There’s been plenty of chatter in the gaming community about the $80 (USD) price of Mario Kart World. Many have argued that the Mario Kart formula has grown stale, that Nintendo’s latest iteration is priced too high for relatively similar content to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
But the truth is that Mario Kart World offers plenty of new play features including an open-world-style roaming mode, greatly improved online play, and most significantly, the Knockout Tour game mode. For those unfamiliar, the game mode is a twenty-four racer, six course, battle royale competition. There are no breaks between races, and at what would be the end of each race there is instead a checkpoint which eliminates the bottom four racers.
I got the Mario Kart World bundle when I bought my Switch 2 at the midnight release last week, and I’ve been playing a LOT of Mario Kart since then. I must say that Knockout Tour is by far my favorite way to play; and as someone who has been playing Mario Kart since the Super Nintendo days, I find the change in format thrilling. It takes the pressure and excitement of the “final lap” experience and multiplies it with each checkpoint. Because every moment counts towards winning the long race, I often feel like I’m on a unique odyssey as I complete to win. No two tours ever feel the same and the rush that comes with clearing each checkpoint amplifies the pressure and thrills of the next leg of the race.
The Knockout Tour also goes a long way towards establishing the “world” in the title of the game. Because each of the six-race tours follows a unique path on the Mario Kart “continent,” players travel through unique regions, ecosystems, and weather. It really solidifies the sense of cohesive world, and grants players a new level of immersion in an old franchise.
While I recognize the price increase is a legitimate frustration for gamers, I do personally feel that I’m getting my money’s worth with Mario Kart World. Nintendo has clearly put a lot of love and care into this installment of the franchise, and I’ll be playing for years to come.
Tell us what you think! Is Knockout Tour your favorite way to play Mario Kart World? Share your reactions in the comments below or join the conversation on Boss Rush Network’s Discord, Facebook, and Twitter.
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