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Discussion alright Nintendo gamers, it's time to propose rosters for the hypothetical Mario Kart crossover game ("Nintendo Kart")

Choose which would you prefer:

  • Mario Kart stays Mario and adjacent series only

    Votes: 48 52.2%

  • Mario Kart goes fucking apeshit with Nintendo characters

    Votes: 44 47.8%
  • Total voters
    92
Gs-isaac.jpg


It's time!
 
BombChorizo said:
Pauline is basically a shoo-in. Totally forgot about her!

And no Samus or Captain Falcon? :cry:
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I think it's good to have 80 of the roster still being in the Mario universe for the first Mario Kart crossover, they will have the opportunity to addd more in the future episodes. The ones that I quoted are I think those who fit the most tho the cartoon graphic style of the series (even though I recognize that Captain Falcon would fit really good, actually).

Boyfriend said:
it's probably actually important to note that pauline and dixie being in tour (which borrows a lot of assets from MK8, including character models) probably means they've got HD assets sitting around waiting to be put into a new game

king bob-omb, nabbit, pauline, diddy, dixie, funky, kamek, birdo, monty mole and the hammer bros all have a pretty good odds of getting into the next mario kart assuming they don't scrap the existing HD models
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I totally forgot that Dixie was in Tour as well, so I realy hope to see them in the next game even more, lmao.
 
0
Alright. I've thought about it. This is where I'm at:

Pretty much the Mario Kart Tour roster(excluding alts) + Petey, Wiggler, Cpt. Syrup, Wart, me, Lanky Kong, Tutankoopa, Ashley, Plessie, and the Viruses.

Guest stars: ROB, Pac-Man, Link, Isabelle, Villager, Inkling, Min Min, Dragaux, Banjo-Kazooie, and Pikmin(Red, Yellow, Blue, Purple, White, Rock, and Flying variants)

Tour alts to be released as special themed event DLC over time along with new tracks. that's right ZERO cuts to Tour.

No Kirby because he's getting a new Air Ride game instead.


I can see some people thinking "That's way, way too many characters..." but this new Mario Kart will have an open world area to run around in called the Kart Kingdom, where you'll do missions and challenges and boss battles and stuff to unlock folks. Sorta like how Forza Horizon does it(or if you're old, DKR/CTR lol).

So it's not like you are just re-doing the same eight cups over and over again.
 
Raccoon said:
why in god's name would twintelle be the only arms rep
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Because she is the goddess herself. Also, because I didn't know who else to mention, as Min Min is too obvious because she's in Smash. And also I don't believe there would be 2 ARMS characters.
 
Marce-chan said:
Because she is the goddess herself. Also, because I didn't know who else to mention, as Min Min is too obvious because she's in Smash. And also I don't believe there would be 2 ARMS characters.
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it would obviously be the protagonist of the game, Spring-man Mechanica

she even has experience piloting a vehicle, which I think is a major boon
 
I really want to get Nintendo Kart. Mainly because of all the stages that could turn in cool raceways with music.

Looking at non Mario characters I would look at the "OG crew" of Smash 64 + a few of the current Switch characters meaning:

Link, Samus, Fox, Cpt Falcon, Ness, Pikachu, Kirby

Add then:

Animal Crossing, Fire Emblem, Xenoblade for other characters as I feel those are the current "big" Switch franchises.
 
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So many people want to see the babies and the Koopalings and the metal variants gone. And like...I get it, but I can't see Nintendo actually doing that. Nintendo invented new baby and metal forms for these games. Nintendo wants you to have multiple different versions of Mario and Peach with their own stats so you can choose the one you like the most while still having your favorite character. As a compromise I could see Peachette getting Cat Peach's stats? But even then, unless they radically change how they handle stats or don't mind lumping multiple statistics into the same slot (which they DID in MK8 but undid in MK8D), then the "redundant" characters stay.

Honestly, the calls to get rid of the Koopalings are more surprising than the babies. At least they all have wildly different statistics in Mario Kart, unlike the babies, who are all lightweight drivers. I know, MK8 had a light roster with a lot of cuts and Smash was able to merge them into Bowser Jr. The roster numbers are way healthier now, though. We can have all seven Koopalings.

MondoMega said:
I intentionally limited myself on WarioWare characters but i'd love to have even more of that cast! Thought about Noki and the Big Cat from Bowser's Fury too (plus a few Galaxy NPC series like Star Bunny, Gearmo and Whittle) but I really wanted that clean grid!

Agree with you on Mario Kart's track design for sure; there's absolutely a unique charm to them that would be lost when accounting for a grander crossover. Mario Kart was never focused on recreating iconic locations from other games as race tracks, but what's what people want Nintendo Kart to be.
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I can't argue with a clean grid. It's just so...nice.

I can totally understand why people want to see their favorite game locations reinvented as kart tracks. But I think Mario Kart shows good restraint in going to original locations that still fit the Mario vibe, or expand on them when they do go to a game location, like Bowser's Castle.
Gartooth said:
I hate this idea and how it's now inescapable when talking about the future of this series. I'm sure it's something Nintendo's thought of internally given the fan demand, so if they do it I just hope it's still largely a "Mario Kart" game in aesthetic and design.

The thing about a crossover is it wouldn't just be the characters. Mario Kart's art direction, track themes, item selection, and series staple elements (stuff like Lakitu as flag man) are all things they could change if they decide this isn't a Mario game anymore.
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It's easy to forget how many Mario-isms are in Mario Kart. The items, characters, courses, all obvious. But things as small as "the jingle playing on the last lap and the music speeding up," that's an adaptation from 2D Mario. Perhaps I'm biased, but I love the little details and how...Mario Mario Kart is.
 
It's funny that for as much as people doom and gloom over the baby and metal variants, Tour hasn't actually added any in its 2+ years of service. Maybe i've just jinxed it and Bronze Baby Wario is on the way soon; who knows?

I didn't mention it in my roster but I wouldn't complain if Metal Mario was tossed out in exchange for Robo Mario.

RoboMario.png


He could work as an alt costume if I want to fit him into what i've already done though.

Raccoon said:
it would obviously be the protagonist of the game, Spring-man Mechanica

she even has experience piloting a vehicle, which I think is a major boon
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Alright, but, hear me out. In ARMS lore Twintelle is into collecting luxary cars; the cars on her home stage are from her "personal collection" according to official descriptions.

Cinema_Deux.jpg


So let her go out for a drive; in a more appropriate-looking kart of course.
 
I spent way too much time on this but here’s my list

  1. Mario
  2. Luigi
  3. Peach
  4. Yoshi
  5. Bowser
  6. Koopa Troopa
  7. Toad
  8. Donkey Kong
  9. Wario
  10. Daisy
  11. Birdo
  12. Baby Mario
  13. Baby Luigi
  14. Toadette
  15. Diddy Kong
  16. Bowser Jr.
  17. Waluigi
  18. Petey Piranha
  19. King Boo
  20. Dry Bones
  21. Shy Guy
  22. Baby Peach
  23. Rosalina
  24. Funky Kong
  25. Dry Bowser
  26. Metal Mario
  27. Lakitu
  28. Iggy
  29. Roy
  30. Lemmy
  31. Larry
  32. Wendy
  33. Ludwig
  34. Morton
  35. Pauline
  36. Hammer Bro
  37. Monty Mole
  38. Dixie Kong
  39. Nabbit
  40. King Bob-omb
  41. Captain Toad
  42. Kamek
  43. Cappy
  44. Professor E. Gadd
  45. Goomba Tower
  46. Boom Boom
  47. Pom Pom
  48. Sprixie Princess
  49. King K. Rool
  50. Cranky Kong
  51. Link
  52. Samus
  53. Captain Falcon
  54. Kirby
  55. Fox
  56. Villager
  57. Isabelle
  58. Olimar
  59. Inkling
  60. Spring Man
  61. Mii
6 rows, 10 characters each. This isn’t necessarily how they’d be arranged, except for the non-Mario characters, which would be together at the bottom row. Miis are by themselves like in Wii and 7. R.O.B. is DLC.
 
doodlewhizz said:
So here's my proposed roster changes - first of all, I'd get rid of the crossed out characters. Babies suck, and the variants of Mario, Peach and Bowser are pointless. Koopalings were on the edge but they're at least different enough.

ck2eqPB.png


So now we have to replace them. Let's start with some decent characters who were in older games but fell off the roster (I say decent so that rules out Funky Kong and ROB)

Diddy Kong
Birdo
Petey Piranha
Wiggler
Honey Queen

We're obviously going to need some newbies now, characters who have appeared in Mario-universe games but haven't made it into this series yet

Pauline
Professor E. Gadd (Luigi's Mansion)
Captain Toad
Poochy (Yoshi)
Nabbit
Kamek
Wart

I'd keep the guest characters (Link stays in by a hair's breadth), and I would only add two more - Olimar and Kirby - as they fit the aesthetic of Mario Kart much more than any other main character in Nintendo's series.

