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There is no question that Mario Kart is soon set to celebrate its 20th anniversary as one of the most acclaimed video game series for the Nintendo games. It has just been a non-stop fast & furious ride for Mario, Bowser and his friends from each angle. It has been on every system since the Super NES, and it hasn't seen the plumber and his friends and foes hit the brakes into the warp pipe even once. Still, there have been so many racing games that have tries to copy it and haven't succedded, or those who have been inspired by Mario and his friends race. Well whatever the case, Mario and his friends kept on evolving in the Mairo Kart games and they have never lost their luster. Now with the high-octane and mushroom speed, it is at it again for the Nintendo 3DS, and truthfully it is worth each and every race.
Mario Kart 7 really brings in the big guns for the Nintendo 3DS, where some of the other Nintendo 3DS games, have missed their mark with the launch of the system. Hard to believe it is the 7th racing game for Mario and his friends, and this time around it has continued to evolve well by bringing in a swift mix of the new and the old. Just like Mario Kart DS and MarioKart Wii, gamers will race 32 tracks that are both new and from Mario Kart's past. The game definitely looks amazing with some new wrinkles into the game, as you have new racers and new courses too like racing in the new Music Park, where hopping on each note and insturment will help you cross the finish line, Shy Guy Bazaar, where it is a Middle Eastern flavor available, as you and your fellow racers try and cross the starting gate, while trying to glide from rooftops, and classics as well like Luigi Raceway from Mario Kart 64 and the speed and mall-madness of the Coconut Mall from Mario Kart Wii.
Aside from the mix of old and new tracks as well, there are new racers that are here to challenge Mario, Yoshi and friends including Lakitu the cloud-dwelling and spiny tossing foe, Metal Mario (as a celebration to help celebrate the 15th anniversary of Super Mario 64,) Shy Guy and Wiggler to name a few. They bring a lot of new blood into the game, as well as new elements like customizing your karts with tires and gliders which will make you soar your way back to the asphault.You also can race underwater too, which will help you find shortcuts in the game, especially in redesigned courses like Koopa Trooopa Beach and new Cheep Cheep Lagoon. There are also a few new items in the game too including the fireball power-up, the tanooki tail which will help you swat passing racers, and the new Lucky 7 that is a seven-way mix of weapons like the shells both red and green, a blooper to ink foes, banana peel and and a star for invinciblity.
The graphics in the game look amazing, as you score your way to the finish, as well as collect coins while on course to help yopu unveil extras to help customize your karts. The control is strong as well, in the classic mode, but there is one small hiccup with the new first person perspective. While the concept is good, in that mode you can race with others using the gyro sensor from the 3DS and steer your kart by swaying your racer back and forth, like the Wii Wheel was in Mario Kart Wii. That can take a bit to get used to for new racers, but for veterans they can also choose to play in the classic way as well. The sound is strong as well, by bringing in the classic scores and musical elements of the distinctive classic courses like Mushroom Gorge, but overall it is the gameplay that is fun in both single play and especially multiplayer too. The multiplayer adds extras with the Streetpass, and online gameplay like Mario Kart Wii showed, as you and 7 other racers try to race your way to the finish line.
Overall, despite one small flaw, Mario Kart 7 is definitely a fast and furious game from start to finish, and it still is just as great for many gamers more than meets the eye. If you have enjoyed the chase that Mario Kart has brought before than you'll definitely love this Nintendo 3DS game. I definitely love this thrilling racer and it shows that some game franchises have never gotten old, they just have gotten better with age. It is definitely a must buy for your Nintendo 3DS that is sure to be a treat that many racers haven't been able to show for over 2 decades across the finish line. I absolutely recommend Mario Kart 7 from start to finish.
