By [ad_1]
In 2019, Nintendo continued their mobile game initiative by bringing the immensely popular Mario Kart franchise to the mobile platform in the form of Mario Kart Tour. While no stranger to handheld versions of the game, having released three previously, this was the first time Mario Kart had been available on mobile devices. The reception of the game, however, was mostly negative. Criticism included the lack of online multiplayer, the game only being available in portrait mode, and its aggressive microtransaction options.
In the two years since its release, Nintendo has made significant updates to Mario Kart Tour. While the game is still far from perfect, and still bound by the ways of its platform, Mario Kart Tour may be worth another look. Especially from those who weren’t a fan of the game upon release.
10 The Game Is Now Playable In Landscape Mode
One of the earliest criticisms of Mario Kart Tour was the fact that players could only race in portrait mode. This was a strange experience as players have grown used to playing Mario Kart in landscape mode.
Nintendo has since introduced the option to switch to landscape mode allowing players to have better sight range and to fully appreciate the gorgeous original tracks. This alone has gone a long way to making this game look like a main entry in the Mario Kart series. However, this option is only available during races. Menus are still locked to portrait mode.
9 The Game Now Actually Has Online Multiplayer
It’s tough to imagine playing a Mario Kart game without an online mode. Even after online servers are shut down, in games such as Mario Kart Wii, dedicated fans will work together to find ways to continue playing online. When Mario Kart Tour release, it was released without its own online mode. It did have A.I. racers use other players’ names and kart builds, which drew plenty of confusion as players were unsure whether or not they were playing online.
Mario Kart Tour has since gotten its own fully-fledged online mode complete with rankings players can level up, the ability to set up rooms, and the ability to play with friends. To combat fears of a pay-to-win system, there are specialized days where every character can only use two items (as opposed to three, which only certain characters can per track). These days happen every other day.
8 The Game Has Moved Beyond City Tracks
One of the main gimmicks of Mario Kart Tour was original tracks based on different real-world cities. Mario Kart Tour has released tracks based on New York City, Tokyo, Paris, London, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Berlin, and Sydney. For those wondering if and when Mario Kart Tour would release its own original tracks based around the Mushroom Kingdom, Nintendo has since obliged.
For starters, Mario Kart Tour now has Remix tracks, which are new tracks based on themes of previous tracks such as SNES Rainbow Road. Nintendo has also released two fully original courses. The first is Merry Mountain, a Christmas-themed course. The second is Ninja Hideaway, a fantastic Japanese dojo-themed course with numerous different pathways to take.
7 Kamek And More Characters Make Their Mario Kart Debut
One of the better things to come out of Mario Kart Tour’s monetization system is the fact it allows Nintendo to continually introduce characters to be selectable for the first time in a Mario Kart game. The first of these characters was Pauline, mostly notably from Super Mario Odyssey. Kamek also finally makes his Mario Kart debut after being cut from Mario Kart 64. Other characters making their Mario Kart debut include Dixie Kong, King Bob-omb, Captain Toad, Nabbit, the Hammer Brothers, and Monty Mole.
This does come with the caveat that they need to be unlocked through those monetization means. So players unwilling to pay may have to be patient before getting their hands on these characters.
6 Mario Kart Tour: With New Funky Mode
Funky Kong makes his long-awaited Mario Kart return in Mario Kart Tour. Funky Kong is known in the Mario Kart community for being the meta character in Mario Kart Wii for his large size and high speed. Those who grew up, and love, Mario Kart Wii have gone up against armies of Funky Kong players in the game’s online mode. Funky Kong was omitted from the roster of Mario Kart 7, Mario Kart 8, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Funky Kong’s special ability is the Banana Barrels, which launch a series of bananas forward. Now that players can play as Funky Kong online once again, the only thing missing now is bikes to complete that Mario Kart Wii experience.
5 The Game Abandoned Daily Log-Ins In Favor Of A Daily Challenge
When Mario Kart Tour launched, the game had a daily log-in bonus. This has since evolved to a Daily Challenge. Each day, players can take on a race with a pre-determined load-out. This load-out often includes difficult-to-unlock high-end characters, which the player may not have yet. The only thing the player is required to do is complete the race, and they unlock a special Pipe.
The reward from the Pipe is random and can include Coins, Rubies, characters, karts, and gliders. This change provides players with more than the previous daily log-in did and allowing them to access more content faster than previously.
4 Event Tokens Make High-End Characters Easier To Acquire
One of the biggest additions to Mario Kart Tour is the inclusion of Event Tokens. These green tokens can be earned in different ways depending on the current tour. These could be found in place of coins, earned by hitting players with a banana, or by making them crash in general. The requirements change each tour. Players can then spend Event Tokens at the Event Shop. The Event Shop includes each available ticket, such as those that level up characters, as well as a selection of characters, karts, and gliders.
On top of that, players can spend Event Tokens to earn Coins and Rubies. Each store update includes premium high-end items, which makes certain characters much more accessible to players.
3 Plus Items Can Give You An Edge
Each character in Mario Kart Tour comes with a special item, similar to the original Super Mario Kart. These are some of the most unique and powerful items in the game and can change the tide of the race if pulled at the right (or wrong) time. Nintendo has since given players to ability to obtain enhanced versions of these items. This is done by leveling up a character to a specific level.
One example of this is that players can unlock Banana Barrels+ for Funky Kong once they level him up to level four. With Banana Barrels+ the barrel will now occasionally shoot out giant bananas increasing the number of obstacles for opponents to avoid.
2 Bonus Pipes Can Lead To Fantastic Pulls For Free
Players who play through each tour, and collect Stars, will now be reward with bonus Pipes. Each Pipe is based on the current loot box banner, which includes the same odds. Meaning, players can pull high-end items from these. There are normally four of these Pipes to earn throughout a tour, but occasionally Nintendo bumps it up to six.
Upon completing each tour, which now has a celebration cutscene akin to previous Mario Karts, players will also receive a Gold Pipe. This Gold Pipe guarantees a high-end item giving players greater incentive to play tours to their completion.
1 Mario Kart Tour Is More Generous With Rubies And Coins Than It Was At Release
A mobile game lives and dies on its in-game economy. Restrict currency too tightly, and players will move on. Loosen things too much, and players won’t spend, which puts the game on the fast track to an unceremonious demise. The in-game economy is a delicate thing to balance. Mario Kart Tour has since improved this economy by giving players more opportunities to earn Coins and Rubies whether it be from the Event Store, Daily Challenges, Tour Challenges, Twitter campaigns, or with the Coins Aplenty weekly events. Every Saturday, Nintendo picks one cup for its Coins Aplenty event and offers a bonus of 500 coins per completion of each race (for a total of 1,500 a week).
While the in-game economy still needs work, the game is far more generous with Coins and Rubies compared to how things were when the game was originally released.
About The Author
[ad_2]
