Mario Kart Tour Is Almost Ready For Race

Remember when another game as part of the Super Mario franchise for third-party mobile devices was announced [13] [18] [19]? From May to June this year, the game was firstly open for beta testing for the developers make sure that the true outcome will be exceptional, based on feedback from the beta testers [13]. Even though I missed out of the testing due to being busy with my other working duties, I still have some high hopes for the aftermath and believe what has been revealed while it was occurring has satisfied enough Mario Kart racers who own an iOS or Android device. The official trailers have been revealed almost a month ago, so I thought I might as well once again express my views on Mario Kart Tour too before it officially comes out [1] [7] [8].

The classic characters behind depictions of iconic cities from around the world. [12]

The “Race Around The World” trailer shows how the player can start up their chosen character’s kart just by holding their fingertip down on the screen [7]. I am honestly not sure how comfortable steering the kart will feel with just one thumb in charge most of the time, but I am sure each method may be dandy once the player gets used to them. I honestly would prefer the game to be displayed horizontally, but as long as many players are okay with how to control the kart and aim to reach the finish line as the game is displayed vertically, I think the outcome should be fine [17]. Additionally, I just hope the game will not cause my iOS device to rumble as intensely and fly right out of my hand like how the phones did in another trailer for the game [8]. I will admit that it was rather assuming to see all of those smartphones escape from their users’ hands and cause mild destruction [8]. Please give me any control method besides the awful way of having to hold your Wii remote vertically and awkwardly press the control pad to aim in Worms: A Space Oddity [17].

I am hoping for the game to be available to be played if the device is held horizontally for an update if this method does not work out for every player. [7]

The trailer for the app on Google Play was pretty hilarious. [1]

As much as I am interested to see that the cups are based on the characters instead of the usual cups from the previous instalments, I am also interested in how refreshing the new courses will seem [13]. The rehash of Waluigi Pinball from Mario Kart DS looks thrilling [7] [8]. I have a feeling that the course with a tower that strongly resembles the Eiffel Tower could be its own adaption of Paris, similar to how the Sly Cooper franchise has its own interpretation the city that is especially romantic in Spring [10]. Furthermore, there also seems to be a course that represents some lovely place in Tokyo. With some courses that feature aspects of iconic cities in real life, it is no wonder the title of the newest Mario Kart installment is “Mario Kart Tour” because going through each course that resembles a famous city will be like a world tour [7] [8]. Or in the case of re-experiencing the main installments, it can feel like a tour through previous courses, from Bowser’s Castle to Rainbow Road [8] [11] [13].

Waluigi Pinball! I missed you!! [5] [8]

I think I know where to spend my next time away with my boyfriend. [8]

Whoa! It looks like Bowser’s shell will be an item for him to hurl at any other racer again. Remember how it was used by Bowser in Mario Kart: Double Dash [8] [14]? Additionally, the adorable pink heart that was also an item in Mario Kart: Double Dash will also return as an item in Mario Kart Tour that will be used by Princess Peach and Princess Daisy and Wendy O. Koopa [8] [13] [14]. Other examples of items that will be only used by certain characters as “special items” are:

•  The triple mushrooms (used by Toad and Toadette) [8] [13]
•  The Yoshi egg (used by Yoshi) [8] [13]
•  The double bob-ombs (used by Wario, Waluigi and King Boo) [13]
•  The giant banana (used by Donkey Kong) [8] [13]

An aspect of Mario Kart: Double Dash returning is sure to warm the hearts of plenty of 2000s kids [14]. I am not sure if the first-person driving feature will ever return unless it might in an update for the app [3].

Bowser’s koopa shell in action. Wait! How many does he own exactly?! [8]

The Yoshi egg’s attack ought to egg-ceptional. Get it? [8]

My stars! We get to see some examples of racers in different outfits. I love how Peach looks in her yukata as it reminds me of the artwork of her wearing that outfit for the Kyoto Cross Media Experience back in 2009 [8] [11]. It is quite strange to see Mario race without his cap, but at least we get to see him in the stylish attires of a jazz musician [8] [12]. Could Luigi receive the same style? Do you think the Shy Guy dressed up as a chef will cook some splendid meals for the racers? I fancy seeing Rosalina racing in her fire outfit from Super Mario 3D World [6]. Or better yet, a fire version of her biker suit from Mario Kart 8 if bikes become available in an update [4]. It seems that the alternative outfits will be unlockable, which can further motivate the player into racing on the tracks and increase the feeling of good rewarding.

