Highlights
- Mario Kart: Double Dash introduced the partner system, which led to a larger roster of characters and character-specific items, making it a highly influential game in the series.
- The All-Cup Tour, a feature in Double Dash that included every track in the game, hasn't been repeated since, but it would be an excellent mechanic to return in future Mario Kart games.
- While a full All-Cup Tour may not be possible due to the increasing number of tracks in recent games, a similar concept or a tour for regular and retro tracks could still work and be a big boost for the next Mario Kart game.
Mario Kart: Double Dash is one of the series' most unique entries, and one excellent idea from the game hasn't been repeated since. The Mario Kart series is getting bigger with every installment, with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe being a perfect example of the series' evolution. The sheer amount of karts, drivers, and courses in that game would be almost unthinkable in the old days of Mario Kart. Even though the games have evolved significantly, a few ideas ended up getting left in the past. This includes one interesting feature that could have become a series tradition.
Most fans probably remember Mario Kart: Double Dash's partner system when they think of the game, and for good reason. It was the gimmick that dominated the game's promotion, and it was present in every game mode. It also helps that the character doubling led to the series' first real roster expansion, with far more characters than the groups of eight from previous games. Double Dash also introduced character-specific items, which would go on to be reused in Mario Kart Tour, as well as being the first game to introduce the Bob-Omb as an item. Double Dash proved to be surprisingly influential in the series' future.
Double Dash's All-Cup Tour is Mario Kart's Most Underused Idea
Double Dash's All-Cup Tour has been a missing feature of Mario Kart games since its debut. The All-Cup Tour was the final cup unlocked in Mario Kart: Double Dash, and it featured every track in the game. The order was random, except Luigi Circuit always being first, and Rainbow Road always being last. Putting the player through all 16 tracks in a row, it's the longest challenge in the series aside from custom Versus Mode matches. Despite the interesting concept, the All-Cup Tour never appeared again after Double Dash, sharing the partner mechanic's status as a one-time gimmick.
Despite only one appearance in the series, the All-Cup Tour would be an excellent mechanic to return in Mario Kart. It works well as a sort of final test for players, checking how well they can perform on every track in the game. Admittedly, it's something of a surprise that it hasn't been reused yet. After all, with features like Mirror Mode and Mario Kart 8's 200cc difficulty, the Mario Kart games have been giving players several ways to test their skills after conquering 150cc. The All-Cup Tour is one of the best ways that Mario Kart has tested its fans' mastery of the game.
There are a few potential obstacles that could impede All-Cup-Tour's return to the series. The existence of retro tracks in Mario Kart has caused recent games to have twice as many tracks as Double Dash did at the very least, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's Booster Course Pass made it the biggest game in the series. A full All-Cup Tour may not be plausible anymore, but a similar concept could still work. For example, Mario Kart 9 could have one tour for regular cups, and one for retro tracks, or some similar setup. A huge grand prix in the All-Cup Tour's image could still be workable.
The All-Cup Tour may be a more daunting prospect for a newer Mario Kart, but the concept still holds plenty of weight. With Mario Kart 9 needing to raise the bar, the return of an idea similar to the All-Cup Tour could prove useful. In addition to being a throwback to one of the series' classic titles, it's also a simple idea that could work very well, even if it may need a few tweaks for a modern Mario Kart. If the All-Cup Tour manages to come back in some form, it could be a big boost for the next Mario Kart game.
Mario Kart: Double Dash is available now for the Nintendo GameCube.
