It has been five years since a new console Mario Kart game was released, and technically, eight years since an original console Mario Kart game was made. The gap between Mario Kart 8, including Deluxe, and the hypothetical Mario Kart 9 will be the largest in the series, beating the time it took for Mario Kart 64 to come out after Super Mario Kart. Now that Mario Kart 9 is allegedly in development with a “surprise feature,” fans are discussing the possible directions this new installment could take. Although Mario Kart was historically dominant in the kart racing genre, and arguably its founding father, it would not hurt for Nintendo to take inspiration from other kart racers, most notably, Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled.
A remake of a PlayStation classic, Nitro-Fueled obviously shares many similarities with Mario Kart, which was the original game’s inspiration. It is a colorful party game featuring Crash Bandicoot’s ensemble cast, including a plethora of antagonists. Specifically, the game aims to celebrate the history of a platformer protagonist that was once a company mascot. Crash’s recent comeback was successful, and his biggest racing game is a potentially effective blueprint for Mario Kart 9’s features.
The Content of Crash Team Racing
The appeal of a spinoff game like Mario Kart or Crash Team Racing is the ability to do things the main series would never allow. Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled has a notoriously large roster that brings back almost every relevant character in the series’ history. Every important character introduced in the PS1 Crash games, including the Trophy Girls from the original Crash Team Racing, one of Cortex’s Lab Assistants, and Crash Bash’s Rilla Roo, is in the game.
Additionally, the game has Crunch Bandicoot, Nina Cortex, N. Trance, and guest characters like Spyro. Nitro-Fueled is essentially the Crash Bandicoot version of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s “Everyone is Here” motto. While Mario Kart 9 will most likely not bring every character back, it should aim to put as many recognizable Mario characters as possible, including potential newcomers or Mario Kart Tour characters that have yet to appear in a regular Mario Kart game.
Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled was also full of replay value. Almost every character was unlockable, and when the game first came out, the developers released regular events that allowed players to unlock characters. Even then, once those events were over, the game was retooled to make the unlocking process less tedious. There are still plenty of challenges to complete, and customization options to unlock. Mario Kart was never bad with unlockable content, but Mario Kart 8, especially Deluxe, streamlined the unlocking process.
Whatever ended up being unlockable was part of a reward lottery that randomizes what players get. A few hours into the game, players will most likely only use the game to race online if they were on their own. Mario Kart 9 should strive to emulate Nitro-Fueled, as well older Mario Kart games, when it comes to unlockable content. The series might be at its best during multiplayer experiences, but giving things to do for solitary players is never a bad thing. Indeed, it will make the game comparable to the GameCube and Wii Mario spinoffs.
The Mechanics of Crash Team Racing
Both the original Crash Team Racing and Nitro-Fueled are conceptually similar to Mario Kart, but differ when it comes to mechanics. Crash’s take on the kart racer genre is more fast-paced and technical than the accessible Mario fare. With enough skill, players can drift through entire courses and even lap their opponents without using items. The debate between competitive and casual players is not nearly as big in racing communities as it is among fighting game players, but it would not hurt Nintendo to put more “hardcore” mechanics in Mario Kart. Double Dash's traditional tag team gimmick is one example of adding more strategy into the game. Mario Kart 9 should think of how to make players use their heads instead of having them rely on powerful items.
The presence of the Blue Falcon, Big Blue, and Mute City indicates a desire to integrate what made F-Zero unique into Mario Kart. Without sacrificing the accessibility that makes the series so appealing, Mario Kart 9 could introduce new modes or mechanics to make the gameplay more flexible like what Nitro Fueled did. More ways to complete courses, rewarding boosts, less emphasis on a reliance on items, and incorporation of unique gimmicks will make the racing experience fresher and more engaging.
Nintendo should not necessarily make an amalgamation of what makes Mario Kart and Crash Team Racing unique, stripping both games of their identity in the process. It should analyze Nitro Fueled's strengths and use it to its advantage. Mario Kart is already a system seller, and Mario Kart 9 has the potential to be the strongest installment yet.
Mario Kart 9 is rumored to be in development.