And then there's a couple of wildcard picks - let's go with Mona from WarioWare (she already rides a bike-like vehicle in the a few of the games in the series) and then something completely out there. Sure, why not - cartoon Lewis Hamilton. They already had Merc promos karts for the first game after all.
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I like this post. I’m already getting upset that it’s not real and I won’t be able to main Poochy.
 
0
VolcanicDynamo said:
So many people want to see the babies and the Koopalings and the metal variants gone. And like...I get it, but I can't see Nintendo actually doing that. Nintendo invented new baby and metal forms for these games. Nintendo wants you to have multiple different versions of Mario and Peach with their own stats so you can choose the one you like the most while still having your favorite character. As a compromise I could see Peachette getting Cat Peach's stats? But even then, unless they radically change how they handle stats or don't mind lumping multiple statistics into the same slot (which they DID in MK8 but undid in MK8D), then the "redundant" characters stay.
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I am completely biased, I'm very aware,.. but to me, it should be like CTR Nitro-Fueled where you pick your engine/weight class before getting your character, so if you want a light-weight Bowser, you can! The handling shouldn't be tied to characters or even vehicles; That way they also can trim the fat of redundant characters, and make some of them costumes (Tanooki Mario and so many other power ups could serve as basic costumes for Mario);

I also want vehicle customization to be simplified, if not cut-out altogether; Give characters their own unique karts, and leave for customization basic stuff like paint jobs and stickers;
 
Trim down the different Metals and Baby versions of characters. Or at least no new ones.

I'm not really down with the "Nintendo Kart" idea especially because the grander Mario universe has cool characters that haven't even been considered. Bring in the Kongs, Kremlings, Paper Mario characters, etc. If the Koopalings can all individually get in, those series' characters can get shown some love.
 
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My 50 character ideal roster:
-Mario universe characters: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Rosalina, Pauline, Bowser, Bowser jr, Toad, Toadette, Wario, Waluigi, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong, King K Rool, Yoshi, Birdo, King Boo, Professor E Gadd
-Nintendo guest characters: Pikachu, Meowth, Kirby, Dedede, Inkling, Olimar, Villager, Isabelle, Toom Nook, Link, Zelda, Tingle, Pig Ganon, Pit, Samus, Fox, Captain Falcon, Ness, Rob, Exitebiker, Stunt Race Fx car
-Third party guest characters: Crash, Sonic, Megaman, Bomberman, Chocobo, Pacman, Banjo, Conker, Memetchi.
 
people really gotta consider that the babies and the metals aren't there at the cost of other characters, they're all using small variations of shared models and have a lot of shortcuts like sharing animation rigs. cutting them won't suddenly give you 7 slots for nintendo characters

not that i want to diminish people's fantasies. i also want nintendo kart, but it's not the babies holding that reality back.
 
Boyfriend said:
people really gotta consider that the babies and the metals aren't there at the cost of other characters, they're all using small variations of shared models and have a lot of shortcuts like sharing animation rigs. cutting them won't suddenly give you 7 slots for nintendo characters

not that i want to diminish people's fantasies. i also want nintendo kart, but it's not the babies holding that reality back.
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I think they're also just clutter, and should be more like alternate "costumes" that you can select upon choosing a character. They bloat up the character select screen with what some may consider filler.
 
0
At least I can say I was the first one to make a thread on this topic on Famiboards.

I’m seeing character rosters in the 50s and I’m here to tell you all that you‘re missing the point a bit. Smash having that many characters makes better sense because most of them have fully unique movesets, weight classes, etc. It’s what makes the series interesting and appealing and it’s what most of its Dev time is dedicated to.
Aside from 3-5 weight/speed classes, Mario Kart characters all have the same capabilities, or at least incredibly similar ones (though I toyed with the idea of SLIGHT item variations by character or track previously, like swapping shells with missiles for Samus or Metroid tracks, but obeying the same basic principles of straight and seeking characteristics of the green and red shells respectively). MKTour has shown that character additions are relatively trivial if Nintendo wants them to be, just a matter of constructing the character model and slapping them with a weight/speed class.

It’s TRACKS that make “Nintendo Kart” the most conceptually interesting, it’s what the bulk of the series’ development time is focused on getting right, it’s what gets fans the most excitable (the gnashing of teeth over the continued absence of the Block Fort battle track is/was as vociferous as any request for Ridley in Smash in the Mario Kart fandom), it’s the info you wait on baited breath to learn about with MK, what the new and retro courses are. And most importantly, it’s the best way to represent Nintendo’s franchise history in the context of a “Nintendo Kart”, where the developers could express the most ingenuity and creativity.
Unless they drastically change the entire gameplay of the next Kart game, getting excited about characters is like getting excited about Mii costume options in Smash.
rAndom said:
I really don't think going apeshit with Nintendo characters in Mario Kart makes sense. MK fans groaning because there's another anime swordfighter in their racing game is the last thing I need to hear or read.
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That’s only a problem if Sakurai is directing the next Mario Kart. That was his proclivity (even said as much, if I remember right).
 
Terrell said:
At least I can say I was the first one to make a thread on this topic on Famiboards.
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I looked it up, and here's what I said at the time:

Raccoon said:
I'm biased because I find the "Marioverse" pretty dull compared to other Nintendo worlds, so in recognition of that bias I voted for Mario Kart with crossover DLC. Let Mario Kart stay Mario, I think.
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looks like I no longer care about tempering my bias
 
0
It's already kind of a "Nintendo Kart" with the Inklings and Link in it, so I can see them using Mario Kart like a marketing platform like they do with Smash.

It'll still be called Mario Kart though, let's be real xD . "Mario Kart" is one of the strongest brands they have, much stronger than "Nintendo" is.
 
0
My attempt at a realistic 64 character roster that I could totally see happen. Obviously, some of these would be DLC added over time:

1.) Mario 2.) Luigi 3.) Peach 4.) Toad 5.) Yoshi 6.) Donkey Kong 7.) Wario 8.) Bowser

9.) Rosalina 10.) Pauline 11.) Daisy 12.) Toadette 13.) Birdo 14.) Diddy Kong 15.) Waluigi 16.) Bowser Jr.

17.) Koopa Troopa 18.) Shy Guy 19.) Dry Bones 20.) Wiggler 21.) Kamek 22.) King Bob-omb 23.) Petey Piranha 24.) King Boo

25.) Larry Koopa 26.) Wendy O. Koopa 27.) Lemmy Koopa 28.) Iggy Koopa 29.) Morton Koopa 30.) Ludwig von Koopa 31.) Roy Koopa 32.) Nabbit

33.) Baby Mario 34.) Baby Luigi 35.) Baby Wario 36.) Baby Peach 37.) Baby Daisy 38.) Baby Rosalina 39.) Baby Pauline 40.) Baby Donkey Kong

41.) Dixie Kong 42.) Cranky Kong 43.) Funky Kong 44.) K. Rool 45.) Professor E. Gadd 46.) Polterpup 47.) Captain Syrup 48.) Ashley

49.) Metal Mario 50.) Gooigi 51.) Cat Peach 52.) Captain Toad 53.) Yarn Yoshi 54.) Vampire Wario 55.) Cosmic Rosalina 56.) Dry Bowser

57.) Link 58.) Zelda 59.) Isabelle 60.) Villager 61.) Inkling Girl 62.) Inkling Boy 63.) Samus 64.) Pikmin

My reasoning for these choices:

1-16 Recurring primary and secondary Mario cast. They are the ones that feel like they should always be in any multiplayer Mario game at this point. They make great Double Dash pairings too. 😊

17-24 Popular recurring baddies and series bosses. One of these is always one of your friends/family members' favorite Mario character of all time. I couldn't cut any of them.

25-32 The Koopalings and Nabbit. They(aside from Nabbit) are in the theme park ride. So I don't think they are going anywhere. Nabbit is Nabbit.

