Nintendo Could Make the Best Mario Kart Game if It Learns From PlayStation

Mario, a cherished emblem of Nintendo, stands among the most recognized figures in gaming history. From his initial platforming adventure to participating in sports, racing, combat, socializing, he’s done it all. It’s undeniable that one of Mario’s most significant achievements lies in fostering unity, particularly through local multiplayer games like “Mario Kart”. This series offers enjoyment for people of all ages and has produced many excellent installments, but hasn’t quite reached its full potential yet. Consequently, the ideal Mario game is within Nintendo’s grasp, though it seems they might never create it.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve always held Mario Kart 8 Deluxe close to my heart – it’s an outstanding addition to the series that offers an unparalleled multiplayer experience. But here’s the question: How can Nintendo outdo this masterpiece?

Well, they’ve shaken things up before with games like Mario Kart: Double Dash, where they ventured away from the traditional Mario Kart formula. They even introduced characters from other popular series such as The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon! Talk about diversity!

There’s just so much to explore in this game – with over 40 playable characters, 96 courses, a plethora of vehicles, and an abundance of vehicle parts! It’s almost overwhelming! But that’s the beauty of it.

So, how does Nintendo take Mario Kart to new heights? That’s a challenge I can’t wait to see them tackle!

The solution is straightforward: Mario Kart Course Creator. Visualize the potential and liberty to design tracks utilizing settings from the Mushroom Kingdom and beyond. With a myriad of Mario games, the possibilities are infinite, and Nintendo enthusiasts have demonstrated their creativity in the past. Introducing Mario Kart Course Creator on the Nintendo Switch 2 would undeniably cement Nintendo as an eternal leader in multiplayer gaming.

Nintendo hasn’t taken this step forward as of yet, and the reason behind it is a puzzle. The game “ModNation Racers” on PlayStation 3 demonstrated that kart racers could be designed with extensive player customization. While “ModNation Racers” was lauded for enabling players to create their ideal tracks, it suffered from longer load times and challenging AI. However, its multiplayer mode with other gamers truly excelled, particularly when paired with the track creation feature.

Despite its potential, ModNation Racers failed to rival games like Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 7, which came out at the same time, ultimately leading to its server shutdown in 2018. Fans strongly objected when they learned about the servers being deactivated, delaying the process slightly for a few months. However, Sony eventually closed down ModNation Racers, and aside from a weak spin-off on the PS Vita, the series has since faded into obscurity.

Utilizing the success of their previous games, Nintendo might capitalize on the design of “ModNation Racers” for “Mario Kart Maker,” creating a game that outshines its competition. With the exceptional popularity of “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe,” Nintendo could leverage its structure to offer players the ability to create their own content. The approach has been demonstrated as effective in “ModNation Racers,” and Nintendo’s own “Super Mario Maker” and “Super Mario Maker 2” demonstrate their knack for providing engaging creation tools.

Even the game “Super Smash Bros. Ultimate” includes a stage builder option, enabling players to craft unique battlefields featuring their beloved Nintendo characters. Similarly, the remake of “The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening” offers the chance to create dungeons, demonstrating Nintendo’s growing commitment to providing greater creative freedom for its players. While “Super Mario Maker 2” stands out as a significant leap, Nintendo has been gradually expanding its offerings in allowing players to shape their own content.

Now is the perfect moment for the arrival of Mario Kart Maker. Utilizing the enhanced hardware capabilities and improving its online features could make Mario Kart Maker an exceptional launch game for Nintendo Switch 2.

The game Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and its whole series offer a vast number of tracks and characters, making it potentially one of the most content-rich games in the series. Adding a track editor feature would enhance this even more, as players could share their custom tracks with others online, breathing new life into the franchise. A standalone game like Mario Kart Maker, which allows creating and sharing tracks, could generate significant revenue and contribute to the launch of a brand-new console.

Speaking of which, crafting a track editor for Mario Kart is no small feat. The intricate details in the 2D levels of Super Mario Maker 2 stand in stark contrast to the 3D tracks and settings within just one Mario Kart course. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe offers an impressive 96 courses, each with its own distinct character and resources. Attempting even a small portion of this and allowing players to create their custom courses would be remarkably challenging.

