Mario Kart Tour is what happens when you take the beloved series that is Mario Kart and bring it to mobile devices. To be fair, I have enjoyed Dr. Mario and the Super Mario Run game so I was willing to give this a chance. When I knew this was coming, I had one question, how do you make Mario Kart a mobile game?
How to Download Mario Kart Tour
You can get the app from Google Play or App Store. Click on the Download button below the review. And if you like Mario games, check out our reviews of Mario Kart 8 or Super Mario Maker 2.
The Game Review
OK, so before I get to all the microtransactions, season pass and stuff like that, let’s look at the gameplay. Mario Kart Tour has an automatic acceleration so you never have to worry about that. The way you steer your kart is by swiping left and right and to power slide, you hold your finger once you have moved left or right.
This is a very, very strange control method and I actually have an easier time power sliding than I do just moving left or right slightly. There is a more simplistic mode if you want, but the way the game controls now I feel needs some work. I should not be having as much trouble as I am making small left or right turns.
There are item boxes and depending on the kart you have; you can hold one to three items. The items are the same items you would expect, but you use them by tapping the screen. What is strange about this is that if you have three items you use them all at the same time. Also, if you have an item you are saving and then go through another item box, it takes away your saved item and replaces it with another one.
Mario Kart Tour is all about getting a high score in each race. You get points for making jumps, power sliding, the position you finish, collecting coins, hitting other racers and so on. How many points you get will dictate how many stars you get and stars are what unlock more races for you.
The tracks so far have been some real classics as well as a few new ones. I love the track that is based on New Donk City from Super Mario Odyssey. So far, I have won nearly every race I have been in and this is even with me struggling to turn. I found that I can just pretty much power slide my way to victory. In all honesty, the gameplay is not as bad as I am reading other people say it is. It just needs a little fine-tuning.
Now, let’s get to the controversy. You do not pick who you race as or what kart you use, or glider. Well, you do, but you unlock them with gems. The game gives you one character to start with (I got Peach) and then for every five gems you get, you can shoot the pipe and hopefully get something you want. I have had a ton of repeat items already and it is very annoying.
I am at a point where I now have Peach, Odette and Koopa Troopa. As well as a few different karts and one glider. Before a race, I can see the points bonus and other bonuses I can get from using certain characters and karts. Of course, this is designed in order to get you to want more karts, characters, and gliders.
Mario Kart Tour feels like a game that is designed to get you to spend money. From its five bucks season pass type deal to its gems which can run as high as 100 bucks which is just insane. It feels like it always has its hand out for you and I do worry that at a certain point as some karts and gliders give bonuses such as speed boosts or whatever, it may become a pay-to-win game.
In the meantime, though, I say download Mario Kart Tour and see if it is for you. It is not a great game by any means, but there is fun to be had here and you can play it for free. I have played it for a few hours now and so far, not felt the need to spend any money. If you like Mario Kart give it a try. I have a rather low-end Samsung Android phone and it runs it fun.
