Just because it's a kart racer doesn't mean it's a Mario Kart ripoff...
And it works beautifully.
I'll start with the graphics. Nothing really special here, just your average 720P, but the cartoon aesthetic is pretty cool.
Speaking of aesthetic, the creation tools MNR brags about so much are REALLY good. Within half an hour, I had made 2 tracks, 2 Mods (the game's name for people) and 2 karts.
The tools themselves are easy to use, fun, and can create some pretty cool stuff on the level of Mario Kart. (speaking of which, I'll come back to the comparisons later...)
Now, gameplay. Not much here, except for the fact that the drifting is the best drifting I've ever used. Seriously, it's pretty fun. Powerups are standard boost/missile/mine fare, but they do tend to get a little annoying.
Oh, and there's splitscreen. Yay.
The tracks themselves are varied (and all made with the creator, just like LBP) and each have their own achievments in Career mode.
The online is really well done, there's time trials, daily challenges, an experience point system, user-created-everything.... it'll keep you busy for days.
Music is pretty generic, but it doesn't grate.
So why isn't this game a 9? Let me explain:
1. The powerup attacks in first place are annoying as arse (even with the shield, think constant blue shells)
2. The career mode is REALLY hard after the fist ten tracks.
3. There are only 4 different (by my count) music tracks.
4. Some of the trophies are really hard to get unless you boost.
Well, that's really all I have to say about the game.
Oh, right: The Mario Kart comparisons.
Yes, it is a kart racer. Yes, it has powerups. Does that mean it's Mario Kart? No! Mario Kart is fun in it's own way, as is MNR.
In short:
If you can look over its minor shortcomings, then ModNation Racers is a joy to play, create, and share. And no, it's not a MK ripoff.