Editing Mario Kart 7

{{FA}}

|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>{{cite|title=Official Site – Mario Kart 7 for Nintendo 3DS|url=http://mariokart7.nintendo.com/es/|language=Spanish|publisher=Nintendo|accessdate=November 9, 2024|archive=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203120753/http://mariokart7.nintendo.com/es/}}</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}}

'''''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.

 

 

 

 

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.

*{{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]]

*{{button|3ds|R}}: [[Hop (move)|Hop]] / Manual Drift / Perform [[trick|jump action]]s in midair.

*{{button|3ds|L}}/{{button|3ds|X}}: Use item

*{{button|3ds|Stylus}}: Switch map view

*{{button|3ds|start}}: Pause / Resume

*{{button|3ds|Padup}}: First-Person View

*{{button|3ds|tilt}}: Steer / Auto Drift (First-person view only)

*{{button|3ds|Pad}} (except up): Third-Person View

[[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.

 

====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.

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=====

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).

''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.

Each driver is categorized into any of five weight classes: '''Feather''' being the lightest, followed by '''Light''', '''Medium''', '''Cruiser''', and finally '''Heavy'''. There are also three kart frame sizes that generally correspond with the five weight classes, with the exception of Metal Mario due to his medium size and high density. All characters in any given weight class share the same statistic boosts, both displayed and internal.

Each character has two "[[rival]]" characters who have superior capability compared to other CPU racers; if one of the rivals is not unlocked, a default character is used as a third, "backup" rival. [[Wario]] is the only character without any "backup" rivals; both of his rivals, [[Luigi]] and [[Mario]], are default characters.

 

====Default drivers====

{|style="text-align:center"class="wikitable sortable"

!Off-Road

!Main rivals

|[[File:Mario MK7.png|220px]]<br>[[Mario]]

|[[Princess Peach|Peach]]

|[[Yoshi]]

|[[Toad]]

|[[Donkey Kong]]

|[[Luigi]]

|0/2

|1/2

|[[Bowser]]

|[[Koopa Troopa]]

|[[File:Koopa MK7.png|220px]]<br>[[Koopa Troopa]]

====Unlockable drivers====

{|style="text-align:center"class="wikitable sortable"

!Acceleration

!Handling

!Off-Road

|[[File:Daisy MK7.png|220px]]<br>[[Princess Daisy|Daisy]]

|{{color|green|Medium}}

|1/4

|[[File:Wario MK7.png|230px]]<br>[[Wario]]

|[[File:Rosalina MK7.png|200px]]<br>[[Rosalina]]

|0/2

|1/2

|[[Honey Queen]]<br>[[Princess Peach|Peach]]

|[[Toad]]

|Win the 150cc Star Cup

|[[File:Metal Mario MK7.png|280px]]<br>[[Metal Mario]]^(new)

|{{color|red|Heavy}}

|4/4

|0/8

|0/2

|0/2

|[[Bowser]]<br>[[Rosalina]]

|[[File:Shy Guy MK7.png|200px]]<br>[[Shy Guy]]

|{{color|purple|Feather}}

|{{color|dodgerblue|Small}}

|2/2

|[[Koopa Troopa]]

|Win the 150cc Shell Cup

|[[File:Honey Queen MK7.png|210px]]<br>[[Honey Queen]]^(new)

|{{color|red|Heavy}}

|{{color|red|Large}}

|4/4

|8/8

|0/2

|0/2

|[[File:Wiggler MK7.png|240px]]<br>[[Wiggler]]^(new)

|3/4

|2/8

|6/8

|0/2

|1/2

|[[File:Lakitu MK7.png|180px]]<br>[[Lakitu]]^(new)

|{{color|purple|Feather}}

|{{color|dodgerblue|Small}}

|0/4

|2/2

|2/2

===Background characters===

*[[Birdo]]s

==Vehicle parts==

''Mario Kart 7'' introduces the option to personalize the player's vehicle before getting to the race. The player can select the body, the tires, and the glider to build the desired kart. By collecting many [[coin]]s from the races in Grand Prix mode, the player can unlock a new body, a new set of tires, or a new glider to use. It is possible to acquire a maximum of ten coins in a race. As the user chooses the parts, the stats may vary according to the parts' combination, and the vehicle will work better in particular situations.

There are 17 kart bodies, 10 tires, and 7 gliders for a grand total of 1,190 kart combinations. Of the parts, the [[Standard Kart]], [[Pipe Frame]], and [[Super Glider]] have their colors vary depending on their drivers. The [[Birthday Girl]] and [[Peach Parasol (glider)|Peach Parasol]] also vary in color for the female characters, though Peach's pink versions are shared with the male and gender-indeterminate characters. The Birthday Girl also cannot be used by CPU-played male or indeterminate characters, while the "gold" parts cannot be used by CPU players in general aside from Miis obtained via StreetPass from this game's Mario Kart Channel, if they are equipped.

Additionally, the player can unlock a '''Gold Steering Wheel''' by racing in 100 races using gyro-controls in at least 80% of them.