Remember this lovely artwork from 2009? [11]

Doesn’t this attire look great on our main man? [12]

Any new unlockable characters? Well, I can see that Peachette, the fusion of Peach and Toadette that debuted in New Super Mario Bros. Deluxe will be a new competitor [] [16]. What about the glamorous and eventually empowered Pauline? As I mentioned in my previous Mario Kart Tour article back in March 2018, I believe that she could also be an unlockable character [18] [19]. It will be quite like how she came a playable tennis player as a reward for participating in an event in Mario Tennis Aces [15].  Could Pink Gold Peach also be unlockable for those who actually liked playing as her in Mario Kart 8 [4]? And yes, I can imagine a fan made mod of the game that features Bowsette, thanks to the artists who made Bowser wearing the crown to be his own Peach a meme a year ago [2]. A big special thanks to them.

Peachette’s kart seems like another shout-out to the good old days of Mario Kart DS. [5] [8]

Mario Kart Tour will park in the application stores on the 25^th of September 2019, so we have under a week to prepare for the first Mario Kart installment outside of first-party consoles [1] [7] [8] [13]. I guess I can download it on my iPhone to bring back the feeling I had when I was playing Sonic Dash on my fourth-generation iPod Touch, as well as how I enjoyed playing Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart 7 for the 3DS [3] [5] [9]. Furthermore, I can review it for a third Mario Kart Tour article. What plenty of Mario Kart racers who missed out on the beta testing of the app may hear about:

• The praise it received for splendid graphics [8] [13]
• The praise it received for upbeat gameplay [8] [13]
• The criticism it received for the lack of multiplayer mode [13]
• The criticism it received for the in-app microtransactions [13]

While we wait for it in under a week, perhaps we can say which racer represents any music genre. Speaking of portraying music genres with the Mario crew, that gives me an idea for another article. Stay tuned, fellow writers and gamers!

The official icon for the app. [12]

 References:

1. Google Play. (2019). Google Play Games: Nintendo Mario Kart Tour (Extended Version). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWINLcShNzc. Last accessed 1st Sep 2019.
2. Know Your Meme. (2018). Bowsette. Available: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/bowsette. Last accessed 28th Aug 2019.
3. Nintendo. (2013). Mario Kart 7. Nintendo 3DS. Tokyo. Japan.
4. Nintendo. (2013). Mario Kart 8. Nintendo 3DS. Tokyo. Japan.
5. Nintendo. (2005). Mario Kart DS. Nintendo DS. Tokyo. Japan.
6. Nintendo. (2013). Super Mario 3D World. Nintendo Wii U. Tokyo. Japan.
7. Nintendo Mobile. (2019). Mario Kart Tour - RACE AROUND THE WORLD. Available: https://youtu.be/vgJO3000GXU. Last accessed 27th Aug 2019.
8. Nintendo Mobile. (2019). Mario Kart Tour - Trailer. Available: https://youtu.be/1V6XecP27wE. Last accessed 27th Aug 2019.
9. SEGA. (2013). Sonic Dash. iOS. Tokyo. Japan.
10. Sly Cooper Wiki. (2013). Paris. Available: https://slycooper.fandom.com/wiki/Paris. Last accessed 1st Sep 2019.
11. Super Mario Wiki. (2009). File:Peach in Japanese attire KCMEX2009.png. Available: https://www.mariowiki.com/File:Peach_in_Japanese_attire_KCMEX2009.png. Last accessed 20th Sep 2019.
12. Super Mario Wiki. (2018). Gallery:Mario Kart Tour. Available: https://www.mariowiki.com/Gallery:Mario_Kart_Tour. Last accessed 1st Sep 2018.
13. Super Mario Wiki. (2018). Mario Kart Tour. Available: https://www.mariowiki.com/Mario_Kart_Tour. Last accessed 1st Sep 2018.
14. Super Mario Wiki. (2010). Mario Kart: Double Dash!!. Available: https://www.mariowiki.com/Mario_Kart:_Double_Dash!!. Last accessed 20th Sep 2019.
15. Super Mario Wiki. (2018). Mario Tennis Aces. Available: https://www.mariowiki.com/Mario_Tennis_Aces#Playable. Last accessed 1st Sep 2019.
16. Super Mario Wiki. (2018). Peachette. Available: https://www.mariowiki.com/Peachette. Last accessed 20th Sep 2019.
17. THQ. (2008). Worms: A Space Oddity. California, United States.
18. Williams, L. (2018). Mario Will Soon Park His Kart Outside Of The Nintendo Switch. Available: https://laurasambitiouswriting.wordpress.com/2018/03/07/mariokartoutsidenintendo/. Last accessed 1st Sep 2019.
19. Williams, L. (2018). Mario Will Soon Park His Kart Outside Of The Nintendo Switch. Available: https://laurawritesanarticle.blogspot.com/2018/03/mario-will-soon-park-his-kart-outside.html. Last accessed 1st Sep 2019.