Nintendo has followed the same pattern in the consistency of releasing Mariokart games, a new Nintendo console a new Mariokart game. What makes this edition of Mariokart special is that it is not only developed by Nintendo EAD. The legendary games studios behind the magnificent Metroid Prime has helped Nintendo release this game before Christmas 2011. Has this game been rushed? Has Retro studios helped or hinder the game? Or is this the best Mariokart game of the series?
Graphics
Artistically the characters look the same as they always have, you won't see any difference with the same characters from the Wii's edition. This is fine as a slight redesign of Mario's costume would probably throw allot of people.
Graphically the game is absolutely outstanding. Unlike the DS version Mariokart 7 does not suffer from pixelation. All the character of the 32 tracks are emphasized by the graphical capability of the 3DS. The colours the backgrounds is lovely one particular track Daisy Hills is filled to the rim with colours you can see the reflection of the track in the water and you will be gliding past varied air balloons.
If fantastic graphics is not enough to please your eyes you will be glad to hear that the games has a fantastic frame rate. You will be lobbing your green shell and swinging your tanooki tales in an impressive 60 frames per second. Translated into English "Mariokart 7 is very smooth". To put the nail in the "doubt Nintendo's graphics" coffin, online gameplay is still runs at 60 frames per second.
In terms of graphics Mariokart is slightly above Mariokart Wii.
Sound
The music is all MIDI and Nintendo is very good at using it in very creative ways, however you wont find songs that stick in your head like "Song of Storms" from Ocarina of Time. The music does fit very well to the tracks and if you play the old tracks you get more or less the same song from the older games witch is great for nostalgia. In most Mariokart games the music is never brilliant or bad so once again Mariokart still has standard music. Maybe Mariokart Wii U will change that in the next few years.
The Audio is awesome! It really makes up for the average music. The sound of the engine adds some realism to an unrealistic world. The screeching of the tyres when drifting makes you feel like a bad-ass when you succeed in a perfect drift. This been Mariokart not all the audio is realistic the feared blue shell sores through the air like a jet then crashes into the 1st placer making a fantastic crash that can be heard through out the mushroom kingdom!
Mariokart 7 is not good enough to have one type of controls! The crazy racing game comes with the standard controls you all will be use to. The second controls now utilize the 3DS gyroscope to turn you 3DS into its very own steering wheel.
The standard controls are very simple and very easy to get around. The slide pad makes turning very fluent and accurate and you hold the A button to accelerate. The only problem with holding the A button (along with most Mariokart games) is that holding the A button causes thumb ache. Hold the R button to to drift and preform tricks and the L button to use items.
The gyro controls are very much like using the Wii remote on Mariokart Wii but with a twist. If you wish to use the gyro control you have to race in 1st person and it seems very odd. The gyro controls was a good idea in theory but if you want the most enjoyment use the standard controls.
Gameplay
The main part of the gameplay is the Grand Prix you can choose to race in three difficulties (at the start) and then choose to from 8 cups to race. Each cup consists of 4 races and you earn more points the higher you place in the race the if you earn the most points from the races you win the cup. Grand Prix has 4 cups that have new tracks in and 4 cups that hold retro tracks. This keeps the game fresh and appeals to new and old fans.
The new addition of gliding and racing under water really makes the gameplay unique its a great feeling flying over someone to gain 1st place or taking a short cut in the depths of the water.
Two other modes that where rip to shreds by reviewers all over the world is back. The Balloon battle and coin battle are back and better then ever! Balloon battle's purpose is to use items to destroy the opponents balloons and defend your own. Coin battle is more or less the same except you collect coins. these games are really fun but even more so on multiplayer.
Items are important in all aspects of gameplay in Mariokart 7 and so with most new kart games new items appear. Fire flower allows you to shoot fire balls at your opponents until you run out of power. The Tanooki tail allows you to swipe your rivals and defend against shells. The lucky 7 is given to you when your down on your luck and 7 random items are given to you to fire upon racers ahead of you. The new items enter Mariokart with ease and makes the gameplay exciting.
Lastability
The game will last you a few hours if you have no friends with Mariokart 7 and no online. If you do you can build up hours upon hours. Mariokart 7 is the best online game on the 3DS at this point in time. quick loading times and the never ending competition will have you hooked. Streetpass will make a copy of your Mii and using your stats on every race you have done will send people your ghost. Then you get other peoples ghost to race at your leisure. This game can last from a few hours to hundreds.
Verdict
If you have a 3DS this is a must have the hours of gameplay you can get is unbelievable. Nintendo EAD and retro studio have made the best Mariokart game with very little amount of time.
9/10
No comments:
Post a Comment