In ModNation Racers, they facilitated diversity by launching multiple track themes, followed by props and decorations tailored to chosen themes. Players were free to sketch their race tracks’ layouts and incorporate AI navigation. As construction progressed or during this process, players could position props, adjust heights, add ramps, and so on. Once completed, or even during the building stage, these tracks could be shared globally, enabling others to experience them.

In a similar fashion, the concept could be applied to the game called “Mario Kart Maker“. Nintendo might introduce a variety of themes at the initial launch, focusing on common settings such as grasslands, deserts, arctic regions, jungles, cities, and space. This move would provide players with designs that resemble many of the official tracks. Within each theme, there could be subcategories like ‘metropolitan’, which could offer diverse settings to create tracks similar to Toad Harbor, Neo Bowser City, or any tracks from “Mario Kart Tour” added to “Mario Kart 8 Deluxe“.

By offering several themes initially upon release, Nintendo would provide players with a diverse foundation for designing tracks. These can be further expanded through DLC, introducing new themes and props. As demonstrated with the Booster Course Pass in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, this approach has proven effective, and it could also benefit Mario Maker. In fact, Nintendo might encourage DLC purchases by offering additional tracks, which players could then use as a basis for creating their own content.

Nintendo might add a one-player mode similar to that in Super Mario Maker 2, featuring tracks designed by the studio and an engaging storyline. This would help players understand the game and its features, while also allowing Nintendo to demonstrate their creativity in track design. By offering both a compelling single-player experience and powerful creation tools, Mario Kart Maker could distinguish itself from other kart racing games.

It remains uncertain if Nintendo will develop a game like “Mario Kart Maker”. While it’s not impossible, their history suggests they might prefer to maintain creative control within their games rather than giving players extensive freedom. This is because fans have often perceived Nintendo as wanting to dictate how they enjoy their gaming experience. Releasing a “Mario Kart Maker” would grant fans an unprecedented level of control over kart racing in the Mario universe, which could be challenging for Nintendo to manage and regulate.

Nintendo promptly removes content they deem incompatible with their policies, extending to fan-created games and custom levels within Super Mario Maker 2. It’s plausible that potential misuse, like creating inappropriate tracks in hypothetical Mario Kart Maker, might be a factor contributing to Nintendo’s reluctance to develop such a game.

As a devoted fan, I’ve seen how Nintendo has expanded the world of Mario Kart with a variety of spin-offs that keep this classic series fresh. For instance, I’ve enjoyed the mobile version, Mario Kart Tour, and the immersive VR experience offered by Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit. Even arcade versions of Mario Kart have made an appearance, demonstrating Nintendo’s willingness to explore new avenues with this cherished series. Regrettably, some spin-offs and titles like VB Mario Kart, Mario Kart XXL, and Mario Motors didn’t make it past the development phase.

Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe rank among the top-selling video games in history, even though they’re only playable on the Wii U and Nintendo Switch. This underscores just how passionate fans are about the racing series. Releasing a game like Mario Kart Maker could easily surpass these sales figures. If Nintendo decides to create Mario Kart Maker with both single-player and multiplayer modes, it has the potential to become one of the greatest games ever featuring Mario.

Having a tool like the Mario Kart Maker would undoubtedly delight fans, and it’d be wise for Nintendo to think about developing it. However, this idea brings up another intriguing question: What happens next if Nintendo produces the Mario Kart Maker? It’s conceivable that both the Mario Kart Maker and Mario Kart 9 could coexist, much like how Nintendo offers both Super Mario Maker 2 and Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. However, the fanbase might remain split indefinitely between user-generated content and Nintendo’s official creations.

In essence, it’s hard to predict what the Nintendo Switch 2 might offer us down the line. The transfer of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to the Nintendo Switch undoubtedly brought delight to numerous gamers and underscored its greatness, but it may have thwarted the opportunity for a fresh installment on the Nintendo Switch. Here’s hoping that Mario Kart 9 doesn’t impede the prospect of a Mario Kart Maker appearing on the Switch 2 as well.

2025-01-21 22:12

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