I think what Nintendo's going for here in getting you to interact with the world at different levels of granularity is something really special and unique, and that it's way more interesting to them than facilitating skill-based arcade racing. That's their logic behind Smash's design too; Nintendo isn't Sega or Capcom.

That said, I do think that even with that design goal, it's a flaw that the highways are restricted to Versus mode instead of a dynamically routed Knockout Tour mode. Maybe Knockout Tour feels too hardcore to gate those fun routes behind, but the trade-off is that Versus mode starts to feel pretty flaccid after a while.

Whatever Nintendo is trying to do with this game, I was a lot more interested in it initially when the world was new. If this is going to have the same legs as any other Mario Kart game without compromising on its goals, they're going to need to make the highways more exciting with some Wonder Seeds.

@Secret_Tunnel I agree with you...in theory. It IS really cool to have this huge world where you can do the races in different ways and then the free roaming and all this kind of cool stuff. I do wish it was more like a Forza or something where you had a better idea of where to find the collectibles, but that's another story.

That being said, in practice, the way they've designed the tracks often becomes kind of boring. Because of the intermission tracks, Knockout and Grand Prix just wind up feeling too similar. GP is virtually a long straightaway with one lap of a course. Being on the course just ends in the blink of an eye. I understand that it can feel more climactic, but it feels underwhelming when we barely get to engage with the most interesting designs in the game. So the idea of the world isn't bad...but the way they've generally connected the world- that isn't really interesting at all for me.

The novelty then kind of wears thin after a while, and instead of feeling like you're racing your opponents, it feels more like you're in an all out straightaway deathmatch with them. It just kind of becomes a big circus of 24 players hurling items at each other- even moreso than usual, lol.

PogueSquadron said:

The novelty then kind of wears thin after a while, and instead of feeling like you're racing your opponents, it feels more like you're in an all out straightaway deathmatch with them. It just kind of becomes a big circus of 24 players hurling items at each other- even moreso than usual, lol.

This was what turned me off the game before I ever completed things. It was the least-racing Mario Kart I've ever played, and I play Mario Kart to race first and foremost!

I wish they had a Race Mode or something that was effectively just normal Grand Prix, three laps per course, maybe reduced items even.

Another new update is live, and it is pretty HUGE. For starters, it looks like Nintendo took the complaints about intermission tracks being boring to heart. They changed all of the intermissions coming in and out of Koopa Troopa Beach and added more to them. Not sure if this is a one off or if they plan to do this in more places but it feels like they're really trying to make this game the best it can be.

Side by side comparison:


They also made it so you can join up with friends in a room and then play against people worldwide. You know, the kind of thing most every online game has. Now Mario Kart World has it! When are we doing this?! (This seems like it could make for some unfair knockout tours if everyone works together but whatever, let's goooooooooo.)

Also they added custom items, which is like, whatever, BUT apparently it makes it way easier to unlock stuff because you can just go into a custom match and make it all Kameks, all coins, etc.

And some other stuff. See below.

Added "Custom Items" to the item rules.
This is a feature that lets you set which items appear.
This is supported in "VS Race", "Balloon Battle", "Coin Runners", and "Room" in "Online Play" or "Wireless Play".
Made it so that music track name and source title of the track that is playing will be displayed on the Pause Menu.
Added "Music Volume" to "Settings/Controller".
Made it so players who gathered in a "Room" of "Online Play" can participate in "Race", "Knockout Tour", and "Battle".
Up to 4 players can participate in "Race", "Knockout Tour", and "Battle".
Made it so you can join in with friends who are playing "Knockout Tour" from "Friends" in "2p", "Online Play" as well.
Added "Restart" and "Next Race" in the Pause Menu for "VS Race" in "Single Player".
Made it so you can select "Photo Mode" from the Pause Menu in "Race against Ghost" in "Time Trials".
Changed the course layout of below courses for "VS Race", or "Race" in "Online Play" or "Wireless Play".
Race that heads from "Koopa Troopa Beach" to "DK Spaceport".
Race that heads from "Koopa Troopa Beach" to "Crown City".
Race that heads from "Koopa Troopa Beach" to "Peach Stadium".
Race that heads from "Whistlestop Summit" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
Race that heads from "Desert Hills" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
Race that heads from "DK Spaceport" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
Race that heads from "Crown City" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
Race that heads from "Peach Stadium" to "Koopa Troopa Beach".
*Changed it so that, in all races heading toward "Koopa Troopa Beach", including the above courses, you will cross the finish line after two laps once you arrive at "Koopa Troopa Beach".
You will now dash when riding on Manta Ramp’s back.
Made it so the player will not hit Dragoneel when transformed into Bullet Bill.
Made it so the player cannot use a second Boo while already using a Boo, when holding two Boos.
When Dash Food is taken by someone, shortened the time until that Dash Food reappears.
When a coin placed on water is taken by someone, shortened the time until that coin reappears.

And a bunch of bug fixes that I'm not going to post individually.

Secret_Tunnel said:

If this is going to have the same legs as any other Mario Kart game without compromising on its goals, they're going to need to make the highways more exciting with some Wonder Seeds.

Yes! I hope they keep this coming. More density. I'm very curious what their long-term plans for this game are. Will they terraform the entire map? Maybe we'll find out in the first Direct of the year.

Neat update. I quite like MKW and it gets wayyyy too much hate online IMO. Really one of the stronger games of the year for me.

Feels like we should plan a MKW night sometime, especially now that you can get into a room and play against strangers and such.

@Zero

That would be fun!

It's been a year since Mario Kart World and the Switch 2 launched! Feeling nostalgic, I've been trying this one out again over the past week.

Man, this game really got done dirty by YouTubers and internet comments, huh?

Rarely have I ever felt so disconnected from online opinion than in the MK8 vs MKW debate. Because going back to this one has brought back a strange sense of nostalgia that I rarely get from video games these days. The sheer number of roads to race on due to the routes in and out of places means there's always something new to see. The frenetic Knockout Tour gets my heart racing like almost no other game. And then when it's time to unwind, trying to find secrets and do little missions in the overworld is really quite tranquil and atmospheric, especially when combined with the phenomenal soundtrack. While I'm still hoping for a couple updates that let me enjoy its features to the fullest (like a save-your-own-cup mode), this is a pretty spectacular game.

@TriforceBun

I couldn't agree more. The day the Switch 2 came out, my non-gamer fiance happened to be home sick from work. We played through every cup together, and we still play the game regularly. We literally just got done playing it.

Versus mode with random tracks is a blast. Highways aren't boring, gamers are boring:



I'm quite a lot better at Mario Kart than my girl, so I treat the world like a playground, try to pull off crazy tricks and skips for the fun of it, inevitably mess up, and she ends up winning about half the time. We both have a great time and I progressively learn more about the game's mechanics and world design every time we play. Like dunkey said, it's a progressively unfolding puzzle box of oh shit-ness.

I love and respect arcade games that are autistically tuned for high-level play (go buy TGM4!), but this is a Nintendo game. It's about playful creative expression, not raw skill.