We're two days away from the launch of the new Nintendo Switch 2, and it's clear that while some may still have doubts about the new Nintendo console, the exclusivity and simultaneous release of the new Mario Kart may have a double effect. Indeed, Mario Kart, since its very first release on the Super Nintendo, has been the kind of game that is so interesting and addictive that it can justify the purchase of a console on its own. Unveiled at the same time as Nintendo's new console on April 2nd, we were able to learn more during a Nintendo Direct dedicated to the new racing game on April 17th.
About ten days ago, we were lucky enough to be part of the "happy few" to be able to get our hands on Mario Kart World, whether solo or multiplayer, and we're not going to be super original since we came out with a smile from ear to ear. And when we talk about getting our hands on, we spent the whole day there and were able to play Mario Kart World in all of its available modes, or almost. We're a long way from the little hands-on experience at the Nintendo Switch 2 Experience (held at the Grand Palais in Paris from April 4th to 6th).
The tracks and the open world
Mario Bros. Circuit, Trophéopolis, Cité Fleur-de-Sel, Observatory Peak, and more. Mario Kart World arrives with all-new tracks, set in different worlds, each one more varied than the last. While the tracks are wider, bigger, and very different from the recycled ones we saw in the Switch's Mario Kart, they all have the merit of being inspired by existing tracks. As a result, on many tracks, you start the race thinking you know it, and after a few turns, you quickly realize you don't. It's just the universe that we recognize, but the circuits are very different.
And it's even more obvious when you connect two circuits. Indeed, in VS mode, for example, you can choose either a closed circuit or two connected circuits. But where Nintendo really shines is on the connected circuits. The circuit going from A to B is different from the one going from B to A. So, with all the circuits available, imagine the number of circuits available for multiplayer mode. This allows for an incredible number of circuits available to compete with friends or opponents online.
We also haven't forgotten the open world, the new flagship of Mario Kart World, which will allow players to explore the different universes and therefore gradually learn the shortcuts available on the different circuits. Yes, more than ever, you'll need to know the terrain you're playing on. In previous episodes, if we had some well-hidden shortcuts, in Mario Kart World, there are shortcuts in all directions and they are in some ways essential to know to get ahead. We were somewhat surprised to see that following the track is no longer the royal road to “ensuring” a minimum.
Gameplay
We play Mario Kart World and we're not going to explain to you again what a racing game is! Until this episode, we sincerely thought that Nintendo could do no more in a Mario Kart. And yet, the Kyoto firm proves to us that they have unparalleled creative resources. While we obviously find the turbo drifts preceded by a few small jumps, Mario Kart World brings a real jump that will allow the player to "grind" on rails. Grinding on these rails often allows you to go faster and can provide a small boost that will allow you to get ahead or catch up with your opponents.
Indeed, in previous episodes, when you needed to catch up with the leading pack, you could try to hang around to grab the right bonuses that would allow you to make a comeback. In Mario Kart World, the bonuses are less useful in some areas and you'll have to rely more on shortcuts and grinds to get back up faster. But that's not all since jumping also allows you to roll on walls. As a result, with each grind/wall combo, it automatically adds a boost. As you can see, Nintendo doesn't spare these players and there's a certain amount of mastery required to chain grinds/walls, especially when the latter can be higher. This completely changes the way you play and we loved it even if we didn't master anything.
And of course, that's not all! In addition to the circuits and the new gameplay, we also have new enemies and obstacles on the road, new bonuses, and also food that we can't ignore because this is what will allow players to unlock cosmetics like new costumes or boosts in the game. Always practical.
Multiplayer and Survival Mode
Mario Kart necessarily means multiplayer, and in this case, we really get our money's worth. As a reminder, the number of circuits is impressive, between closed circuits and/or open circuits and/or connected circuits. But where it changes everything is the number of players. We've known this since April, and it's a good 24 players competing against each other. Needless to say, the first round is often synonymous with carnage. During my first session, I had collected three speed mushrooms and then a shell came by, then a second, then a third, then the screen started to shake. I then saw my kart turn over, I had lost my mushrooms in the panic and we had taken a dozen places in the mouth.
In short, we will have understood, the very essence of Mario Kart is still there and if it will take time to master all the circuits as well as the new techniques, the joy of facing other players remains at the heart of Nintendo's racing game. It is still too early to really conclude anything but this first real hands-on made a strong impression on us and we only want one thing, it is to continue to face other players, especially with this Survival mode which is a kind of BattleRoyale. We start with 24 and there can only be one left. We were only able to test the mode once, but this is the level of stress at each checkpoint that eliminated the last 4 players. Each game lasts about 10 minutes and we played with clenched and sweaty hands.
And what about the Nintendo Switch 2?
After this first hands-on, it's still quite difficult to decide on the Nintendo Switch 2. Mario Kart World is a complete and immense game, but it's not a game that demands a lot of resources in terms of performance. As a result, it's difficult to make a judgment on the console itself. Mario Kart World won't give us an idea of the Switch 2's real power. Likewise, we haven't been able to test the battery life of Nintendo's new console yet, and it will take a few days or even weeks to get a more precise idea.
On the other hand, we can say that in terms of controls it's super precise, the controllers are much more pleasant. And it's true that the Switch Joy-Cons could cause cramps because they were too small. But here, we don't necessarily have a larger size, but it's sufficiently larger compared to the predecessors to be more comfortable, especially when playing with several people on the same screen. The magnets hold well and we didn't notice any particular problems during the day of handling. How comfortable now when we detach the Joy-Cons from the Switch 2 to put them on the controller adapter! Moreover, we found that the Joy-Cons with the adapter were as comfortable as the new dedicated controller! Well done Nintendo.
As for the screen, we were a little worried about the return to an IPS panel when we had gotten used to the Switch's OLED panel. But rest assured, the new size, the new definition and the 120Hz refresh rate, all combined with a rather bright screen, meant that we didn't notice any "loss" in quality! To be honest, we didn't really notice any difference except for the fluidity brought by the new refresh rate but also the additional power of the Switch 2 compared to the Switch.
And finally the accessories, we had a small glimpse of the camera which fulfills its social function well during a session of Mario Kart World but we wonder if the camera is proprietary or if we can connect any USB webcam to it with some sort of generic "driver"? We don't see why Nintendo would block this kind of use when it seems that we can apparently connect any USB mouse to it. We will test all that when we have the console in our hands, ditto on the subject of Bluetooth. Is it open like the Switch or limited like Sony's consoles?
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