Editing Mario Kart 7

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{{game infobox

|image=[[File:Mario-Kart-7-Box-Art.jpg|250px]]<br>'''United States box cover'''

|developer=[[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development|Nintendo EAD]]<br>[[Nintendo SPD|Nintendo SPD Group No. 3]]<br>[[Retro Studios]]

|publisher=[[Nintendo]]

|release='''Retail:'''<br>{{flag list|Japan|December 1, 2011|Europe|December 2, 2011|Australia|December 3, 2011|USA|December 4, 2011|Mexico|December 4, 2011<ref>[http://mariokart7.nintendo.com/es/ ''Mario Kart 7'']. ''Official Website (in Spanish)''.</ref>|South Korea|May 31, 2012|HK|September 28, 2012|ROC|September 28, 2012|China|December 7, 2012}}'''Nintendo eShop:'''<br>{{flag list|Europe|October 4, 2012|Australia|October 4, 2012|USA|October 18, 2012|Mexico|October 18, 2012|Japan|November 1, 2012}}

|languages={{languages|en_us=y|en_gb=y|fr_fr=y|fr_ca=y|es_es=y|es_latam=y|de=y|it=y|nl=y|ru=y|pt_pt=y|jp=y|kr=y|zh_simp=y|zh_trad=y}}

|genre=[[Genre#Racing|Racing]]

|modes=Single-player, local multiplayer (up to 8 players), online multiplayer

|ratings={{ratings|cero=a|pegi=3|esrb=e|classind=l|usk=0|acb=g|gsrr=p}}

|format={{format|3ds=1|3dsdl=1}}

|input={{input|3ds=1|3dstilt=1}}

|serials={{flag list|Japan|CTR-AMKJ-JPN|Europe|CTR-AMKP-EUR|USA|CTR-AMKE-USA|South Korea|CTR-AMKK-KOR|ROC|CTR-AMKW-TWN|China|CTR-AMKC-CHN}}

'''''Mario Kart 7''''' is a [[Genre#Racing|racing]] game developed by [[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development|Nintendo EAD]] and [[Retro Studios]] for the [[Nintendo 3DS]]. It is the seventh console installment in the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]] (hence the game's title), and the second (the first being ''[[Super Mario 3D Land]]'') installment in the ''Super Mario'' franchise overall (excluding crossover installments) to be localized to Dutch, Portuguese, and Russian. Additionally, it is the first ''Mario Kart'' game to be developed by more than one video game developer, namely Nintendo EAD and Retro Studios, and the second ''Mario Kart'' to have a different video game developer (not including the ''Mario Kart Arcade GP'' series), the first being ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''.

[[File:LakituRaceKalimariDesertMK7.jpg|220px|thumb|One of the gameplay mechanics in ''Mario Kart 7'' is racing in [[First-Person View]]. By pressing {{button|3ds|Padup}}, the player can activate the view and then {{button|3ds|tilt}} the system to steer.]]

''Mario Kart 7'' features the standard gameplay present in preceding games in the series, with the gameplay style being very close to that of ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]''. Players compete for gold trophies in the eight Grand Prix cups, four consisting of the [[new course]]s and four consisting of the [[Classic course|retro courses]], a returning feature from ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' and ''Mario Kart Wii''. Along with Grand Prix, Time Trials, and Battle Modes also return. Time Trials have players race on tracks to set records, as well as race against their own or other racers' ghosts. Battle Mode features two different modes; [[#Balloon Battle|Balloon Battle]] and [[#Coin Runners|Coin Runners]], the latter returning from ''Mario Kart Wii''. Players can set their own rules for Battle Mode, choosing CPU difficulty, which items will appear or team games. Online races and battles return, allowing up to 8 players to race or battle using the [[Nintendo Network]] online service. Players can also create custom communities, which can be accessed by other players via codes.

''Mario Kart 7'' also has some new features. Players can now use hang-gliders to navigate through the air and propellers to drive underwater. In addition, players now assemble their own karts, rather than select preset karts as in the previous games. It is possible to select the kart's body, wheels, and glider, although some parts need to be unlocked before they can be used, mainly through collecting coins during races. ''Mario Kart 7'' returns to the traditional eight-driver race like in the previous installments, instead of the total of twelve as seen in ''Mario Kart Wii''. It is also compatible with both SpotPass and StreetPass.  

[[Coin]]s make a prominent return since ''[[Mario Kart: Super Circuit]]''. Coins are to be found along a race track and can be underwater, on the road, or in the air. Collecting coins up to a maximum of ten slightly increases the player's top speed and, if enough are collected, will allow the player to unlock vehicle parts used for customization.  

Similar to preceding games, an overall "game ranking" of ★, ★★, or ★★★ is shown next to the player's nationality flag if the player has earned the designated ratings in all cups and all classes. The overall ranking can also be seen while participating in a Grand Prix. The game shows the overall ranking at the results of the last course ''before'' the overall results of the last cup are shown.