===Karts===

!Kart

|7

|[[File:MK7 Bumble V.png|150px]]<br>[[Bumble V]]

|[[File:MK7 Growlster.png|150px]]<br>[[Bruiser]] [[File:Flag of USA.png|20px]]<br>[[Bruiser|Growlster]] [[File:Flag of Europe.png|20px]]

|Unlockable (random)

|-

|[[File:MK7 Soda Jet.png|150px]]<br>[[Soda Jet]]

|[[File:MK7 B Dasher.png|150px]]<br>[[B Dasher]]

|7

|[[File:MK7 Tiny Tug.png|150px]]<br>[[Tiny Tug]]

|[[File:MK7 Zucchini.png|150px]]<br>[[Zucchini]] [[File:Flag of USA.png|20px]]<br>[[Zucchini|Gherkin]] [[File:Flag of Europe.png|20px]]

===Tires===

|[[File:MK7 Standard.png|100px]]<br>[[Standard (tire)|Standard]] [[File:Flag of USA.png|20px]]<br>[[Standard (tire)|Normal]] [[File:Flag of Europe.png|20px]]

|4

|[[File:MK7 Wood.png|100px]]<br>[[Wood]] [[File:Flag of USA.png|20px]]<br>[[Wood|Wooden]] [[File:Flag of Europe.png|20px]]

===Gliders===

{|style="text-align:center"class="wikitable sortable sticky-header"

!Acceleration (0-1)

!Weight (0-1)

!Handling (0)

!Off-Road (0)

!Availability

|-

|[[File:MK7 Super Glider.png|150px]]<br>[[Super Glider]]

|[[File:MK7 Peach Parasol.png|150px]]<br>[[Peach Parasol (glider)|Peach Parasol]]

|-

|[[File:MK7 Flower Glider.png|150px]]<br>[[Flower Glider]]

|[[File:MK7 Swoop.png|150px]]<br>[[Swooper (glider)|Swooper]] [[File:Flag of USA.png|20px]]<br>[[Swooper (glider)|Swoop]] [[File:Flag of Europe.png|20px]]

|-

|[[File:MK7 Paraglider.png|150px]]<br>[[Parafoil|Paraglider]] [[File:Flag of USA.png|20px]]<br>[[Parafoil]] [[File:Flag of Europe.png|20px]]

|-

|[[File:MK7 Gold Glider.png|150px]]<br>[[Gold Glider]]

|[[File:MK7 Beast Glider.png|150px]]<br>[[Beast Glider]] [[File:Flag of USA.png|20px]]<br>[[Beast Glider|Ghastly Glider]] [[File:Flag of Europe.png|20px]]

===Unlocking random parts===

Players can unlock random parts by collecting the following coin values:

==Drivers' and vehicle parts' statistics==

:''For the in-game tables from which these values were derived and for the tables to translate those values into the actual statistics used by the game, see [[Mario Kart 7 in-game statistics]].''

===Statistics shown in the vehicle customization screen===

In contrast with ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'' and ''[[Mario Kart Wii]]'', which directly added the characters' and vehicles' physical parameters to obtain their final values, the game introduces the ''Points'' which are conferred by characters and vehicle parts. In each statistics, the points given by the character, body, tires, and glider are summed to obtain a final value called ''Level'' (''Lv'') which is then used by [[Mario Kart 7 in-game statistics#Statistics Translation Tables|a table]] to convert the level into various related physical parameters used by the game. The Level of five statistics is displayed in the vehicle customization screen:

*'''Off-Road:''' The grasp of the kart. Karts with higher Off-Road slip less on certain terrain and are faster, to the point of being able to charge [[Mini-Turbo]]s. Not to be confused with handling.

[[File:MK7 Bolt Buggy Garage.png|thumb|center|400px|A combination consisting of [[Bowser]], [[Bolt Buggy]], [[Monster (tire)|Monster]] [[Tire]]s, and [[Parafoil|Paraglider]].]]

{|class="wikitable"style="text-align:center;margin:auto"

|-style="color:red"

![[File:MK7 Icon character select Bowser.png]]<br>[[Bowser]]

|'''4'''

|'''0'''

|'''8'''

|'''0'''

|-style="color:green"

![[File:MK7Bolt Buggy.png]]<br>[[Bolt Buggy]]

|'''7'''

|'''1'''

|'''3'''

|'''2'''

|-style="color:blue"

![[File:MK7Monstericon.png]]<br>[[Monster (tire)|Monster Tires]]

|'''7'''

![[File:MK7Paraglider.png]]<br>[[Parafoil|Paraglider]]

|'''0'''

|'''0'''

!Off-Road

===Internal statistics===

*'''Water Handling:''' The turning ability of the kart while driving underwater.

*'''Mini-Turbo:''' The length of the kart's mini-turbo speed boosts.

The following table reports the statistics in points.

{|border="1"cellpadding="3"style="background:#f5f5f5;text-align:center;width:94%;border-collapse:collapse;margin-bottom:5px;"align=center

|-

!colspan="14"style="background:#9c9c9c"|Character Stats

!width="20%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"colspan="2"|Weight Class

!width="24%"style="background:#dedede"colspan="3"|Speed

!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"rowspan="2"|Drift

!width="6%"style="background:#dedede"|Land