When I last talked about expanding the open world experiences of Mario Kart World a month from its release, I talked about a lot. Mainly focused on custom content, I also included how new tracks could be added along with adding more to the open world. Those two sections were smaller, being just a few paragraphs with not much detail. Yet adventures in the open world is something I’ve been thinking of across the months of playing Mario Kart World.
With that previous article, I mentioned characters being within the named locations who have missions to complete. Whether that being to deliver or collect things. Points-based ones involving wall riding and rail grinding. Stuff that is already available as part of the open world with the P-Switches, just in a different form. With the new outfits those characters are wearing being the reward for completing them all.
That is a good start, but what about a true adventure? One that is done fully in the open world that brings everything the game holds together? It’s something I would like to see happen as a new way for players to experience the world. One that has replayability so that players return to it and experience new things. And to give an idea of this idea of mine, this map shows the progression of this world tour.
As you can see, things start in the desert. Utilising Mario Bros. Circuit, Shy Guy Bazaar, and Desert Hills as that first area. The story goes that Mario and Luigi have organised a racing event in the desert, wanting everyone to take part in the fun. They are encouraged to take part in everything that has been set up before the tournament begins. This gets all the main characters split across the area, whether at the tracks or elsewhere.
Each character will have a type of challenge they favour. Whether utilising a particular item, scenario, or mechanic of the game. Running a lap of a track while avoiding a sea of bananas. Utilising tricks to earn points in a time limit. Using Boos to avoid a near endless series of lightning strikes. Or even harder ones still, such as managing three dodges of a blue shell using mushrooms. Not every character will have a challenge for each area, with some helping others with theirs.
Only three of these challenges need completing before the races begin. The races involve each of the tracks. First with a time trial that will determine starting position for that track, then with a race against the other main characters. The points will be tallied up, with bonus points awarded to the fastest time of each time trial. Then for the final race, which is a Knockout Tour across all tracks of an area. Though the ability to choose to just have a regular race along the route is available.
All main characters bar one will participate in every race. Though if you are using one of those main characters, there won’t be two of them in a race. When it comes to events in the free roam, a character will simply use a costume that you aren’t. While also making a comment about how you look similar to them the first time you talk to them. Some secondary characters can also be talked to, with them matching the biomes found in the area.
With the final race done, Mario and Luigi present the prizes to the top three, thanking everyone for taking part. Before they can end things, however, other characters want things to continue. Peach and Daisy say they’ve organised an event of their own. Donkey Kong and Pauline also say they’ve organised an event. The choice of which to go for is up to the player. Once a choice is made, a drive to the next base location happens. Well, more of a race, though position doesn’t matter for it.
Things repeat two more times in terms of being allowed a choice. For the fifth area, King Boo demands they all head to Boo Cinema for his event. Rosalina stepping in to say that it’s their event. Then the sixth event is Bowser demanding they head to his castle. This final area holds five tracks, with the only change being five challenges need to be completed before the races begin.
At the end of the sixth area, Bowser is saying how he hopes everyone enjoyed his and Jr.’s mammoth event. Bringing Mario and Luigi up to him to conclude the day when Rainbow Road appears in the distance. The racers agree for one last race to end the day on. And so, a mammoth race happens from Bowser’s Castle, through Peach Stadium, and up to Rainbow Road to complete a full lap of it. The winner would be the ultimate victor of the day.
As an adventure, I feel it gets people exploring most of the map per run. And if you’ve been wondering where battle mode comes into this adventure, it gets included as a side gig to the races. Sure, some of the challenges take place on the battle maps (plus a few exclusive to the adventure to make sure each area has a unique arena to use), but their main use comes with this side gig. After all, the secondary characters need something other than just giving out a few challenges to do.
While it has no effect on the results of the races, you can choose to take part in what is known as the battle relay. Only one battle takes place at each area, but whether you can take part in the next battle depends on how you place in the one entered. Progression means getting a top three position, which is the same criteria for being able to move on to the next area in the racing tournament. Should you fail at that, the area resets to when the host track was first arrived at.
I do hope this has been an interesting read on how an adventure mode could be implemented into Mario Kart World. While I don’t see one ever happening, I still expect more to be done to expand the free roam and other content of the game. I just hope that such can be seen when the first Nintendo Direct of the year arrives.
Images Taken From:
Mario Kart World | Nintendo Switch 2 [Handheld]
