Hands On: Mario Kart World Brings The Utter Chaos In Knockout Mode

I triumphed over Nintendo of America at Mario Kart World‘s latest Knockout Tour.

Alright, that might come off as a bit of a humblebrag, but the Knockout Tour ultimately convinced me that the “99” system is truly enjoyable. I understand, I apologize, you all were completely right.

Following Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Mario Kart World has become the game that everyone wants to experience. Of course, who wouldn’t — it’s Mario Kart! And with the showcase during yesterday’s Nintendo Direct, there was a plethora of exciting new content to explore.

This is true because, otherwise, it’s simply more Mario Kart. And that’s not a bad thing at all. A quick glance at sales figures is all you need to see the value. Why change the system or its core mechanics at all? Who needs anti-gravity, Double-Items, or upside-down racing when you can race anywhere?

We didn’t quite get to race wherever we liked during our two sessions with Mario Kart World. Instead, we got to try one of the classic modes and the Knockout Tour. We also had some fun while waiting in the lobby for the unassuming losers participants to join in.

There are numerous small updates that make switching things up just right slightly different from the existing mode. For instance, Mario Kart Tour’s lap system is in full effect, and now every ‘lap’ on all the tracks we tested is unique. Whether it’s added Goombas in sneakers, flooded areas, or entirely new directions for sections of the track, we were consistently on the lookout for new key points and adjustments, keeping races feeling refreshingly different.

Another fresh tweak that is much subtler is that items are now automatically dragged behind you. If you play Mario Kart online or competitively, you’re likely familiar with players holding their items behind them to avoid being hit from behind. Previously, you needed to hold a button to keep it in place. Now, shells, bananas, and coin boxes are automatically held behind you.

A variety of new items have been introduced to enhance the excitement on the track as well. Kamek can now be called upon to turn several kart racers into pokeys. There’s now a Gold Shell alongside the Red and Green Shells that drops coins when it hits another racer. The Ice Flower has finally joined its fiery counterpart and does exactly what you’d expect. You can now throw Hammers too. And making a surprise return, the Mega Mushroom is back, having last appeared in a console game in Mario Kart Wii (it’s also in Tour).

Combine all of this in the Knockout Tour, and you have the wildest Mario Kart ever, in the sense that Mario Kart World is reminding the kart racing genre who stands as king. Elements from Crash Team Racing and Team Sonic Racing are integrated into this massive toybox where the tracks are wide and the competition is fierce, and a single item could very well be the difference between victory and defeat.

Take 2
From a visual perspective, Mario Kart World feels like Wonder compared to MK8D‘s New Super Mario Bros., if that matters. The small touches in animation, the color palette, and the energy all come together to make the classic Mario Circuit feel a bit, well, basic and old. Everything about MKW feels more dynamic, more energetic than the preceding entries. The racing was exhilarating, the Knockout Mode truly got my adrenaline pumping (I only managed to secure bronze), and this appears to have the potential to be the best single-player Mario Kart ever.

Interestingly, various versions of the same characters in different outfits make an appearance here. Gold Mario and regular Mario are one thing, but the lore implications of regular Mario coexisting with Cowboy Mario and All-Terrain Mario don’t quite fit together. So, I’m not sold.

We weren’t able to properly test the open-world aspects, so it feels like there’s a lot more Nintendo is holding back for the forthcoming Direct. – Gavin

Knockout Tour pits 24 racers against each other in an elimination-style race. At the end of each lap, the racers in the four lowest positions are eliminated. There were at least three occasions where I came close to being knocked out, but I managed to scrape into the top 16 or top 8 by the skin of my teeth, thanks to a well-timed mushroom or shell. It’s nail-biting and a complete thrill to experience with others.

Seamlessly transitioning into new tracks in this mode is also quite impressive, and when you’re deeply engaged in a tense race, you often don’t even notice it. We had to do a double-take when we realized we weren’t in Airship Fortress and were instead racing through the sands of Desert Hills. The roads do a great job of masking those transitions, and it’s enhanced by how alive and interactive each track feels now more than ever, thanks to the surrounding traffic… literally everywhere. Why are people just casually driving through a jungle temple? Are all your random toads unafraid of literal dinosaurs?

The absurdity of it all is the essence, just amplifying…