This is not the first time that Nintendo has worked with the Japanese company DeNA to redevelop an old classic. DeNA itself is known for its work on mobile free-to-play games. Now the two companies have created Mario Kart Tour for iOS and Android - you can find out everything we know about the upcoming mobile game below.
Mario Kart Tour was designed from the ground up for mobile gaming and has features that no other version has had before. But what exactly is Mario Kart Tour? The new iPhone game is based on an old and very popular classic - Mario Kart. Of course, there are people who have little to do with video games and therefore don't necessarily know about Mario - and there's no shame in that. Mario Kart was created by the Japanese developer Nintendo and is a racing game that includes various characters from other Nintendo creations - mainly from Mario games.
Nevertheless, there are also characters from other titles. The goal in Mario Kart is of course to win. It is not enough to just drive, the players have to fight each other. This is made possible by so-called items. The players can collect these and use them while driving - some strengthen the finder, others hurt the opponents.
How does the mobile game differ from the console version
The biggest difference is the view. In short - portrait mode. Mario Kart Tour can only be played portrait, as is already known from Super Mario Run - the controls are also completely different. While players of the Nintendo Switch version have full control over the kart, users of the mobile version will only be able to steer and shoot, because the kart accelerates on its own - similar to running in Super Mario Run. The big problem is that the game also includes automatic steering, according to the status from the beta, so turning early is not particularly easy - it is currently not known whether Nintendo has planned a change in the final version. There may also be the option to deactivate the said control aid if desired. Of course, it will also be possible to drift in the mobile version of Mario Kart - this requires a certain swiping motion. In the beta it was also discovered that Mario Kart Tour can use the iPhone's accelerometer.
What items will be available in Mario Kart Tour?
Of course, a real Mario Kart has to have the hated items - or can the red turtle and banana peel be left out? These items can give you great advantages. While a mushroom increases your speed, a red turtle can drive your opponent to despair. In addition to the classic items, there will also be a new exclusive item - the frenzy mode. The number of items that the player can store at the same time depends on the character and the track. Smaller characters have one space and larger ones like Donkey Kong have two slots.
home advantage for individual characters
Many of the tracks in Mario Kart Tour are linked to individual characters. For example, if Toad races on his home track, he gets a special bonus and can hold up to three items at once. This also applies to all other characters when they race on their favorite tracks - the racing mode can also be used. The characters available in Mario Kart Tour all have at least one favorite track. The characters available for money even have several tracks with home advantage.
How exactly does the racing mode work in Mario Kart Tour?
Let's say you're driving with a character on their favorite race track and you collect three of the same items, and the frenzy mode is triggered. This makes you invincible for a short time and increases your speed - your drifting ability is also significantly increased and, as if that wasn't enough, you can use the item you collected in the process for an unlimited period of time during the state. That's sure to put many a friendship to the test, right?
Will Mario Kart Tour include in-app purchases?
In short - yes! There are hardly any games without micro-transactions these days - which makes Apple Arcade all the more exciting. But let's stay with Mario Kart Tour. It seems as if the in-game currency is actually optional, as it can also be earned in the game. This means that you can of course buy certain karts faster by buying these coins, but persistent players can also unlock all the content.
The energy system – a problem?
As has become known, Mario Kart Tour will have an energy system. This means that if the energy runs out, the player has to wait a certain amount of time before he can drive again. In-app purchases can speed up this process. Such systems are now common in games and are understandably a problem. It remains to be seen whether this will affect the success of Mario Kart Tour.
What are the system requirements for Mario Kart Tour?
To play Mario Kart Tour, you need at least iOS 10 or higher. This means that all iPhone models up to the iPhone 5S are compatible with Nintendo's new title. iPad users must have at least an iPad Air, iPad mini 2, iPad Pro or iPad 5th generation or newer to be able to start the racing experience.
When will Mario Kart Tour be released?
Mario Kart Tour is scheduled to be released on iPhone, iPad and Android on September 25, 2019. The game is already available in both stores – iOS App Store & Google Play Store – can be pre-ordered and will most likely be available for free download due to the micro-transactions. Apple AirPods with wireless charging case on special offer on Amazon
