The Mario Kart series not only created the "Character Racing" genre, but over the years has been the standard to which the other games in this category get compared to. No matter how unique a character racing game is, it will always be placed side by side with the Mario Kart games to see how it stacks up. Nintendo created a formula, and has improved on it with time. Mario Kart 7 does not disappoint in this aspect either.
The newest entry into the franchise appears on the handheld 3DS system, and it is gorgeous. The graphics are comparable to Mario Kart Wii (even using some levels from its predecessor), the music is catchy and the 3D effects literally add depth to the game. This game wasn't designed for the 3D aspect to affect gameplay, but aesthetically it is very pleasing to watch. Now when you hit a ramp you can see how far down the ground below is. When a boulder is rolling downhill towards your character you can see how much distance you have to move out of the way. Playing with the 3D effect on or off really won't change too much, just a cool visual aid.
The controls are tight and very responsive, and the circle pad feels so natural you'll wish they instituted it in previous versions. Overall the game is very comfortable to control with a simplistic layout that anyone can pick up on quickly. If you're a fan of using automatic driving this might not be the game for you, because you ARE forced to do manual, complete with drifting and power slides. A new feature that was included for Mario Kart 7 is first-person driving. By pressing up on the D-Pad your view will change from behind the back to first person, right behind the steering wheel. It adds a new level of perspective (and difficulty!) but also allows for a new control scheme: using the 3DS's built in accelerometer to physically tilt the system left and right to steer. I doubt many people will use this competitively, but it's a fun tool to try out if you're bored or want to challenge yourself.
Mario Kart 7 has a decent amount of content within the game, 16 racers overall including 8 unlockable characters, 32 stages (16 new ones, and 16 from past games), and a variety of modes like Grand Prix, Balloon Battle, Coin Runners, and Time Attack. This game also uses the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection which has recently changed its name to the Nintendo Network. Grand Prix is the heart of the game, where you race against up 7 other computer-controlled characters, or up to 7 if you're using the Nintendo Network.
The items in this game bring back plenty of classics such as the Green Shell, Red Shell, Bananas, Fake Boxes, and of course the dreaded 1st place-seeking Blue Shell. Of course you can't just continuously rehash an old formula without throwing in something new. Mario Kart 7 introduces 3 new items: the Fire Flower, the Tanooki Tail, and Lucky 7. The Fire Flower acts like it does in every game it has appeared in since Super Mario Bros. 1, allowing you to spew a flurry of fireballs in front of or behind you, and cause your opponents to spin out if they get hit. Fresh off the success of Super Mario 3D Land, the Tanooki tail equips your kart with a giant Tanooki Tail that you can use to deflect incoming items, or make your opponents spin out if you hit them with it. Lastly the Lucky 7 is a rare item that gives you 7 items floating around your kart; a Mushroom, a Green Shell, a Red Shell, a Power Star, a Banana, a Blooper, and a Bullet Bill. By pressing the item button you'll use one of these items and you can use them up as quickly or slowly as you'd like, but be warned--an item with such a high reward also has a high risk. If you get hit by any other items, or even bumped into by a passing kart, you will lose all items not used yet. The last new feature of Mario Kart 7 comes in how you interact with your environments. No longer does falling into a lake mean instant death, nor are you restricted to just staying on the ground. In Mario Kart 7, if you plunge into water, your kart will gain a propeller allowing you to travel in new parts of the level. Similarly, if you hit a special blue ramp, your kart will launch into the air, and pop out a flying mechanism (such as a hang glider, a parachute, etc) and you can now fly through the air for a brief time, collecting items, and finding exclusive shortcuts.
If you're a fan of the Mario Kart series, and you own a 3DS there's no reason for this game to not be in your collection. A working formula, enhanced with a few new features, packaged into an awesome game.
***TL;DR***
Mario Kart 7 is a visually appealing game, with precise controls, new items, new tracks and the classic gameplay you've come to expect from the series. Playing on the Nintendo Network (formerly Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection) adds more fun and replay to the life of an already great game. Definitely pick this up.
Gameplay: 8.5 - Race, shoot, win. Pretty simplistic, and it definitely works, but it IS the same strategy over and over. New items, new courses, and new ways to travel keep the game interesting.
Graphics/Presentation: 9.0 - The game is beautiful, with graphics comparable to Mario Kart Wii, even surpassing it sometimes. The 3D effect adds an awesome aesthetic to give depth and realism to the courses.
Story: N/A
Sound/Music: 9.0 - Music is very catchy, and not overly obnoxious. Some of the new courses use music from games they were inspired by (such as Wii Music, and Wii Sports Resort), and the sound effects are all the classics you'd expect to hear. Some of the character voices can get a little annoying sometimes though.
Replay Value: 10 - Whether you're clearing new Grand Prix's to unlock more characters and kart customization options, or playing with friends and strangers on the Nintendo Network, Mario Kart 7 is a pick-up-and-play anytime game, that has plenty to come back for.
Overall Score: 36.5/40
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