Mario Kart Tour has been running for some time now, and the mobile title could offer some ideas to the main Mario Kart series. Although the two games are largely different, there are some mechanics that could translate very well to the console games. In fact, some could add a whole new dimension to gameplay.
Mario Kart Tour is a mobile game that launched on September 25, 2019. It is a mobile Mario Kart title with simplified controls and a gacha system to unlock new drivers, karts, and gliders. Tour mostly consists of remixed versions of tracks from the series' past, but also includes tracks based on real-world locations in a series first. Although Tour has been criticized for its microtransactions, it is still playable without spending money and has done quite well. Tour has even had some of its tracks appear in Mario Kart 8's Booster Pass track expansion.
Even beyond the tracks already added to Mario Kart 8, Tour can provide plenty more of its own additions to future games. While some ideas such as the gacha are obviously not feasible for a mainstream Mario Kart game, other ideas are not only possible, but perfect for the series. All it takes is for Nintendo to take a chance on some of them.
Tour's Alternate Costumes Could Be A Reward In Future Mario Karts
In Mario Kart Tour, there are a lot of characters that players can unlock through the game's gacha system, and many more added on a regular basis. Many of these characters are actually alternate versions of existing characters with new costumes, such as Yoshi's kangaroo outfit for Tour's Sydney event. For example, there is a Vacation Luigi and an 8-Bit Mario. These sorts of alternate costumes could actually fit quite well into the main Mario Kart series.
In Mario Kart, alternate outfits for characters could be incorporated as a way to reward players for playing well, or dedicated playtime. For example, If someone won gold in every cup of the game with Daisy, that could unlock a new outfit for her. Of course, not every requirement would have to be so difficult or time consuming. For example, something such as an alternate color could be offered for racing with a character a certain amount of times. Either way, tying unlockable outfits to feats involving the characters involved would be a good way to handle that sort of thing.
While adding more Nintendo characters to Mario Kart 9 is a good idea, alternate costumes would also be a solid move. In addition to letting players show off their game progress, they also add a bit of flavor and customization to the games. There are already a few racers in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with alternate looks, such as the Shy Guys and Inklings, so there is hope that the rest of the cast could also receive that treatment.
A Mission System Similar To Tour's Could Reward Good Mario Kart Gameplay
One of Mario Kart Tour's mechanics is a mission system. Every time a new tour starts, the game offers players a sheet of challenges to perform over the course of the tour. Each completed mission provides rewards such as coins and gems to buy more characters, karts, and gliders. With some adjustments, this sort of mechanic could be an excellent addition to the main games. Mario Kart 9 could use a twist, and missions could be the big thing that brings to the series. Taking an approach similar to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's missions may be a good move to make. The missions could act as an achievement tracker, keeping track of the player's stats and rewarding them for reaching milestones. For example, landing enough hits with shells could reward the player with a shell-themed kart or glider. There could also be some more specific, specialized missions requiring the player to win a race with some unusual condition or gimmick.
There is actually some precedent for missions in Mario Kart. Mario Kart DS had a Mission Mode that tasked the players with performing various feats before fighting a boss at the end of each mission chain. It was a bit unusual as a concept, but still a fun diversion. A new mission design is something Mario Kart 9 could learn from Smash Ultimate, and it could elevate the game's experience.
Mario Kart Tour's Remixed Tracks Are Worth Importing To The Main Games
As previously mentioned, most of Tour's tracks are past Mario Kart tracks. However, each track will occasionally appear multiple times in a tour. One way that the game keeps this from becoming too repetitive is by introducing remixed versions of said tracks. Adding new twists to old tracks is a good idea, and something that could be considered for the rest of the Mario Kart series.
In Tour, most of the track remixes involve adding jumps and using new ramps to create split paths. While this is good enough for making the tracks feel more dynamic, a more powerful console such as the Switch could do much more with this concept. Mario Kart 9 needs remastered retro tracks, and remixing them could be another way to use them. Rather than simply adding ramps or reversing the track, a remixed course could start normally before creating an entirely new route. Areas that were originally a part of the background could instead become a new section of the track for the racers to drive through. Not only would this be a good test of the developers' creativity, it could be a brand new way to experience some classic Mario Kart tracks.
While Mario Kart 8 will still be receiving content for quite a while, remixed tracks is definitely an idea to consider for the future. While retro tracks are a well-established trend at this point, remixing those same tracks could be an exciting change of pace. This way of reworking old tracks is another thing that Mario Kart 9 can learn from Tour. Despite being so different from the rest of the series, Mario Kart Tour has plenty of good ideas to offer. The sheer amount of content in the game and the new mechanics could find some way to translate into the main series. Mario Kart Tour may be something of an outlier in the series, but it has plenty to offer for the future.