The Problematic Current State of Mario Kart

The new announcement of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC has highlighted a problem I've been seeing the Mario Kart Series for quite some time now. The Problematic Current State of Mario Kart
The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Booster Course Pass will be available at no additional cost for players with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership, or as an individual purchase.
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Outro Music: Sappheiros - Aurora
#MarioKart8Deluxe #NintendoDirect #NintendoSwitch

[@GetMadz]

Sorry gonna have to disagree, Mario Kart Wii was incredibly innovative in it’s mechanics and it still stands on it’s own with it’s unique gameplay mechanics such as tricking, bikes, and the drifting system. Nothing else really feels like it and that shows with how many people still play it today

[@derple8524]

I really liked your missed potential for water levels in video games video, I too hope that Mario Sunshine 2 will happen since it's the only game that could rectify water physics into fun ways with slides and depth mechanics.

[@EWOODJ]

I always found MKWii boring gameplay wise compared to the earlier titles. I tend to go back to all the previous titles from time to time, but Wii is the only one I just don’t find that fun.

[@thepotatowithhat]

Seems legit

[@andrescube64]

I agree GetMadz

[@artistanthony1007]

Those mechanics aren't unique.

[@icee113]

I feel like you're doing a disservice to Mario Kart Wii, 7, and 8. Wii added bikes and changed how drifting worked, as well as adding the trick system. Yeah 7 added underwater and gliding, which on the surface might not seem like much, but it expands the track design possibilities, and to top things off, the mechanics were polished further from MK Wii. 8 polished things up even more, and I feel like you really did it dirty by brushing off the gravity mechanic as nothing but speed boost when you bump other players. It completely changes the way that tracks can be designed and allows for stretches of tracks to cross and run parallel to each other in ways that just wouldn't have worked before, and you said this while a perfect example in Electrodrome was on screen no less

[@jmaster4941]

Here's some other things that you didn't mention: Wii: With Bikes came inside-drifting vehicles that demanded you cut the curves in different ways. 7: First person mode and vehicle customization that allowed you to make a light character a speedster or a heavy character easier to control. 8: Perfect physics, glorious HD visuals and music that would not work on any system that came before.

[@skycap3081]

Also tour does the double dash thing with items linked with characters

[@fausthanos08]

@@skycap3081 tour doesnt count

[@arcyarcanine]

He's probably just a MK casual that doesn't even know how to drift or do tricks.

[@Peh84]

Don't forget MKWii added players on a race from 8 to 12 and also added online play for console Mario Kart.

[@AmyASpaceOdyssey]

I completely understand your point, but I have to respectfully disagree. Early installments of video game franchises are often very different from each other because they are the developers trying to figure out what they wanted that franchise to be. For Mario Kart, I would say that when they got to MKWii, that’s when Nintendo discovered that that is what Mario Kart is. That is why the games after Wii are built on the foundation of it and just attempted to refine it instead of doing something radically different. I feel like your argument here could apply to many other game franchises. Tropical Freeze could just be DLC for Returns, 3D World could just be DLC for 3D Land, etc.

[@jclkaytwo]

exactly. I don't understand why mario kart specifically is being targeted here, most video game franchises are taking the same "light innovation" approach at this point.

[@SMPandanic]

AND the hardware differences help change how the game feels

[@itryen7632]

Have you ever even played MkWii?

[@boltstrike2787]

And I actually feel like 7 and 8 are doing more to build on Wii's foundation than the other games you mentioned. Gliding and antigravity do quite a bit to shake up Mario Kart's mechanics unlike TF which just throws in extra characters that do next to nothing different and mechanics that the Classic trilogy already did and 3D World which likewise throw in extra characters that do next to nothing. I feel like 64, Sunshine, Galaxy, Odyssey, and the Bowser's Fury mode of the 3D World port are the only games that have really innovated platforming. Maybe a few of the Kirby/Yoshi games, but mainly just the sandbox (or in Galaxy's case, pseudo-sandbox) platformers. Nintendo seems to have a thing where they're much more willing to experiment with the sandbox platformers than the linear ones.

[@jclkaytwo]

@@boltstrike2787 anti-gravity barely shook up the gameplay tbh. oh look, I can get a cool tiny boost after bumping into someone. how innovative.

[@westinrick802]

I think you have a double standard in your thinking. Praising N64 for being the more realized version of Super Mario Kart is just applauding it for upgrading graphics and game design. A similar idea can be said for GBA and DS, they just upgraded graphics and game design. However with Wii going forward, you ignored the fact that they upgraded graphics and game design, instead you belittled the mechanical changes, which is interesting as most of the original games didn’t have too many mechanical changes other than attempting to find the best drift formula. TLDR; you praised the first 5 for simply upgrading the game because new technology allowed it to be upgraded, and the last 3 were belittled for adding “mundane” mechanics (even though they also were upgraded games on better technology)

[@jmaster4941]

8 is literally the series peak in terms of upgrades. It's the objectively best-looking and best-sounding game in the series with amazing track designs thanks to the anti-gravity. I don't get why he doesn't realize this.

[@stanzacosmi]

it's not really a double standard since there's not much you can do different once every game is capable of consistently being in 3D, plus we all know how jank the mash left and right drift style games are

[@linguine2081]

You got a point tbh

[@_nRool]

"7 and 8 feel the same" I cannot disagree more with any statement of this video.

[@ThePaperGamerChannel]

Same

[@OdysseyKinsey]

nah, they really don't, I've played both before and they feel a lot different

[@alxSAJ]

@@OdysseyKinsey as an owner of both 3ds and switch i agree

[@dimenfer]

Sadly without bikes

[@pandy9049]

In my opinion mario kart 8 and 7 do kinda feel the same. mario kart 8 feels more grand and faster than 7 but that's it imo. i still love both of the games though they're both great

[@Merricktherox]

I think MKWii should get more credit. The core gameplay is largely the same of course, but the changes to drifting thats still seen in the modern titles as well as the trick system were nice touches overall. And you also didn't mention the online tournament mode with special events they ran until 2014!

[@lol-ih1tl]

Mario Kart Wii is an underrated hidden gem?

[@edwardsaldana2534]

The item balance ruined the experience for me

[@geschnitztekiste4111]

Wii also had those awesome half-pipes, which have yet to return

[@lol-ih1tl]

@@geschnitztekiste4111 they returned in Tour

[@darkgalaxyi_o_l_o_i7831]

@@edwardsaldana2534 a new mod for mk Wii came out called riibalanced which fixes that problem. It makes the CPU’s actually hard while not making the item balance crazy

[@penguinie...1101]

I love when he said adding bikes wasn’t too game changing… legit it completely changed the entire game lol

[@Rickby]

That’s when I knew he was just talking

[@vard1865]

So much that broke it making Karts useless

[@ifailflash2360]

Yeah, they made drifting easier, big whoop, what a amazing and particularly different game it is now, glad we have bikes that control slightly different than karts, what more could we even need

[@savagejack5714]

@@ifailflash2360 yea Not like they didn't include retro battle courses, online tournaments, 12 player games,wheelies, bikes, inside drifting, tricking, new items. Nahhh

[@brandish_0003]

Yea a lot of his points about something not being innovative are kinda void. Bikes changed everything and became the only choice if you wanted to win. Wii also refined the online play which is another gameplay experience. Mario kart 7 changed track design forever as well as adding the kart customisation gimmick which I would argue is a welcome change but due to the fact this is a racing game of course there is going to be one meta loadout. No way around it. Mario kart 8 again changed track design concepts forever and the deluxe version is a refinement and accumulation of all the previous entries of the series, Minus unlimited time mode in battle mode and double dash mechanics. How can he be complaining about this? And dlc is a perfect way to extend the life of mario kart. Why would I want to split up the gameplay across two different games when I can have a massive roster of track on an already mechanical perfected game?

