase. On Friday, Nintendo paused Switch 2 pre-orders 'in order to assess the potential impact of tariffs and evolving market conditions' in the U.S. The June 5 launch date is unchanged, but U.S. gamers will have to wait a bit longer before they can pre-order a console. More from Variety Before the Nintendo Switch 2 Comes Out, the Nintendo Switch 1 OLED Is on Sale Online Hands on With Switch 2: New 'Mario Kart' and 'Donkey Kong' Games Are Hits, but What About the Price and Mouse Controls? Nintendo Switch 2 Gets June Release Date With 'Mario Kart World' at Launch Outside of the price, 'Mario Kart World' made headlines for being the biggest iteration of the popular racing series. With 24 racers on a track, more than 50 characters to choose from and a massive open-world to drive around, it's Nintendo's most expansive 'Mario Kart' game ever. Out of all the characters, however, the Moo Moo Meadows cow went viral online for its surprising inclusion in the roster. With Variety, Devon Pritchard, executive vice president of sales, marketing and communication at Nintendo of America, discussed the Switch 2 reveal and what to expect at its launch. How did the unveiling of the Switch 2 go over at Nintendo? It was incredibly exciting to see the reactions of people that were able to see the Nintendo Direct or be here and have the hands-on with the different titles. When 'Mario Kart World' was announced it was quite loud. Seeing the smiles and the really positive reactions from everyone just made it a momentous day for us. Speaking of 'Mario Kart World,' what did you think of the cow going viral online? With 'Mario Kart World,' 'Donkey Kong Bananza,' 'Metroid Prime 4:Beyond,' you saw this powerful gameplay and franchise-firsts. 'Mario Kart' never looked like it looks in 'Mario Kart World,' whether it's a cow or some of the other features, like Knockout Tour or Free Roam. Seeing the joy brought to how we're looking at those franchises and how they're continuing to evolve is really exciting. We enjoyed as well the conversation around the social connections that Nintendo Switch 2 is bringing with game chat. The Switch 2 so far has 'Mario Kart,' 'Donkey Kong,' 'Mario Party' and 'Metroid' games on the way. How does Nintendo look at its console lineups to make sure its classic characters are represented? When you think of the world of Nintendo and how many characters and worlds there are, we're just excited by the opportunities we have to share what's ready. You have 'Mario Kart' and the Mushroom Kingdom for folks, and Donkey Kong has his day and his moment. With 'Metroid Prime 4: Beyond,' we spent time getting it ready. It's a long time coming for this title, so we're excited to share that as well. The lineup has 'The Legend of Zelda' Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, Kirby and all the third party partners. When you look at this entire slate of the Nintendo Switch 2 lineup, you have really diverse genres of games, but also the different characters and worlds that we're going into. 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe' is the best-selling game ever on the Switch. What are the expectations for 'Mario Kart World'? As we thought about 'Mario Kart World,' it was more about what this game could showcase with the Nintendo Switch 2. It's this vast, interconnected playground, and you've got things that you love. It's about bringing new experiences to the 'Mario Kart.' It's a well known and beloved franchise, but for the first time, you're going to Free Roam, where you're able to go and tour your kart around the world. Now we have Knockout Tour, where 24 people are going to be able to determine who the best player is. It was this idea of, how do we bring what's known and loved, and how do we also expand the experience? We also brought in game chat. You have the ability to bring in 12 of your friends through audio, and up to four with video with compatible cameras, and you're going to be able to have a different kind of experience that you can only have on the Nintendo Switch 2. What has Nintendo learned about launching a console since the Switch came out in 2017? Is there anything the company is doing to make sure there aren't console shortages at launch? We are working to ensure a study supply. That's one important part for us. We also have a strong slate of titles, both in the first party and third party. I don't know that those are as much learnings as opportunities that we see with Nintendo Switch 2. This proposition of powerful gameplay and a social experience together is a really unique aspect of Nintendo Switch 2 that we're focused on. I don't know that it's a difference between the Switch and Switch 2, but this concept of a next generation platform is the idea of having an all new Joy-Con 2 controller that can also play as a mouse. It's bringing mouse functionality into games. It's having game share, game chat. As we look at that next generation experience, it's all new with Nintendo Switch 2. 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The Guardian