Graphics: A
Sound: A-
Control: Afor classic gamers; B for Nintendo 3DS gyro sensor
Fun & Enjoyment: Afor solo play: A for multiplayer
Overall: A-
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Here's another must-own for the 3DS, plus it's my most played on the handheld. Just like how I got Super Mario 3D Land, I got Mario Kart 7 the day it came out. If you love Mario Kart or if you're new to the series, this game is especially a must!Just like the other Mario Kart games since Mario Kart DS, you can play this game on your own, with nearby people provided that they have 3DS's, or play online. I dig the fact that you can be able to customize your kart, as well as the ability to glide and drive underwater! I would also like to thank Nintendo for getting rid of the thunder cloud that plagued Mario Kart Wii, that thing was just really annoying... you also won't be able to see any fake power-up blocks either, yay! Instead, you'll see new power-ups which are the fire flower, the raccoon tail, and the lucky 7 (I only use that to use the star lol). But still, be prepared to get attacked by those too, that includes blue spiny shells, bullet bills, and bloopers! And each time you get a lot of coins, you'll be able to unlock kart parts. You will also be able to unlock hidden characters, as well as a 3-star rank when you do awesome in the grand prix mode.
The best part of Mario Kart 7 is the game's online mode. You are able to play in worldwide matches much like in Mario Kart Wii, but with an improved VR system that doesn't decrease by a lot for no reason! The only way to lose your VR is when you get last place, and you only lose 3 VR when that happens, which isn't much at all that is much more fair than Mario Kart Wii's online! You are also able to race in communities and find people/friends you previously raced. There is also the Mario Kart Channel where it updates the time trial ghosts and the community list. The game also keeps track of your wins, losses, coins collected, etc. Plus you'll still be able to unlock remaining kart parts while you collect coins in the online mode too!
The only cons I have are the mii's voices, no actual way to ban whichever items you want while you make a community, not having the ability to create your own messages when you're in a community, and Toadette not being in the roster (I miss her!!!). Overall, the game is definitely chaotic, but you'll keep coming back for more action. Right next to Mario Kart Double Dash, this is my favorite entry in the Mario Kart series. Go get it right now!
Final Score 9/10 Awesome
Best Deals for Mario Kart 7
Every time Nintendo releases a new game you can always bet on them bringing over their core franchises. The one that seems to ruffle the most feathers and delight the most is always Mario Kart. The gameplay is often fun, simple and it's easy for just about anyone to pick up. It's also a series that has what can be considered a tried and true formula. Mario Kart has retained its familiar formula for two decades now and it's not going to stop here. If you've liked Mario Kart previously there's no reason not to really give the game a try.As you'd expect, Mario Kart 7 is pretty easy to slip into. There are 32 courses in total and at least 16 of them are retro courses drawn from other Mario Kart releases. Most of them are pretty well designed, and those who love the older courses will be pleased to find some of the classics here. Some of them have changes to compliment some of Mario Kart 7's new mechanics. Each race has eight racers. There are also a ton of items to find and use as you race.
If there's one thing Mario Kart has always been criticized for and praised for it's the different assortment of items. Some familiar items that have been in Mario Kart forever return such as the mushrooms, stars and bananas. Some of the more recent items return as well such as the bullet bill. There are three new power ups to behold in Mario Kart 7. The first is the fire flower which will let your hurl fireballs at your opponents for a certain amount of time. There is also the Tanooki Leaf that gives you the Tanooki Tail to whack your enemies and finally there's the Lucky 7 which gives you seven power ups at once that you can use. Of the three new items the Lucky 7 is the most amusing of the batch. The fire flower seems as though it should've been a part of Mario Kart all along. The Tanooki Tail, however, is by far the least amusing of the new items here.
There is some degree of luck when it comes to winning, but there's more of a feeling that you're in control than the Wii variation where you could easily be bombarded with several items at once just seconds before the finish line. Here, that isn't likely to happen. You'll still find yourself hit by an item, but you won't find yourself bombarded too often in such a short period of time. The balancing here is better to the point that there is still a little luck, but your skill is actually important here as well.
There has been a lot made about the new addition to the vehicles. The glider and the propeller. One allows you to fly while the other allows you to traverse the water. For the most part, these additions don't really add much to the experience. It's amusing the first couple of times you do them, but you'll feel much more at home with your wheels planted firmly on the ground. They're not entirely useless. Gliding can, for example, give you an edge in some races. It's going underwater that more or less feels no different from being on the surface. So while they're certainly welcome additions, it doesn't really do a whole lot to enhance the experience.
