The beta for Mario Kart Tour recently went live in Japan. If you haven't read our previous post, it includes the usual driver roster and a selection of retro tracks. Races are cut down to just two laps and the game is played vertically with touch input and swipe commands.
It all seems relatively straightforward until you enter a race against other players. Despite match-making prior to the beginning of each race, the team over at GameXplain have discovered the upcoming mobile release is simply grabbing profiles of players, which are then represented as CPU during a race. It's somewhat similar to the Toad Rally multiplayer mode in Super Mario Run, where you are matched against someone's previous run.
If you're still not convinced this is how multiplayer works in Mario Kart Tour, you can even choose to skip the cutscene at the start of a race. You are also able to exit the game and then re-enter to continue a race. If you were actively racing against others online and did this, you would likely be disconnected. So, in other words, there doesn't appear to be a proper multiplayer mode in the beta version of Mario Kart Tour. Of course, this might not necessarily mean the final version of the game is the same.
What are your thoughts about Nintendo's approach to multiplayer in the Mario Kart Tour beta? Tell us below.
[source youtu.be]
Comments (38)
I’m using tilt controls to write this comment!
Yeah, when I realized you could skip the intro cinematics for the race, and everyone takes off at the same time, I realized something was fishy.
(And the fact that I kept getting first place)
On the bright side, no lagging or disconnects.
I mean, it’s called Mario Kart Tour for a reason.
And assuming they never add proper online multiplayer, I think it’s fair to predict that we’ll eventually get time trial ghost races to some capacity. Super Mario Run has some of its own which provides most of the replay value, and I’m sure Nintendo is aware of this themselves and has it planned somewhere along the pipeline already.
While I hope this ends up being a worthwhile investment of Nintendo's time and money, I won't be downloading it when it releases. I'll stick to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for now if I feel like a Mario Kart fix. Would love a Mario Kart 9 on the Switch though.
Shouldn't the entire point of a mariokart mobile game be wireless and online multiplayer?
Well that explains why I consistently get first place, I knew I wasn't that good
That’s the one unforeseen consequence of the Switch- it shows that AAA Nintendo on mobile works. So how do you justify $60 games on your home platform, then release the same IP on mobile? You rarely can- either one is going to be overpriced, or the other will be a cheap knockoff.
As weird as it sounds, Nintendo should be dedicating most new, original IP to mobile. The user base is nearly infinite, good games easily rise to the top, while bad ones are quickly forgotten, with far less invested. Curiosity and impulse buying can allow anything to trend.
A great example is ARMS- a fantastic original idea, fizzled out imo by its full $60 price and focus on motion controls. The entire time I thought, this would be a fantastic mobile game! In portrait, lean your phone left or right to dodge punches, swipe up on either side of the screen for quicker direct punches, swipe outward for punches that leave the screen and surprise your foe, but take longer to hit and leave you vulnerable. Two fingers on the screen block attacks, and double tapping a side of the screen let’s you sidestep. However you set up the controls, the concept would’ve absolutely been a hit on mobile- the simplicity of touch, coupled with the complexity of different arms customizations, plus the rollout of new content and that new age, Splatoon-tendo charm would’ve given the game legs (hehe), to stand on.
People literally buy Nintendo hardware just for Mario Kart. It just didn’t make sense to do a mobile version- it was either going to be a cheap knockoff, or devalue the Switch experience by being too good. Investing into games like Dragalia Lost for mobile is a much better route to take
If anyone was expecting to enjoy this game, I’m sorry to report that the worst aspects of monetization are being utilized. Meaning you are not not going to be able to continually race on the tracks without either waiting an hour (love waiting and watching clocks!) or paying money to continue playing.
I knew it would be monetized like a usual free-to-play mobile game but this is egregious, and it’s kinda sad to see that Nintendo has gone this route.
Leaked footage looks soooooo boooring. I hope the mobile branch learns to make actual new courses, renders, ideas, etc instead of this garbage
@BensonUii
The thought of any motion control fighting/boxing game on mobile is ludicrous. Arms on mobile would be awful and nobody would buy it.
But the idea of using mobile to introduce a new IP that can later be converted into a proper Switch game is sound. For example, a Dragalia Lost game on Switch could be an Octopath Traveler/Xenoblade 2-sized success if it's given the proper budget and marketing.
But having existing IPs on mobile works great as well. Mario Kart Tour isn't designed those who own a Switch and Mario Kart 8 DX, but it's a decent (if aggressively monetized) starting point for newcomers.
The beta doesn't have multiplayer. The beta. As in...the one that's not released to the full public.
It's not rock science. Or rocket science.
Until we get lagless mobile controllers (PS3 controllers got the axe on modern smartphones) or the Xperia Play 2, this will scratch the occasional karting itch when I'm on the go. Wouldn't dedicate to it, though.