[@humankinetic]

I have to disagree. I dont think the lack of new innovations is holding back the series. Honestly the big draw for me has always been more tracks and more characters. (Which I know could be accomplished with DLC) My only issue with Mario Kart is how lazy Nintendo has gotten. Not only has it been almost a decade since we got a new mario kart, but the DLC the are giving us seems like little more than rehashing the tracks from Tour, complete with its crappy quality and lack of branching paths and creative mechanics.

[@larniieplayz6285]

They are direct ports from tour

[@BitchChill]

We got MKT back in 2019

[@PipesTheVlob]

its not lazy its spending your budget wisely

[@humankinetic]

@@BitchChill crappy mobile apps don't count. They just exist to scam people out of money

[@EWOODJ]

We get it, you don’t like it. But you don’t have to lie.

[@jammyman7085]

I do think you are doing MKW a little dirty since the game brought a variety of necceary iterative improvements including introducing the mordern drifting systems and tricking especially. Both of which have had major effects on track design ever since. That and other minor things like halfpiped and inside drift that give the game a different feel than anything else in the series. But yeah do feel ya the new games do sorta lack pizzazz or a solid hook.

[@andrescube64]

I agree

[@lol-ih1tl]

Infinite is more of a Double Dash person.

[@larniieplayz6285]

How do they lack that?

[@lol-ih1tl]

The Double Dash community does have some rivalry with the Mario Kart Wii community, mainly because Double Dash didn't have any time to become the "best" Mario Kart, because Mario Kart Wii became the "best" Mario Kart right after Mario Kart 64 stopped being the "best" Mario Kart in 2014. TL;DR: Mario Kart Wii is like Double Dash's cooler younger brother

[@jammyman7085]

@@lol-ih1tl honestly I would have figured double dash fans animosity would more so be at the direct follow up in DS for going back to basics and standardizing some of the core elements. Tho I not familiar with community views of the MK games so more you know. But Infinate is defo more of a double dash guy, just looking and how much more proficient the footage shown was compared to everything else. That likely informs his own views of wanting more innovation from the MK series.

[@RJIS]

I respectfully disagree with how the newer games didn’t innovate much. I feel like the earlier games were flawed to where each one’s innovation was fixing the mechanics. Then when they got it down, they just upped up the ante while keeping the quality imo

[@stevenmcburney8167]

I respectfully disagree with you, I’ve gotten sick of mk8’s gameplay, it’s a fun game in short bursts but I wouldn’t see myself playing it for ages. Id definitely revisit it occasionally to play online for an hour or to play with my siblings as it’s my favourite franchise to play with others but it’s just the same all around. I was playing Mario kart 64 for the first time a few weeks ago and it was so much fun, same with super Mario kart. I love how they’re just completing different from modern Mario kart in terms of gameplay and such, it felt refreshing and while yes mario kart 64 is very frustrating, especially on that banjees hideout track or whatever it’s called, it’s still something different than the game we’ve had for almost 9 years now

[@RJIS]

@@stevenmcburney8167 oh I am so sick of 8, but at the time I loved it

[@jclkaytwo]

@@stevenmcburney8167 banjee moment

[@lol-ih1tl]

@@stevenmcburney8167 This is what happens when a long-running franchise hasn't gotten a new game in a while. You get tired of the newest one so you look back at the previous ones fondly.

[@guyfierimtwi]

@@stevenmcburney8167 But it SELLS! Also, I get that the 48 new tracks dont look that awesome, but come on it will at least be something.

[@pigskin1287]

The disrespect to MK Wii is real. I would argue it's the most unique feeling MK. And comparing it to MK 64 is just disgraceful. MK Wii's driving and mechanics is lightyears better

[@flooidity]

I wouldn't say MKWiis driving mechanics are better but definitely more accessible. Once you master MK64 it feels amazing to play

[@daveynorton]

Yea

[@LivenSixtyFive]

@@flooidity mario kart wii has a skill gap though. So I wouldn’t say its more accessible. If mastered, the gameplay can be lightyears better but, just like smash melee, the controls are not as refined as anyone makes it seem like it is. I would go into a tangent if ultra shortcuts, inside vs outside drift, and tricks but im not going to. Mario kart 7 and 8 are not even that similar to wii.

[@flooidity]

@@LivenSixtyFive They are all very similar. I think MKWii isn't as refined as MK7 or 8 but it's still a good time. I know how to play it pretty well but my biggest problem with the game is the controls aren't mapped very well for controller (like up on D-Pad tricks & wheelies are odd) and most of the vehicles suck besides a few in drift bikes. I definitely don't think it has anything going for it that MK7 or 8 don't do better and I feel like it's only very popular in comparison to older MK games because of how many people owned it. MKWii is definitely a good time don't get me wrong, but it's also my least favourite MK game and was definitely the start of simplified drifting. The only real skill gap thing in modern MK is item play but every MK game has that

[@ajc1476]

Sorry, but DD is still the most unique MK

[@cris3760]

i personally don't agree with you, for me mario kart 8 is still incredibly fun every time i play it, but i respect your point of wiews

[@garywright5112]

Well said!

[@jesse4437]

Wiews

[@fungusz_4292]

still getting stale and needs a new game/refresh

[@Lordbeerus0901]

Yeah, Mario Kart can never die

[@OOFUS4103]

Try playing it for over 300 hours over and over

[@Muetzi]

13:07 “don’t fix it if it ain’t broken” the reason why most of us think that way is because the gameplay is good, almost perfect at this point. like other people already said, the first few games were radically different from one another because nintendo was still figuring out what they wanted mario kart to be. the things most people, including me, only care about new tracks, characters and items.

[@mikeywebb9598]

Seriously like at this point track innovations are what’s important now, the gameplay is practically perfect

[@boltstrike2787]

IDK, I feel like there's a ton of things they can do to improve the gameplay. The actual racing mechanics seem largely fine, but everything else around it feels like it needs a major upgrade. The "collect X amount of coins to unlock a random kart part" is the dumbest thing ever and they should just have a shop like Tour. Adopting Tour's R/T variants would also be a great way to keep the tracks fresh (better than Mirror Mode). But even beyond what Tour's already doing, experimenting with open world gameplay like DKR or Forza Horizons or adding a track builder would also enhance the experience.

[@OdysseyKinsey]

@@boltstrike2787 Mario Kart ain't gonna have a track builder idk what you expect, and nobody really had a problem with the way you unlock stuff in the game I don't see why they should change it

[@Jevmin]

For me, my priority list goes as follows: 1. I want the game to have lots of new tracks that at least most of them are fun. 2. A new gimmick (that doesn't even have to affect the game that much), like 7's water racing gimmick, or the crazy track designs that are made possible with 8's anti-gravity 3. The Character roster has to be good and contain the staples, with a few new ones in there 4. At least 2 new items If these are each met, which Wii, 7, and 8/8dx definitely did meet these, I'm almost certainly going to enjoy the game and have it feel like a different game.