33-40 The Babies are actually pretty popular, and I do think the ones I added are the most likely to get added in the next game.

41-48 Expanded Mario universe characters who I feel a lot of people would enjoy. Wario's cast are perhaps the most unlikely portion of this whole list tho. But if Nintendo saw a lot of people requesting Ashley and Captain Syrup for Smash, and they wanted to add a few more women to Mario Kart, I could see it.

49-56 Transformations/alts/doppelgangers. Tried to limit it to one memorable one per character. This is unrealistic probably, but so is no alts.

57-64 Guest Stars! For some reason I don't think they will add ARMS characters even though they developed it. I don't think they will go crazy with guests, but they will have some. Also think it will stay EPD only.

And even though I've made another list about this, I have to admit I care way more about the tracks and music than I do the cast. Also I need 200cc to be brought back.
 
E.Gadd said:
My attempt at a realistic 64 character roster that I could totally see happen. Obviously, some of these would be DLC added over time:

1.) Mario 2.) Luigi 3.) Peach 4.) Toad 5.) Yoshi 6.) Donkey Kong 7.) Wario 8.) Bowser

9.) Rosalina 10.) Pauline 11.) Daisy 12.) Toadette 13.) Birdo 14.) Diddy Kong 15.) Waluigi 16.) Bowser Jr.

17.) Koopa Troopa 18.) Shy Guy 19.) Dry Bones 20.) Wiggler 21.) Kamek 22.) King Bob-omb 23.) Petey Piranha 24.) King Boo

25.) Larry Koopa 26.) Wendy O. Koopa 27.) Lemmy Koopa 28.) Iggy Koopa 29.) Morton Koopa 30.) Ludwig von Koopa 31.) Roy Koopa 32.) Nabbit

33.) Baby Mario 34.) Baby Luigi 35.) Baby Wario 36.) Baby Peach 37.) Baby Daisy 38.) Baby Rosalina 39.) Baby Pauline 40.) Baby Donkey Kong

41.) Dixie Kong 42.) Cranky Kong 43.) Funky Kong 44.) K. Rool 45.) Professor E. Gadd 46.) Polterpup 47.) Captain Syrup 48.) Ashley

49.) Metal Mario 50.) Gooigi 51.) Cat Peach 52.) Captain Toad 53.) Yarn Yoshi 54.) Vampire Wario 55.) Cosmic Rosalina 56.) Dry Bowser

57.) Link 58.) Zelda 59.) Isabelle 60.) Villager 61.) Inkling Girl 62.) Inkling Boy 63.) Samus 64.) Pikmin

My reasoning for these choices:

1-16 Recurring primary and secondary Mario cast. They are the ones that feel like they should always be in any multiplayer Mario game at this point. They make great Double Dash pairings too. 😊

17-24 Popular recurring baddies and series bosses. One of these is always one of your friends/family members' favorite Mario character of all time. I couldn't cut any of them.

25-32 The Koopalings and Nabbit. They(aside from Nabbit) are in the theme park ride. So I don't think they are going anywhere. Nabbit is Nabbit.

33-40 The Babies are actually pretty popular, and I do think the ones I added are the most likely to get added in the next game.

41-48 Expanded Mario universe characters who I feel a lot of people would enjoy. Wario's cast are perhaps the most unlikely portion of this whole list tho. But if Nintendo saw a lot of people requesting Ashley and Captain Syrup for Smash, and they wanted to add a few more women to Mario Kart, I could see it.

49-56 Transformations/alts/doppelgangers. Tried to limit it to one memorable one per character. This is unrealistic probably, but so is no alts.

57-64 Guest Stars! For some reason I don't think they will add ARMS characters even though they developed it. I don't think they will go crazy with guests, but they will have some. Also think it will stay EPD only.

And even though I've made another list about this, I have to admit I care way more about the tracks and music than I do the cast. Also I need 200cc to be brought back.
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my favorite roster posted by far, even including my own

I'd be delighted by this
 
Terrell said:
At least I can say I was the first one to make a thread on this topic on Famiboards.

I’m seeing character rosters in the 50s and I’m here to tell you all that you‘re missing the point a bit. Smash having that many characters makes better sense because most of them have fully unique movesets, weight classes, etc. It’s what makes the series interesting and appealing and it’s what most of its Dev time is dedicated to.
Aside from 3-5 weight/speed classes, Mario Kart characters all have the same capabilities, or at least incredibly similar ones (though I toyed with the idea of SLIGHT item variations by character or track previously, like swapping shells with missiles for Samus or Metroid tracks, but obeying the same basic principles of straight and seeking characteristics of the green and red shells respectively). MKTour has shown that character additions are relatively trivial if Nintendo wants them to be, just a matter of constructing the character model and slapping them with a weight/speed class.

It’s TRACKS that make “Nintendo Kart” the most conceptually interesting, it’s what the bulk of the series’ development time is focused on getting right, it’s what gets fans the most excitable (the gnashing of teeth over the continued absence of the Block Fort battle track is/was as vociferous as any request for Ridley in Smash in the Mario Kart fandom), it’s the info you wait on baited breath to learn about with MK, what the new and retro courses are. And most importantly, it’s the best way to represent Nintendo’s franchise history in the context of a “Nintendo Kart”, where the developers could express the most ingenuity and creativity.
Unless they drastically change the entire gameplay of the next Kart game, getting excited about characters is like getting excited about Mii costume options in Smash.

That’s only a problem if Sakurai is directing the next Mario Kart. That was his proclivity (even said as much, if I remember right).
Click to expand...
To be fair, among the 42 characters in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, there are 16 unique sets of statistics. That's a decent variety - more so than the five driving styles of CTR, but less diverse proportional to the cast than then totally unique spreads of a Team Sonic Racing (though I suppose each category of racer is still similar?). Though even ignoring statistics, people just...wanna play with the characters they like. But yeah, assuming they lean heavily on MK8D and the characters they already released for Tour, getting to 50+ characters is relatively easy. But hey - if Crash fans can get excited for all the deep cuts they got in CTR, Mario fans can get excited for more characters in their Mario Kart roster. If they really need to make each character more unique, they could bring back the Special Item system from Double Dash and Tour - I'm not as big of a fan of that, since the balance of those items isn't great (and I'm sure there's at least a few people who see people mentioning balance in Mark Kart and let out a hearty laugh), but it IS an option.

I've already made my opinions on Nintendo tracks vs Mario tracks known in this thread, so I won't reiterate beyond saying that if they bite that bullet, the crossover courses better be as interesting as the F-Zero tracks and not as lacking as Hyrule Circuit and Excitebike. Ironically, the fact that Mario Kart doesn't pull areas directly from other Mario games (which I like!) makes it harder to speculate over what courses will be put into the game. Really, the most concrete thing we got are the characters.
CyberWolfJV said:
I am completely biased, I'm very aware,.. but to me, it should be like CTR Nitro-Fueled where you pick your engine/weight class before getting your character, so if you want a light-weight Bowser, you can! The handling shouldn't be tied to characters or even vehicles; That way they also can trim the fat of redundant characters, and make some of them costumes (Tanooki Mario and so many other power ups could serve as basic costumes for Mario);

I also want vehicle customization to be simplified, if not cut-out altogether; Give characters their own unique karts, and leave for customization basic stuff like paint jobs and stickers;
Click to expand...
See, I'm really of two minds when it comes to this. One one hand, I think it makes sense to make getting into a Mario Kart race as simple as possible. I like the Kart customization mechanics, but I do know that it slows things down for a casual audience. On the other hand, I like how the different car parts give you options to tweak your build, and I kinda like the character choice mattering a bit and not just being a skin, even if it does mean seeing a bunch of Waluigis and Roys online.. It really is a difference of philosophy, no approach is better than the other.

In CTR, everyone has the same Kart size, right? Mario Kart tries to balance the heavier drivers by making them larger, letting them push people around but being easier targets. Meanwhile the lighter karts are smaller targets. That would have to be the one big design change a Mario Kart with selectable stats would have to make.
 
The idea of turning the series into more of a Nintendo Kart or Smash Kart or what have you has never particularly appealed to me. I know, for some people, branching out more into the wider Nintendo universe would be exciting, whether because it might bring in characters they want or it might allow for desired locales to be imported as race tracks, but I find it would be more interesting to delve deeper into the Expanded Donkey Kong Mario Universe and pull from there.

