Mario Kart Worldfeatures a wide array of items, including one that has proven to be consistently weak throughout the series.Mario Kart Worldis bigger in scale than anyMario Kartthat preceded it, with 24-person races, more playable characters, and a completely new approach to racing, and the item pool has also seen some notable advancements. Unfortunately, one recurring item has not ended up returning in a better form, and its flaws are just as evident as ever.
Theitems inMario Karthave been an important part of the series' formula since the beginning. While it is obviously critical that players master the racing mechanics and learn the various tracks, items are the main force behind the chaos ofMario Kart. Indeed, races can take a sudden turn after the first-place racer gets hit with a Blue Shell seconds away from the finish line, and comeback tools like Lightning and the Bullet Bill have earned their reputations as game-changing items for a reason. AMario Kartwithout items would be missing a vital piece of the puzzle.
The Blooper Returns in Mario Kart World, But it Hasn’t Improved
Blooper Has Become a Mainstay Among Mario Kart Items
Debuting in thebeloved classicMario Kart DS, the Blooper has become a consistent element inMario Kart’s list of items. In every game, it sprays ink on the screens of everyone ahead of the user, obstructing their vision. However, this effect has never been particularly strong. In general, the ink doesn’t cover enough of the screen to truly hinder players. This was especially true inMario Kart DS, where the player could look at the touch screen to ignore the effect entirely. Even the Blooper’s former utility of causing CPU-controlled racers to swerve slightly no longer applies toMario Kart World’s take on the item.
While Blooper’s ink inMario Kart Worldcan last for several seconds, most speed boosts will immediately remove it.
Blooper is Vastly Overshadowed by Mario Karto World’s Other Items
Things are more chaotic than ever on thetracks ofMario Kart World. With 24 racers competing simultaneously, players not only have to fight harder for position, there are also far more items and draft boosts to worry about. Pulling good items in order to break away from the pack is, thus, paramount, and items like Stars, Mega Mushrooms, and Bullet Bills can help players out of a tight spot with a badly-needed boost. On the other hand, pulling a Blooper in the same situation won’t do much to help the user.
Blooper May Have Been More Useful as a Racer Than an Item
Blooper may have been better off as a character onMario Kart World’s rosterrather than an item.Mario Kart Worldadded a lot of new characters, primarily consisting of minions and other minor NPCs from past games, including some relatively obscure characters like Conkdor and Coin Coffer. Bloopers have been around since the originalSuper Mario Bros., and they are one of the series' more recognizable foes. Bloopers have even served as playable characters in spin-offs likeMario PartyandMario Tennis, and it would have been sensible for the foe to make the leap toMario Kart World’s roster.
Unfortunately, Blooper continues to underwhelm inMario Kart World. Even with the new spin thatMario Kart Worldputs on old courses, Blooper’s usefulness as an item didn’t see much of an upgrade. It’s still largely the same as it has been in previous installments. It technically hinders other racers, but the effect is so minor and easy to circumvent that it’s barely worth it. The Blooper has a long history with theMario Kartseries at this point. Unfortunately, its incarnation inMario Kart Worldwon’t do much to change its existing reputation.
Mario Kart World
WHERE TO PLAY
Hit the open road with Mario and friends!Zip around courses in a vast world where everything is connected. Race along grassy plains, bustling cities, wide-open waters, big ol' volcanos, and more—plus everything in between.A sprawling world of courses.Speed across plains, cities, water, volcanos, and much more. Everything is connected!Go beyond the course.There’s more to racing than just the course. Hop off the course and race the distance to the next one!Free Roam - Drive wherever your heart takes you.Where to? That’s up to you! Take off in any direction in this new mode. Explore areas that pique your interest, and maybe even snap some in-game pics at scenic spots.Play Together - Have a blast with friends, whether near or far.Up to 4 players can race on the same system. Play using your choice of button controls or motion controls. Attach a Joy-Con 2 controller to the optional Joy-Con 2 wheel accessory towheelyfeel like you’re driving. You can also play using Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers connected wirelessly.
