The stacked routes in Ninja Hideaway suggest that Nintendo is experimenting with new track styles that deviate from the linear layout of the old ones.
Fans of the Mario Kart series have been urging Nintendo to release “Mario Kart 9″ for years to no avail. In 2014, Nintendo released Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U, and in 2017, Nintendo released an enhanced version of the same game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (MK8D), for the Nintendo Switch. MK8D quickly became the best-selling Nintendo Switch game of all time. However, eight years have passed since the release of the last version of the unique Mario Kart console, despite the release in 2019 of a mobile game called Mario Kart Journey, which received disappointing reviews.
When Nintendo announced the Booster Course Pass DLC on February 9th, it was revealed that the company wasn’t giving up on improving the MK8D. “DLC” stands for “Downloadable Content” and refers to additional content that can be downloaded separately from the purchased game. The main game – usually has its price. In the case of the MK8D, that means players can buy the $24.99 Booster Course Pass, a set of tracks that “will be released simultaneously in six waves by the end of 2023.” Two waves of DLC have been released so far, with the third wave coming this holiday season.
Each wave of DLC is released as two Grand Prix of four tracks each, and there are currently 16 DLC tracks.
This Grand Prix kicks off on the Parisian embankment in the Mario Kart Tour. This is a scenic route that includes driving past famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Luxor Obelisk. As with all real city circuits, the Parisian Quay forces players to take different routes depending on the number of laps; after the third lap, the runners must turn to face the rider. There is only one shortcut, you need to use the mushrooms under the Arc de Triomphe to speed up. All in all, this is a solid track with good music, and its simplicity should not challenge new players.
Next up is Toad Circuit in “Mario Kart 7″ for the 3DS. This is the weakest of all DLC tracks of the first wave. It is colorful and does not have any attractive texture; for example, a uniform lime green grass. That said, Toad Circuit has some good off-road trails close to the finish line, but its simple circuit is seriously lacking in sophistication. This could be a good track for new players who are still learning basic driving skills. The track contains nothing worth mentioning.
The third track of this Grand Prix is Choco Mountain on the N64 from Mario Kart 64. This is the oldest track from the first wave of DLC released in 1996. This is a beautiful and nostalgic track with a lot of fun. It contains great music, long turns, stunning cave sections and falling boulders to smash unsuspecting riders. There are only a few short cuts through patches of mud, but the course still requires the ability to navigate the winding turns of the cliff where the boulders fall. Choco Mountain is one of the highlights of the Booster Course Pass, a great experience for beginners and veterans alike.
The Grand Prix ended with Coconut Mall in “Mario Kart Wii”, one of the most popular tracks in the entire series. The track’s music is excellent and the graphics are beautiful. However, many fans complained that Nintendo removed the moving car from the end of the track. With the release of the second wave, the cars move again, but now they occasionally drive donuts instead of driving back and forth in a straight line all the time. However, this DLC version of Coconut Mall retains almost all of the charm it had in the original Wii version and is a huge boon for anyone looking to buy the Booster Course Pass.
The second Grand Prix of the first wave begins with a blur of Tokyo in the “Mario Kart Tour”. The track was definitely blurry and it ended quickly. The riders set off from the Rainbow Bridge and soon saw Mount Fuji, both of Tokyo’s famous landmarks, in the distance. The track has different lines on each lap, but is relatively flat, with a few short stretches – though Nintendo included a few Thwomps to break up the racers. The music is exciting, but it doesn’t make up for the track’s simplicity and brevity. As a result, Tokyo Blur received only an average rating.
Nostalgia returns as racers move from “Mario Kart DS” to Shroom Ridge. Its soothing music belies the fact that this is one of the craziest DLC tracks. Players must navigate a series of extremely tight curves that provide no visibility as cars and trucks try to crash into them. Nintendo also spices up the tutorial by adding a very difficult shortcut at the end that involves jumping over a chasm. Shroom Ridge is a nightmare for new players and a welcome challenge for seasoned players, making this track an exciting adventure for any group of players.
Next up is Sky Garden in Mario Kart: Super Circuit from the Game Boy Advance. Ironically, the layout of the DLC version of Sky Garden doesn’t look like the original track, and like Tokyo Blur, the track has issues with being too short. The music is mediocre for a Mario Kart game, although there are many simple cuts in the song. Veterans who played the original Mario Kart will be disappointed to see that the track has been completely redesigned and offers nothing special or special.
