Mario Kart 7

Mario Kart 7
Developer	Nintendo EAD Nintendo SPD Retro Studios (course design)
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Nintendo 3DS
Release Date	JP December 1, 2011 EU December 2, 2011 AU Dcemeber 3, 2011 US December 4, 2011
Genre	Racing
Rating	ESRB: E

Mario Kart 7 is the 3DS successor of the Mario Kart series and is the first Mario Kart game to be numbered (although it would be the ninth game if counting the arcade games).

Gameplay

Mario Kart 7 introduces new gameplay elements in an attempt to innovate on the series. It is possible to customize karts, and the karts will also change within races, as they can deploy wings to glide during big jumps and propellers to let karts drive across the sea floor in underwater segments. This installment also adds some more racers (such as a Lakitu and Metal Mario) and items. Coins have also been reincorporated after they had only been in the original game. Miis are also still playable following Mario Kart Wii. The game also allows the option of controlling the cart using the 3DS's gyroscope.

This game allows up to eight players and is compatible with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection as well as the SpotPass and StreetPass features (which handle ghost data).

Playable Characters

The starting roster consists of most of the core eight Mario Kart characters, with the exception of Koopa Troopa being included instead of Wario (possibly due to Koopa Troopa being part of the original Super Mario Kart line-up).

• Mario
• Luigi
• Peach
• Yoshi
• Toad
• Bowser
• Koopa Troopa
• Donkey Kong

The following characters are unlockable:

• Wario
• Daisy
• Rosalina
• Metal Mario
• Shy Guy
• Wiggler
• Lakitu
• Honey Queen
• Mii

This installment introduces Metal Mario, Wiggler, Lakitu and Honey Queen as playable racers, and it is also Shy Guy's first playable appearance outside of the DS Download Play function of Mario Kart DS.

Legacy

The kart's gliders and underwater segments would be present in later Mario Kart games, including the arcade games, and customization options would also be utilized in later console games. Several courses from this game would also reappear in the next game as Retro courses.

Sequels

The next Mario Kart game was Mario Kart Arcade GP DX in 2013, which included some gameplay elements based on Mario Kart 7. The next installment in the main Mario Kart games would be Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U.