The universe this series is already rooted in contains so much that could yet be incorporated into a still Mario-centric series, elements which would certainly be cast to the side if the focus became Nintendo as a whole -- characters, for instance, that would never make it into Smash Bros. but nevertheless should have their chance to shine--; Mario Kart simply hasn't reached this potential yet.

A Vast Universe​
A brief consideration will conjure readily apparent individual characters who have been ignored and would almost certainly be left to languish should the series take a turn into more focus on Nintendo as a whole.

Super Mario
Pauline / Foreman Spike / Nabbit / Captain Toad / Toadsworth / Wart

(Some of these examples, such as Pauline and Foreman Spike, though iconic in the beginnings of the franchise, have waited years in relative obscurity but appear to be making a resurgence, whereas others, such as Nabbit and Captain Toad, are more recent inventions waiting on their big chance, and yet others still, such as Toadsworth and Wart, have fallen more out of favor -- Toadsworth after building a career of appearances, Wart as the big bad of a single game, leaving Toadsworth the more likely contender, both to appear here and to reappear elsewhere.)​

It doesn't even require delving particularly deep to discover the vast wealth of potential buried even just beneath the surface. While it might appear the universe in question provides nothing further of value, nothing to be mined for the improvement of Mario Kart itself (a position one might suppose supported by the continuous inclusion of further metal and baby variants of existing characters), even just considering the branches of this Expanded Universe will show there is much that has been ignored, much that would provide value to Mario Kart.

Luigi's Mansion
King Boo* / Professor E. Gadd / Hellen Gravely / Polterpup

(King Boo already holds a slot in Mario Kart but he would now draw more from his Luigi's Mansion appearances, where he has become the recurring villain. E. Gadd has appeared in various Mario-related titles, but remains most tied to Luigi's Mansion. Hellen Gravely is new, but appears poised to become recurring; if King Boo can do it, so can she. And Polterpup. Polterpup is an adorable ghost doggo who I considered would be an interesting surprise with fascinating potential in Smash, but who would almost certainly never make it in.)

Mario RPG
Kammy Koopa / Lady Bow / Vivian / Fawful / Cackletta / Popple

(This began as a separate listing for Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi, but these have been combined for ease. I considered the suggestion of Kamek, but Kammy presents her own unique appearance and characterization. Lady Bow is obvious, if we are considering RPG characters, and Vivian is well-received. Fawful makes sense, as a recurring villain, and I had considered whether Cackletta would be included -- eventually determining she should be, so secret shenanigans on the Character Select screen using both her and Bowser can lead to Bowletta --, and Popple seems like a character who could be made use of.)​


Of course, the RPGs have no dearth of characters that could be considered, as evidenced by this Mario & Luigi Kart mockup, which draws only from characters who have appeared in [/i]Mario & Luigi[/i], courtesy of Deiji_Zeruda:
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Donkey Kong
K. Rool / Dixie Kong / Cranky Kong

(K. Rool and Dixie are pretty self-explanatory. Cranky is a crotchety old curmudgeon who rounds out The Geriatric Crew. There are other possibilities, but these are the most likely newcomers, without delving deeper into the series.)

Wario Land/Ware
Captain Syrup / Mona

(For the time being, I have limited this post to one supporting character from each Wario property. Captain Syrup should be in this and other Mario spinoffs by now. Mona is in the WarioWare slot because she already rides around on a motor scooter and has different outfits she can be outfitted with. Also, the obvious choice of Ashley is currently fighting for her spot in Super Smash Bros., though there really isn't anything saying they couldn't both compete in both series.)

Other
Poochy / Viruses

(Poochy, known for appearances in Yoshi's subseries, is an adorable pseudo-doggo-thing who should be given the opportunity to drive a vehicle and feel the wind without needing a window. While I don't tend to be particularly keen on the inclusion of generic enemies, the viruses are exactly the sort of zany addition one might expect, especially as Mario is now able to don his Dr. Mario persona.)


Past Inclusions​

This is disregarding, even, such characters as have been in Mario Kart before and could make sense to return, such as Birdo, Petey Piranha, Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, King Bob-omb (through his appearance in Tour), et cetera, even Robo Mario.

All this is without even delving too deep into characters available in the universe. More depth, of course, if not achieved through character choice, can be afforded through forms.

Characters of Myriad Forms​

As for the baby characters, metal variants, powered-up forms, and other such versions of characters, I would suggest they all be folded into the base form of the character. There would be options for different forms, which would affect handling (metal, baby, and so forth), accessed in one location, and then costumes and such would be accessed separately.

Luigi, for example, would have access to alts such as Gooigi and Mr. L, which would be named as such. Dry Bowser and Meowser would be folded into the base Bowser slot. Rosalina can manifest as the Cosmic Spirit. Yoshi can be yarn. Wario receives Wario Land transformations and his WarioWare look. Peachette is a heavier form of Toadette.

Really, this keeps the Character Select screen looking clean and helps keep players from being overwhelmed by the immediate options, allowing for a quick ability to jump in for those who aren't too particular and the option to select from a number of specific forms for those who have particular desires.

It's important to note that, while these variations might seem like superfluous additions that clutter the Character Select screen, they enjoy more popularity than we denizens of the internet message boards might expect, and, being built largely on the same models and only requiring some "simple" tweaks for gameplay, require less in time and resources. All this works into the idea of collecting them within their own base characters, in that people will want to keep them and their removal won't necessarily allow for much more work elsewhere. Worked well, it can all function for furthering Mario Kart as a celebration of the Mario universe.

Taking Center Stage​

Of course, discussions on this topic would be remiss not to include the subject of courses: Mario Kart isn't all racers and nothing else, after all. The courses are an important part of the series' character, and certainly key to the overall gameplay.

A neat element of the series is its ability to flesh out the world through the stages, to explore areas and concepts beyond what is found in other Mario-based games. It's not beholden to worlds that have been seen elsewhere, and when it does visit them it visits them askew. There's no end to the possibilities. Even just considering existing locales, the Mario universe presents unending potential. Take, for instance, the potential of a Bob-omb Battle Zone, weaving around the incoming impact of giant water bombs, or of Boggly Woods, which has barely been explored and could be fashioned into a brilliant and gorgeous setting through which to race. While the Woods would likely be rendered in a typical Mario style, a less specific papercraft course would explore how the paper realms could be used, folding and unfolding all while looking amazing, and it would fit in with a Crafted World or Wooly World from Yoshi. A MicroGame course would keep racers on their toes.

That's not to say there aren't reasons to be interested in what courses based on other series could bring. One could imaging cruising across Hyrule, through the marketplace of Hyrule Castle Town as townspeople dodge out of the way, across the fields dodging cuckoos, diving into Death Mountain -- there's potential there, and I wouldn't be against the possibility of seeing it, but it doesn't negate the endless potential already found in the concepts afforded Mario Kart as it explores Mario's universe.

Courses are, however, one of the more potentially interesting aspects of a theoretical Nintendo Kart, but additional courses from elsewhere in Nintendo's portfolio don't guarantee these new courses will be any more fun, valuable, or well thought out than new Mario-based courses would be.

A continued focus on Mario-related courses also allows both a wider and deeper exploration of the franchise, which plays into the overall tone and feel of the series: a celebration of Mario.

A Celebration of Mario​

In the end, Mario Kart is positioned to serve as an exploration and celebration of the Mario universe, and something of that would be lost if it went full-on Nintendo Kart. Little touches, such as Lakitu or music quirks or items or any other such element, all stem from and point to the Mario'verse. This is part of what gives the series its particular character, and while you could change that, any major alterations to such should be carefully weighed and considered.

Instead, I would like to see the series lean more into that exploration and celebration. Reach into further areas of the Mario world to pull in characters and items and courses. Treat individual characters themselves as a celebration, with the choices of alternate forms and costumes. There's still a lot of untapped potential.

But What of those Guests?​

Well, I don't see guests from other Nintendo franchises going away anytime soon, but I also don't expect nor want them to become much larger a focus. I would imagine most such guests would originate with EAD/EPD.

