The highly anticipated Mario Kart World is set to redefine the beloved racing game series, promising ambitious changes and a fresh experience.
As a follow-up to the immensely successful games on the Switch and Wii U, Mario Kart World aims to elevate gameplay by introducing two significant changes: an increase in racer count and the development of a connected open world.
Originally conceived for the Switch, the project hit some technical roadblocks due to its massive scope.
The development team ultimately decided to shift their focus to the more powerful Switch 2, allowing them to fully realize their grand vision.
This monumental shift wasn’t just a technical challenge; it also required a fundamental overhaul of Mario Kart’s core elements.
Producer Kosuke Yabuki noted, “We knew when we came up with this idea that it really would be a big change for the series, but we had no idea at the time how many people, how much time, and how much effort that would require to actually achieve it.”
At its core, Mario Kart World is designed around an interconnected landmass, as opposed to the series’ traditional selection of individual racetracks.
The game offers players a chance to explore a brand-new location that has been meticulously crafted specifically for racing.
Yabuki explained, “As you travel through this world, you will see things that remind you of the Mushroom Kingdom, such as question mark blocks or warp pipes.
In terms of world design, I would say this world was designed for Mario Kart World.
If you look at the height of a mountain or the length of a desert, those were all things that we decided specifically for this title.”
Unlike many open-world games that strive for realistic representation, the team wanted to create a setting that enhances the fun of Mario Kart.
Yabuki emphasized the importance of gameplay over realism, stating, “We have to think about not simply recreating real-world patterns…this world exists purely to make Mario Kart more fun.”
The challenge of building this expansive world goes beyond its sheer size.
Because of the interconnected nature of the environment, adjustments made in one area can have a ripple effect on other parts of the landscape.
Yabuki commented, “If you change the height of a mountain, you have to think about whether you’ve diminished its usefulness in the surrounding areas as a landmark.”
Thus, terrain design is even more complex, forcing the developers to carefully consider how changes affect the entire world.
The design of race tracks has also evolved significantly.
In earlier installments, developers had a much tighter grip on how players would navigate tracks, but with Mario Kart World, players can enter and exit courses flexibly.
Yabuki elaborated, “You used to be designing courses with the notion that people are going to drive and look in a very few fixed directions that we know ahead of time…compared to Mario Kart World, where people might enter or leave a course from anywhere.”
As a result, entry and exit points have become a critical focus in course design, adding layers of complexity to the overall development process.
The expansiveness of Mario Kart World has also led to the introduction of new gameplay modes, such as Knockout Tour, where players race across the continent while their numbers diminish, akin to a Mario Kart version of battle royale.
In a notable departure from traditional gameplay mechanics, players will now drive to their next race instead of being automatically transported, creating a more immersive experience.
Yabuki revealed that this structure draws inspiration from kishōtenketsu, a four-part narrative framework used in various storytelling formats.
This approach allows players to experience a more developed story throughout the Grand Prix, with each race reflecting a part of that four-panel comic structure.
Players can expect a mix of freedom and variation in terms of difficulty as they progress through races.
The addition of more players is also significant, as Mario Kart World has doubled the number of racers from 12 to 24.
However, this increase required the developers to carefully reconsider balance and gameplay mechanics.
Yabuki explained, “We had to consider varied elements from their fundamentals, such as road width, kart size, and the impact of collisions on player speed – all aspects needed to be re-evaluated for balance.”
Despite these ambitious changes, the inherent weirdness and charm of the Mario universe remain intact.
Even with newer surreal elements in recent Mario titles, this upcoming installment promises to be just as quirky as its predecessors.
Yabuki assured fans that the frameworks for creativity have always existed within the series.
When discussing innovative gameplay mechanics like characters undergoing costume changes after consuming food, he pointed to past Mario titles as his source of inspiration.
Overall, Mario Kart World is poised to offer players a fresh and exhilarating ride, bringing together nostalgia, innovation, and the series’ trademark charm into one expansive racing experience.
image source from：https://www.theverge.com/interview/678097/mario-kart-world-nintendo-switch-2-interview-kosuke-yabuki
