The Mario Kart 7 Hype Thread (Gamespot: 8/10, HYPE MET)

The hype for this game is now locked at AAE.

This is it, folks! The first major title for the 3DS, and one that promises to utilize every single feature that this unique system has to offer, Mario Kart 7 is the latest title in Nintendo's long running mascot driven weapons racing series. Coming off the uber commercial success of Mario Kart Wii, and the thundering fan reception of Mario Kart DS, with Mario Kart 7, Nintendo looks to take the best out of every single Mario Kart game yet, and put it together in a game that also axes all the annoying faults and niggles that the games have gathered over the years.

What is Mario Kart 7, then? Glad you asked:

--------------------------------------------
MARIO KART 7: JUST THE FACTS
--------------------------------------------
In case you've been living under a rock, and have absolutely no idea what Mario Kart 7 is about:

• Mario Kart 7: the seventh installment in the long running series (following in the footsteps of Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart Super Circuit, Mario Kart Double Dash, Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart Wii)
• Developed by the same team that was behind the development of the previous two installments
• Like Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart Wii, offers sixteen all new tracks, and sixteen remixed retro tracks
• The first game in the series to offer kart customization.
• Mario Kart 7 allows for underwater racing and gliding.This opens up all new shortcuts, track paths and kart tricks for the player.
• Removes the annoying items like the POW block and the Storm Cloud, to restore balance to the game.
• The Blue Shell has been fixed. Instead of being an unavoidable aerial missile like it was in every Mario Kart game following the N64 one, it is now a ground based missile, meaning it can be avoided if players time jumps and glides correctly.
• New items include the Tanooki Tale, which can be used both defensively (to fend off against any incoming Red and Green Shells) or offensively (swipe your opponents off the track!). These also include the Fire Flower, which works as expcted (fire fiery projectiles at other racers) and the Lucky 7, which stacks up seven different items around the user, all of which can then subsequently be used.
• New characters include Metal Mario and Shy Guy. As far as we know, all Baby characters have been removed.
• Use coins found on the race track to gain bonuses on track, and to further customize your kart.
• New first person racing mode! Use the gyroscopic controls on your 3DS to race in the first person mode!
• Runs in 60 FPS constantly, in 3D mode and 2D mode, online and offline. Take that, HD consoles!
• Retro Studios designed a track in the game, and also contributed some of their Donkey Kong Country Returns assets towards the development of this game.

MARIO KART 7

Developer: Nintendo EAD
Publisher: Nintendo
System: Nintendo 3DS
Release Date: December 4, 2011

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
WITH MARIO KART 7, NINTENDO EMBRACES ONLINE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mario Kart DS was the title with which Nintendo took its first tentative steps into the world of online gaming. Mario Kart Wii was Nintendo's premier online effort, and remains unbested on the Wii in that regard. It is only fitting, then, that with Mario Kart 7, Nintendo embraces online gaming in styIe, and delivers us one of the most full features and community oriented online experiences yet on any handheld system.

• Supports both StreetPass and SpotPass
• Eight player online racing
• Race against friends, against recent opponents, and against people with whom you have had StreetPass exchanges, in addition to fully supported racing against random opponents.
• Invite friends to join you- if you are mid race, then your friends will enter Spectator Mode and watch you race, until you are finished, at which point they will join you in your next race.
• Mario Kart 7 introduces Communities- you can create or join upto eight communities. You will have leaderboards within the community, as well as leaderboards for communities worldwide (and regionwide). In additon, there will also be leaderboards for individual racers.
• Create your own community, set your own rules for racing as you like, and invite your friends to join your community.
• Search for any community that interests you using that Community's unique Community Code.
• Nintendo will be spotlighting Communities by sending 'Reccomended Communities' daily via SpotPass.
• Access Mario Kart 7's online features at any time using the optionally installed Mario Kart Channel.
• Chat with players online during races.
• Exchange Player Data using StreetPass- a Player Card including your Ghost data, Winn/Loss Ratio and Mii data is exchanged wirelessly. Mii racers include the racing styIe of the original racer- so if your friend has an aggressive, weapon based racing styIe, and you get his Mii, his Mii will similarly rely on using weapons and powerups to win races!
• Time Trial mode now includes races against seven different ghosts of varying skill.

For more information on the game's online mode and Communities, check out IGN's excellent write up:

Mario Kart Online

------------------------------------------------
MARIO KART 7: WHAT WE KNOW
------------------------------------------------

So, for all you Mario Kart veterans out there, here is what we definitely know about Mario Kart 7 so far:

Track List:

Mushroom Cup

• Toad Circuit
• Daisy Hills
• Cheep Cheep Lagoon
• Shy Guy Bazaar

Flower Cup

• Wuhu Loop
• Mario Circuit
• Music Park
• Rock Rock Mountain

Star Cup

• Piranha Plant Slide
• Wario Shipyard
• Neo Bowser City
• Maka Wuhu

Special Cup

• DK Jungle
• Rosalina's Ice World
• Bowser's Castle
• Rainbow Road

Shell Cup

• Luigi Raceway (N64)
• Bowser Castle 1 (GBA)
• Mushroom Gorge (Wii)
• Luigi's Mansion (DS)

