In a recent gameplay showcase for Mario Kart World, the spotlight was placed on its innovative rail-grinding mechanic, reminiscent of Tony Hawk titles. This reveals that the feature is not merely a flashy addition.
Initially, when I observed racers in Mario Kart World performing tricks while gliding on rails, I assumed this was just a novel but impractical mechanic. I thought it might offer a minor speed increase that would perhaps balance out any shifts from the main racing path. However, after watching the recent Treehouse livestream, it’s evident that rail grinding plays a significant role in the strategy of the game.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Treehouse: Live event kicked off with a presentation of Mario Kart World, showcasing gameplay where the presenters engage in several races. While playing, the host made consistent use of rails along the roads to create shortcuts, even managing to avoid the typically unavoidable blue shell at one point.
The gameplay also features boost mechanics, as expected, but there’s an intriguing maneuver where players can leap from a rail to a nearby wall, resulting in an additional speed boost. Certain maps include ramps that enable players to reach power lines, allowing for additional rail grinding; however, the benefits of this stylish tactic seem uncertain beyond its visual appeal.
During the stream, players encountered sections of the track where large barrels rolled towards them, posing a potential hazard. Thankfully, hopping onto the adjacent rails allows for a quick bypass of these obstacles.
Interestingly, the maps in Mario Kart World have shortcuts that are exclusively accessible through rail grinding and wall riding. At one moment in the stream, a player can be seen overtaking Donkey Kong by leveraging one of these unique routes.
“You can really see how those rails change your path every course, and you can do something different every time,” commented Sam, the host who played the game.
“It opens up so many possibilities,” Kendra added.
I look forward to experiencing how rail grinding enriches the gameplay of Mario Kart World. Nevertheless, the most exciting aspect appears to be the game’s open-world structure, which integrates all the maps into one vast environment that players must navigate. According to GR’s Rollin Bishop, who had hands-on experience with the new Switch 2 title, it “might truly be the system seller Nintendo Switch 2 needs.”
For the first time since Super Mario Kart three decades ago, Mario Kart World reintroduces the feather for real races and appears capable of neutralizing the ominous blue shell.