Mario Kart 9may become a reality in the near future, andMario Kartfans are naturally excited about what direction the series could take. After almostthirty years sinceSuper Mario Kart’s releaseand after eight mainline games launching,Mario Karthas successfully developed its own identity independent of the regularSuper Marioseries. Many traditions have been formed as more games were being developed, creating certain expectations out of fans in the process. One of those traditions is “retro tracks”, the idea of taking preexisting tracks and remaking them to make them compatible with the engine and mechanics of the game they are being remade for.
AlthoughMario Kart Super Circuitwas the first game in the series to have older tracks,DSis the first game to introduce retro tracks as players know them. Ever since then, retro tracks not only reflect the aesthetics and design philosophy of the era they were brought back for, but they also tend to make up half of the track roster. Ever sinceMario Kart DSintroduced this practice, andWiimade it a habit, fans have come to hypothesize about which old tracks will return in subsequentMario Kartgames as much as they discuss potential new characters or gimmicks. Retro tracks will most likely come back inMario Kart 9, but considering certain circumstances, this game should tackle the feature differently.
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The Evolution of Remaking Older Mario Kart Tracks
In their earliest days, retro tracks were as straightforward as possible. For a while, the closest thing a retro track had been to being properly remade was Baby Park being given less laps to make the race go by quicker. Otherwise, the only difference between retro tracks and their original counterparts was presentation.Mario Kart Wiiwas the first game in the series to have bikes and stunts. Naturally, the new tracks would be designed around these new mechanics. However, the game decided to follow inMario Kart DS’ footsteps and normalize the format for retro tracks. As a result, tracks likeSuper Mario Kart’s Ghost Valley 2 andMario Kart Double Dash’s Waluigi Stadium provide opportunities for players to do wheelies and stunts in areas that were previously ordinary.
Mario Kart 7went even furtherand introduced the idea of paragliding and “laps” representing individual sections of one larger track. The game’s new Rainbow Road exemplifies the latter concept. It also brought back coins. Some retro tracks, such as Maple Treeway, not only have secret coins in previously irrelevant segments, but also replaced entire segments with sections dedicated to glider mechanics. WithMario Kart 7, retro tracks were not only being reintroduced with tweaked graphics, but they were now integrated into the game’s core identity.
Mario Kart 8continued this trend, but went even further with itsRainbow Roads. The SNES Rainbow Road (as well as Baby Park) shows a willingness to bring back an old track more than once, and the N64 Rainbow Road being radically different from its original counterpart shows that the series may now take older tracks and make them superficially recognizable.
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A Possible Design Strategy for Mario Kart 9’s Retro Tracks
The implementation of retro tracks was an interesting process. AsMario Kartmodernized itself, so did the execution of retro tracks as a concept. IfMario Kart 9wants to have a unique take on retro tracks withoutalienatingMario Kartfans, it needs to create a compromise between modernity and preserving the older tracks’ integrity. The wayMario Kart 8tackled the N64 Rainbow Road is currently unique in the series, but could become a template.
Following inMario Kart 8’s footsteps completely would be a problem, as the only recognizable aspects of the game’s take on the N64 Rainbow Road are the fireworks and the track itself. Otherwise, it is an amalgamation of previous Rainbow Roads, especially the ones in7andDouble Dash.Mario Kart 9should strive to put emphasis on the tracks’ strongest traits without necessarily sacrificing the least memorable parts by shoehorning modern mechanics. The aim is to polish older beloved tracks, not turn them into something unrecognizable.
SinceMario Kart 8opened the gatesfor such a possibility, this hypothetical new installment should try bringing back old retro tracks while continuing the series tradition of giving neglected tracks a chance. However, due to the number of potentially new retro tracks getting increasingly smaller and the options becoming more centered toward specific games, thenMario Kart 9might have to rely on doing repeats. Fan favorites that haven’t been seen in over a decade, like Waluigi Pinball and DK Mountain, could benefit from getting the experimental treatment seen with N64 Rainbow Road. More straightforward tracks, like the character-themed circuits and raceways, could benefit from plain remakes and simple testing of new mechanics.
In order to assert itself as different,Mario Kart 9will have to learn from past entries while toning down potentially radical changes. WithMario Kart Touraround, the number of potentially new retro tracks has become increasingly smaller. Some tracks can afford being retooled due to how recognizable their concepts and gimmicks are, but retooling a track too much may as well be the creative process of a brand-new track.Mario Kart 9should strike a balance between modernizing outdated tracks and polishing praised ideas, providing a mix of faithful remakes and more experimental redesigns.
A newMario Kartgame is rumored to be in development.
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