'Mario Kart Tour' Gameplay Revealed in New Images and Video Shared From Beta Players

[MacRumors]

Nintendo today kicked off the beta for its mobile game Mario Kart Tour, limited to Android in Japan and the United States. Thanks to players starting to get their hands on the game, we now have a video and a few screenshots of Mario Kart Tour that provide a good idea of what you can expect from the mobile version of Mario Kart (via iGeneration).

Images via iGeneration​

Like the console versions of the franchise, Mario Kart Tour is a kart racer set in the Mushroom Kingdom, tasking players with surpassing their rivals by using drifts and items to gain an edge. Mario Kart Tour appears to use the same single-handed control scheme as Super Mario Run, allowing players to swipe with their thumb to control their karts (or choose motion controls), while the kart accelerates on its own.

Tracks are taken from previous iterations of Mario Kart, including the original Super Mario Kart, Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Double Dash, and Mario Kart 7. There are Grand Prix cups as well that contain a collection of tracks to race through, but each track only includes two laps (instead of the typical three lap structure of most Mario Kart races).

The game's default controls automatically cause karts to drift around corners, but anyone wanting more of a challenge can turn on manual mode. There are four levels of difficulty (50cc, 100cc, 150cc, and 200cc) and the same soundtrack used in previous games in the franchise.

In screenshots, many of the expected Mario characters can also be seen as playable: Luigi, Toad, Shy Guy, Waluigi, Peach, Toadette, and more. According to some beta testers, character unlocks will be the big in-app purchase for the game, with some drivers considered "rare" and coming with advantages during races like having unique items and track-specific bonuses.

Looks like Mario Kart Tour beta is pretty hardcore with regards to monetization. Multi-level gacha for drivers, karts and gliders. Rare drivers have advantages during races. Stamina system limits races available on an hourly basis.(Subject to change, this is a beta.) - Dr. Serkan Toto 🔜 E3 2019 (@serkantoto) May 22, 2019

This is similar to other Nintendo mobile games, allowing players to download the game for free but encouraging in-app purchases to boost gameplay. Players in the beta can't buy anything at this time, however, so it's unclear what exactly will be for purchase when the final game launches.

As Mario Kart Tour gears up for a launch later in the summer, Nintendo has faced some issues for its current mobile titles in Belgium (via The Verge). Due to Belgium's recent laws that categorize video game loot boxes as gambling, Nintendo is shutting down Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp and Fire Emblem Heroes in Belgium effective August 27, 2019.

After that date it will be impossible to play and download these games in the country, and in the future any Nintendo games with similar earnings models will not be released in Belgium. The controversy over loot boxes in gaming has been escalating over the past few years, and given the worldwide success of Fire Emblem Heroes, Nintendo's decision to shut down the game completely in the country proves how big of an issue this is for Nintendo.

For Mario Kart Tour, the beta will last through June 4 on Android. The final release date for the game on iOS and Android will be sometime this summer.

Article Link: 'Mario Kart Tour' Gameplay Revealed in New Images and Video Shared From Beta Players

 

[ghostface147]

Disappointing. While I know there is no money in it anymore, I'd pay about the same for their Mario runner with no in-app purchases. Maybe they can change their mind and unlock characters with some good ol' hard work.

 

[Rudy69]

I love Mario Kart but this game looks kinda boring to be honest :/

 

[TantalizedMind]

Android sucks! Take down this article!
Makes me jelly.

 

[MacOH21]

Disappointed, still hoping for a landscape mode with console style controls.

 

[itsmilo]

I was excited for a moment then i realized I actually bought a switch not too long ago.

Also how is that game not played in landscape? Wth

 

[lunarworks]

Disappointed, still hoping for a landscape mode with console style controls.

They'll politely ask you to buy this:

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Is there any multiplayer or is this strictly against the CPU?
[doublepost=1558535850][/doublepost]

Disappointed, still hoping for a landscape mode with console style controls.

I don't see a reason to care about landscape vs portrait. And motion steering with auto-accelerate is an option for controlling the console version (I opt for motion steering but manual accelerate on the Switch version... auto accelerate makes tighter turns more difficult.)

I'm mostly disappointed that Nintendo is choosing to do loot boxes... I understand paying to unlock stuff, but I hate the idea of paying to unlock something random.

