Now this is an upgrade! So many new great additions: mission mode, 16 retro tracks, online mode, obscure characters, making the emblem on your kart, and the first jump to full 3D Mario Kart goodness on a handheld!

The controls are snappy, probably the best coming from Double Dash’s ‘chunkiness’ and Super Circuit’s super slippery ones, although the lack of a joystick is really noticeable and kinda difficult to switch to in this one compared to others.

Snaking is… something.. People seem to like it a lot, and while I can see it being fun in more of a competitive way I also feel like this is what kinda ruins the games balance (and my thumb). It can be fun to perform, but boosting ahead half a course and leaving everyone behind makes me feel like this was not intentional. It does add an extra layer when playing against others players, but if they don’t know snaking they’re gonna fall behind really fast. It has pros and cons, but overall I don’t really feel like this belongs in a Mario Kart game, and I think Nintendo feel the same since we haven’t had a Mario Kart with hardcore snaking syndrome since this.

The courses are sometimes really good and sometimes really meh, the CPU’s are sometimes fair and sometimes rubber banding too hard, the item are simple and pretty good, Chain Chomp is a great addition, and being able to play 8 people in total with only one game card is pretty amazing! Hope they add mission mode back into newer titles someday!

Has its flaws, but still a great game!

Man, this is great! Seeing Mario and friends in this new 2D world with a new art-style, new mechanics, new wonder is really refreshing from now the old NSMB series that I grew up with. There was never a time where I weren't enjoying it, even 100%ing it was a charm, and also difficult at times, which is so welcome.

The only parts that are meh are the kinda samey bossfights that 2D Mario games always has had problems with, and also the multiplayer sadly. In NSMBW and NSMBU the camera was way better, more dynamic to fit everyone onscreen, even zooms out a bit if players are too far away, but here it's anchored to one player and everyone else gets dragged around, no zoom to help you. I get that zooming out could maybe ruin the timing for some objects for some levels, but playing this with more than 2 people is sadly not that great of an experience compared to older titles, imo. They also removed picking each other up and jumping on each other's head, which honestly is for the better since that would probably make the experience way worse due to the small screen space. The level design is way better and not as empty-looking as the other 4P Marios tho.

What is surprisingly great was the online aspect. Didn't think much of it when I saw it in the Direct, but it was honestly fun seeing other players jumping through levels, giving/receiving items, helping people or getting help from people to find secrets, it's a great addition, so good that you're honestly probably better off playing with friends this way.

Adding easy-mode characters like Yoshi and Nabbit is very welcome as well, making this a great platformer for newcomers and experts! Charming game, would love to 100% again sometime!