If you’re looking for a racing game of twists, turns, cliffs, traps, and everything else in between, Mario Kart 7 for the Nintendo 3DS has it all! Play as your favorite character, or even your Mii, and race across the Nintendo frontier for the gold!
You can get some serious air in this game...
The basics:
-In Grand Prix, the game starts off with 3 vehicle class engines, 8 characters to choose from, a combination of default kart customizations, and 8 different cups to race.
-Unlock new characters and the Mirror courses by demonstrating your racing prowess and winning gold cups in the 150cc class.
-Unlock new cart customizations by winning gold in cups, collecting coins throughout your playthrough, and beating Miis you pick up through Street Pass in Grand Prix races.
Watch the Tanooki tail...
What’s new:
-Unlockable characters like Wiggler, Honey Queen, Lakitu,etc.
-Lucky 7 item-a ring of seven different items surround you until you use them. You use the item that comes in front of you as it circles. Avoid getting hit or falling off any cliffs or you will lose any items still equipped.
-Super Leaf item-the Super Leaf attaches a Tanooki tail (reference Super Mario 3D Land) to your kart which you can swat and all sorts of road hazards and opposing racers. Like the invincibility star, the effect last a short time.
-Fire Flower item-fireballs can be thrown in front of orbehind you. Racers hit by them spin out of control.
-Cups featuring retro tracks: the Shell, Banana, Leaf, and Lightning Cups feature tracks from previous versions of the Mario Kart series like N64’s Luigi Raceway, and SNES Rainbow Road.
-Online play-you can race online with your friends and in special communities.
-Street Pass Miis-as mentioned before, you can occasionally pick up Miis via Street Pass and race them on your own time in Grand Prix or Time Trials. You can find them on your Mario Kart Channel installed within the game.
-Coin Runners mode-a contest in which who can collect the most coins in a set amount of time. Blast your opponents and pick up their coins to win.
-All-terrain racing-in some tracks you race by any combination of air, land, and sea, or even all three!
-First-person perspective-see what your character sees as you race! You can use the gyro sensor function and tilt your 3DS as if it were your steering wheel. You can also disable this function and race first person with just the control stick if you like.
First-person view
- Lucky 7 (sans mushroom)
What hasn’t changed (as compared to previous versions):
-Power Sliding-a staple skill to master for successful racing. How long until it’s activated depends on the angle you initiate your slide.
-The dreaded Spiny Shell item-this item follows down a set path along the racetrack, knocking over racers along its path and hits the lead kart with a nasty explosion also blasting other karts unfortunate enough to get in its range. Unless you use a well-timed mushroom or the invincibility star, this item is guaranteed to hit you if you are the lead kart.
-Time Trial-race on your own without the distraction of other racers and items and shoot for the fastest time.
-Battle Mode-claim victory by popping your opponent’s balloons while minimizing hits of your own.
-Rainbow Road-no Mario Kart game is complete without the ultimate course in every Special Cup!
- Something certainly not missed…
If you are a big Super Mario fan, and/or looking for a racing challenge that doesn’t require a big console to play with, is first-person capable, or is simply enjoyable to play with friends no matter where you are, then Mario Kart 7 is for you. You can customize your kart in any way you want that suits your racing style, but the possibilities of the race outcomes are endless once the racing lights turn green!
I really need to pick up a 3DS one of these days, Great review!