[@RobinsMusic]

well, they should change some things like how the person that is 1st often gets a major lead and then all the others get stars to catch up which causes weird gameplay.. the blue shell hitting people doenst help

[@jclkaytwo]

while I do have problems with the current state of the mario kart series, I strongly disagree with your main argument here. ignoring the fact that mario kart wii introduced 12 player races, completely revamped the drifting mechanics permanently, and introduced an entirely new vehicle type, is doing the game a complete disservice here. and the addition of tricks completely changed the way the tracks themselves were designed on a fundamental level. the core gameplay in MKW was substantially more innovative and influential to the series than MKDS (which innovated in regards to the mission mode, online races and retro tracks, rather than the gameplay itself) and especially super circuit (which added virtually nothing to the series and provided the exact same experience as the SNES game but with different tracks). additionally, I don't understand why double dash's special items are given a pass as a satisfying innovation, while wii's tricks or 7's gliding sections are not. the logic here is very confusing. smash ultimate didn't really innovate anything for the smash series whatsoever, as everything the game did had technically been done before. but it's an incredible refinement of the previous games to the point where it easily earns its "ultimate" title. sometimes that's all a sequel needs to be. an improvement on previous entries that doesn't change the core experience, but adds enough new things to justify its existence. and that's exactly what mario kart wii, 7, and 8 do. in fact, it's what every mario kart does. would you say that smash bros has gone stale? point is, we don't need a huge overhaul of a series that has lasted 30 years that has still managed to be able to compete among the best of the racing genre. it's a very different situation from the NSMB or mario party series, which really are just the exact same games every time. so I really don't understand why mario kart is being singled out as "problematic" when mario kart's approach to sequels is basically just video game franchise standard at this point. metroid dread, every smash game, every animal crossing game, tropical freeze, paper mario TTYD... need I go on? these games all use the same sequel approach as mario kart and it worked out amazingly. I don't see an issue here. to me, regarding innovation between each new entry, the mario kart series is absolutely going in the right direction. the big problem with the current state of mario kart isn't the games leading up to MK8, it's everything that came _after_ MK8. the only issue to be concerned about here is the fact that we haven't gotten a truly new game since 2014, and nintendo keeps updating said 2014 game (and making forgettable spin-offs) rather than making MK9. nothing more to it.

[@luigigreen_]

glider can just be a straight road because moving slows you down

[@jclkaytwo]

@@luigigreen_ I don't really understand how that relates to my comment

[@mikeywebb9598]

My gosh it made me so mad when he said “ultimate has a new story mode” and I’m like 😀 yeah… and 8 has new tracks, that’s the standard, how come for ultimate it’s innovative but not 8?!

[@jclkaytwo]

@@mikeywebb9598 yup, so innovative. now let's just ignore the subspace emissary real quick.

[@jclkaytwo]

@Barney Stinson I have enough reasons. you should gain some respect for other people's opinions.

[@element1192]

Mario kart wii is still fun to play today, has a very active community, and still gives great races online. Inside drifting, wheelies, and tricks make the game handle differently than any other racing game. It revolutionized mario kart, especially its tech and its shortcuts, and no subsequent mario kart game has gotten either of those to feel as good as on Wii. That's why it's still the best racing game there is.

[@quangamershyguyyz7166]

Double Dash, 8 Deluxe, and CTR Nitro Fueled all are much better than Wii.

[@element1192]

@@quangamershyguyyz7166 Double dash has fewer courses, no tricks, no wheelies, no inside drift. I love that game and I grew up with that game but mario kart wii is better

[@misfit2989]

Mario Kart 7 introduced the gliders and kart customization while Mario Kart 8 had anti-gravity. Pretty easy to overlook but things you still have to respect that Nintendo tried

[@disneyvillainsfan1666]

My best guess for why we don't have Mario Kart 9 is because some people don't want to pay another $60 for another game. But still, I must say that Nintendo is acting too dependent on this one game.

[@guyfierimtwi]

It sells too well. What do you expect? Do you want it to not sell?

[@disneyvillainsfan1666]

@@guyfierimtwi I am aware of that, but still.

[@stevenmcburney8167]

That’s actually the complete opposite. Nintendo doesn’t care if people complain about £50 price tags, they want to keep this game alive so they can get more people to buy it

[@MGMVE]

Speaking from a business perspective can you blame them? 8 Deluxe is still selling like crazy 5 YEARS after it was released in April 2017, Casuals are the ones that speak the loudest, they aren't going to care about random comments on youtube from Mario Kart fanatics. Or a bunch of Mario Kart videos on youtube. Let's be realistic here. 8 Deluxe still sells. whether people like it or not. adding dlc in the from the Booster Course Pass is better than having to purchase an entire seperate game.

[@jclkaytwo]

"some people don't want to pay another $60 for another game" definitely not. if that was the case, it doesn't explain why splatoon 3 and mario + rabbids sparks of hope are being released on the same console as their predecessors.

[@lewisrich]

Mario Kart could definitely use an adventure mode like you said with Diddy Kong racing or even Crash Team Racing. Just having grand prix, and time trial for single player modes gets pretty boring. It'd be cool if they changed the coin system for unlocks as well, like being able to spend the coins you earn on what you want rather then unlocking specific things in a set order.

[@boltstrike2787]

It's not even in a set order, it's in a random order. You'll unlock kart parts in a completely different order from how I will, it's like a giant grab bag that you can only pick from after a certain coin threshold. But yeah, Tour's shop is a much better system and I have no idea why they didn't just do that instead from the get go.

[@lewisrich]

@@boltstrike2787 Thanks for the correction. It'll be interesting to see what they eventually do for a future Mario Kart.

[@Alxium]

I honestly think MK8 is peak Mario Kart. All it really needs is more tracks, and I almost don't care what the graphical quality is. Of course I'd prefer more detail, but the fact it is a "new" track is all I care about.

[@never_always]

“What am I stupid or something?” While playing with auto-steering on 💀

[@Crispeaks]

“Mario Kart Wii is just Mario Kart 64 with bikes” WOAH. That’s…certainly a sentence!

[@marzd9526]

I'm wondering what exactly you're asking for. The early innovations you mention are: snes made Mario kart, gba made Mario kart on a hand held, n64 made Mario kart 3D, gcn made Mario kart with 2 people, and D's made Mario kart 3D on a handheld. Every entry since has made inovations but your standard seems to be to either bring it to a new platform or add a new dimension. Wii had a whole tricking system along with their motion controls and bikes; 7 added customizable carts, underwater sections, glider sections, brought back coins; and one lap tracks; 8 added antigravity and a few new items but is probably more notable for being the first Mario kart with dlc. The only other entry of note is your which does meet your criteria of bringing the game to a new platform but everyone agrees that that game is fairly mediocre. I don't see how anything other than a 4D Mario kart would sate you at this point. In addition I'd expect that the big dlc for deluxe is a sign that there won't be another big Mario kart unless it actually revolutionizes the game as if it doesn't why wouldn't they just make it dlc.

[@KaiserKaddu]

So going from 2.5D to 3D is the biggest innovation (not a logical evolution), but driving in vastly different terrain (underwater, flying, on the ceiling) is not. Ah yes. Of course.

[@multipleSpiders]

my man wants a 4D Mario Kart

[@NinGamer64]

You described tricks in Mario Kart Wii as not too game changing, but that mechanic added a function to ramps that makes them feel lame in older games.

[@AndresRodriguez-ek9lw]

I really have to disagree on your perspective for Mario Kart Wii. I feel that it did innovate a new drving technique and the game was designed so good for competitive purposes. I do get your point on that the 1st 5 games were super different in some aspects due to major tech advances in that time. But getting a major change each game would in some sort of way drift from the MK game persona. I truly believe Nintendo comparing to other companies has issues studying what the user wants. Mario Kart 8 is cool due to graphics and the tracks. But it changes the whole "madness" experience that were present in other Mario Kart games. For example, the bell item that can destrpy any item, including blue shells. Blue shells is the most important item in MK. It keeps a balance for the whole racing experience to be enticing not expecting what's gonna happen. The fact that in MK8 shortcuts are super limited almost to nothing makes it not versatile as MK Wii does. To this day, there is an active community of custom tracks for MK Wii for more than 12 years. I really don't think it would be a bad idea to use Mario Kart Wii as a base using other game aspects to build an ultimate game including the ability to create custom tracks. I think people really don't see how MK Wii is still so relevant than other games. Just think about it and make a research.

