Mario Kart Wii U - Re-imagining a classic

Mario Kart has got to be one of my all time favourite games. Its got easy pick-up game play. Its got great multi player, and recently its been great fun online too! Me nd my brother used to blast through each entry which all culminated with one fateful evening where we played first to one hundred wins on Baby Park on Double Dash. After several hours it was 99-99. We were on lap 7 out of 7. Approaching the last corner he was in the lead, but I just managed to hit him with a shell and take the corner at a tighter angle and won my 100^th victory of the night!

Anyway, after seeing Mario Kart 3DS go through such drastic changes, with the help of Retro Studios, and the unveiling of the Wii U I've been thinking about what I'd like to see the next console instalment turn out like....

Rearview Mirror / HUD

These are probably the two easiest to understand ideas. The HUD moving would make the screen streamlined and clear. A rear view mirror would show you where to drop bananas in enemies paths without taking the main action off the TV screen.

Track Editor/DLC

This has been something I've always wanted in Mario Kart. We can't let Retro have all the fun designing tracks, how about using the touch pad like the uDraw tablet, then uploading them to share with friends or enter competitions. Then the best get distributed to everyone’s Wii Us around the world! I'd also like the option to purchase (at very small cost) every track, item and character that have ever appeared in a Mario Kart game.

Vehicle Customisation

This goes hand in hand with the track editor. Use the screen like the uDraw tablet to customise designs, logos and emblems.

Item Selection

How about the screen being turned into a Resident Evil like suitcase of stored items, you simply touch to use. Or slide towards the screen to throw in front of you, or slide back towards your body to go backwards into an incoming opponent.

Or how about seeing a map with your friends faces showing their location, then you can select one of them to torment with one of the new items!

Hidden Objects/Shortcuts

This one is kind of out there and could turn those frantic races into a minefield. How about a new item or items, that you leave behind like bananas or bombs that you can only see by holding the controller up to the screen.

You could also hold up the controller to the TV screen as your approaching a wall, then you see an opening and you shoot right through, leaving the other racers confused to your disapearance.

Lobby

If there is one thing which needs a serious overhaul is the online aspect of the game. Mario Kart Wii's online lobby was cumbersome and forget trying to communicate to your friends. The only options were pre-set catchphrases which just aren't the same.

How about the lobby transfers to the screen on the controller and you see video of the 7 friends your about to race with full voice support too. This is ripped right out of Starfox 64 3D's online multi player. If the 3DS can do it, surely the Wii U can too?

Chase Mii Multiplayer Mode

This would be easily transferred to a Mario Kart battle mode. There could also be ways to play this online but using the screen to see hidden items/shortcuts. Or how about Boo is a playabale character you can see using the screen?

Kite Karts

I'd also like Nintendo to keep the kite karts from Mario Kart 3DS, but use them for a trick based system. This worked amazingly well in one of the funest games ever, San Francsio Rush 2049.