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This is a Mario Kart a little different from the previous ones which landed on Nintendo Switch in this month of October. To get started in the race, it will logically be necessary to download the game but also to get one or more karts.
The bill can therefore be salty for players who wish to embark on a game with friends.
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Your living room turns into a playground
Announced last September at an event dedicated to the 35th birthday of the famous mustached plumber, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit will be released on Switch on October 16. Players can download it from the eShop now. However, it is impossible to embark on a race at the present time since the karts will only be marketed on the date mentioned above.
Indeed, this Mario Kart is a mixed reality game. So you have to get a Mario or Luigi kart sold at € 99 each. These toys are equipped with a camera to direct the miniature vehicle, which will roam around our living room, via the Nintendo Switch. The console itself will generate opponents, coins and other powers that will only appear on screen.
But before playing, there are a few conditions to be met ...
A kit circuit
To begin with, it is necessary to prepare the track that will serve as a circuit. This is why we will have to place the four cardboard gantries included in the pack on the ground. It is then necessary to make a first turn passing under each gantry with the kart to trace the famous circuit. Nintendo recommends a free space of 3 by 3,6 m². The race can then begin.
Of course, the layout itself will not be able to change unless you move the gantries each time. To vary the pleasures, the game will apply different themes (underwater level, 8-bit aesthetic ...) at each start. In addition, it is perfectly possible to place real obstacles on the track. It could be a ball or a cardboard that will have to be avoided. However, enemies generated by the console will not react to these real items.
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Really off-road karts?
In order to enhance the immersion, Nintendo has made the kart physically react to events taking place in the game. For example, the toy will move faster if the player grabs a mushroom. Also, when a shell hits it, it will stop dead! This is why it is essential to have a lot of space, especially at 200cc speed.
The Japanese firm even specified that the cars from Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit can run very well on most carpets even if this will slow down the kart (but not the enemies). The vehicle can also take small ramps (but be careful not to raise them too much). The battery has an autonomy of around 90 minutes. It can take three to four hours to fully charge (via included USB charging cable).
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And for the content ...
To complete our roundup, let's take a quick tour of the modes available at launch. The famous Grand Prix is making a comeback with a total of eight cups across 24 separate races. The victories allow you to unlock skins for Mario or Luigi as well as customization items for the kart. Customizing the appearance of the vehicle will not impact its performance in the game.
The Time Trial but also the Personalized Race are also accessible. This last mode lets the user design the circuit of his choice. A local multiplayer of up to four players even invited to the party. On the other hand, each person will have to have their own Switch and their kart. No online multiplayer is currently planned.
