Mario Kart 3DS – Hands-On First Impressions

It seems that the Mario Kart team took all the best features of past games and added a few more for the upcoming Nintendo 3DS version. I got some hands-on time with the game after Nintendo’s E3 press event, just outside the Nokia Theater on June 7, 2011. Mario Kart played very well through the three stages in the demo. The first showed off the new glider, which launches when you go off a large ramp. The second demoed the new underwater capabilities of the karts. The third combined both, which allowed players to choose for strategy. Coins have returned in this version for added points. It felt much like Mario Kart Wii, which includes the power slides. The new glider and underwater elements also felt very smooth. Personally, I am excited for this holiday season, which Mario Kart will hit the Nintendo 3DS.