After months of anticipation, Nintendo is finally hosting the very first Switch 2 presentation. The presentation will detail everything we need to know about the upcoming system, including specs, hardware, and the games, one of which will be Mario Kart World.
Mario Kart World was first teased in the initial revealing of the Switch 2 earlier this year, but now we finally see what to expect from the first console entry in the series in over a decade.
We can also expect to see more of Mario Kart World in the coming days as Nintendo is set to host two Treehouse events on April 3rd and 4th.
In the reveal, we got to see everything we can expect from Mario Kart World when it is released as a Switch 2 launch title later this year. It was also announced that Mario Kart World will be exclusive to the system, meaning that owners of the previous-gen system will miss out on this release, marking a huge step in the switch to next-gen gaming.
Typically, many early releases appear on both previous and next-gen systems, with the older hardware eventually being phased out. Despite launching in 2020, many games released on the PS5 and Xbox Series X still receive ports to the previous PS4 and Xbox One consoles from 2013.
When the Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, one of the launch titles, Breath of the Wild, was released simultaneously on both the Switch and Wii U. However, this looks to not be the case with some Switch 2 titles, although we do know that games such as Metroid Prime 4 and Pokemon Legends Z-A will be released on both systems.
When it comes to Mario Kart World, one of the first improvements that we get to see, showcasing the power of the Switch 2, is that races appear to feature 24 racers, doubling the maximum of 12 seen in the previous Mario Kart 8 which was released on the Wii U back in 2014.
Many of the classic Mario Kart characters will be making a return, including Mario, Luigi, Birdo, Toad, Wario, Waluigi, Princess Peach, Bowser, and many others.
Staple vehicles such as karts and bikes will be returning, along with new vehicles such as boats, allowing players to traverse water sections of courses.
Mario Kart World will feature numerous new mechanics including grinding rails, wall jumping, and riding on zip lines, giving players access to new shortcuts and fun ways to complete races. Nintendo has been continuously elevating the series with each new entry, and these new mechanics look to continue that and look incredibly fun to use too.
Rather than players selecting individual courses, Mario Kart World tracks are all on a single map, with players driving across every region in the world. The map will have a time and weather system, allowing players to compete on courses during the morning, day, evening, and night, as well as with different weather conditions.
This will give Mario Kart World plenty of replayability and could lead to different strategies being implemented depending on the conditions of the race, such as sliding being easier when it rains which could to players discovering easier shortcuts to complete a course. It will be very interesting to see how this is implemented when the game launches later this year.
Mario Kart World will also implement an open-world feature as part of the game. While players will take part in traditional Grand Prix Cups, they will have to drive from course to course, allowing racers to “drive virtually everywhere” on the map.
Knockout Tour is another new mode that has been added to the game, tasking players with driving from one end of the map to the other, with checkpoints along the way. If a player is behind the number shown they are eliminated, with only one player reaching the end of the tour.
Players will also be able to access a free roam mode, allowing them to freely drive around the entire map, exploring every nook and cranny, which will be packed full of things to explore and hopefully, many easter eggs for us to discover. This mode will also be accessible online, meaning you can explore Mario Kart World with friends as well as race against them.
Graphically, Mario Kart World looks to be a major step up when compared to the previous entry in the series, with shadows and lighting playing a huge part in giving the game a more next-gen feel. This is great news as it shows that the Nintendo Switch 2 is a step up from the incredibly weak Switch console, which could help put it in line with other handheld devices such as the Steam Deck and ROG Ally.
Nintendo has also announced that Mario Kart World will be receiving its own Direct presentation on April 17th, giving players a more in-depth look at the first launch title to be announced for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2.
To check out everything that was revealed during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, check out the live stream below.
