Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Features: Streetpass, Spotpass, Online, Gyro Sensor, Download Play
Genre: Racing
For: 3DS
Game-play:
If you have never played a Mario Kart game then you have to be living under a rock. The racing in Mario Kart 7 feels fresh and smooth, and doesn't feel broken. Even with the 3D on, the frame rate doesn't slow down. The game also offers a great online mode, which also rarely slows down or has any lag at all. New to online is that you can start communities, which lets you race in groups, and send messages (ones that are already made). If you have Spotpass and Streetpass turned on, then you can receive ghost data, racer info, and communities. In multiplayer and online you can play your average racing matches, balloon battle, and collect the coins. New to the game is of course the ability to race in water, and glide in the air. The new elements really feel nice, but when you swim underwater it kinda slows down the gameplay. Another thing also new is that you can customize your own karts, but you can only pick your kart body, wheels, and glider. You can also go on a first person point of view which lets you use the motion controllers, though it does feel a little bit too sensitive. This game also has 32 courses, and a disappointing 17 characters. I wished they had much more characters, I mean, Mario Kart Wii had 25 if I remember. Other then that fault, the game-play is fun.
Graphics:
The graphics in Mario Kart 7 look very colorful. As I said before even with the 3D on the frame rate still runs smoothly. The graphics almost look like the Wii Mario Kart. The visuals in the tracks are creative and make racing on them more enjoyable. The models for the racers look a little bit clay-like up close, but still look nice. With that said the graphics look nice, but not the best for the 3DS.
Sound:
The music in this game sounds very cheerful, and doesn't sound awful. My favorite background song has to be the SNES Rainbow Road song. The sound effects almost don't sound that annoying. I say almost because Toad and Daisy are annoying. I hate Toad . I also hate that blue shell sound, because I know it's coming... Oh yeah, overall the sound is nice.
Controls:
To use an item you use the L or X button. To steer you use the circle pad. To go to a first person point of view you use the top button on the d-pad. To hop/drift you use the R button. To accelerate use the Y/A button. To brake use the B button. And finally to pause use the START button. I actually never had an problem with the controls, and it's very easy to master them. Overall the controls also feel smooth, though the motion controls when you use the first person point of view does feel a little bit too sensitive.
Final Verdict:
Overall the gameplay is very enjoyable, and will make you want to paly over and over again. My only fault with it is the lack of characters.
+ Good Online
+ Fun Gameplay
+ Awesome Multiplayer
- Lack of Characters
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