 

[JCCL]

Wow purchasing rare characters to get advantage? No thanks, will stick to Mario Kart 8 in my switch.

 

[chasonstone]

I really don’t understand why they went with portrait for this game. It makes sense for their other titles but not this one.

 

[TomaxXamot]

I’m a huge Mario Kart fan, but haven’t been holding much hope that it’ll be very fun on mobile. I’d love to be wrong.
And I can’t believe there is no landscape mode. Wtf??

 

[B4U]

I am one of the lucky few got chosen for the closed beta.
While I have to follow the agreements that I shall not share any video or images, they did not forbid us from sharing our thoughts or answer questions about the game.
So far, from what I have seen is we are player vs player online with no CPU/NPC.
We will unload all items on hand when we got to the next item box.
And the loot box is pretty bad. I got the ultra rare character by shear luck and dominates the race.
Lastly, I kind of understand why only portrait mode, because we can play one handed. I believe it is due to Japanese people ride in public transportation a lot and needed to hold onto the hand rail with 1 hand?

 

[MacOH21]

They'll politely ask you to buy this:

I have that , guess I’ll stick with it.

 

[KanosWRX]

Not much worse then pay2win games, but vertical racing game screens... Blasphemy!!

 

[Unity451]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'm excited for this.
I'm a long time fan of the Nintendo franchises, but at this stage in my life, I just can't justify spending the hours and hours of wasted time that gaming consoles now require. Small breaks with iOS gaming has been nice, so another decent franchise title is a welcome addition.

 

[Bayshun]

Pay2Win and Gacha? No thanks.

 

[Luuthian]

Disappointing. While I know there is no money in it anymore, I'd pay about the same for their Mario runner with no in-app purchases. Maybe they can change their mind and unlock characters with some good ol' hard work.

Nah, there *is* money in it. Way more than development costs even. It's just that spending $2 million to make a good kart racer that earns back $10-30 million doesn't appeal to the developer when they can make a ****** casino based kart racer for $2 million that brings in $100 million.

That's just the current, junk cellphone game market we exist in. AAA devs want a 900% return on investment. The only people interested in turning $1 mil in to $5 mil are indie devs... And even those are starting to engage the freemium model more

 

[jonnysods]

No landscape mode just seems awkward.

Also I didn't buy the previous Mario iteration on iOS because of the non family sharing in-app purchase.

 

[dumastudetto]

This will be huge.
I can't wait to see what I can do with it.

 

[TheAppleFairy]

Seems really odd they are starting with Android. Having just got back from Japan last week, nearly everyone has iPhones. Also everyone I know that has Android refuses to pay money for apps.

 

[Porco]

One of my favourite game series, but this looks like a pale imitation of the real thing. Ersatz Mario Kart.
Good luck to anyone who enjoys this, and I hope I'm wrong and it's brilliant. Maybe it's just not meant for me.

 

[Juiceboy]

No landscape mode just seems awkward.

Also I didn't buy the previous Mario iteration on iOS because of the non family sharing in-app purchase.

Pretty sad you've spent more time complaining about it then just paying the equivalent of a lunch time meal to play one of the best iOS games out there. If you want to share it with your kids, why not get it on an iPad and let them play that way?

 

[foobarbaz]

Way to go, Belgium! I hope this spreads to the entire EU so there is enough incentive for them to stop doing this crap.

I love Mario Kart and this looks like a great adoption, but I suddenly have ZERO interest.

 

[tkukoc]

I'll pass on in app purchases. I was good with how they did Mario on mobile, pay a 1 time fee for the other levels. I was excited for this game but not after reading about the purchases involved.

 

[CapitalQ]

Seeing a lot of negativity here - I'll chime in as someone who's playing the beta right now.

It is fun as hell.

I've been playing Mario Kart since the late '90s and this is a respectable and worthy addition to the series. It controls like a dream despite just playing with your thumb, runs at a smooth 60fps, has beautifully remastered levels (like Koopa Troopa Beach and Kalamari Desert from N64) and if you're familiar with how to do mini-turbos and when to time using/holding items, you have a huge advantage.

None of the pay-to-play mechanics have been a hindrance - and microtransactions are disabled entirely in the beta, so I'm just working with the constraints and items you get from playing for free. I've sunk countless hours in already in less than a day. One of the best mobile gaming experiences I've played, hands down.