[@goombuigi6904]

I think Mario Kart 8 innovated in smaller ways, like the antigravity mechanic allowed the course structures to be a lot more dynamic, or the fact that the game had a bit of a sci-fi theme with the antigravity, the "8" Möbius strip thing, and Rainbow Road featuring a space station. The problem was there wasn't one big hook to the game, one singular thing to distinguish this game from previous ones. Double Dash had two racers in one kart, DS had mission mode, even Wii had bikes which changed up the gameplay, but the biggest thing I can think of from Mario Kart 8 is the antigravity, which in the grand scheme isn't a standout feature. Also, I don't think a Mario Kart Universe, with ported retro tracks as you described, isn't gonna cut it for me. The 8 Deluxe DLC is pretty much that, since the tracks being added are all retro. If the next game does the same, it would be significantly less exciting. I'd like to see new tracks, new modes, perhaps a single player mode, or even a track creator, in the next mainline entry.

[@misa80209]

I'd say that if you remove the antigravity sections, I wouldn't even notice it. They look good in the trailers but they add nothing to the gameplay

[@lol-ih1tl]

@@misa80209 I believe that the next Mario Kart will keep Anti-gravity, because most Wii U tracks require it. Unless they somehow rework Wii U tracks by removing the Anti-gravity.

[@derple8524]

@@misa80209 I barely even notice it, that why I want something similar like Double Dash where in gameplay it's different

[@artistanthony1007]

Sonic Riders Zero Gravity came out 4 Years earlier and had Bands that defy Gravity and induce a Transition before skipping to a next part of the song and can instantly orient on side of walls if you aim the character and can do drifts, what does Mario Kart 8 do? Gives you magnetic karts, that's literally pathetic.

[@lol-ih1tl]

@@artistanthony1007 what do you expect, Mario Kart 8 is a Wii U Mario game and Wii U Mario games were all bland and generic.

[@samplautz5586]

I like how you just decide that doing tricks and adding bikes isn’t a new feature

[@Yipper64]

7:35 so basically your issue is the diminishing returns of hardware advances. This is something that has happened to most franchises in one way or another, the jump in graphics between generations is less and less nowadays, meaning it gets a little more stale than it would otherwise. There isnt much new opportunities provided by new hardware. I do suppose that the precedent of gimmicks that really shake up the gameplay was found in double dash, and they havnt really innovated conceptually since, but idk what else can you do? I guess at the end of the day Mario Kart doesnt really need to do much more than the bare minimum, people arent really invested in the mariokart franchise, they just enjoy it casually. ah gosh you just made me understand casual pokemon fans...

[@dimenfer]

After Mario Kart Tour I think they will make Mario Kart Maker, you will have the option make your custom tracks and share them online.

[@GravityRaider]

I love how when you described a more in-depth version of Double Dash that you were really just explaining how Crash Tag Team Racing plays. Also, Crash did anti-gravity racing like more than a decade before Mario Kart 8.

[@eternalroots6753]

Gravity Raider I love your channel, double dash is also something I miss in post GameCube Mario Kart

[@InfiniteBits]

Then I gotta try out that game then!

[@HauntyHollow]

Anti-gravity racing wasn't a new idea when MK8 released, but it's safe to say it got more praise for the idea because it was handled far better than Crash Nitro Kart---where there it felt like a bigger gimmick with wasted potential

[@guyfierimtwi]

@@InfiniteBits Why is everyone begging for double dash.

[@jacob5881]

fr I've thought about Crash Tag Team ever since I played it over a decade ago. So good. I thought that's what got remade when they announced a Crash Racer remake, and was shattered when I realized it wasn't tag team.

[@Rickby]

Oh nah the disrespect for Mario Kart Wii, one of the most iconic mario kart games for several reasons, also the most in depth in terms of physics and details (imo)

[@HauntyHollow]

I disagree with some takes such as how it was mentioned Mario Kart Wii didn't bring anything notable to the series, how MK8/8D doesn't have it's own standout personality and I'm even one who prefers the DLC over a new, full priced game right now That being said, I do have massive respect for your view point and don't blame you for feeling the way you do on these points I mentioned. Especially your point on Sonic & Sega All Stars Racing Transformed---I'm happy you brought that up and *completely* agree it handled the water/flying mechanics better

[@yarc9]

Yeah mario kart 8 is a port 7 I dislike that garbage 🗑 trash can take the stages In mario kart 8 are different than mario kart 7

[@boltstrike2787]

Honestly the DLC is just quantity over quality, it does give us by far the largest course selection in the series, but most of them are shitty Tour ports with simplified track designs and simplified visuals compared to the courses made from the ground up for 8 (even the Retro courses made from the ground up in 8 are better than the ones in the Booster Pack). And it's been 8 years since the original 8 came out. Mario Kart is starving for new content of some kind and new courses designed from the ground up for the Switch as well as new characters and gameplay mechanics would've been so much better.

[@yarc9]

@@boltstrike2787 I prefer the dlc over the new rehash mario kart game can't just grab stages from mario kart tour and remaster and update other games too

[@ravio3943]

Mariokart 7 is the goat in my opinion. It has the best (most nostalgic) tracks for me and I like how the graphics are less realistic than mk8. The booster pass might change that though, all the game was missing for me was coconut mall, koopa cape, yoshi falls, and waluigi pinball. I love how in depth you went and great video!

[@lol-ih1tl]

Coconut Mall and Koopa Cape were already in Mario Kart 7

[@ravio3943]

@@lol-ih1tl yeah mk8 was missing those tracks, that's what i loved about 7

[@lol-ih1tl]

@@ravio3943 Coconut Mall is returning with the DLC now.

[@ravio3943]

@@lol-ih1tl Yeah, that's what gives me hope for the others, which have not been confirmed as far as I know.

[@Tolani_0100]

@@lol-ih1tl Yoshi Falls returned in Wii, not 7.

[@geschnitztekiste4111]

I think MK Wii had the best track designs and the physics feel great

[@FishyLookinLemon]

My problem is that there is no new features that really change the game. Double dash is a great example of a game changing mechanic

[@ryans6442]

I think each game definitely feels different enough. Going back to games like 7 and Wii are definitely different compared to 8. I haven’t played every Mario kart, but I don’t think the quality of each entry is affected too much. I’m not hating or anything, but i think you might just be burnt out from Mariokart which is perfectly fine but not the games fault

[@Alxium]

As a fellow KZbinr, I'd REALLY like to see the like to dislike ratio for this video, it seems to be quite controversial according to the comment section. (Damn you KZbin for taking away the count)

[@TroboTicTac]

I agree with everything besides Mario Kart Wii, you dont give it enough credit, it added tricking and bikes which every MK after used them. MKWii is the only one to have Half pipes and directional tricks which are very unique and feels completely different then any other MK game. I like how you mentioned DKR (better than MK64 btw) but you should have mentioned CTR, it is very unique and its also better than MK64 also @ 12:28, a game called Crash Tag team Racing already did that and it was horrible

[@luukkroone4143]

Mario kart tour also has half pipes even though they feel weird

[@TroboTicTac]

@@luukkroone4143 yeah because they didn't implement them correctly in Tour

[@SurvivalWasTaken]

I really hope we see a new Mario Kart soon, the current newest game is technically 8 years old which is kinda sad. Yeah MK8 Deluxe added some things, but it’s still the same game. We also did get Mario Kart Tour and Home Circuit but those are spinoffs so those don’t count.

[@therealjaystone2344]

Once the next gen switch hits

[@jonathanwest8415]

Tour probably counts against our better judgement. I await a Mario Kart classified as the 10th, whatever it's title happens to be. If anything, I can only imagine they transition from 8 with a soft reboot adding 1, maybe 2 new gimmicks, neither of which are guaranteed to largely effect core gameplay.

[@lol-ih1tl]

@@jonathanwest8415 the next Mario Kart is also going to have way less content than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Probably going back to having 32 tracks (16 nitro and 16 retro).

