Another new Mario Kart for another new system
Graphics:
The visuals are top-notch. This game is vibrant in color, has a buttery smooth framerate and has crisp texturing. Visually, players could almost confuse this for a Gamecube-era quality game.
There's not much to say here, the game looks amazing. No visual problems to speak of. I didn't notice any major difference between utilizing the 3D or not.
Score: 9.5/10
Gameplay:
If you've ever played a Mario Kart game before then you'll know what to expect here.
Mario Kart is a cartoon style racing game where players can utilize various items to disrupt other players while they race around a given map 3+ laps.
There are two new additions to the tired & true racing formula. One is gliders. Gliders are automatically used when the player jumps off a scripted cliff/edge/ramp. The player has moderate control over the kart as it soars toward a landing point. The other addtion is an undersea propeller. This is little more than a moderate physics tweak to a typical race track. Underwater the karts are more sluggish in terms of steering and speed. Overall, the new additions are nothing more than minor distractions.
There are a few new items to use in battle like the Tanooki Leaf and the Fire Flower. The leaf causes the kart to gain a raccoon tail that the player can active (during a brief time limit) to spin around the kart. The leaf is a nice defensive power that helps protect players in leading positions from projectiles and banana peels. The fire flower allows the player to throw a dozen or so fireballs in front or behind them. Think of it as a mini salvo of green shells. Overall, the Tanooki leaf is the only meaningful addition to the items.
There is a new customization option. The player can unlock various kart parts via in-game achievments and y collecting coins in each course. Each part (tires, frame, glider type) all change the performance values (acceleration, speed, handling, etc...) as well as changing the physical appearance of the karts.
All in all, this game plays how you'd expect it to. The controls are tight, the gameplay is fun and multiplayer-centric and the customization adds loads of charm and replayability to the game.
Score: 8/10
Sound:
The music is good. There's plenty of old tracks mixed in with some new tunes. The tracks are the typical upbeat Mario tracks fans typically love. The sound effects are good and the various voice soundbytes are cool.
Personally, I'd like to see Nintendo make a completely original soundtrack instead of constantly recycling tunes with each consecutive Mario title.
Score: 7/10
Replayability:
This game is made for multiplayer. People playing it for single-player only will probably die of boredom after clearing all the tournaments.
The customization is a nice addition, but it really only benefits the multiplayer aspect of the game. Tweaking karts can make the difference in an online race with someone of equal skill.
Overall, if you've got friends who also have Mario Kart 7 and/or have access to internet for online races, then you'll most likely get the most out of this game and genuinely enjoy it. If you don't have either of the above, then rent this game or wait for a sale/price drop first.
Score: 8/10
Final Score: 8/10
