From the halls of Mushroom Kingdom, To the shores of Koopa Beach;
You’ll now find Mario karting
In the air, on land, and sea;
| ‘Mario Kart 7’ |
| » System: 3DS |
| » Price: $39.99 |
| » Rating: 4 out of 5 stars |
That’s right, folks. In his seventh outing behind the wheel, the simply titled “Mario Kart 7,” the pudgy plumber slips the surly bonds of earth. Most of his racing is still done on a track, make no mistake, but now, if a course sees fit to take the race into the air or even underwater, no problem. Thanks to a propeller that pops out in water, and a glider that sprouts out of your vehicle for flying segments, the racing action never skips a beat.
Indeed, it’s not uncommon to ramp off a cliff, start gliding, get hit with a shell, and plunge into an underwater area that looks nothing like the rest of the track. Not only do the heights and depths differ cosmetically, they affect how you drive. Water makes for a low-weight, bouncy racing environment, while gliding segments control like an airplane, with up on the joystick sending the nose of your kart downward. Expect lots of gravity play throughout the game, from a “Super Mario Galaxy”-themed Rainbow Road that has you bouncing around a low-G moon, to a sunset drive across Wahu Island — the setting of “Wii Sports Resort” — that ends in a spectacular gliding sequence that would be at home in 3DS cousin “Pilotwings Resort.”
Impressive as the new tracks are, series fans will appreciate how the glider and propeller attachments are used to transform courses reappearing from previous “Mario Kart” titles. Remember the cruise ship level from “Mario Kart DoubleDash”? This time around, if you fall in the deck pool, instead of being penalized, you’re treated to a trip through the ship’s plumbing.
With all the new things being added, though, one thing I miss is the way “Mario Kart DS” handled drifting. It was harder, yes, but it gave you a sense you were in total control. “Mario Kart 7’s” more automated drifting feels less personal.
Still, between easy online play and racing unlike anything we’ve seen from the series thus far, “Mario Kart 7” is worth driving out of your way for.
