TheMario Kartfranchise has undergone a significant amount of growth since its first game, from a simple kart racer to one of the most entertaining arcade racing titles on the market. The most recent entry,Mario Kart 8 Deluxeon Switch, has been one of the most successful games for the portable console.Mario Kart 8 Deluxehas been so successful, in fact, that there’s been no definitive sign that Nintendo plans on making another sequel anytime soon, but many fans have still expressed interest for a sort ofMario Kart 9.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxeintroduced a handful of new features to the franchise, but there is still room for the nextMario Kartto spice things up. While there are any number of directions aMario Kart 9could go in, it could also harken back to one of the most innovative mechanics inMario Karthistory. Introduced in 2003’sMario Kart: Double Dash, players could race with two characters in one kart, which brought in a lot of exciting gameplay opportunities that haven’t been returned to since. If Nintendo is looking to spice things up with a newMario Kart, this classic feature could be the answer.
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Why Mario Kart: Double Dash’s Formula Worked So Well
When looking atMario Kart: Double Dashand its two-rider system, the mechanic worked well because it was a fully incorporated part of the game. It wasn’t an afterthought of a feature that seemed half-baked, it was completely fleshed out and at the core ofDouble Dash’s gameplay.
This integration could be seen in every aspect ofDouble Dash, from the strategy behind combining characters of various weights to the themed karts that fit pairs such asDonkey Kongand Diddy Kong. This added a dynamic layer to each race that made the game highly replayable, and the unique items for each character led to some fun combinations that helped players take out other racers. The two-rider system was also perfect for co-op gameplay, as players could get together and strategize swapping between being the driver and throwing items. Few racing games since have been so bold in their commitment to a new mechanic.
How Mario Kart: Double Dash’s Formula Could Work On The Switch
If a newMario Kartwere to implementDouble Dash’s two-rider system, it wouldn’t have to change much about whatDouble Dashalready established. It could be added as a third class of kart in addition to the motorcycles and regular karts, with its own drawbacks to level things out. Given the approach thatMario Kart 8took in introducing characters outside of theSuper Mariofranchise, there could also be some interesting opportunities for characters across Nintendo IP to race together in one kart, like a sort ofSuper Smash Bros.racing experience.
With how creative the two-rider mechanic was inMario Kart: Double Dash, it’s a shame to see Nintendo hasn’t brought back the feature in more recent entries. While it may have been pushed aside so thatMario Kartcould introduce motorcycles, there is still a case to be made for two-rider karts to be included as well. There are no official plans for aMario Kart 9as of right now, but if the time comes any time soon, hopefully Nintendo will remember the great creativity it had duringMario Kart’s stint on theGameCube.