Among other gameplay mechanics is the vehicle's behavior in the courses. Each element to assemble the vehicle has a function that grants an advantage on certain courses. In other words, speed and handling alter if the player is driving through land, underwater, or in the air. Gliders also provide speed and duration for the vehicle when airborne and can be controlled using the {{button|3ds|Stick}}. Players can tilt the {{button|3ds|Stick}} either up or down to fall quickly or gently, respectively. Additionally, when driving underwater, the kart's handling, speed, and drifting can considerably change compared to when driving on land.

This ''Mario Kart'' installment also introduces the option to race and battle in a first-person view. This function allows the player to watch the race and battle from the character's perspective and can race by {{button|3ds|tilt}} the system. In first-person view, the player can also see the vehicle's steering wheel in front of the character with an [[emblem]] on it. The gyroscope, which gives the player the ability to steer the kart in first-person mode by tilting the {{button|3ds|Stick}}, can be enabled or disabled by going to the Mario Kart Channel, going to the player's Mii icon on the bottom right, going to "Settings", and lastly selecting "Use" or "Don't Use" when going to "Gyro Sensor".

 

In a minor note, an extra track with beats is added to the course's music if the player gets ahead in first place at top speed (frontrunning). This track fades when the player slows down via braking, going off-road, or getting hit by an item. This happens only in 100cc, 150cc, and Mirror class.

 

Motorbikes, which made their first appearance in ''Mario Kart Wii'', do not return in the game. On the other hand, [[Jump Boost|Trick]]s return, now known as "jump actions", and are now the sole way of obtaining a boost, known as "Jump Boost", when the kart jumps because of a ramp or an element of the course. The jump action can also be performed on glider ramps to receive a speed boost when gliding starts. The map is viewed in the bottom screen, but unlike in ''Mario Kart DS'', the map does not display course hazards and obstacles such as some items and obstacles in {{classic-link|DS|Airship Fortress}}. The map also shows a larger area surrounding the player. The Single Player version of VS mode from the other ''Mario Kart'' games and the mission mode from ''Mario Kart DS'' are also removed.

===Controls===

*{{button|3ds|A}}/{{button|3ds|Y}}: Accelerate / [[Rocket Start]] (press and hold when the countdown shows '''2''' before the race starts)

*{{button|3ds|B}}: Brake / Reverse / Drop from glider

*{{button|3ds|Stick}}: Steer / Auto [[Drift]]

===Modes===

====Grand Prix====

[[File:MK73.png|thumb|upright=1.1|The game's main option mode.]]

As usual in the ''Mario Kart'' series, ''Mario Kart 7'' has the Grand Prix, where a single player has to compete against computer-controlled opponents to obtain the trophies of the eight cups in the game. The Grand Prix has three engine classes: 50cc, 100cc, and 150cc. The higher the engine class, the harder the races will be against the opponents. In this mode, by beating the first cups available, the user unlocks the other cups as well as new elements such as the kart's parts (by collecting coins in each race) or a new playable character. By completing all the engine classes available at the start, the player unlocks the Mirror class.

!style="max-width:20em"| !!style="width:2.5em"|1st!!style="width:2.5em"|2nd!!style="width:2.5em"|3rd!!style="width:2.5em"|4th!!style="width:2.5em"|5th!!style="width:2.5em"|6th!!style="width:2.5em"|7th!!style="width:2.5em"|8th!!style="width:2.5em"|9th!!style="width:2.5em"|10th!!style="width:2.5em"|11th!!style="width:2.5em"|12th

|'''''Super Mario Kart''<br>''Mario Kart 64''<br>''Mario Kart: Super Circuit'''''||style="background:#096;color:white;font-weight:bold"|9||style="background:#CF0"|6||style="background:#CF0"|3||style="background:#CF0"|1||0||0||0||0||&mdash;||&mdash;||&mdash;||&mdash;

|'''''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!''<br>''Mario Kart DS'''''||style="background:#096;color:white;font-weight:bold"|10||style="background:#CF0"|8||style="background:#CF0"|6||4||3||2||1||0||&mdash;||&mdash;||&mdash;||&mdash;

|'''''Mario Kart Wii'''''||style="background:#096;color:white;font-weight:bold"|15||style="background:#CF0"|12||style="background:#CF0"|10||style="background:#CF0"|8||style="background:#CF0"|7||6||5||4||3||2||1||0

|colspan=13 style="text-align:justify;font-size:smaller;"|<span style="background:#096;color:white">A grove-green cell signifies victory results (great clapping, characters cheering) and the best after-race music.</span><br><span style="background:#CF0">A yellow-lime-green cell signifies moderate results (mild clapping, moderate character reaction) and the same music in Wi-Fi as the winner (different in ''Mario Kart DS'' GP).</span><br>A normal-colored cell signifies losing results and losing music.<br>In ''Super Mario Kart'', and ''Mario Kart Super Circuit'', 5th or worse forces the player to retry the race. If the racer fares this poorly four times, the Grand Prix must be started over. In ''Mario Kart 64'', 5th or worse forces the player to retry the race, but without the restrictions on how many times the player can retry a race. Starting with ''Mario Kart: Double Dash!!'', the Grand Prix normally continues.

