I feel that the score is very fitting - brilliant, actually. Kudos to Neal and Daan for calling out the game for what it does with this iteration. Am I excited to purchase and play it, though? GOOD HEAVENS, YES.
As I've mentioned to both Lindy and Neal on the Twitters and what-have-yous, I feel that in order for Mario Kart to truly evolve, it needs to take on some sort of merit-based/exp gains type of system embedded into its GP single-player mode. I want to feel as if I'm truly progressing - getting better with EXP that I can apply to certain racing stats in my driver and/or kart. Keep in the customisation options for creating a unique kart (that stuff is great!), and then
expand on it. We have a Wii U GamePad in our hands, correct? Let us draw and create logos/art/etc. on our karts for true customisation (anyone who dares draw a penis and/or similar whatnots get banned from online play.)
As for the tracks themselves... Seriously, and hear me out on this, please. MAKE THEM BIGGER. And do away with the four tracks in one cup method. By that, I mean go the route of Gran Tourismo or other similar GP racing games (I'll explain!) Mario Circuit, right? Ok. So, Mario Circuit has a specific leg of the track you'll race in in the beginning stages of the game - call it Amateur difficulty to start. So track circuit will be titled
Mario Circuit 1 (throwback to the SMK days.) On MC1, you'll notice as you race this particular leg of the track, that certain track paths are blocked off by rails - these paths leads to harder turns, more difficult terrain, etc. that you'll later come back to in say Mario Circuit 2 or 3...or even 4. On the track map, you'll only see the path you're able to drive on, though, based on the circuit number you're racing.
I feel that this method, in creating larger, more expansive tracks, would open up the series to having WAY more options to race on - without having to resort to half of the game being retro tracks all of the time. And instead of cups, you have difficulty levels that have a much larger list of tracks to race on - garnering points and statistics as you race your way up the leader board. At the end of a specific difficulty level, you'll win that difficulty level's cup (sure, have it mushroom shaped for the first one.)
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As for battle mode? Why can't we have both? I much prefer the VS. racing mode over balloon battle (Mario Kart is about racing, after all), but I'd love to have an extensive balloon battle mode with lots of arenas themed from each of the specific courses. And, of course, Block Fort.
: Gotta have Block Fort. And for the love of all that is holy and pure, BRING BACK THE 360 SPIN MOVE from the N64 game! Gah. That element was brilliant in multiplayer battles.
But anyhow. Long post is long. That's my two pennies worth. Good job, Neal and Daan.