Guests
R.O.B. / Isabelle / Link / Inkling / Biff / Olimar / Kirby

(R.O.B. is a link to the olden days of Nintendo history and has seen karting action in the past. Link probably isn't going anywhere -- Champion Link, and other variations, are included as selections --, nor would I expect Isabelle or the Inklings to do so. Biff works as a representative of ARMS, but adhering more to the aesthetic one might expect from Mario Kart and without picking out an actual fighter from the lineup. Olimar, likewise, melds with the aesthetic. Kirby is from outside EAD/EPD, but fits perfectly.)​

Other Business


This has all been, essentially, conclusions I've considered posting in previous Mario/Nintendo Kart threads, but never actually got to.

First, to address the question of Samus, I've actually commented on that subject in the past with the proposal of characters that would fit the Mario Kart aesthetic, perhaps, a tad more:
Supreme Overlord said:
I'm not big into the whole Nintendo Kart thing, but allow me to throw some contenders into the ring who exude cuteness and character, as one might expect from the Mario Kart series:
metroidkarthjjrt.png

dachoraetecoonkartjikx9.png

cutebirdiekartifjdv.png

These all seem like they would fit the aesthetic perfectly and represent Metroid very well.​
Click to expand...

Specifically dachora and etecoon, which we already know can pilot craft. A kart should be no issue.
​
Deleted member 1869 said:
I still dislike the fact that Double Dash had a character outside of Mario Universe (Diddy) and this is one the things that I strong dislike in 8/8 Deluxe.

So I hope that they put only Mario characters in the new game (and that the new Smash only have Nintendo characters as well).​
Click to expand...

See, the thing is, Mario sprung forth from Donkey Kong, which means Diddy was well within his rights to play around in what is actually Donkey Kong's expanded universe. As referenced above, Donkey Kong would be considered part of the same universe as Mario.

I would agree with more focus on Nintendo for Smash, though.
​
Raccoon said:
@CMM1215 they're suggesting cutting the koopalings
Click to expand...

Where else are we supposed to fit in all the other Nintendo characters?
​
E.Gadd said:
No Kirby because he's getting a new Air Ride game instead.
Click to expand...

Kirby is a super special character who is obtained when you have save data from the new Air Ride game.​
E.Gadd said:
Tutankoopa
Click to expand...

But this, this is brilliance.
​
Skittzo said:
Where's Alex Roivas in the bike bound with mummified human flesh?
Click to expand...
Skittzo said:
Alex Roivas' special is making every other racer hallucinate being in first but they're really driving off of the road or into walls.
Click to expand...

Alex Roivas can avoid blue shells if she has enough Pargon at her disposal, but she sometimes hallucinate course obstacles herself. Her mummified bike appears to be powered by some eldritch tome nestled in a hand-shaped pedestal.

If Nintendo Kart is the price that must be paid for this, let it be so; give it to me.
​
BombChorizo said:
Here's my dream roster:

Mario
Luigi
Captain Falcon
Dr. Stewart
Pico
Samurai Goroh
Jody Summer
Mighty Gazelle
Baba
Octoman
Dr. Clash
Mr. EAD
Bio Rex
Billy
Silver Neelsen
Gomar & Shioh
John Tanaka
Mrs. Arrow
Blood Falcon
Jack Levin
James McCloud
Zoda
Michael Chain
Super Arrow
Kate Alen
Roger Buster
Leon
Draq
Beastman
Antonio Guster
Black Shadow
The Skull​
Click to expand...

Somehow this doesn't seem like the Mario and Luigi one might expect, but you make a strong case -- YOU HAVE BOOST POWER!​
​
 
Supreme Overlord said:
The idea of turning the series into more of a Nintendo Kart or Smash Kart or what have you has never particularly appealed to me. I know, for some people, branching out more into the wider Nintendo universe would be exciting, whether because it might bring in characters they want or it might allow for desired locales to be imported as race tracks, but I find it would be more interesting to delve deeper into the Expanded Donkey Kong Mario Universe and pull from there.

The universe this series is already rooted in contains so much that could yet be incorporated into a still Mario-centric series, elements which would certainly be cast to the side if the focus became Nintendo as a whole -- characters, for instance, that would never make it into Smash Bros. but nevertheless should have their chance to shine--; Mario Kart simply hasn't reached this potential yet.

A Vast Universe​
A brief consideration will conjure readily apparent individual characters who have been ignored and would almost certainly be left to languish should the series take a turn into more focus on Nintendo as a whole.

Super Mario
Pauline / Foreman Spike / Nabbit / Captain Toad / Toadsworth / Wart

(Some of these examples, such as Pauline and Foreman Spike, though iconic in the beginnings of the franchise, have waited years in relative obscurity but appear to be making a resurgence, whereas others, such as Nabbit and Captain Toad, are more recent inventions waiting on their big chance, and yet others still, such as Toadsworth and Wart, have fallen more out of favor -- Toadsworth after building a career of appearances, Wart as the big bad of a single game, leaving Toadsworth the more likely contender, both to appear here and to reappear elsewhere.)​

It doesn't even require delving particularly deep to discover the vast wealth of potential buried even just beneath the surface. While it might appear the universe in question provides nothing further of value, nothing to be mined for the improvement of Mario Kart itself (a position one might suppose supported by the continuous inclusion of further metal and baby variants of existing characters), even just considering the branches of this Expanded Universe will show there is much that has been ignored, much that would provide value to Mario Kart.

Luigi's Mansion
King Boo* / Professor E. Gadd / Hellen Gravely / Polterpup

(King Boo already holds a slot in Mario Kart but he would now draw more from his Luigi's Mansion appearances, where he has become the recurring villain. E. Gadd has appeared in various Mario-related titles, but remains most tied to Luigi's Mansion. Hellen Gravely is new, but appears poised to become recurring; if King Boo can do it, so can she. And Polterpup. Polterpup is an adorable ghost doggo who I considered would be an interesting surprise with fascinating potential in Smash, but who would almost certainly never make it in.)

Mario RPG
Kammy Koopa / Lady Bow / Vivian / Fawful / Cackletta / Popple

(This began as a separate listing for Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi, but these have been combined for ease. I considered the suggestion of Kamek, but Kammy presents her own unique appearance and characterization. Lady Bow is obvious, if we are considering RPG characters, and Vivian is well-received. Fawful makes sense, as a recurring villain, and I had considered whether Cackletta would be included -- eventually determining she should be, so secret shenanigans on the Character Select screen using both her and Bowser can lead to Bowletta --, and Popple seems like a character who could be made use of.)​


Of course, the RPGs have no dearth of characters that could be considered, as evidenced by this Mario & Luigi Kart mockup, which draws only from characters who have appeared in [/i]Mario & Luigi[/i], courtesy of Deiji_Zeruda:
Ebhvhl0WkAYtjqi

Donkey Kong
K. Rool / Dixie Kong / Cranky Kong

(K. Rool and Dixie are pretty self-explanatory. Cranky is a crotchety old curmudgeon who rounds out The Geriatric Crew. There are other possibilities, but these are the most likely newcomers, without delving deeper into the series.)

Wario Land/Ware
Captain Syrup / Mona

(For the time being, I have limited this post to one supporting character from each Wario property. Captain Syrup should be in this and other Mario spinoffs by now. Mona is in the WarioWare slot because she already rides around on a motor scooter and has different outfits she can be outfitted with. Also, the obvious choice of Ashley is currently fighting for her spot in Super Smash Bros., though there really isn't anything saying they couldn't both compete in both series.)

Other
Poochy / Viruses

(Poochy, known for appearances in Yoshi's subseries, is an adorable pseudo-doggo-thing who should be given the opportunity to drive a vehicle and feel the wind without needing a window. While I don't tend to be particularly keen on the inclusion of generic enemies, the viruses are exactly the sort of zany addition one might expect, especially as Mario is now able to don his Dr. Mario persona.)


Past Inclusions​

This is disregarding, even, such characters as have been in Mario Kart before and could make sense to return, such as Birdo, Petey Piranha, Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, King Bob-omb (through his appearance in Tour), et cetera, even Robo Mario.

All this is without even delving too deep into characters available in the universe. More depth, of course, if not achieved through character choice, can be afforded through forms.

Characters of Myriad Forms​

As for the baby characters, metal variants, powered-up forms, and other such versions of characters, I would suggest they all be folded into the base form of the character. There would be options for different forms, which would affect handling (metal, baby, and so forth), accessed in one location, and then costumes and such would be accessed separately.

Luigi, for example, would have access to alts such as Gooigi and Mr. L, which would be named as such. Dry Bowser and Meowser would be folded into the base Bowser slot. Rosalina can manifest as the Cosmic Spirit. Yoshi can be yarn. Wario receives Wario Land transformations and his WarioWare look. Peachette is a heavier form of Toadette.