====Time Trials====

Time Trials allow the player to complete all the laps of a race course in the fastest time possible. ''Mario Kart 7'' saves the player's records, and a Ghost for the combo that they used. Through a Nintendo Network connection, the player can exchange his or her Ghosts with other players, compare their records, and even compete with their Ghosts. Up to seven Ghosts can be raced against at the same time, making it an 8-player race.

====VS====

In Versus Mode, players can customize the races by selecting personally the order of the racecourses and changing other settings, such as setting the computer difficulty, the requirements to win the races, and the engine class of the player's and computer players' karts. Unlike in ''Mario Kart DS'' and ''Mario Kart Wii'', this mode is no longer available in single-player mode. In Download Play, the players that do not have the ''Mario Kart 7'' game card in their handhelds play as [[Shy Guy]], like in ''Mario Kart DS'', and are unable to customize their kart.

 

In Battle Mode, the player can select one of the two types of battles available in ''Mario Kart 7'' and one of the six battle courses that appear in this mode. There are three new courses, and the remaining three are from the previous installments in the series. This version of Battle can be played with any vehicle like in ''[[Mario Kart: Double Dash!!]]'', as opposed to ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', in which players could only use the [[Standard Kart]] or the [[Standard Bike]].

Racers compete by popping their opponents' balloons to gain points in a time limit of two minutes. All racers start with three balloons and must use the items from the Item Boxes to take away a balloon from their opponents. Hitting a rival is worth a point. Players who lose all of their balloons will have half of their points deducted. Up to three points can be taken away, and the player re-spawns with three balloons.

=====Coin Runners=====

[[File:Coin Runners MK7.png|thumb|Team Coin Runners]]

In Coin Runners (Coin Battle in the British English version), racers collect the Coins scattered in the battle course within the time limit of two minutes. The racer that has the most Coins at the end wins. Racers can use the items to hit their opponents and make them drop a maximum of three coins that they have collected. Unlike in ''Mario Kart Wii'', only up to ten coins can be held at once. Coins collected in this mode do not count toward the coin total to unlock kart parts.

===Online multiplayer===

With the Nintendo 3DS's online capabilities, players could look for other users for online play, local, or global range. Players could choose a worldwide competition to race against other users who are connected, race with friends that were met via StreetPass, or play in communities formed by users with customized rules for the races. Just like in ''Mario Kart Wii'', ''Mario Kart 7'' had the [[Wii#Mario Kart Channel|Mario Kart Channel]] that showed updates of online activity automatically through the SpotPass and StreetPass modes. With StreetPass, the users can exchange their Miis, Ghost Data from Time Trials, players' names, and information about communities, while the user would only receive Ghost Data from other users and community recommendations via SpotPass.

When players take part in online races or battles, points are added to or removed from their VR (short for VS Rating) based on their finishing position. The main purpose of VR is to determine the skill of players, to match them with players of a similar skill level. Players start with 1000 VR (rather than 5000 VR, as in ''Mario Kart Wii''). Online play in Communities does not use the VR system. Also, a player's VR counts for both races and battles, as opposed to ''Mario Kart Wii'' with races affecting VR, and battles affecting BR (Battle Rating).

|Spa=PC / Puntos de carreras

|SpaM=Race Points

|Ger=RP / Rennpunkte

|GerM=Race Points

 

[[File:Mario Kart 7 Character Select Screen.png|thumb|250px|The character select screen, with all characters unlocked.]]

''Mario Kart 7'' includes seventeen total drivers (eight starting drivers and nine unlockable drivers). New playable characters to the ''Mario Kart'' series in this game include [[Metal Mario]], [[Wiggler]], [[Honey Queen]], and [[Lakitu]] (with a red shell as opposed to the [[Lakitu (Mario Kart referee)|Lakitu referee]] which wears a green shell), with Lakitu and Honey Queen also making their overall playable debuts. Additionally, this marks the first ''Mario Kart'' game where [[Shy Guy]] is a normal selectable driver, after only being available in ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' to players who were playing in Download Play without a game card; in addition to being playable in single player, multicolored Shy Guys retain this previous role in download multiplayer. Also, this is the first installment in the series for a handheld console where [[Koopa Troopa]], [[Rosalina]], and [[Mii]] are playable, after previously being playable in at least one home console installment. The player's Mii never appears as a CPU driver, but Miis the player has obtained via StreetPass for this game's Mario Kart Channel can occasionally appear as a CPU driver during the standard Grand Prix mode.