[@jonathanwest8415]

@@lol-ih1tl exactly my reasoning for predicting a soft reboot. That would be the way I'd like it to be honest. Hopefully no non-mario characters for the rest of the series either. It was a one-off idea to commemorate the first use of DLC, it just happened to be added to the one game in the series that would last a decade.

[@lol-ih1tl]

@@jonathanwest8415 and the fact that it's going to have way less content than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is enough to make Mario Kart 8 Deluxe become the next "best" Mario Kart after Mario Kart Wii dies out and MK8D Gen. Alphas take over. So all the improvements Mario Kart 9 is going to do won't matter and all criticisms of MK8D will be dismissed as minor things.

[@owenfautley]

It might be a neat idea to have a gunner seat but as a main game who would want to be stuck in the gunner seat and not drive also how would it play in single player mode. Maybe it could be a mode or like double dash you swap the driver and the controls also swap.

[@Yoyomo124]

To me I think it comes down to just how rigid and easy the gameplay in 7 and 8 feels. The karts feel like they are glued to the ground compared to past games and the drifting is just not as fun as it used to be, it’s too exact. Like I have too much control now. Maybe they need to decrease the friction or something. Idk how to explain it but just hasn’t felt as satisfying since Wii and especially Double Dash. Oh also they need to make the red shells less accurate than they are now. I remember being able to dodge red shells fairly often on a sharp drift in Double Dash back in the day.

[@mattbelcher7135]

The thing is I don't think Mario Kart needs to be insanely innovative. Because Mario Kart as a franchise is incredibly innovative. Look at all the games you mentioned like Diddy Kong Racing, Sonic and Sega allstar racing. Those games would simply not exist without Mario Kart. The thing about Mario Kart is that it has to be a game that is easy to learn and easy for anyone to pick up and play. I know you said that there haven't been that many innovations however I think things like underwater driving, gliding, and anti gravity, tricks in the are pretty big things. Not from a gameplay perspective but from a track design perspective I think it has made a lot of the newer tracks a lot more unique and have basically made endless possibilities with track design. Not saying that the older tracks are bad in any way but in the newer Mario karts like 8, 7, Wii, and DS I believe they have a much better track selection then the older Mario kart games.

[@johnnychabin6982]

tbh the biggest gameplay change for me in mk8 was 200cc. it’s a big difficulty increase that i welcome. but I agree that DLC tracks, instead of a new release, is a very uninteresting move for nintendo, and I would prefer these tracks were used in a new game with new innovations instead.

[@nitrusxd8951]

Tbh the core mechanics are good it’s just that the maps got stale after a while but now the problem is going to be solved for the time being

[@hi-c4142]

This NEEDED to be said. I think the real issue started with mk7 instead of mkwii though. Mk7 feels very similar to mk8 mechanics wise, and both games did the bare minimum when it comes to innovation. When considering both mk7 and 8, the only thing that was truly innovative was 200cc. Other than that, we’ve basically been stuck with the same “type” of game since 2011 (when mk7 come out). The difference is insane if you look at mk from 2000-2009 compared to 2010-now. It makes sense from a business perspective why we are getting dlc for mk8 deluxe but this just seems too lazy. First off, AT THE LATEST, this dlc should have come out a year ago. This also just seems like a lazy copy and paste from all of the tour tracks. I’m happy they at least are giving us 48 tracks- they could have been lazy with that too. But STILL, I have been playing the same type of game for a decade now, can we move on PLEASE!!

[@MrSiggismund]

I'm pretty sure Mario Kart 9 exist, it'll be a lauch title for the next console (at least in the launch window) thats my guess.

[@InfiniteBits]

Only time will tell

[@therealjaystone2344]

Idea: a new Mario kart game with all retro courses and new characters outside of all characters from past series. The smash ultimate treatment.

[@lol-ih1tl]

I don't think that it's going to be a launch title. The next Console is more likely going to have a glorified tech demo type of game at launch.

[@Matthew-tv3fz]

Mario Kart 9 is Mario Kart Tour

[@boltstrike2787]

Not soon enough IMO. It's been 5 years since 8D and 8 years since the original 8, that is a very long drought by Mario Kart standards where usually the next game comes in 3 or 4 years.

[@lightbeammusic]

While I do agree that MK7 and MK8 aren't very unique, I'll have to disagree with with your opinion of Mario Kart Wii. The trick system added so much to the game, making jumps and ramps so much more fun to go off of. Not only that, but use a bike and it's an entirely different game. Judging by your footage, it doesn't seem like you know about the wheelie feature present in MKW, but it's a total game changer. In contrast, the bikes in MK8 were and still are a huge disappointment for me, since they don't have the wheelie feature.

[@graysonwells21]

I feel like 7 having gliding and underwater sections as well as bringing coins back made track layouts more interesting and wild, 8 was just a better revision of that in HD, albeit the gliding got nerfed, in 7 gliding was huge and had really good physics allowing you to glide way longer on a course if you could control it well enough.

[@MashupProductions22]

Mario kart 8: (Gets a port and dlc) please let me die Nintendo planning to release more character packs and more content: NO MAKE US MORE MONEY

[@TheMarioManiac]

I really do hope Nintendo revisit the double kart mechanic again. It has so much potential to be even better.

[@TheAlibabatree]

I agree with almost everything said in this video. But, i also understand why Nintendo treats this franchise the way they do. All you have to do is look at the sales for Double Dash and MkDS. Mario Kart had always been a big seller, but MkDS blew the others out of the water, and it showed Nintendo two things: 1) Mario Kart was their biggest, most important franchise 2) Most people preferred simple, stripped down gameplay

[@guyfierimtwi]

Nintendo loves it's fans, but they want something that attracts enough attention to sell and that to them is love. It keeps their ever growing attention on the goof and off the bad.

[@TheAlibabatree]

@@guyfierimtwi They dont “love” their fans any more or less than any other corporation.

[@guyfierimtwi]

@@TheAlibabatree eh, I think they care a little more. Not a whole lot more as with the exapnsion pack decable, but a little more.

[@guyfierimtwi]

@@TheAlibabatree eh, I think they care a little more. Not a whole lot more since with the exapnsion pack decable, but they always get back up. You can never declare nintendo, horrible.

[@VictorHernandez-vc5zo]

In defense of wii, it had almost unmatched jank. Actually I think it does have the most jank. Either way the jank is what set it apart. Also the character roster is still unmatched

[@quangamershyguyyz7166]

Double Dash and 8 Deluxe can match up to Wii’s

[@paulgilbert5278]

DD sure but 8D eh…

[@fortherepublic6475]

I would agree if MarioKart 8 hadn´t introduced 200ccm. It makes most tracks a lot more challanging, since you actually have to break to make many turns possible.

[@NewGabeOrder]

12:30 Mario Kart Arcade GP DX already has a co-op mode like that, but with a twist: you or your partner can use an item to combine your vehicles temporarily so both of you operate a "fusion kart".

[@hoshidonoble0543]

I just wish they would bring back special items for characters. Like they did in Tour! (Also correct me if I'm wrong but I think Nintendo considers Tour part of the series iirc) I always find myself picking the same character in MK8 but special items would really mix things up again. Maybe we wouldn't see a million Waluigis online all the time. Lol

[@damir_van_kalaz]

It seems a little unfair to dismiss Mario Kart Wii as not being innovative when it added bikes, tricks, and motion controls because the motions controls are "just due to the hardware", but yet you also count the handheld games and the N64 version as being "new and innovative" even when the only "new" things about them were true 3D graphics or being handheld which are also just things that are purely hardware-related rather than anything added to the core experience itself, with only Mario Kart DS being an exception to this. It's also unfair, again, to not count MK7 adding gliding, underwater sections, and kart customization which are actual new additions when we're counting a game simply going full 3D or being handheld as "innovative and new". That said, I do agree that MK8 feels like MK7 but with better graphics and new tracks, but, to be fair, that wasn't exactly an uncommon thing between the 3DS and the Wii U. Take Smash 4 for instance, where the 3DS and the Wii U both got new entries in the Smash franchise that were very similar to one another, it's just one was handheld and the other as on a home console and the console version had better graphics and different stages, which seemed to be something Nintendo was trying to achieve at the time before finally just making a console that doubles as a handheld, at which point they ported over Mario Kart 8 and added the ability to have 2 items at one back into the game. However, while all of that excuses MK8 being similar to MK7, it won't work for MK9, and I believe Nintendo is aware of that. They can't copy and paste what they've already done again without making the franchise feel stagnant, and so they need to figure out what they can do that will make the new one stand out and be interesting while still being something that long-time fans of the franchise will be happy to see, and that's not always something simple and/or easy to do.

