“Mario Kart”- the name alone brings back memories of fun-filled nights hitting the virtual track with friends on the Nintendo 64. The series has been through new installments and changes since those good old days. I am glad to say that “Mario Kart 7” is as much fun as the known “Mario Kart” we love, but with some slightly improved features. 

“Mario Kart 7” is the same as always: pick your racer and shoot for the finish line while picking up items to hinder your competition and help yourself win the race. This game allows you to customize your character’s kart to suit your personal playing style. The customization is fun and may help you find tweakings to help your racing.

One of the biggest changes in “Mario Kart 7” is the implementation of hang gliders and propellers to the vehicles. After making a jump off a blue zipper, your vehicle will sprout a hang glider (or something else) to ease it down to the ground. If you find a secret path, you may come out soaring above obstacles and your other opponents. Propellers are automatically employed when your kart is submerged under water. Yes, taking a dive will no longer cause your character to fall off the stage and lose precious seconds! Both of these features are excellently implemented keeping the game going at a fast pace.

The single-player mode tasks you with racing the artificial intelligence opponents over the course of four tracks, in eight cups, in four different levels of difficulty. Half of the cups are new tracks while the other half are retro cups from previous games. The track selection is well done and the tracks have been tweaked for Mario Kart 7’s mechanics. If you want a challenge, try getting a grade of three stars in all the tracks.

In multiplayer mode, you can race locally or participate in weapon battles, which are just as good as you may remember from “Mario Kart.” Some game modes require a single game card. You can even take your racing online in worldwide races that have the smoothest connection thus far.

Time has been kind to “Mario Kart” series. 3DS owners, this is a must-buy.