You'll more or less experience much of what Mario Kart 7 has to offer within a couple of hours. Certainly there are 32 courses but you'll breeze through all of them rather quickly. You'll also unlock drivers and a mirror mode and different parts to your Kart. If anything the multiplayer is what is more likely to keep you coming back to Mario Kart 7. You can play locally with friends or online and both actually work out just fine. You can also get into coin battles and the balloon battles, which is pretty standard for Mario Kart now (and also much more fun with friends). There's also a Mario Kart channel just like there is for the Wii.
Visually, Mario Kart 7 is by far the best looking game the 3DS has at this point. There's a lot of detail put into it and it just looks smooth. The 3D also works out rather well, but chances are you won't actually need it to enjoy the game. It really gives players a sense of what's around the corner for the 3DS.
The only thing that really keeps Mario Kart 7 down is that it really isn't any different from the previous Mario Kart. Things have been slightly reworked and tweaked but there isn't much offered here that other Mario Kart games aren't already going to provide for you. The new courses are great but usually that's all you get. Aside from that, the experience of Mario Kart 7 isn't really all that different from the previous ones. It's not necessarily a bad thing. It means those who've loved Mario Kart don't have much reason not to try it. It makes for a decent game, but it sometimes walks a fine line between improving the series and becoming stale. Regardless, the game is still good on its own and worth a look.
Honest reviews on Mario Kart 7
I bought this game today from a local retailer. at the time of writing, I've played for about 4 hours.The game is very good, but it could have been better.
It is a Mario Kart game and it delivers as expected. If you're a fan of the series or just a 3DS owner, then this is a must-own title.
First the bad:
I was really excited for a 1st person "cockpit" view. I tried it, but it isn't good. This could have been good, but unfortunately the problem here has more to do with the 3DS itself. With the game in 3D mode, it isn't practical to tilt the 3DS to steer, unless you turn your head with the 3DS. You'll get a sore neck or just look stupid doing it. For anyone with experience with the 3DS knows that tilting the display ruins the 3DS affect, at least until you can readjust your eyes.
Next is the analog steering controls. I do not feel "locked in" while using this control. The analog control feels somewhat detached from the Kart's steering. Overtime a person will get used to it. That's all I can really say. Steering is not possible with the D-Pad, which is unfortunate. I would have liked to have had a choice, especially considered how bad the analog steering feels.
Historically, Mario Kart games have always been bigger and have included more content than their predecessors. Mario Kart 7 does away with at least 8 characters who were in Mario Kart Wii. There are fewer drivers to choose from in this game.
The good:
Despite the fact the there are fewer drivers to choose from in this game, the Nintendo makes up for it by adding some new features. There is a lot more variety in the form of kart options. As you progress, you unlock various mods for your kart. Some mods include different body styles for your kart, tire options, and wing options (for gliding). All mods do affect overall performance of the kart.
New powerups!-there are 3. The feather grants you Raccoon Mario's tail, used to whip opponents or incoming projectiles. The flower that allows you to shoot fireballs. Lucky 7 which surrounds you with 7 different powered (similar to the triple shells), all of which can be used. The Lucky 7 powerup is by far the rarest. In 4 hours of playtime, I received the Lucky 7 just once.
Where I'm neutral:
I saw the trailers for this game and I was really excited to see the new gliding and underwater features. While they look "new and innovative" in terms of gameplay, the reality is they're a bit underwhelming. Driving underwater feels exactly like driving on the road. The difference: in one mode your kart has a propeller on the back of it.
Gliding is fun, and there are some skills to learn to have an advantage on the track-for example, using the glider to create shortcuts to leap several positions in the race.
The Verdict:
I'm giving this game a 4 instead of 5 because it isn't as perfect or polished as MArio Kart titles have been in the past. There should have been the same amount of content or more content as in the previous installment. The game is almost unplayable using "tilt" controls while in 3D mode. New features like underwater mode didn't feel innovative.
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