A recent update to Mario Kart World has run the risk of alienating fans. Even though many people are still on the waiting lists to order the Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo has already put out an update for its flagship launch title, Mario Kart World, which, according to some, makes the experience worse.
Did Nintendo Expand a Mario Kart World Flaw?
The main attraction in Mario Kart World is the large, open world where all the tracks are interconnected. In Grand Prix races and Knockout Tour mode, you don’t go automatically from one track to the next after finishing a race. Instead, you have to “race between races,” driving from the finish line of one track to the starting line of another (fans have dubbed these sections “intermissions”). While this is fun the first time, some fans say that the novelty wears off after a while.
Some fans discovered a way around this. When playing online, you get to vote between three tracks, which include a drive through the world to the track and then one lap on the track itself, and a “Random” option. If you selected “Random,” you would get a traditional three-lap race reminiscent of previous Mario Kart games with no intermission.
The End of Three-Lap Races?
The new update has, according to Nintendo, “adjusted courses selected in ‘Random’ when selecting next course in a wireless VS Race.” This apparently means that when you select “Random,” the three tracks from the selection that include intermissions are thrown into the pool of courses to be selected by the RNG. While it is still possible to get a three-lap race by choosing “Random,” the chances of getting one have been lowered.
Conclusion
I still haven’t been able to get a Switch 2, and I can still play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for three-lap races, but this feels like Nintendo doesn’t understand that sometimes fans might want the traditional experience. While I look forward to being able to drive around the open world whenever I can get that elusive Switch 2, I still enjoy the traditional Mario Kart races. Perhaps Nintendo should offer online players an option to vote between three-lap or intermission courses. This could help to satisfy more players.