Really, this keeps the Character Select screen looking clean and helps keep players from being overwhelmed by the immediate options, allowing for a quick ability to jump in for those who aren't too particular and the option to select from a number of specific forms for those who have particular desires.

It's important to note that, while these variations might seem like superfluous additions that clutter the Character Select screen, they enjoy more popularity than we denizens of the internet message boards might expect, and, being built largely on the same models and only requiring some "simple" tweaks for gameplay, require less in time and resources. All this works into the idea of collecting them within their own base characters, in that people will want to keep them and their removal won't necessarily allow for much more work elsewhere. Worked well, it can all function for furthering Mario Kart as a celebration of the Mario universe.

Taking Center Stage​

Of course, discussions on this topic would be remiss not to include the subject of courses: Mario Kart isn't all racers and nothing else, after all. The courses are an important part of the series' character, and certainly key to the overall gameplay.

A neat element of the series is its ability to flesh out the world through the stages, to explore areas and concepts beyond what is found in other Mario-based games. It's not beholden to worlds that have been seen elsewhere, and when it does visit them it visits them askew. There's no end to the possibilities. Even just considering existing locales, the Mario universe presents unending potential. Take, for instance, the potential of a Bob-omb Battle Zone, weaving around the incoming impact of giant water bombs, or of Boggly Woods, which has barely been explored and could be fashioned into a brilliant and gorgeous setting through which to race. While the Woods would likely be rendered in a typical Mario style, a less specific papercraft course would explore how the paper realms could be used, folding and unfolding all while looking amazing, and it would fit in with a Crafted World or Wooly World from Yoshi. A MicroGame course would keep racers on their toes.

That's not to say there aren't reasons to be interested in what courses based on other series could bring. One could imaging cruising across Hyrule, through the marketplace of Hyrule Castle Town as townspeople dodge out of the way, across the fields dodging cuckoos, diving into Death Mountain -- there's potential there, and I wouldn't be against the possibility of seeing it, but it doesn't negate the endless potential already found in the concepts afforded Mario Kart as it explores Mario's universe.

Courses are, however, one of the more potentially interesting aspects of a theoretical Nintendo Kart, but additional courses from elsewhere in Nintendo's portfolio don't guarantee these new courses will be any more fun, valuable, or well thought out than new Mario-based courses would be.

A continued focus on Mario-related courses also allows both a wider and deeper exploration of the franchise, which plays into the overall tone and feel of the series: a celebration of Mario.

A Celebration of Mario​

In the end, Mario Kart is positioned to serve as an exploration and celebration of the Mario universe, and something of that would be lost if it went full-on Nintendo Kart. Little touches, such as Lakitu or music quirks or items or any other such element, all stem from and point to the Mario'verse. This is part of what gives the series its particular character, and while you could change that, any major alterations to such should be carefully weighed and considered.

Instead, I would like to see the series lean more into that exploration and celebration. Reach into further areas of the Mario world to pull in characters and items and courses. Treat individual characters themselves as a celebration, with the choices of alternate forms and costumes. There's still a lot of untapped potential.

But What of those Guests?​

Well, I don't see guests from other Nintendo franchises going away anytime soon, but I also don't expect nor want them to become much larger a focus. I would imagine most such guests would originate with EAD/EPD.

Guests
R.O.B. / Isabelle / Link / Inkling / Biff / Olimar / Kirby

(R.O.B. is a link to the olden days of Nintendo history and has seen karting action in the past. Link probably isn't going anywhere -- Champion Link, and other variations, are included as selections --, nor would I expect Isabelle or the Inklings to do so. Biff works as a representative of ARMS, but adhering more to the aesthetic one might expect from Mario Kart and without picking out an actual fighter from the lineup. Olimar, likewise, melds with the aesthetic. Kirby is from outside EAD/EPD, but fits perfectly.)​

Other Business


This has all been, essentially, conclusions I've considered posting in previous Mario/Nintendo Kart threads, but never actually got to.

First, to address the question of Samus, I've actually commented on that subject in the past with the proposal of characters that would fit the Mario Kart aesthetic, perhaps, a tad more:
Specifically dachora and etecoon, which we already know can pilot craft. A kart should be no issue.



See, the thing is, Mario sprung forth from Donkey Kong, which means Diddy was well within his rights to play around in what is actually Donkey Kong's expanded universe. As referenced above, Donkey Kong would be considered part of the same universe as Mario.

I would agree with more focus on Nintendo for Smash, though.



Where else are we supposed to fit in all the other Nintendo characters?



Kirby is a super special character who is obtained when you have save data from the new Air Ride game.


But this, this is brilliance.




Alex Roivas can avoid blue shells if she has enough Pargon at her disposal, but she sometimes hallucinate course obstacles herself. Her mummified bike appears to be powered by some eldritch tome nestled in a hand-shaped pedestal.

If Nintendo Kart is the price that must be paid for this, let it be so; give it to me.



Somehow this doesn't seem like the Mario and Luigi one might expect, but you make a strong case -- YOU HAVE BOOST POWER!​
​
Click to expand...
getting the notification for this was like hearing your name being called from inside a corn maze
 
VolcanicDynamo said:
See, I'm really of two minds when it comes to this. One one hand, I think it makes sense to make getting into a Mario Kart race as simple as possible. I like the Kart customization mechanics, but I do know that it slows things down for a casual audience. On the other hand, I like how the different car parts give you options to tweak your build, and I kinda like the character choice mattering a bit and not just being a skin, even if it does mean seeing a bunch of Waluigis and Roys online.. It really is a difference of philosophy, no approach is better than the other.

In CTR, everyone has the same Kart size, right? Mario Kart tries to balance the heavier drivers by making them larger, letting them push people around but being easier targets. Meanwhile the lighter karts are smaller targets. That would have to be the one big design change a Mario Kart with selectable stats would have to make.
Click to expand...
When Nitro-Fueled released, they had speed classes tied to characters as were originally in CTR and CNK, with everyone keeping their original stats; But when the Halloween update came out, they added the option to change the class (they call it Engines) before getting your character (or you can select "Classic", so characters retain their original stats); This was a tremendous game changer, because now you was free to pick a character without being worried if they'd suck, or you could get the Engine that would make you comfortable the most regardless of character choice; --They even later on added an new Engine class that wasn't present in CTR or CNK to balance things out (A "Drift" class)

On the character size, yeah, it works mostly like Mario Kart, where bigger characters naturally are bigger targets, and vehicles actually slighty adapt to the character when they're way too big;

crash-nitro-fueled-best-character-1-crash.jpg
crash-nitro-fueled-fastest-character-1-tiny-tiger.jpg


Though the smaller characters are mostly unaffected, since they keep the base karts for medium sized characters.

0_7z7OzIR.png


EDIT: Should add that, even characters that were added after the Engine update, had their own classes with their set stats, so if you desired, you could still play them with the Classic option enabled.
 
0
Ok so there are two ways Nintendo can go with the roster. First let us examine if they stay with just the Mario Universe. Here is the roster of previously used characters.

White means they are in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Highlighted means they were in other Mario Kart games
LYDaIKO.png


If Nintendo keeps everyone there and adds back the previous players that puts them at 43. Good start? Well, there is plenty of potential.

Mario Related- Most of the characters related to Mario in some way has already been added to Mario Kart, but that isn't everyone! Now granted there are some C and D level characters in here, but there is still potential for some great additions.

Odyssey Characters- Pauline, Captain Toad, Bonneters/Tiara, Tostarenas, Glydon, Shiverians
Galaxy Characters- Cosmic Mario/Luigi, Gearmos, Hungry Lumas, The Chimp
Sunshine Characters- Piantas, Shadow Mario
64 Characters- Penguin, King Bomb
Bros Characters- Nabbit, Hammer Bros

Luigi Related- The Mansion series received a big jolt in the arm with 3 a few years back and there will no doubt be another game in the future. So shy not get some characters from the series involved in Mario Kart? We have seen several items and karts based on Luigi's Mansion in the past so there should be no reason to ignore these characters.

Luigi's Mansion Characters- E. Gadd, Gooigi, Polterpup

Donkey Kong Related- IMO this series has been severely neglected in both Mario Kart and Smash. There are so many characters that rarely see the light of day. I know it is called MARIO Kart, but if DK characters are going to be included, Nintendo should share the love a little bit.