[@matthewwilliams4569]

Like a lot of people here, I can’t agree with your disservice to Wii, 7 and 8. I love Double Dash, DS, Wii, 7 and even the first three entries got some things right and are fun to play but 8 is the best in terms of feeling to play. The mechanics are sound and the driving and handling is the most reliable. The tracks are great, we need more of them, and the item system, while not perfect, does work ok. Double items are a good thing and you can make any vehicle viable, unlike in Wii, when you couldn’t really. The gameplay is the most sound and most people agree with that. There’s a reason Nintendo aren’t giving us a new game. It’s like how you said “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”. MK8D gets far too much right to be changed drastically and Nintendo and most people now, just want more tracks, maybe more items and ideally more characters. Personally, not too bothered about the latter point but I can see why there’s appeal there

[@englishwithwhite]

I’m planning to play Mario Kart 9 with my grandchildren in 2070 Joke aside thanks for the frequent uploads and love your videos as always man. Mario contents are my favorite

[@InfiniteBits]

lol thank you man

[@PLAYER42_ready]

No I think they’ll make MK9 In 7363527382934666113413

[@realthemariogamer]

@@PLAYER42_ready i think the universe by then would just not exist anymore.

[@personalemail9187]

I feel that mkwii is the best !! my fav roster and tracks, amazing community and modding

[@dreadzonextheredheadwarrio5268]

@Personal Email I agree! mkwii ctgp is amazing, it's my favorite along side ds because of the mission mode if they do a new Mario Kart it need an adventure mode. Where's my single player content? Dang it!

[@petercolbeysgameshowmania7176]

I agree! My favorite as well! Then again, I still have those nostalgia glasses on, so I think this one will always be my favorite.

[@StarlightNkyra]

Mario kart wii I feel has an identity separate from DS or future titles. Now, I really do think Nintendo needs to come up with better gimmicks than gliders or anti-gravity. To fix this, they could do something so small, yet so big; character abilities. Every character feeling different. For example; Mario could control normally, Peach could have longer glide times and King boo could pass through other players. Characters could also get exclusive items instead of abilities; such as Luigi with a poltergust or Bowser with a fireball. There is so much potential to innovate in that category, feel free to leave your own suggestions in the replies.

[@ifailflash2360]

Cap

[@staticwarrior]

"a staple nintendo franchise that has appeared on every Nintendo console since it started" virtual boy:

[@OdysseyKinsey]

well, change doesn't really mean that it's better, it's just different. I think the only thing this game could use at this point is more items characters and most importantly tracks. If there was a MK9 I'd be pretty much the same thing with just more tracks so there's no point in making one.

[@williamnorton2428]

The easiest way to make it feel fresh is to go do something else. When you come back it'll feel brand new

[@rafaelluciano5596]

Homie didn't even acknowledge that 7 is a fully 3D game, and 8 is the first HD game. If that's not a unique identity for each title in the franchise, I dunno what is.

[@boomboom6410]

I always felt the inclusion of skill trees or course variants could be an interesting way to spice up the Mario Kart formula.

[@boltstrike2787]

They're already doing the latter in Tour, tracks have R variants where you complete the courses backwards and T variants which add a bunch of trick ramps and glider sections (also R/T variants which do both). That's definitely something Tour actually did right that needs to migrate over to the console games.

[@krypto1390]

Mario Kart Wii is my favorite and third favorite game of all time. Also I think the only similar ones are 7 and 8

[@somesarcasticboy7918]

I like how he was saying that mk7 should've been dlc for wii and mk8 should've been dlc for 7, then he complains about the fact that mk8d is getting dlc...someone please tell me that I'm not alone in thinking that's absolutely confusing?

[@capgangchannel6309]

Dude if you have been feeling this way about mariokart since mariokart ds then this series probably just isnt for you, there have been plenty of innovations since ds that shaked up the formula: bikes, proper online, motion controls, playable miis, gliders and underwater, kart customization, anti gravity, 200cc, renegade roundup, steer assist (which is highly underrated by the way, all of my friends who are t that good at it can still have a super fun time) not to mention an explosion in character variety, i mean we even have link, animal crossing characters and inklings.

[@egc998]

You underestimate how big anti-gravity is. On paper, it doesn’t seem to add much, but these courses feel so much better with it on, and that’s the main reason why nearly all the tracks in Mario Kart 8 are considered great

[@jclkaytwo]

I honestly don't give a crap about the anti-gravity. however, I think MK8 has the best track selection in the series. imo it's not because of the anti-gravity, it's because every track has really creative thematic elements and flows very smoothly.

[@geschnitztekiste4111]

I disagree, I think the Tracks felt a lot more exciting when you felt like you were on the verge of falling off like in MKWii. Now in 8, every mildly steep slope is an antigravity section which just sucks all the meaning out of verticality. A lot of the tracks are cool in theory, like the Möbius strip, but you don‘t really feel any of that while driving.

[@jclkaytwo]

@@geschnitztekiste4111 I feel like your comment is pointed specifically at wario's gold mine lol

[@glotero]

I think that you are judging the series a bit unfairly by mistaking innovation with technological advancement. Sure, Super Mario Kart is going to feel different to Mario Kart 64, because the game is now in 3D....and the same can be said about Super Circuit to Mario Kart DS. But in essence, Mario Kart 64 is the same thing as Mario Kart DS, is just that at that point, we were experiencing the series progression through the help of technological progression. But we are past that point...The 3DS being the next portable system to the DS means that before Mario Kart 7, there was already a fully functional and playable 3D portable Mario Kart for DS. So that innovation you recall, that magic you felt playing MK DS, well naturally, wont be in Mario Kart 7 - but its not innovation per se, because Mario Kart DS is basically Mario Kart 64 like I said - It was just the novelty of experiencing that on the DS. PS: I know DS had that cool mission mode, but its a side thing, I wouldn't call that necessarily innovation. Now I will give you Mario Kart Double Dash for Gamecube because in addition of being a huge graphical leap from MK64, it also introduced the 2 characters in one Kart concept which was pretty cool and definitely makes it stand out from the rest of the series...but that is a one game in a series of 8 games already - and they strayed away from that concept in an effort to make the series more cohesive I feel, to bring it back to the roots of the original, because as fun as MK Double Dash was, you may understand that not everybody loved it. So whats left to do? The Wii wasn't that big of a graphical upgrade from Gamecube, and 3DS was now a portable system capable of producing Gamecube-like graphics , so off course without the technology bump, both Mario Kart Wii and 7 felt pretty similar. Those were the games I personally felt that the series felt more stagnant, and yet, I can still appreciate that like you said, both entries still introduced little quirks and things that differentiated them a little. Wii introduced the bikes and tricks, plus changed the drifting mechanics permanently, and MK7 introduced the gliders, underwater sections and customizable karts. Now with Mario Kart 8 - I did felt a little freshen up by how beautiful it looked, you gotta remember it was the first HD Mario Kart game - and the anti-gravity mechanics are indeed a little something, but I also feel like that concept allowed them to make the courses what they are, they feel like rollercoasters now and are some of the best in the series. Plus its the first time non- Mario characters have been put in the game, and there has been DLC, 200 cc and so on. Little things? Maybe. But I can still appreciate that they do try to bring new concepts and ideas to the core gameplay. Really, not every developer does that and even less if its a racing/kart game series. So Mario Kart 8 feeling less impactful may be a consequence of there being maybe too many Mario Karts already and being at a point in time, where gaming has solidified itself and isn't really having those huge technological jumps we used to have when it was more on its infancy.