The latest wave of tracks is Ninja Hideaway from Mario Kart Tour, and it’s the only DLC track in the game that isn’t based on a real city. The track became an instant fan favorite almost everywhere: the music was captivating, the visuals were amazing and the artwork was unprecedented. Throughout the race, several car routes crossed each other. This feature gives players plenty of options while racing as they can always decide where they want to ride. Without a doubt, this track is the main benefit of the Booster Course Pass and an incredible experience for all players.
The first track of the second wave is New York Minutes from Mario Kart Tour. The route is visually stunning and takes riders through landmarks like Central Park and Times Square. The New York Minute changes its layout between circles. There are several shortcuts along this track, and unfortunately, Nintendo has chosen to make the track very slippery, making it difficult for players to drive accurately. The lack of good traction can be a problem for new players and annoy experienced players. The visuals and the presence of some obstacles on the road make up for the poor grip of the track and the relatively simple layout.
Next up is Mario Tour 3, a track from “Super Mario Kart” on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The track has strong, vibrant visuals and a huge nostalgia factor as it also appeared on “Mario Kart Wii” and “Super Mario Kart” released in 1992. Mario Circuit 3 is full of twisty turns and plenty of sandy terrain, making it an amazing return as players can use items to traverse much of the desert. The nostalgic music of this track, combined with its simplicity and revolutionary labels, makes it enjoyable for all levels of play.
More nostalgia came from the Kalimari Desert in Mario Kart 64 and then Mario Kart 7. As with all desert tracks, this one is full of off-road sand, but Nintendo decided to redesign the track so that all three laps are different. After the usual first lap outside of the desert, on the second lap the player goes through a narrow tunnel that a train is approaching, and the third lap continues outside the tunnel as the player races to the finish line. The desert sunset aesthetic on the track is beautiful and the music fits. This is just one of the most exciting tracks in the Booster Course Pass.
The Grand Prix ended with Waluigi Pinball in “Mario Kart DS” and later in “Mario Kart 7″. This iconic circuit can only be criticized for its lack of shortcuts, but other than that the circuit is undeniably extraordinary. The music is uplifting, the visuals and colors are great, and the difficulty of the track is high. Numerous tight turns frustrate inexperienced riders, and countless giant pinballs crash into players at lightning speed, making the track both grueling and exhilarating.
The final Grand Prix of the released DLC wave begins at the Sydney Sprint in the Mario Kart Journey. Of all the city trails, this one is by far the longest and most difficult. Each circle has a life of its own and bears little resemblance to the previous one, which includes major landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge. The track has some good off-road sections and great music, but it’s completely free of obstacles. The fact that the laps are so different can make it difficult for new players to learn the course. While the Sydney Sprint has some drawbacks on its long open road, it makes for an enjoyable race.
Then there’s snow in Mario Kart: Super Circuit. As with all icy tracks, the grip on this track is terrible, making it slippery and difficult to drive accurately. Snowland is known for the giant mushroom shortcut at the start of the game, which seems like an almost unexpected feature. The track also has two passes in the snow right before the finish line. Penguins slide along sections of the track as if they were obstacles. Overall, the music and visuals are not very good. For such a deceptively simple track, Snow Land is surprisingly sophisticated.
The third track of this Grand Prix is the iconic Mushroom Canyon from Mario Kart Wii. Nintendo managed to keep all the old charm of this track in the DLC release. Most of the mushroom platforms (green) and trampolines (red) are in the same place, with the addition of a blue mushroom trampoline to activate the glider. The mushroom label in the last space has been retained in this release. The music is uplifting and the visuals are beautiful, especially in the blue and pink crystal lit section of the cave. However, trampoline mushroom jumping can sometimes cause players to fall, even if they are good drivers. Mushroom Canyon on MK8D is still an amazing experience and a great Nintendo track to include in the Booster Course Pass.
The last of the current DLC tracks is Sky-High Sundae, which was originally released with the Booster Course Pass but has since been added to the Mario Kart Tour. The track is colorful and puts players between ice cream and candy. It includes a tricky but rewarding short cut that involves fusion of a semi-circle of ice cream balls. Vibrant visuals draw attention, and music uplifts the mood. There are no obstacles on the track, but since there are no railings, it is easy to fall. Sky-High Sundae is fun for everyone, and its creation is an encouraging sign that Nintendo can create new tracks from the ground up for a future wave of DLC.
Eli (he/she) is a sophomore law student majoring in history and classics, with an additional knowledge of Russian and French. Extracurricular practice, quizzes,…
Post time: Oct-12-2022