Dixie Kong, Cranky Kong, King K Roll, Lanky Kong, Chunky Kong, Candy Kong, Kremling

Wario Related- It has been pretty much Wario and Waluigi and that would be it, but with the recent Wario Ware: Get it Together! game, it is time to add some characters.

Mona, 18-Volt, Ashley, Lulu

Also, look they can add Baby Wario and Baby Waluigi, but I don't think the world is ready for that.



Ok, so I've suggested 33 new characters. Now there is no way that Nintendo will make a game with ~75 Mario Universe Characters on the roster. So here is my proposed selection for the next Mario Kart roster.

kcRQhzf.png


55 characters + Mii characters. This allows for a much more diverse line-up while remaining strictly in the Mario Universe.
 
0
But what if Nintendo went crazy? What if Nintendo decided to make it Nintendo Kart? Well opportunities are endless.




For this list, I am going with the top of the top with each franchise. Sorry fans of Falco, Ike, Ridley, and Lady Palutina, but there are only so many roster spots.

Zelda Series- Link has already been included so the ice has been broken. I won't go too crazy here, like I said. Best of the best only

Link, Zelda, Ganondorf

Splatoon Series- Inklings made their entrance since they are part of Nintendo's biggest new IP in a long time. I don't see much else you can add besides the squid sisters here.

Inklings x2, Calie, Marie

Animal Crossing Series- Last one of the franchises already in Mario Kart. You could easily make a roster just of these characters, but we won't go that nuts here.

Villager x2, Isabella, Tom Nook

Kirby Series- Kirby is probably the one series that would make the most sense if Nintendo added franchises to the Mario Kart series.

Kirby, Waddle Dee, King Dedede

Franchises that should get a member if Nintendo decides to go for broke.

Star Fox- Fox
Metroid- Samus
Kid Icarus- Pit
Punch Out!- Little Mac
F-Zero- Captain Falcon
Earthbound- Ness
Ice Climbers
Fire Emblem- Marth
Pikmin- Olimar

Pokemon- Ok so I don't think we see Pokemon in Mario Kart, since Game Freak will probably balk for some reason. Still just for giggles I will throw a name out since I can say I said it back in 2022 ;)

Pikachu

3rd Parties- My gut says Nintendo will keep it in the family, at least for the next entry of Mario Kart, but if things get out of control well here we go!

Sonic
Tails
Knuckles
Pac-man
Mega Man
Bayonetta


Ok so there are 30 characters on the board. Now adding more characters from different franchises will cut into the Mario Universe. Nintendo is unlikely to sweal up the roster to 100+. I'm going to limit things to 64.

KYaXhxY.png


That puts us with 46 from the Mario Universe and 8 from other Nintendo franchises.
 
0
Triple post because I can :)

So, what do I want to see happen with the next Mario Kart game? Call me a curmudgeon. Call me stubborn. Call me a traditionalist. Call me a gate-keeping kerk. I want to see Mario Kart remain as solely a Mario Universe game. We already have Smash Bros as a celebration of gaming. Smash Ultimate already has several franchises and genres under their umbrella. Mario Kart for the longest time has been based on mostly Mario games. There are plenty of characters and settings that Nintendo has yet to visit in a kart game. It

@Supreme Overlord had a great post above me. There is so much potential with just the Mario Universe

@Raccoon great thread idea. Call me next time when we talk Mario Kart tracks!
 
0
It feels wrong to drop Pauline for a Penguin.

I know some people are tired of hearing that song in every game she shows up in, but damn, that woman had to wait 35 years to finally be playable in a game after they shelved Donkey Kong's Music Play. She better not get YEETED that quickly post Switch lol.


Playable Penguin would be really cute though.
 
0
I don't want this. Not everything needs to be a huge crossover. I don't mind a few guests as dlc like what they did with 8, but let's keep this strictly Mario characters overall.
 
0
Supreme Overlord said:
The idea of turning the series into more of a Nintendo Kart or Smash Kart or what have you has never particularly appealed to me. I know, for some people, branching out more into the wider Nintendo universe would be exciting, whether because it might bring in characters they want or it might allow for desired locales to be imported as race tracks, but I find it would be more interesting to delve deeper into the Expanded Donkey Kong Mario Universe and pull from there.

The universe this series is already rooted in contains so much that could yet be incorporated into a still Mario-centric series, elements which would certainly be cast to the side if the focus became Nintendo as a whole -- characters, for instance, that would never make it into Smash Bros. but nevertheless should have their chance to shine--; Mario Kart simply hasn't reached this potential yet.

A Vast Universe​
A brief consideration will conjure readily apparent individual characters who have been ignored and would almost certainly be left to languish should the series take a turn into more focus on Nintendo as a whole.

Super Mario
Pauline / Foreman Spike / Nabbit / Captain Toad / Toadsworth / Wart

(Some of these examples, such as Pauline and Foreman Spike, though iconic in the beginnings of the franchise, have waited years in relative obscurity but appear to be making a resurgence, whereas others, such as Nabbit and Captain Toad, are more recent inventions waiting on their big chance, and yet others still, such as Toadsworth and Wart, have fallen more out of favor -- Toadsworth after building a career of appearances, Wart as the big bad of a single game, leaving Toadsworth the more likely contender, both to appear here and to reappear elsewhere.)​

It doesn't even require delving particularly deep to discover the vast wealth of potential buried even just beneath the surface. While it might appear the universe in question provides nothing further of value, nothing to be mined for the improvement of Mario Kart itself (a position one might suppose supported by the continuous inclusion of further metal and baby variants of existing characters), even just considering the branches of this Expanded Universe will show there is much that has been ignored, much that would provide value to Mario Kart.

Luigi's Mansion
King Boo* / Professor E. Gadd / Hellen Gravely / Polterpup

(King Boo already holds a slot in Mario Kart but he would now draw more from his Luigi's Mansion appearances, where he has become the recurring villain. E. Gadd has appeared in various Mario-related titles, but remains most tied to Luigi's Mansion. Hellen Gravely is new, but appears poised to become recurring; if King Boo can do it, so can she. And Polterpup. Polterpup is an adorable ghost doggo who I considered would be an interesting surprise with fascinating potential in Smash, but who would almost certainly never make it in.)

Mario RPG
Kammy Koopa / Lady Bow / Vivian / Fawful / Cackletta / Popple

(This began as a separate listing for Paper Mario and Mario & Luigi, but these have been combined for ease. I considered the suggestion of Kamek, but Kammy presents her own unique appearance and characterization. Lady Bow is obvious, if we are considering RPG characters, and Vivian is well-received. Fawful makes sense, as a recurring villain, and I had considered whether Cackletta would be included -- eventually determining she should be, so secret shenanigans on the Character Select screen using both her and Bowser can lead to Bowletta --, and Popple seems like a character who could be made use of.)​


Of course, the RPGs have no dearth of characters that could be considered, as evidenced by this Mario & Luigi Kart mockup, which draws only from characters who have appeared in [/i]Mario & Luigi[/i], courtesy of Deiji_Zeruda:
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Donkey Kong
K. Rool / Dixie Kong / Cranky Kong

(K. Rool and Dixie are pretty self-explanatory. Cranky is a crotchety old curmudgeon who rounds out The Geriatric Crew. There are other possibilities, but these are the most likely newcomers, without delving deeper into the series.)

Wario Land/Ware
Captain Syrup / Mona

(For the time being, I have limited this post to one supporting character from each Wario property. Captain Syrup should be in this and other Mario spinoffs by now. Mona is in the WarioWare slot because she already rides around on a motor scooter and has different outfits she can be outfitted with. Also, the obvious choice of Ashley is currently fighting for her spot in Super Smash Bros., though there really isn't anything saying they couldn't both compete in both series.)

Other
Poochy / Viruses

(Poochy, known for appearances in Yoshi's subseries, is an adorable pseudo-doggo-thing who should be given the opportunity to drive a vehicle and feel the wind without needing a window. While I don't tend to be particularly keen on the inclusion of generic enemies, the viruses are exactly the sort of zany addition one might expect, especially as Mario is now able to don his Dr. Mario persona.)


Past Inclusions​

This is disregarding, even, such characters as have been in Mario Kart before and could make sense to return, such as Birdo, Petey Piranha, Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, King Bob-omb (through his appearance in Tour), et cetera, even Robo Mario.