[@cheezybred7770]

Maybe there could be a Mario Kart Triple Dash in the future with mechanics from a game like Sonic Heroes where you need to use the different characters’ abilities in certain situations. Like Mario could be Speed, Luigi could be Handling, and Peach could be idk Acceleration just to list an example.

[@afrohead_k1ng]

Actually Mario Kart Wii Introduced: - Tricking - Bikes - 12 Racers at the same time - Half pipes - Motion Controls - Automatic Drifting (this should return because its better for newcomers)

[@TheCoops119]

I think you make a really good point which I agree with, I never sit down to play Mario kart on my own anymore, only when friends or family are around, it just feels like a very similar experience I’ve been playing for years, but something like double dash I can play a lot more because of the uniqueness

[@shibememes]

i think it’s fine if a game mainly just perfects gameplay and design, but yeah… it gets tiring when like 3 games in a row do that.

[@sheridan5175]

It'd be a big ask, but having your character/kart/wheels/gliders change gameplay more than just stats would be a great way to give the series life, e.g. Different item use or special abilities Like Link can use spin attack, or Mario can use a fireball Or item affinity and synergy with special abilities

[@ComradeChyrk]

I think as a new innovation for mk9 would be to have tracks that you can interact with. Kind of like levelution from battlefield 4, have parts of the track that if you do a certain thing, the track would react and could hamper with other racers. The zelda track in 8 kinda has this with that one boost pad that can only be accessed by hitting the pegs. Do that but bigger. Maybe be able to initiate an avalanche on a snow track or a rock slide on a mountain map

[@froakie1404]

Couldn’t disagree more, I honestly think mario kart tour’s existence is holding the entire franchise back, even to the point where the new DLC tracks are just ported tour tracks and retros

[@VonTachyon]

With all due respect, I don't have any problems at all with them just adding DLC to MK8DX. The game might not be too innovative, but it's very *polished.* You know the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"? Plus, it sure beats having to buy another console and game whenever MK9 comes out.

[@InfiniteBits]

To each their own!

[@VonTachyon]

@@InfiniteBits Words to live by.

[@XX_MelobraacRedux]

@@InfiniteBits Entitlement pretty much.

[@jowardgamer2708]

Finally!! Acknowledgment of the Sonic Racing Series. Super underrated!!

[@mushroomdude123]

I think you’re really underselling what MKWii and MK8 added to the series. MKDS introduced online play which is huge and Wii only improved it. It also just has tighter physics than previous games. MK8 also has really good level design. It’s the only game in the series to have tracks that don’t loop 3 times like the F-Zero levels or Mount Wario. The anti-gravity mechanic completely warps how the game is played, which is very noticeable on retro levels like N64 Rainbow Road.

[@henreebee6561]

I agree that there’s been a lack of innovation in the series. I’d love to see them change things up. However, Mario kart is still Mario kart, and still fun!

[@NunnyNugget]

Stupid quotes in this video: About Mk7: “we already have the ability to play a 3D Mario kart on the DS” this sound like you’re upset that Mario Kart isn’t jumping into a whole new medium or something?? Like cmon what is it that you actually expect from the game.. Mk8: “It just feels like Mario Kart 7 but with new courses, something you can’t say about older titles” mhm I would never suggest that Super Circuit is like that

[@grrgrrgrr0202]

This is a pretty poor take through and through. Each Mario Kart game is essentially a well-organized package of race tracks, designed with the system's capabilities in mind. If you are sick of Mario Kart, then steer away from the series. But let younger generations have the joy you had in your childhood on current-gen systems! I think you also completely missed the mark on Double Dash. The "innovations" on the game itself were quite a mess, though I guessed this paved a way for later entries. The 2-player gimmick was pointless and caused the game to have a worse control scheme. The unique item system was cool on paper, but bad in practice, and many special items were rather poorly designed (although I'd love to see most return, along an item switch). But the game was still good. Do you know why? It was still Mario Kart and the tracks used the Gamecube's capablities pretty well (and were just a massive improvement in general). And Mario Kart 8 is still a massive improvement compared to MK7 and MKWii as it uses the system's HD capabilities extremely well. The track selection was also well put together. And the biggest reason we haven't seen an MK9 is because it has become too hard to make its tracks stand out from 8. And what's mostly concerning about the DLC is that the tracks are too much of a ripoff from Tour, with very little attempt in making them "proper" MK8 tracks. On top of that, the game will ultimately have 24 cups with little to no structure; there used to be a progression in terms of difficulty. And this approach is also rather unfair to the 1% of gamers that got the game during the Wii U era.

[@blami8]

Well explained

[@LazyKing3D2Y]

What i want in mario kart 9 is: 1. more tracks 2. more car customization more originality. As in stickers, picking your color palettes Etc 3. bring the bike wheely back. 4. give the characters different skins 5. more characters 6. more items 7. more modes As in make a double dash mode. 8. 250cc 9. fix the course picking in online. If people pick 1 course more then others that's the course we play, not that stupid roulette thing. 10. Not expecting this but what about a open world Mario kart. these are the things I can think of right now feel free to add your own.

[@custom-r]

Mario Kart should have a track editor like the F-Zero Expansion Kit. I mean ModNations Racers on PS3 also had a track editor as well.

[@blu3ntv]

dude complained new games feel like dlc of the old one, and then complain we're getting dlc instead of a new game

[@ryanhindley174]

Literally nobody has called the booster course pass “Mario kart 9”

[@Rickby]

I genuinely feel like you were making great points till you got to MKWii, then everything went downhill. Mario kart Wii is MK64 with bikes?? Like huh??

[@lstairvideos1330]

I never undsertood why youtubers feel the need to say “but first, we have to go back to where franchise *name here* started.” Like dude, we all know what Mario kart is and how influential it was. None of this info we heard 1000 times already was integral to the video

[@gregdickson4767]

While I'm sure there could be a lot of innovations that would make Mario Kart 9 shine, there's one thing that I know it needs: BLOCK FORT.

[@kittenzrulz2314]

10:15 when you mentioned other kart racers why didn't you mention Super Tux Kart. It may not be a big console racer with fancy IPs backing it up but what it does it does well. The course and character design is amazing and it feels amazing. The controls are tight and heavily customizable. Its available on PCs and phones and can run on a raspberry pi. And yet despite this its a free to play FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) game. Becouse of this and the active encouragement and even a mod browser people can add whatever they want. Charicters, Karts, and even entire courses can be fan-made.

[@Cirby64]

I can understand some of your criticism about lack of innovation, but that isn't necessarily a problem. Mario Kart 8 is polished to such a ridiculous degree, plus the music man... THE MUSIC. Mario Kart music is always great, but this one's special for obvious reasons. I will say I'm fairly disappointed with the new tracks we have so far. They're all really flat which was immediately noticeable, but I guess anti-gravity isn't an innovation even though the lack thereof is super jarring...

