The release of Mario Kart World significantly contributed to Nintendo’s Switch 2 achieving instant fame. This new version is undeniably the finest in the series, making it an ideal choice for gathering with friends, whether you’re at home or playing online, and having a great time together.
In essence, it’s worth noting that despite its renown, there are aspects this legendary game hasn’t incorporated yet. These might be added through downloadable content down the line, but for now, the game is lacking certain features that made Mario Kart 8 Deluxe truly standout.
What’s still lacking in the world of Mario Kart? Prepare yourself, as the answer may come as a surprise, much like when a blue shell catches you off guard!
1) Major Characters
What contributes to the enjoyment of the Mario Kart series is its diverse roster of characters. Of course, staples such as Mario and Luigi are present, but it also offers less familiar figures. Indeed, Mario Kart World doesn’t skimp on offering these lesser-known characters, like Chargin’ Chuck and Monty Mole. Furthermore, some may find delight in racing around as Super Mario World antagonists, or even reenacting the experience of Super Mario 64 by selecting the Penguin character.
It’s worth noting that some notable Nintendo characters, such as Diddy Kong and Link, are missing from this list. For instance, while Diddy Kong has been a racing game star in the past, he doesn’t appear to be here. Similarly, Link, who is well-known for his adventures in Hyrule, seems to be preoccupied and not available to race again.
Could it be that these characters might appear in future downloadable content? At this moment, however, not having some of the most prominent figures from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe seems quite noticeable and potentially less enjoyable compared to the original version.
2) Kart Customization
Prepare for a contentious discussion ahead, as the absence of customization options in Mario Kart World appears quite unusual compared to its predecessor, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. In the latter game, players could personalize their karts by choosing vehicles, wheels, and gliders, making the creation of unique rides a significant aspect of enjoyment. The varying tires not only influenced gameplay but also added humor when characters like Peach were placed on monster truck-like creations.
In the virtual realm of Mario Kart World, you simply choose your racing kart and prepare for a thrilling competition. Some argue that this simplification could be due to Nintendo aiming to make the Switch 2’s marquee game more accessible by minimizing customization options, as they may be overwhelming for new players. However, even with its complex elements such as peculiar items and disorienting tracks like Rainbow Road, the game has always managed to captivate novices.
Instead of removing the customization options altogether, Nintendo could have allowed them to remain and trusted their player base to adjust. It’s more beneficial to keep options for veteran players rather than taking them away supposedly to attract novice players.
3) Specialty Modes
In addition to the Grand Prix races in Mario Kart World, there’s plenty more to explore. Features like Vs. and Free Roam significantly increase the game’s replay value, especially for competitive gamers or those who enjoy collecting cute outfits. However, upon closer examination of some modes, it appears that there has been a slight decrease in quality compared to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
In Vs. mode, you no longer have the ability to choose options like “no items mode” or to restrict players to just karts or bikes. Additionally, you can’t select unique gimmick modes such as “bombs only” item boxes (though the return of mushrooms-only is certainly appreciated). It could be argued that Nintendo simplified options before releasing the potential flagship title for Switch 2. However, for those who fondly remember tinkering with every obscure option in the multiplayer of GoldenEye 007, the absence of specialty modes significantly diminishes enjoyment.
4) A Better Battle Mode
I’ve got an unexpected admission – I truly enjoyed the Battle Mode introduced in Mario Kart 64. It was a refreshing change from racing, offering opportunities to outwit my friends on unique battle courses instead. Regrettably, the Battle Mode in Mario Kart World doesn’t measure up, even falling short compared to its N64 counterpart!
Starting off, I find the maps rather monotonous and lackluster, with gameplay limited to only three minutes at a time. This restriction alone makes it challenging to eliminate numerous players, which is an essential aspect of enjoyment. Additionally, we no longer have unique play modes such as Bob-Omb Blast and Shine Thief.
Holding a Luigi cap, I can’t help but pose the straightforward query: why put such a beloved gameplay mode into your lineup if you’re determined to make it so painfully subpar?
5) Sound Customization
Occasionally, what appear as minor oversights can spoil something that could have been fantastic. To clarify, I’m not referring to your past mishaps with relationships. Instead, I’m pointing out Nintendo’s puzzling lack of extensive sound customization options in the game Mario Kart World.
In the year 2025, Nintendo launched a game without adjustable sound volume settings. This means that players can’t lower the game sounds when they want to focus on the excellent soundtrack or while multitasking with other audio sources like Spotify or YouTube on their phones during car rides. The absence of these settings might seem trivial, but it’s surprising to see a prominent gaming company overlook such an essential feature.
6) Select Online Features
As a dedicated Mario Kart fan, I’ve been there since we gathered around the old TV for those intense multiplayer battles. That tradition continues, but these days, most of us are hooked on the online gaming experience instead. Kudos to Nintendo for improving their online infrastructure over time. However, the online multiplayer in Mario Kart World is still lacking some essential features that prevent it from reaching its full potential and truly shining.
1. Some changes are relatively insignificant, such as no longer being able to identify the nationality of rival players by viewing their small flags.
2. Other alterations can be frustrating, such as the latest update that modified the “Random” course selection system, potentially leading to the selection of an inconvenient intermission course instead of a three-lap course.
3. Then there are some changes that seem odd, like disabling the ability to team up with online friends in Knockout mode.
Regrettably, it appears that Nintendo’s approach to online development has often been a step forward, followed by a step back.
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2025-08-09 13:13