Things The Sequel Needs To Keep From Mario Kart 8

Nintendo finally unveiled the Nintendo Switch 2 along with one of its very first brand-new exclusives: the next installment in the Mario Kart series, tentatively titled Mario Kart 9. This decision makes a lot of sense, considering that the previous game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, is the best-selling video game on the original Nintendo Switch.

Mario Kart fans have been waiting for a new game in their favorite kart racing spin-off series for almost 8 years, seeing as 2017’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an enhanced port of 2014’s Mario Kart 8. The Nintendo Switch’s new game will likely bring in some much-needed new additions, but it should also keep a lot of the stuff that made Mario Kart 8 Deluxe so great and so popular in the first place. These are some of the most obvious examples.

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8

Antigravity

The Main Gimmick Of MK8 Worked Too Well To Get Rid Of

Every Mario Kart game has its own unique gimmick that makes it stand out from other installments. Mario Kart 8 had antigravity, a creative mechanic that allowed racers to drive on walls or even upside-down on specific parts of the course. Antigravity seemed somewhat superficial when the game was first announced, but it turned out to be a refreshing addition that made every course feel like a thrilling roller-coaster ride.

Mario Kart 9 should keep the antigravity mechanic, especially if it can co-exist with the sequel’s own unique gimmick. After all, there’s a precedent for it. The main gimmicks of Mario Kart 7, hang gliders and underwater driving, not only returned in Mario Kart 8, but they were also greatly expanded upon. The same could happen with antigravity.

7

Air Gliding And Underwater Driving

The Races Would Feel Incomplete Without Them

As previously mentioned, Mario Kart 7’s hang gliders (which allowed racers to temporarily glide through the air) and propellers (which allowed them to drive through underwater sections) returned in Mario Kart 8. These two mechanics, when combined with antigravity, made the races all the more exciting, adding diversity to the courses’ designs and environments in the process.

After experiencing gliders and underwater sections in Mario Kart titles for over 14 years, seasoned fans have gotten used to them. Because of this, Mario Kart 9 would be a lot less fun and a lot more barren if it got rid of them. These elements should become series staples and come back for a third time.

6

Double Item Box

Item Management Added A Layer Of Strategy

Needless to say, Mario Kart 9 shouldn’t just bring back mechanics from the original Mario Kart 8, but also some things that were added in its enhanced version, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. For example, this port brought back the Double Item Box from Double Dash!!, which was a welcome addition.

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This mechanic allows racers to hold two different items at the same time, which added a subtle element of item management to the gameplay and made races all the more diverse and strategic. If Mario Kart 9 goes back to forcing players to hold on to one item at a time, it would feel like a major downgrade.

5

200cc

Racing At Extreme Speeds Is Too Much Fun

Mario Kart 8 added a new engine class and the largest one in the entire series: 200cc. These races are not for everybody, since they can be extremely fast and chaotic, but they are also endlessly entertaining. Its blinding speeds make Mario Kart 8 feel like an F-Zero game, which may have been intentional, considering that the game has not one but two different courses based on that franchise.

Like all of Mario Kart 8’s best additions, this feels like the natural evolution of one of the series’ signature mechanics, and removing it would be a huge step backwards. Needless to say, Mario Kart 9 should not only bring back 200cc, but maybe Nintendo could also experiment with even faster engine classes, like 250cc or 300cc.

4

Classic Courses From Previous Games

The Nostalgic Element Is A Major Part Of The Series

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe achieved the perfect balance between old and new. While it introduced many new excellent courses to race in, it also featured over 60 different classic courses that returned from previous games. This was perfect for longtime fans of the series. It allowed them to race through some of their favorite courses with the game’s new mechanics and truly appreciate them, thanks to the modern graphics of the Wii U and the Switch.

Of course, Mario Kart 9 should have its own collection of brand-new courses that will surprise and delight fans, but it would also be great if Nintendo made an effort to bring back as many classic courses as possible. It’s especially important that the library includes courses introduced in both Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart Tour, as their recent debuts mean that they haven’t had the chance to appear in other games yet.

3

Deluxe’s Battle Mode

Nintendo Shouldn’t Try To Fix What Doesn’t Need Fixing (Again)

The original Mario Kart 8 was a monumental success when it launched, but fans and reviewers heavily criticized its lackluster Battle Mode, which recycled racing courses and didn’t even feature unique arenas designed around its action-packed gameplay. It’s evident that Nintendo was aware of this criticism, as this mode saw a major improvement in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

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The new version of Battle Mode is everything fans wanted and more, since it featured fun, new exclusive arenas and five different game types that kept things interesting and refreshing. It’s likely that Battle Mode will return once again for Mario Kart 9, so it should remain relatively similar (if not identical) to the version introduced in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Otherwise, Nintendo risks losing the approval of the fans who enjoy this mode for a second time.

2

Non-Mario Characters

Expanding The Roster While Appealing To More Nintendo Fans

Many Mario Kart fans debate whether the series should become a crossover game similar to Super Smash Bros (aka “Nintendo Kart”) or not. This debate was caused by the introduction of characters from other Nintendo IPs in Mario Kart 8, like Link from The Legend of Zelda, Isabelle and the Villager from Animal Crossing, and the Inklings from Splatoon.

Based on what Nintendo has shown so far, it’s unlikely that Mario Kart 9 is the fabled Nintendo Kart, but the company should still keep adding characters from its many other franchises, as it will make the game’s roster all the more diverse and appealing. Not only should Link, Isabelle, Villager and the Inklings return, but other iconic Nintendo characters should make an appearance as well, like Samus Aran from Metroid or Captain Falcon from F-Zero.

1

Downloadable Content And Expansions Packs

Keep The Game Fresh And Interesting, Years After Launch

Mario Kart 8 was the first game in the series to include paid downloadable content (DLC) that added new courses and characters months after its initial release. Of course, this can be quite a controversial practice in the industry, but, when executed correctly, it can revitalize a game while keeping its players hooked for many years in the process.

If that wasn’t enough, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe received a huge expansion pack in 2022, titled Booster Course Pass, that added 48 additional courses to the game. With this, Nintendo managed to keep expanding the game and exciting its fans, even five years after its initial release. Mario Kart 9 should obviously include as much content in the base game as possible, but most fans would definitely buy DLC and/or expansion packs if Nintendo keeps updating it during the next few years.

Systems

Released

May 30, 2014

Developer(s)

Nintendo EAD

Released

April 27, 2017

Developer(s)

Nintendo