It has been five years since a new consoleMario Kartgame was released, and technically, eight years since an original consoleMario Kartgame was made. The gap betweenMario Kart 8, includingDeluxe, and the hypotheticalMario Kart 9will be the largest in the series, beating the time it took forMario Kart 64to come out afterSuper Mario Kart. Now thatMario Kart 9is allegedly in development with a “surprise feature,” fans are discussing the possible directions this new installment could take. AlthoughMario Kartwas historically dominant in the kart racing genre, and arguably its founding father, it would not hurt for Nintendo to take inspiration from other kart racers, most notably,Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled.
A remake of a PlayStation classic,Nitro-Fueledobviously shares many similarities withMario Kart, which was the original game’s inspiration. It is a colorful party game featuringCrash Bandicoot’s ensemble cast, including a plethora of antagonists. Specifically, the game aims to celebrate the history of a platformer protagonist that was once a company mascot. Crash’s recent comeback was successful, and his biggest racing game is a potentially effective blueprint forMario Kart 9’s features.
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The Content of Crash Team Racing
The appeal of a spinoff game likeMario KartorCrash Team Racingis the ability to do things the main series would never allow.Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueledhas a notoriously large roster that brings back almost every relevant character in the series’ history. Every important character introduced in the PS1Crashgames, including the Trophy Girls from the originalCrash Team Racing, one of Cortex’s Lab Assistants, andCrash Bash’s Rilla Roo, is in the game.
Additionally, the game has Crunch Bandicoot, Nina Cortex, N. Trance, and guest characters like Spyro.Nitro-Fueledis essentially theCrash Bandicootversion ofSuper Smash Bros. Ultimate’s “Everyone is Here” motto. WhileMario Kart 9will most likely not bring every character back, it should aim to put as many recognizableMariocharacters as possible, including potential newcomers orMario Kart Tourcharacters that have yet to appear in a regularMario Kartgame.
Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueledwas also full of replay value. Almost every character was unlockable, and when the game first came out, the developers released regular events that allowed players to unlock characters. Even then, once those events were over, the game was retooled to make the unlocking process less tedious. There are still plenty of challenges to complete, and customization options to unlock.Mario Kartwas never bad with unlockable content, butMario Kart 8, especiallyDeluxe, streamlined the unlocking process.
Whatever ended up being unlockable was part of a reward lottery that randomizes what players get. A few hours into the game, players will most likely only use the game to race online if they were on their own.Mario Kart 9should strive to emulateNitro-Fueled, as well olderMario Kartgames, when it comes to unlockable content. The series might be at its best during multiplayer experiences, but giving things to do for solitary players is never a bad thing. Indeed, it will make the game comparable to the GameCube and WiiMariospinoffs.
The Mechanics of Crash Team Racing
Both the originalCrash Team RacingandNitro-Fueledare conceptually similar toMario Kart, but differ when it comes to mechanics.Crash’s take on the kart racer genre is more fast-paced and technical than the accessibleMariofare. With enough skill, players can drift through entire courses and even lap their opponents without using items. The debate between competitive and casual players is not nearly as big in racing communities as it is among fighting game players, but it would not hurt Nintendo to put more “hardcore” mechanics inMario Kart.Double Dash’s traditional tag team gimmick is one example of adding more strategy into the game.Mario Kart 9should think of how to make players use their heads instead of having them rely on powerful items.
The presence of the Blue Falcon, Big Blue, and Mute City indicates a desire to integrate what madeF-Zerounique intoMario Kart. Without sacrificing the accessibility that makes the series so appealing,Mario Kart 9could introduce new modes or mechanics to make the gameplay more flexible like whatNitro Fueleddid. More ways to complete courses, rewarding boosts, less emphasis on a reliance on items, and incorporation of unique gimmicks will make the racing experience fresher and more engaging.
Nintendo should not necessarily make an amalgamation of what makesMario KartandCrash Team Racingunique, stripping both games of their identity in the process. It should analyzeNitro Fueled’s strengths and use it to its advantage.Mario Kartis already a system seller, andMario Kart 9has the potential to be the strongest installment yet.
Mario Kart 9is rumored to be in development.
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