The interconnected tracks ofMario Kart Worldmake racing an incredible experience, especially in the map-spanning Knockout Tour mode, but Free Roam has proven to be the game’s most lackluster gameplay avenue. The open world itself is wonderfully designed, translating manySuper MarioandMario Karthallmarksinto plentiful scenery around the spacious island. There just happens to be very little of interest to do in Free Roam.
There are only a handful of activities to take part in while in Free Roam: completing P Button challenges, searching for ? Panels and Peach Medallions, crashing into a fleeing Nabbit for coins, taking down target racers with specific items, andunlocking alternate outfitsfor eachMario Kart Worldcharacter. There’s some fun to be had, especially in testing your gameplay mechanical prowess to reach some of the Peach Medallions, butmost players are likely to grow tired of it quickly. I know exactly whatMario Kart World’s Free Roam needs: a mini-game fromSuper Mario Odyssey.
Luigi’s Balloon World In Super Mario Odyssey Is A Brilliantly Simple Mini-Game
Reach The Balloon
Released a few months afterSuper Mario Odysseyin a free update,Luigi’s Balloon World is a simple mini-game with a remarkable amount of depth. Its premise is pretty straightforward: you choose to either hide a balloon, or find a balloon. When hiding, you have a timer that can be increased incrementally by collecting coins, and the goal is to get your balloon into a hard-to-reach place. Finding a balloon is then searching for those hidden by other players, with a similar timer system.
Like most of Nintendo’s online game modes, it’s rather bare-bones, but Balloon World works in perfect synergy withSuper Mario Odyssey’s movement and platforming mechanics. Especially now, years after the game mode was introduced, some balloons are incredibly tricky to acquire, requiring fast, precise, and intricate platforming. Alongside the Dark Side and Darker Side levels,Luigi’s Balloon World is what tookOdysseyto its limits mechanically, and is a great showcase of how Nintendo’s games typically have a very high skill ceiling, despite their low barrier to entry.
Mario Kart World Free Roam Would Be Way Better With Balloon World
A Reason To Use Tricks
Although not to the same extent asOdyssey,Mario Kart Worldhas a depth of movement that’s not immediately apparent. There are places in Free Roam where players have discovered mind-boggling lines –grinding, wall-riding, jumping, and performing tricks by bouncing off of objects in rapid succession to reach unexpected places. Very few of these are viable shortcuts in a race, however, as they’ll usually send you out of bounds to be retrieved by Lakitu on mostMario Kart Worldtracks.
Considering the wacky maneuvers people are pulling off,a tweaked version of Balloon World would be the perfect mini-game to giveMario Kart World’s Free Roam some substance. It could essentially function the same: let players select a place to start, and put them on a timer when finding a place to hide a balloon. Some could be speed challenges, picking up enough coins en route to keep the timer going, while others require the aforementioned absurd acrobatics.
It’d be a great way to giveMario Kart Worldextra content without the developers having to create more bespoke Free Roam objectives; introduce the mechanics and let the player base run with them. It would also help give purpose to the variety of tricksWorldintroduced. It’s very fun to pull off a chain of tricks, butthe flying and grinding speeds don’t let you keep up with the pack, so in a race, it’s often best to just drive normally.
Nothing is necessarily wrong with Free Roam – it’s just a bit lackluster.Mario Karthas always thrived in the competitive chaos of its races anyway. Driving around and exploring is great at first, but collecting Peach Medallions loses its luster after a while. Adding a version of Luigi’s Balloon World could helpMario Kart World’s Free Roam reach its full potential, and keep players engaged with limitless challenges.
Mario Kart World
Developed and published by Nintendo, Mario Kart World is the long-awaited sequel to Mario Kart 8. A sprawling, interconnected world features 24 racers navigate dynamic terrains and shifting weather. The Knockout Tour mode intensifies competition with eliminations at checkpoints, while Free Roam offers a leisurely exploration filled with secrets.
