However, what happens when the entire point is to collect stuff? What if there’s no main story? What if the game’s about traversing the world and collecting everything at your own leisure? That’s the hook of Mario Kart World, a game for the Switch 2 that has little in its main game, but a lot in its Free Roam mode. That includes its collectibles.
I’m as surprised as you. Normally, throwing me into an open world with no guidance is a good way to piss me off. It’s one of the many frustrations I have with Zelda games, especially in 3D entries. But this feels like an exception. Between the Hidden ? Blocks, P-Switch Challenges and Peach Medallions, the first group being the only ones I know the exact number of, I’ve spent a good month playing Mario Kart World and have yet to acquire everything. And I’m not mad.
Perhaps the reason I’m so invested is that this game allows me to collect everything at my own pace. With many collect-a-thons, I find they fall into two categories: obnoxious side-quests, or optional-yet-somewhat-mandatory. In both cases, they break the flow and become a hinderance. Sometimes, as with the LEGO Star Wars games, sections are purposely closed off so that you have to come back later. I get the appeal, but when you make collecting a chore, then there’s little incentive to return.
That’s what makes Free Roam unique here: sure, I can play the different cups, or even engage in Battle Mode, but that’s not the bulk of the game. Rather, it’s Free Roam where it truly shines. Because while the aforementioned is fun, Free Roam’s where most of my time is spent. And it helps that Free Roam’s the first option available when I boot the game up. Forget racing, especially when you can drive around and see what has and hasn’t been accomplished!
This progress is monitored through stickers, which are accessible in the home screen. Whenever you collect a Peach Medallion, find a Hidden ? Block or complete a P-Switch Challenge, you earn a sticker. Sometimes, you even earn stickers for driving long enough, collecting enough coins or doing a certain number of tricks. The variety of stickers as you traverse the overworld keep me coming back constantly. In that sense, Nintendo’s made me feel like a child again.
While the overworld’s massive, comprised of many areas and connecting stretches of road, you’re not required to traverse all of it. In the overworld hub, you can even choose which places you want to visit. This doubles as a chance to see your progress, with the Hidden ? Blocks showing up as yellow once you’ve found them. It’s a great way to see what’s been done versus what’s yet to be done, and it makes compartmentalizing objectives easier.
This progress is monitored through stickers, which are accessible in the home screen. Whenever you collect a Peach Medallion, find a Hidden ? Block or complete a P-Switch Challenge, you earn a sticker. Sometimes, you even earn stickers for driving long enough, collecting enough coins or doing a certain number of tricks. The variety of stickers as you traverse the overworld keep me coming back constantly. In that sense, Nintendo’s made me feel like a child again.
While the overworld’s massive, comprised of many areas and connecting stretches of road, you’re not required to traverse all of it. In the overworld hub, you can even choose which places you want to visit. This doubles as a chance to see your progress, with the Hidden ? Blocks showing up as yellow once you’ve found them. It’s a great way to see what’s been done versus what’s yet to be done, and it makes compartmentalizing objectives easier.
The P-Switch Challenges also vary in difficulty, yet are great primers for learning the overworld’s layout. They’re timed and are either objective-based or collect-a-thons, but they never feel monotonous. In some cases, I find myself gritting my teeth because of how nail-bitingly difficult they are, hoping that this time I might complete them. I can’t begin to describe how frequently I’ve replayed challenges, kept making the same mistakes for hours, and then miraculously completed them in a blind run without knowing how I pulled it off. And yes, the switches do change colour once the challenges are completed!
Of course, the penalty for failure’s non-existent, another feature that makes Free Roam compelling. Far too frequently, the penalty for failure in a game can be harsh. It often feels like you’re being mocked for failing. With Mario Kart World, the consequence for not completing a P-Switch Challenge is the option to try again. This makes failure feel less like a failing and more like an opportunity, this time (hopefully) learning from my mistakes. It’s also an opportunity to practice rote memory.
Above all else, touring the overworld is fun. Seeing the same enemies and cars for the umpteenth time can feel repetitive, especially when you know how to interact with them, but it’s worth it to see environments in a different time of day or weather condition. Nintendo collaborated with many other developers here, and it shows with the attention to detail. This hub of seemingly-unconnected areas feel alive and lived in, further enhancing the immersion. As does hearing remixes of classic Mario tunes, even if I wish you could control the different tracks.
Of course, the penalty for failure’s non-existent, another feature that makes Free Roam compelling. Far too frequently, the penalty for failure in a game can be harsh. It often feels like you’re being mocked for failing. With Mario Kart World, the consequence for not completing a P-Switch Challenge is the option to try again. This makes failure feel less like a failing and more like an opportunity, this time (hopefully) learning from my mistakes. It’s also an opportunity to practice rote memory.
Above all else, touring the overworld is fun. Seeing the same enemies and cars for the umpteenth time can feel repetitive, especially when you know how to interact with them, but it’s worth it to see environments in a different time of day or weather condition. Nintendo collaborated with many other developers here, and it shows with the attention to detail. This hub of seemingly-unconnected areas feel alive and lived in, further enhancing the immersion. As does hearing remixes of classic Mario tunes, even if I wish you could control the different tracks.
Is the experience flawless? No. Lack of control over tunes aside, I don’t like how hard it is to slow down your vehicle. I also wish the ability to unlock costumes via lunch bags was more controlled, as opposed to being a lottery based on the various regions. Finally, I wish some of the collectibles weren’t tedious to find. I know the different areas have Binoculars to see the world from above, but they don’t always help with the Hidden ? Blocks and Peach Medallions.
However, those are minor inconveniences. Mario Kart World isn’t flawless, but no game is. Nevertheless, if these are its biggest issues, then I’ve got nothing to worry about. Free Roam did the impossible and made collecting fun! Even a month later, I’m still finding secrets and learning tricks, and I’ve yet to 100% complete it. If I’m not bored after a month, then this game’s doing something right!
However, those are minor inconveniences. Mario Kart World isn’t flawless, but no game is. Nevertheless, if these are its biggest issues, then I’ve got nothing to worry about. Free Roam did the impossible and made collecting fun! Even a month later, I’m still finding secrets and learning tricks, and I’ve yet to 100% complete it. If I’m not bored after a month, then this game’s doing something right!
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