[@Kristian.Ofsteng]

I’m sorry. But there isn’t too much I agree with on this. 7 and 8 don’t feel the same. Wii is simply terrific with one of the absolute strongest communities I’ve seen a game from the late 2000s manage to maintain (new fan-made content is still being produced for that game this many years in the future) and bikes + tricks whether you agree or not changed the dynamic for the game entirely. I do, however, agree that out of all of the entries in the franchise that 8 is indeed the one that suffered most with its innovation… Or rather, lack thereof. But despite that, even for me it’s one of my utmost favourite Mario Kart games simply due to the fact that it’s nothing but pure joy and excitement. You flip that game on with your friends and it’s always a good time. Simple as. It sounds like I’m giving Nintendo a pass for their laziness on this one but… there’s no need for innovation if the game not only looks terrific, but also plays excellently with your buds and/or family too 🤷🏻‍♂️ My biggest and really… probably my only problem with the franchise now is less it’s innovation, and rather how much Nintendo insists on milking the shit of the game. Pardon my language lmao. I mean… this new booster course DLC pack (though the idea at its core is indeed great) means one of two things. A. It’s pure laziness and we won’t be seeing MK “9” for at least another five years (AT LEAST) and it ends up being a shameless cash grab targeted at players who are so desperate for new content (like myself) that they are willing to pay real money for relatively lazy ports of already free-to-play courses from a mobile game… Or B. It’s still a shameless cash grab with all the same points previously stated attached to it… BUT, they are gonna get even more money from it by then releasing Mario Kart 9 in a years time, absolutely shitting on everyone who previously bought the booster pack and further scraping more money from innocent consumer’s pockets. Granted… this would mean a lot more content in a very short time. Revitalising the communities fanbase hella much. But be honest, would you really buy this Booster pack again if Nintendo had instead openly confirmed they were to release a brand new Mario Kart game coming out in just a years time? I probably wouldn’t lol. Rant over lol. I sound like an angry little man. Apologies lmao. I’m not angry about the dlc, but indeed disappointed that people will be (kinda) pressured into paying for a half baked scummy concept because.. honestly, who really knows when the next game will be released? This might be your last chance sorta dealio you know? Lol. That’s the only problem I personally have with Mario Kart in the modern day and age. Peace out

[@finalcountdown3210]

Hard disagree on the Wii/7/8 all feeling the same. I can almost buy Wii to 7, but MK8 has a completely different feel. It runs so smooth, the tracks are beautifully designed with tons of color and detail

[@blami8]

The HD is a very big improvement

[@AjayESharma]

tbh you're a bit harsh on 7 & 8. The gameplay was solid, the gliding, underwater and anti gravity mechanics gave us some of the most unique tracks in the series, and they absolutely fixed the issues that ruined MKWii.

[@ChrisDavidLo]

Mario Kart 8 (and Deluxe) do have something that is unique to them and make the experience very different than other Mario Kart games: it sticks with the concept of "8." The "8" being that every course is designed to constantly be curvy and loopy; this change actually made the game way different for me when playing at first. The game calls for you to know how to use drifts, where casual gamers could get away without knowing how in previous titles. In this regard, the game calls for a more advanced playing style and almost like a more "expert" Mario Kart. Because of higher expectations, I really liked that the gameplay was so smooth and polished. The curvy nature of the courses also makes each of the courses feel less repetitive and allows for a lot of replayability. Many courses are also wider like the road you might see in a figure 8 course. I can appreciate this as an "Ultimate" game (which also aligns with the Switch's goal in many ways), but I would like to see more substantial changes in future games. I still do have a few improvements with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, however. I wish the battle mode was a bit more expansive, especially with the DLC. The addition of Renegade Roundup in battle mode was neat, but the battle mode course selection is still limited; not too many courses rely on variation, such as extreme the elevation differences seen in Mario Kart 64's Block Fort or Double Deck (there were even falling hazards in Skyscraper and Big Donut in 64). The other thing is that the DLC, while fun and a polishing of old courses, goes against the idea of the "8" and does not significantly change older courses into these curvy designs; luckily, Nintendo made sure to add variation to some more stagnant courses, by changing the laps each time, for example.

[@youareweirdforreadingthis]

I think it would be cool if they had all the past modes, tracks, with incredible graphics into one game, with all new modes and other things, and introduce some of the most unique things inspired by other games. They could introduce characters from other games owned by Nintendo, and even have some sega and other characters. They would make these abilities from previous games amplified, Customization would be vast, and Mii characters could be swapped by old, and new. It would take long to code, probably by 2025-2030 but i think with some effort, it could happen.

[@XX_MelobraacRedux]

Why do people keep saying Mario Kart Tour isn’t a mainline Mario Kart game? It honestly just sounds like serious copium to me just because people didn’t like the gacha elements to the game. Nintendo already confirmed it was an official mainline Mario Kart in the Nintendo Direct too so people saying the next game will be called Mario Kart 9 doesn’t make any sense…

[@potato44_]

Mario Kart Wii has different mechanics from DS, I feel like the sluggish feel for the series really started with 7 as that game was basically just wii on the go. Wii had some of the best ideas for tracks, the best selection of characters with few filler, in-depth gameplay mechanics that even 8 doesn't have and the online is free unlike the newest one. Wii is worth going back to as much as Double Dash and DS

[@MrRedGreenBlue1]

I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with your opinions here, while I think we've been lingering on MK8 a bit too long and are way past overdue for a new Mario Kart at the same time I feel like Mario Kart is one of those series that you can make small tweaks to that have huge effects on how the game is played. For as much as you rag on 7 for being just 3D Mario Kart on a handheld again the glider and underwater mechanics really do change both how the Mario Kart team went into designing that game and 8's newer tracks and how players went through older tracks. I remember distinctly after playing MK8 for years I went back to my second favourite game in the series, Mario Kart Double Dash, and actually missed the extra routes MK8's underwater mechanics adds to that course. I feel like Gliders, Underwater and to a lesser extent zero gravity are some of those mechanics you won't realize just how big there are until they're gone, assuming MK9 drops them. Now I'm going to have to less respectfully disagree with you praising Mario Golf Speed Rush over Mario Kart 8. What the actual fuck is wrong with you? THAT is what you want from Mario Kart? You fucking idiot. You stupid, shallow fuck. Okay, sure on paper a fucking ignorant brain dead subhuman moron could look at the two and say "Mario Golf Super Rush added two all new modes and a story mode, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe only added the series staple battle mode" and in a way they'd be right, but counter arguement: Everything new Mario Golf Super Rush adds to it's series is boringly inoffensive at best and horrendously awful at worst. And the series staple story mode it brings back is the worst in the entier Mario Golf- nay, the entier Mario Sports series. Sure Mario Kart 8 Deluxe added like one hand's worth of new characters and a series staple mode but everything it added was good, fun and consistently enjoyable. This constant demand for new modes and new things for the sake of new things with no regard to the quality of those things is more toxic then this fucking comment. Brain dead vegetable humans would probably say something like "oh but atleast Super Rush tried!" No. No it didn't try, it made a mode that looks good in trailers and wouldn't require any new assets (Camelot had to make Character Models and long courses anyways, can't be that fucking hard to make those character models run through those courses. Everybody's Golf's been doing it since before it was called Everybody's Golf in North America!) and then used that engine to crap out a second, worse mode. That barely qualifies for a fucking participation medal, you didn't try to make a good new mode you just slapped mediocre platforming into a mediocre golf game and called it a day. Imagine if Mario Golf Super Rush didn't do this new modes for the sake of new modes thing, imagine if instead of making a flashy and gimmicky golf game Camelot they just made another stellar golf game? Sure you'd be here bitching about it but everyone who actually matters would actually be rather happy. So in short when Miyamoto says F-Zero's dead because they can't find a new shit gimmick to market the game on, he's marketing the game to people like you. You're the reason F-Zero's dead.

[@zeniktorres4320]

Been a gamer for over 45 years from its basic graphics and I agree.

[@dolphinsfan4905]

You brush over the fact that plenty of innovations have been made, but they've been optional. Tilt controls, labo, iphone gameplay, augmented reality. None of those have stuck because the core gameplay is already good. I don't want gimmicks forced down my throat. Also, what about 200cc? Why was that not mentioned? that changes the game significantly, and unlike the other "innovations" actually has a large group that has accepted it.