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Mario Kart World: hands-on with Nintendo's crucial Switch 2 launch game
How do you follow a game as complete and extensive as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? Nintendo is banking on the answer being: go bigger. Double the number of racers to 24. Increase the number of characters (60 in total). More weapons. And, most eye-catchingly, more exploration. That's not a term you'd associate with the closed circuit, three-lap formula that the series has perfected over the last three decades, but in Mario Kart World, the flagship launch title for the forthcoming Switch 2, Nintendo is tearing down the tyre barriers and offering players a Forza Horizon style open world. It's not exactly a total reinvention of the wheel, but it's as big a change to the format as any since the series began. Given physical copies of Mario Kart World will retail at £75 though, is it enough? I got a chance to spend time playing the new game and my immediate impression was that it's what you'd expect from a next-gen Mario Kart title. It's familiar, incredibly polished, plays flawlessly no matter what carnage ensues and it looks awesome. As I hurtled through the courses, the temptation was to slow down and take in all the small, quirky details. Presumably there will be an opportunity to do just that in the free roaming element of the game. I didn't get much of a chance to explore this – it was essentially the lobby while we waited for 24 players to join. What I did get to experience were two modes. The first was Grand Prix. This is your traditional Mario Kart affair: start, three laps, finish. The slight tweak here is that rather than having closed circuit courses, these are sprints across the world map: you'll be in Boo's cinema one moment, a prehistoric jungle the next. I opted to play as the cow from Moo Moo Meadows, the internet-famous breakout star of the recent Nintendo Direct, driving a tractor called Big Horn. As a seasoned Mario Kart player (to put it mildly), I found that it plays exactly as you'd expect. Muscle memory takes over: you skid (though it's less agile than in MK8D, presumably to account for wider tracks); you throw shells at opponents; you scream in frustration when you get struck by lightning just as you were about to use a boost. The level design is beautiful and each track seems packed with alternate routes and little secrets. I can't escape the feeling that the wider roads may mean the game loses some of its claustrophobic carnage, and that the emphasis will be on weapons rather than driving skill in this iteration of the series, but I can live with that. Regardless, I win my first race – I want that on record – and a glorious crown is bestowed upon my cow. In my time with the game, I also had one race in Knockout Tour mode, Nintendo's battle-royale-style take on the series. As you progress along the course you'll encounter checkpoints on the horizon; when you cross these, the bottom four racers are blocked from continuing and drop out. This continues until the final stretch of track where the remaining four race to the podium. Not realising I would be racing 23 other journalists in the room with me, I opted for the comedy choice of racing as Wiggler in a pink cruiser, which, from a kart configuration standpoint, is a terrible choice. Had I realised the stakes I would have gone Wario/monster bike, but it's my own fault for assuming it was a race that didn't matter. They all matter. Knockout Tour mode is exhilarating. If, like me, you believe you've achieved God-like status at MK8D and can run through each course in your sleep, if you're used to cruising in first place without so much as a single banana to your name, then prepare yourself. In knockout mode you can drop from first to 24th in an instant. Sign up to Pushing Buttons Keza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gaming after newsletter promotion The solution is to embrace the carnage. Weapons feel more significant (I lost count of how many golden mushrooms, bullet bills and star powers I went through), skidding and handling less so, given the greater width of each track. Amid all the frenzied chaos, I had no idea how long the race lasted – I think somewhere between three minutes and three hours. Seeing the checkpoints and knowing I was only one horribly timed red shell away from dropping out prompted heart palpitations; clearing the checkpoints brought relief. It was a rush. I finished fifth, failing to qualify for the final section. This mark of shame aside, my initial impressions of knockout mode are that it's an exciting reinvention of the format and there is a strong chance it's about to become my entire personality.