All this is without even delving too deep into characters available in the universe. More depth, of course, if not achieved through character choice, can be afforded through forms.

Characters of Myriad Forms​

As for the baby characters, metal variants, powered-up forms, and other such versions of characters, I would suggest they all be folded into the base form of the character. There would be options for different forms, which would affect handling (metal, baby, and so forth), accessed in one location, and then costumes and such would be accessed separately.

Luigi, for example, would have access to alts such as Gooigi and Mr. L, which would be named as such. Dry Bowser and Meowser would be folded into the base Bowser slot. Rosalina can manifest as the Cosmic Spirit. Yoshi can be yarn. Wario receives Wario Land transformations and his WarioWare look. Peachette is a heavier form of Toadette.

Really, this keeps the Character Select screen looking clean and helps keep players from being overwhelmed by the immediate options, allowing for a quick ability to jump in for those who aren't too particular and the option to select from a number of specific forms for those who have particular desires.

It's important to note that, while these variations might seem like superfluous additions that clutter the Character Select screen, they enjoy more popularity than we denizens of the internet message boards might expect, and, being built largely on the same models and only requiring some "simple" tweaks for gameplay, require less in time and resources. All this works into the idea of collecting them within their own base characters, in that people will want to keep them and their removal won't necessarily allow for much more work elsewhere. Worked well, it can all function for furthering Mario Kart as a celebration of the Mario universe.

Taking Center Stage​

Of course, discussions on this topic would be remiss not to include the subject of courses: Mario Kart isn't all racers and nothing else, after all. The courses are an important part of the series' character, and certainly key to the overall gameplay.

A neat element of the series is its ability to flesh out the world through the stages, to explore areas and concepts beyond what is found in other Mario-based games. It's not beholden to worlds that have been seen elsewhere, and when it does visit them it visits them askew. There's no end to the possibilities. Even just considering existing locales, the Mario universe presents unending potential. Take, for instance, the potential of a Bob-omb Battle Zone, weaving around the incoming impact of giant water bombs, or of Boggly Woods, which has barely been explored and could be fashioned into a brilliant and gorgeous setting through which to race. While the Woods would likely be rendered in a typical Mario style, a less specific papercraft course would explore how the paper realms could be used, folding and unfolding all while looking amazing, and it would fit in with a Crafted World or Wooly World from Yoshi. A MicroGame course would keep racers on their toes.

That's not to say there aren't reasons to be interested in what courses based on other series could bring. One could imaging cruising across Hyrule, through the marketplace of Hyrule Castle Town as townspeople dodge out of the way, across the fields dodging cuckoos, diving into Death Mountain -- there's potential there, and I wouldn't be against the possibility of seeing it, but it doesn't negate the endless potential already found in the concepts afforded Mario Kart as it explores Mario's universe.

Courses are, however, one of the more potentially interesting aspects of a theoretical Nintendo Kart, but additional courses from elsewhere in Nintendo's portfolio don't guarantee these new courses will be any more fun, valuable, or well thought out than new Mario-based courses would be.

A continued focus on Mario-related courses also allows both a wider and deeper exploration of the franchise, which plays into the overall tone and feel of the series: a celebration of Mario.

A Celebration of Mario​

In the end, Mario Kart is positioned to serve as an exploration and celebration of the Mario universe, and something of that would be lost if it went full-on Nintendo Kart. Little touches, such as Lakitu or music quirks or items or any other such element, all stem from and point to the Mario'verse. This is part of what gives the series its particular character, and while you could change that, any major alterations to such should be carefully weighed and considered.

Instead, I would like to see the series lean more into that exploration and celebration. Reach into further areas of the Mario world to pull in characters and items and courses. Treat individual characters themselves as a celebration, with the choices of alternate forms and costumes. There's still a lot of untapped potential.

But What of those Guests?​

Well, I don't see guests from other Nintendo franchises going away anytime soon, but I also don't expect nor want them to become much larger a focus. I would imagine most such guests would originate with EAD/EPD.

Guests
R.O.B. / Isabelle / Link / Inkling / Biff / Olimar / Kirby

(R.O.B. is a link to the olden days of Nintendo history and has seen karting action in the past. Link probably isn't going anywhere -- Champion Link, and other variations, are included as selections --, nor would I expect Isabelle or the Inklings to do so. Biff works as a representative of ARMS, but adhering more to the aesthetic one might expect from Mario Kart and without picking out an actual fighter from the lineup. Olimar, likewise, melds with the aesthetic. Kirby is from outside EAD/EPD, but fits perfectly.)​

Other Business


This has all been, essentially, conclusions I've considered posting in previous Mario/Nintendo Kart threads, but never actually got to.

First, to address the question of Samus, I've actually commented on that subject in the past with the proposal of characters that would fit the Mario Kart aesthetic, perhaps, a tad more:
Specifically dachora and etecoon, which we already know can pilot craft. A kart should be no issue.



See, the thing is, Mario sprung forth from Donkey Kong, which means Diddy was well within his rights to play around in what is actually Donkey Kong's expanded universe. As referenced above, Donkey Kong would be considered part of the same universe as Mario.

I would agree with more focus on Nintendo for Smash, though.



Where else are we supposed to fit in all the other Nintendo characters?



Kirby is a super special character who is obtained when you have save data from the new Air Ride game.


But this, this is brilliance.




Alex Roivas can avoid blue shells if she has enough Pargon at her disposal, but she sometimes hallucinate course obstacles herself. Her mummified bike appears to be powered by some eldritch tome nestled in a hand-shaped pedestal.

If Nintendo Kart is the price that must be paid for this, let it be so; give it to me.



Somehow this doesn't seem like the Mario and Luigi one might expect, but you make a strong case -- YOU HAVE BOOST POWER!​
​
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Love all of this, great post!

On the subject of Nintendo Kart, I’m gonna take a wild guess and say that many people who want it, want it because they think it’s actually MORE likely than Nintendo pulling from RPGs, WarioWare and DKC. Which I can get.

When the options you think are likely are Mario kart staying relatively safe as it is or going full Nintendo Kart, I can see how the latter is more enticing.

But personally I still hold out hope that they’ll get more bold and ambitious with Marioverse selections.
 
I never fully understood the interest or even the idea of "Nintendo Kart" being the big gimmick of "the next mario kart"

Unlike Smash, the characters never added anything to the gameplay. They all could technically be swapped out with stick figures and nothing would change. It'd just be skins on a new map. For a new Mario Kart, I'd want a new gameplay innovation or idea. The maps are just what houses the ability to apply those moments of gameplay
 
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“Not everything needs to be a big crossover event”... no one asked for “everything”, they asked for it in a single game that’s already inching towards it anyways. That phrase is grossly hyperbolic.
 
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That Miyamoto quote comes from MKWii development, and was the Miis that gave him a pause (R.O.B. was totally fine on DS apparently, or even Pac-Man & Mametchi on Arcades lol); -- Mario Kart 8 surely went way beyond that line
 
CyberWolfJV said:
That Miyamoto quote comes from MKWii development, and was the Miis that gave him a pause (R.O.B. was totally fine on DS apparently, or even Pac-Man & Mametchi on Arcades lol); -- Mario Kart 8 surely went way beyond that line
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The video explains that the Miis were the line that crossed, and MK8 added those crossover DLCs since. It's just notable that Miyamoto apparently was uneasy about Mario Kart having crossovers, but his role in games nowadays is a lot less prevalent as he focuses on movies/parks and approaches retirement.
 
Miraj said:
The video explains that the Miis were the line that crossed, and MK8 added those crossover DLCs since. It's just notable that Miyamoto apparently was uneasy about Mario Kart having crossovers, but his role in games nowadays is a lot less prevalent as he focuses on movies/parks and approaches retirement.
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Yes, absolutely; Miyamoto's grip onto many franchises are loosen recently as new folks take the helm; But either way, I found it funny that the Miis that were the ones that got him comment on such concept, when R.O.B. in DS was more of a outsider (before even debuting as a Smash character);
 
CyberWolfJV said:
Yes, absolutely; Miyamoto's grip onto many franchises are loosen recently as new folks take the helm; But either way, I found it funny that the Miis that were the ones that got him comment on such concept, when R.O.B. in DS was more of a outsider (before even debuting as a Smash character);
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Yeah it's pretty strange, huh? You'd think he'd be ecstatic to have Miis in there and would say no to R.O.B.!
 
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