Nintendo made an compelling decision Mario Kart 8. They decided to do it so well and so comprehensively that it eliminated the need to create more. More than ten years have passed since then Mario Kart 8 released for the first time, more than twice as long as ever before between entries in the series. Honestly, they could re-release it 8 for Switch 2 and it would still sell millions. Therefore, I have the following idea: why not do something dramatically different from Mario Kart 9?
I’m just saying make it an RPG.
It’s really difficult to properly emphasize how unprecedented this success is Mario Kart 8. This game was first released on Wii U in 2014 and then re-released on Switch in 2017 as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It was a beautified version, with all the previous DLC, modern characters, the ability to hold two items, and a revamped battle mode, but it was still largely the same game. The Wii U version is believed to have sold almost 8.5 million copies, and the Switch version is one of the best-selling games in history, with an astonishing 64 million copies. With habitual modern content and endless fixes and improvements, the game continues to receive patches, even since the release of version 3.0.0 in November 2023, which appears to be the final content update.
It was such a phenomenon that Nintendo very wisely did not try to usurp it by doubling the longest gap between entries in history, with the previous longest period dating back to 1996. Mario Kart 64 to the 2001 GBA title, Mario Kart: Great track. And listen, remember when Nintendo announced the Switch 2 i last week everyone spent several hours arguing about whether the game footage shown was real Mario Kart 8 or something modern? It seemed like people would be content with more 8.
So why not? You might as well just tip that number and call Mario Kart ∞. Add a lot more songs, update something else and be done with it. and for Mario Kart 9let’s go deep.
One of my favorite games of all time is a game from 2004 Mario Golf: Introductory Tour. I’ve never played a real game of golf in my life and have no interest in golf games in general, but playing on the Game Boy Advance was pure joy from start to finish. You played as one of two children, Neil or Ella, who join the Marion Club as potential golf star students. You will meet an eclectic mix of people there and Mario characters, with the ultimate goal being to defeat Mario himself in the final championship. And that’s wonderful! Completely crazy, with a great script, most of the time you are actively playing the basic golf game, but all within the narrative and surrounded by RPG elements.
When Camelot developers returned with 2014 Mario Golf: World TourI was very excited! There would be another entry ten years later! And then I found out it was a GameCube sequel Toadstool tourno RPG at all, so I walked away and sulked. I went through the same thing in 2021 Mario Golf: Super rush. I’m still sulking now. But I still have hope in my heart. I still believe that everyone Mario the game could be greatly improved by being an RPG. So let me sell you this idea Mario Kart.
You choose a character, whether it’s Neil, Ella or Toad, and get your first kart. You’ve just arrived at Marion Gran Prix Academy, a location that is home to four local racetracks, Luigi Raceway, Moo Moo Farm, Koopa Troopa Beach, and the Kalimari Desert. Your task is to complete various training races, learning skills such as jumping and sliding, as well as making the best apply of various dropped items. Once you’ve completed these tasks, you can take part in a grand race on each track, and once you’ve earned trophies on all four, you’ll unlock access to the next location, the one that includes Toad’s Turnpike, Frappe Snowland, Choco Mountain, and Mario Raceway.
You earn levels along the way, allowing you to spend points on speed, drift, bounce, steering, and most importantly, luck. You develop your character according to your own preferred approach Mario Kartrelatively petite tweaks that allow you to focus on your own skills.
Every site has one Mario characters scattered around, people to talk to, little secrets to discover. Each has its own unique bonus rounds, time trials and additional challenges. The ultimate goal, of course, is to defeat Mario on Rainbow Road, but at first it’s a distant dream. To cope with this, you need to develop your kart into something truly unique, adjust its brakes and drifts to the perfect settings, and acquire the best starting acceleration skills.
Of course, this is the greatest idea anyone has ever had, but apart from the fact that I rightfully got a million billion dollars and a crown, I imagine there are a few losers who say, “But I want the RIGHT Mario Kart 9!” This is because they didn’t actually read the first half of this excellent argument and realized they already had it. His Infinite Mario KartRemember? When Nintendo builds me a throne with Master Swords, I’ll remind them that they need to update their Switch 2 for 8/Infinitewith some new songs to keep them distracted while the rest of us do it best time ever.
I’m glad we managed to sort it out.
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