Banana Cup

• Koopa Beach (N64)
• Mario Circuit 2 (SNES)
• Coconut Mall (Wii)
• Waluigi Pinball (DS)

Leaf Cup

• Kalimari Desert (N64)
• DK Pass (DS)
• Daisy Cruiser (GCN)
• Maple Treeway (Wii)

Lightning Cup

• Koopa Cape (Wii)
• Dino Dino Jungle (GCN)
• Airship Fortress (DS)
• Rainbow Road (SNES)

List of Characters

• Metal Mario
• Lakitu
• Mario
• Luigi
• Peach
• Yoshi
• Bowser
• Donkey Kong
• Toad
• Koopa
• Daisy
• Wario
• Rosalina
• Sh yGuy
• Mii
• Honey Queen (New! Leaked! From Super Mario Galaxy)
• Wriggler (New! Leaked! From Super Mario World)

The inclusion of at least two more characters has been confirmed.

List of Game Modes:

• Grand Prix
• Versus
• Time Trial
• Balloon Battle
• Coin Runners
• Multiplayer

------------------------------------------------
SCREENSHOTS
------------------------------------------------

IF THE GAME'S GYROSCOPIC CONTROLS DO IT FOR YOU, AND IF YOU ENJOYED RACING WITH THE WII WHEEL, THEN GET READY FOR THE OFFICIAL WHEEL ACCESSORY FOR THE 3DS, COMPATIBLE WITH MARIO KART 7!

Release date in territories other than Japan is yet to be announced.

All this information courtsey of IGN, GoNintendo, Kotaku, 1up, Adriasang, NeoGAF and NintendoEverything.

-------------------------
Important Links
-------------------------

Check out the latest trailer here!

Check out the official website!

Mario Kart 7 Preview: Mario Kart Surprises With Robust Online Play

IWATA ASKS: MARIO KART 7 PART 1

------------------------
REVIEWS
------------------------

Famitsu: 37/40 (10, 9, 9, 9)

CVG: 9.4

3DJuegos: 9.4

Official Nintendo Magazine: 93%

IGN: 9

XGN: 9/10

Metro Game Central: 9/10

Eurogamer: 8

The Guardian UK: 4/5

1Up: B-

Destructoid: 5/10

This post is reserved for future updates.

Sorry for that.

Still,AA and I wish there was going to be a Wii version.

AA.

I wish it was also coming to the Wii.

Lto_thaG

Anyway,I guess AA,and btw the game looks like poo. :P

lol,you screwed Chaz.

Arach666

[QUOTE="Arach666"]

lol,you screwed Chaz.

Lto_thaG

Hyping AAA.

MKDS was godly and I'm certain MK7 will be just as good if not better! :o

and btw the game looks like poo. :P

Arach666

[QUOTE="Arach666"]and btw the game looks like poo. :P

millerlight89

[QUOTE="millerlight89"]

[QUOTE="Arach666"]and btw the game looks like poo. :P

charizard1605

CTR > this Ha!! :P.TheGuardian03

I'm going with AAE, the series is just too inconstant with reviewers for me to give it AAAE. BTW, nice thread. :)DSmon

Technically shy guy isnt a new character as you could play as him if you were a guest for Mario Kart DS :P

but my hype? AAA

Could be better than Mario Kart DS. :o

The game looks great i say AAAE.

Uh.. wouldn't the first major title for the 3DS be Super Mario 3D Land, which is releasing next month...?SoraX64

AAAAE dat nnostalgia

[QUOTE="SoraX64"]Uh.. wouldn't the first major title for the 3DS be Super Mario 3D Land, which is releasing next month...?charizard1605

[QUOTE="SoraX64"]Uh.. wouldn't the first major title for the 3DS be Super Mario 3D Land, which is releasing next month...?charizard1605

[QUOTE="charizard1605"][QUOTE="SoraX64"]Uh.. wouldn't the first major title for the 3DS be Super Mario 3D Land, which is releasing next month...?DSmon

I'm guessing AA here.

Personally? AAA, especially if it is as good as MKDS.

I think Mario Kart 7 will be AAA, I'm predicting a 9. The game looks great, and so far the gameplay looks amazing.

[QUOTE="charizard1605"][QUOTE="SoraX64"]Uh.. wouldn't the first major title for the 3DS be Super Mario 3D Land, which is releasing next month...?SoraX64

Sorry for that.Still,AA and I wish there was going to be a Wii version.Lto_thaG

[QUOTE="Lto_thaG"]Sorry for that.Still,AA and I wish there was going to be a Wii version.Heil68

I'm surprised at the hype of this game. I think we're all going to be disappointed. Expecting in the 7.0-8.5 range and hoping for the best.

I'm surprised at the hype of this game. I think we're all going to be disappointed. Expecting in the 7.0-8.5 range and hoping for the best.

Big_Pecks

[QUOTE="Big_Pecks"]

I'm surprised at the hype of this game. I think we're all going to be disappointed. Expecting in the 7.0-8.5 range and hoping for the best.

charizard1605

[QUOTE="Big_Pecks"]

I'm surprised at the hype of this game. I think we're all going to be disappointed. Expecting in the 7.0-8.5 range and hoping for the best.

charizard1605

Games on the iPhone 4s look better than this.Method214

MK 7 gives a 9.0 fronm me.