Mario Kart World - Dec 27 25 A

Something I wonder: what percentage of Mario Kart players main a character? It wasn’t until recently that I thought about that at all because I assumed most people just freely switch between characters like I do, but I realized as I remain in a room, I rarely see people change characters, and it wasn’t until a few months into playing Mario Kart World that I even knew what it looks like when someone changes characters between races in a lobby where everyone is put into the overworld by the starting line and you can just drive wherever you want. (For the record, the character simply disappears, and a new one takes their place.) Most people stick with a single character the whole session long.

00:00 - Rally #1
Cherry Rally: Peach Beach, Dino Dino Jungle, Koopa Troopa Beach, DK Spaceport, Whistlestop Summit, Desert Hills
Character: Bowser (Biker)
I find it funny how Bowser’s hair is slicked back for his biker getup. The whole thing looks kind of cheesy, as if he’s dressed like this to impress his son. Bowser Jr. does have the Biker Jr. outfit though, so it’s worked to an extent. This rally, though, by its very nature, means Bowser won’t keep that outfit for long, as there are a few Yoshi’s locations right on the main road within long stretches without Item Boxes.

09:08 - Rally #2
Spiny Rally: Boo Cinema, Starview Peak, DK Pass, Salty Salty Speedway, Peach Beach, Wario Shipyard
Character: Daisy (Vacation)
Looks like there were a lot of people who got this game for Christmas, as well as a lot of guests who had stayed for the following weekend playing Mario Kart World. As for this Knockout Tour, i was using the koi carp bike, which has a speed advantage in the water, meaning, in turn, I get an advantage in the second half of this rally. Oddly enough, I actually had nothing but close calls on the checkpoints after Salty Salty Speedway.

18:10 - Race #1
Mirror
Bowser’s Castle
Character: Lakitu (Pro Racer)
I decided I wouldn’t even bother with the shortcuts playing Bowser’s Castle in Mirror settings. I’ve fumbled enough times with even the most basic ones when flipped horizontally, and what happened on the first lap only showed me to avoid taking risks on the following two laps.

21:59 - Race #2
150cc
Starview Peak to Boo Cinema
Character: Peach (Vacation)
Music: ???
This was a far more aggressive room than the VRs would suggest. I got knocked aside so much that I benefited from a Lightning Bolt strike by being so far behind. That player with the Coin Coffer definitely had it worse though: they entered the final lap in Boo Cinema far in the lead due to everyone else slowing each other down, but after a Spiny Shell, their lead shrank enough that they were within striking distance of the rest of the pack and finished in 16th.

25:08 - Race #3
150cc
Mario Circuit to Moo Moo Meadows
Character: Coin Coffer
Music: Sprawling Savannah
A Coin Coffer ended the final lap in the lead again—but this time, it was me. You can never be too comfortable in a Mario Kart race, no matter how far in the lead you are, as the very mechanics are designed to knock the player in the lead down a peg. Some people don’t like it, but I do. If you’re in the lead, up to 23 other people want that spot of yours, after all, and Mario Kart World is all too eager to make you concede that lead to somebody else.

28:04 - Race #4
150cc
DK Pass to Wario Shipyard
Character: Chargin’ Chuck
Music: Vancouver Velocity
Here’s another run through Wario Shipyard. By coincidence, I happened to pass that starting line in 4th place, just like in the Cherry Rally I showed prior in this video. I did not have Mushrooms to cut across that first right turn though. But I was in a better shape in the hairpin turn on the sunken ship later into the lap.

31:36 - Race #5
150cc
Wario Shipyard to Cheep Cheep Falls
Character: Pauline (Aero)
Music: Bowser Jr.’s Theme (New Super Mario Bros. Wii)
I was hoping to save my speed boosting items to cut across the offroad areas in Cheep Cheep Falls, where you can save a lot of time, but it was not to be, between getting hit by things I couldn’t react to and the Boo taking them away.

35:51 - Battle #1
Coin Runners
Moo Moo Meadows
Character: Wario (Road Warrior)
Not much happened here, but in Coin Runners, it’s good if you’re left alone. I also watchd the map closely to see if I was being trailed.