Over the years, each new Mario Kart installment has taken bold steps to refresh the series’ staple gameplay. This drive for innovation has seen numerous exciting features introduced, starting from the dual racers of Mario Kart: Double Dash, to the motorbikes in Mario Kart Wii, gliders and underwater sections in Mario Kart 7, and then anti-gravity racing in Mario Kart 8. Recently, anticipation is building around the upcoming Mario Kart game for Nintendo Switch 2, with fans eager to see what fresh twist it will bring.
According to the buzz, this new release might boast 24-player races and much larger, more open tracks. There’s even speculation that it could feature real-time track modifications through item pickups. Should this be the case, turning to the innovative approaches of older PlayStation kart games could provide valuable inspiration.
In the past few Mario Kart games, customization options have gradually been given more focus. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe lets players choose colors for certain characters, such as Shy Guy and Yoshi, while the original Wii U version allowed for races with custom Mii avatars.
When it comes to kart customization, players can adjust three main elements: wheels, chassis, and glider. Beyond just aesthetics, these choices impact performance—such as enhancing the weight and traction with an ATV chassis, at a cost to acceleration and handling.
For the next Mario Kart game, taking customization a notch further would be fantastic, possibly emulating the deep personalization features found in ModNation Racers and LittleBigPlanet Karting. These PlayStation titles, crafted by the collaborative efforts of United Front Games and San Diego Studio, are rich with opportunities for creative expression.
In both games, the experience starts with character and kart customization. Players begin with a blank canvas—a Mod or Sackboy—and can dive deep into personalizing the driver’s appearance with different skins, clothing, and facial features. Every little aspect can be adjusted, from eye size to clothing color.
The customization doesn’t end with characters. Players also have the freedom to tailor their karts, selecting various components that they can individually tweak, whether inside or out.
For Mario Kart, offering character customization alongside its classic roster could be a hit. Allowing even more vehicle modification would bring the franchise closer to fan-driven creativity.
One of the standout features of ModNation Racers and LittleBigPlanet Karting is their track editors. These tools go beyond simple adjustments, offering a robust platform for fans to craft their own tracks from the ground up. Gamers drive around a sandbox, forming the layout as they move, and can add scenery, tweak the terrain, and choose race music.
While the next Mario Kart will undoubtedly include plenty of expertly crafted Nintendo tracks, incorporating a track editor could be a monumental step, granting fans the power to design and share their own racing worlds. This could embody a significant leap for the series, fulfilling the long-held desires of many dedicated fans.