As for multiplayer, there is an icon missing (maybe 2?) from the menu, so maybe it's just not in the beta.
Played this on my lunch break. Pretty fun with tilt controls, though gamepad would be great!
Swiping to steer is horrible and pointless. This is just a grindy money grab. Shame on you Nintendo
I think this type of multiplayer works for mobile as people may be called away or lose connection so this makes it more seamless.
The thing that ruins it is that if you beat someone at mario run they don't know, it would keep the competition if you got a notice saying 'hey your friend beat your ghost on mario circuit's then you beat theirs etc.
Nintendo mobile is part genius (mario run controls) part horrendous (microtransactions) but will ultimately just be vapourware anyway as they're taken down from the various stores.
And the persistent connection takes out the main place to play these, on the train!
Well it is only the beta version....
With the way things are now they have no reason not to make these like those old flash demos of games that were the rage in the 00s, I get the feeling that Tour was originally more full fledged but condensed like Pocket Camp but was was reworked due to Switch and MK8D into something that makes you yearn for the full experience.
It's been over ten years since the release of the iPhone and other early smart phones, and proper synch of multiplayer games like this has been trouble since day one.
I thought for sure Nintendo wouldn't have announced a Mario Kart for mobile unless this issue was solved for good.
Which... remains to be seen, then?
@Bunkerneath
Going to beta-release typically means you product is feature- and content-complete for final testing and QA, though.
Nice advertise - new Mario Kart for Switch is coming ?
@BenAV and honestly, this is their goal. Give you just enough to want the full game, but not entirely fulfilling itself. Nintendo is in the console market, mobile is simply the carrot.
It definitely feels this way in 50CC but I'm racing in 100 CC now and it feels closer to true multiplayer. In fact I was just in first inches from the finish line and got knocked out by a blue shell and lost the race, came in 3rd. That right there felt exactly like traditional MK to me. It's not a perfect MK. But if you want that go pick up your switch. For me it's still fun and challenging enough where is keeps me wanting to keep playing in between downtime in my daily routine. I've never seen mobile phone gaming as an hours long gaming session, MK Tour fits the bill for what I need it for and it's fine for that.
I was expecting this. However, maybe we could get some new tracks ported to Mario Kart 9, or more importantly, BEING ABLE TO RACE ON COCONUT MALL ON MY PHONE BABY LETS GO
This would explain things. Like how I always seem to come in first on what should be an even playing field. It also infuriates me since mkt is online only. It made sense since you were racing against others, now that I know that's not true, I really want the ability to play offline.
@NotTelevision same I wish it was more like mario run in the terms of monetization.
Way to burst my bubble. Here I was thinking I was just that good for not having lost a race.
@ItsOKToBeOK I agree and disagree on ARMS. Should be worth thirty bucks or less, but the motion controls are what made it really fun. Nintendo is usually the best at utilizing them (Smooth Moves on Wii made excellent use of the Wiimote), Twilight Princess aside, and I've seen some cool plays with people using the curved punches for some great strategies. I believe motion controls always have a place in gaming as long as you're programming them correctly. And not just so you waggle it and something happens. Another prime, non-Nintendo example is VA-11 HALL-A on Switch. It's really fun to literally mix the drinks yourself and makes it feel a bit more special than the other versions.
This is because it's a gacha game.
Pitting you against other players might let you have fun for free. This way you are constantly being driven to pay real money.
@BenAV its free, why not? Why Don't to try it first and then make your opinion?
Mario Kart 8 it not a jealous game....
@Zequio Because I'm usually a pretty good judge of what I'll like and what I won't without needing to. That time is better utilised elsewhere.
I would like true multiplayer, I mean Dragalia Lost is real multiplayer. I don't see why this couldn't be accurately made multiplayer. That may be a deal breaker for me. I mean Super Mario Run was fine, whatever, but this is a game that thrived on being multiplayer and now it's not. Let's make a zelda game where there's no fighting or quest just cooking while we're at it. Alright i'm done venting.
I am having fun using tilt controls and manual drifting. I hope they add in live multiplayer, though.
I'm not bothered by the lack of real online multiplayer. But I'm really wondering how they're going to make this free to play. Hope we're looking at a mario run scenario: play the mushroom cup for free, pay for the rest (or something)
@ItsOKToBeOK BIG difference between Switch and "mobile" gaming. Saying the success of one proves the feasibiltiy of the other is like saying the moon landing proves that I can ride my umbrella into space.
I'm a little nervous....
Played a few races, thought for sure this game would be able to run in horizontal/landscape mode with tilt controls. Its baffling to me why phone games that have actual gameplay and aren't menu-based would use the vertical orientation. We got widescreens here, come on!
Why hello, re-skinned Super Tux Kart (not that there's anything wrong with that game...)
i think if you turn the wifi off during the race it doesnt change
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