Prepare to Rewind
- by Jim Norman
After ten years of mastering Mario Kart 8‘s racing techniques, we’ve all grown accustomed to the strategies needed to secure a victory. However, it seems that Mario Kart World is bringing us back to the classroom with an exciting lineup of fresh moves.
The Direct presentation today unveiled the first of these innovative techniques: Charge Jump. By holding the drift button (ZR) while going straight, you can accumulate charge and then unleash it with a leap into the air. This ability allows you to leap over barriers, evade incoming attacks, and access new regions, plus it grants you a speed boost upon landing. Be prepared to see this move frequently used on wide stretches of track.
Speaking of new areas, the Direct also provided a closer glimpse at Wall Riding — a technique that might have caught your eye during the Switch 2 reveal, but received more focus here. By leaping toward a wall, you can glide along its surface for a brief moment, gaining additional speed in the process.
If you’re aiming for a specific location that demands a challenging jump, the new Rewind feature could be quite beneficial. This move allows you to revert back in time during a race, moving your kart backward, so you can attempt the maneuver again. Your opponents will continue advancing at their normal speed, so it’s not advisable to use this every time, but it certainly appears to be an effective way to strategize optimal routes.
It’s important to note that the Rewind feature will primarily be useful in Free Roam and solo races, so don’t anticipate utilizing it during competitive online matches.
Additionally, we’ve already witnessed the new Grind move in action, and we are confident there will be numerous other techniques for us to uncover on June 5th. The excitement for a new Mario Kart is truly building!
What are your thoughts on the new moves in Mario Kart World? Share your opinions in the comments below.
Jim joined Nintendo Life in 2022, and despite his claim that The Minish Cap is the greatest Zelda title and his steadfast devotion to the Star Wars prequels (yes, seriously), he has continually produced news and features for the site ever since.