Apparently Only Nintendo & RARE Can Make a Good Kart Racer
When Chocobo GP was first revealed, it seemed as though there might finally be some alternative options to the likes of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Diddy Kong Racing’s hold on the genre. Unfortunately, Square Enix doesn’t seem to have created something that matches up to the polished experiences of the Nintendo and Rare kart racers of the past. While competition would help the genre evolve, it doesn’t feel like any developers have made a great kart racer in years.
Chocobo GP has been suffering from middling review scores and controversy over its heavy use of microtransactions. Like many free-to-play games, Chocobo GP utilizes a season pass system that gives players unlockables. However, the game costs $50 USD and more to buy season passes. The new Crash Team Racing also fell victim to similar over-monetization issues with cosmetics and characters. When placed beside Diddy Kong Racing and Mario Kart 8's Booster Pass, these games provide less than a complete experience and don’t reach the same heights of challenge and creativity.
The reason Square Enix failed was partially that the design goal never seemed to create a complete racing experience. Although Chocobo GP has arcade-style racing, the lack of exciting courses and tight controls have hindered the gameplay experience. There have been recent attempts besides Chocobo GP to make mascot-centered kart racers like Mario Kart and Diddy Kong Racing, but they’ve all suffered from less precise controls and uncomfortable track designs.
Chocobo GP isn’t the only game that’s tried to compete with Mario Kart, Nickelodeon Kart Racers 2: Grand Prix, and Team Sonic Racing were also recently released. Still, both graphically and mechanically, they’re not as imaginative as Mario Kart 8. The best part of the Diddy Kong Racing series and now Mario Kart was their creative use of more than just the track - the ability to propel through water, fly through the air, and defy gravity allowed the developers to design beautiful courses with creative and challenging routes.
Of course, below Chocobo GP, there are also games like Garfield Kart and Hello Kitty Kruisers, but not many developers have tried to re-enter the space. Both of these games have control issues and bugs, and while both aren’t looking to compete against Mario Kart directly, they don’t hold up like Diddy Kong Racing has. Many will point to the Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing series as a bastion of quality, and it definitely has its merits. However, the most recent Sega kart racer, Team Sonic Racing, didn’t bring back the transforming aspects of the series and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe still sells better to this day.
It’s already hard to make a kart racer that stands apart from the competition, and there doesn’t seem to be much interest in creating one. After being bought by Microsoft, Rare hasn’t even created a follow-up with the Kinect series of games or otherwise, and that’s disappointing. In contrast to other more traditional racing games like Forza or Need For Speed, arcade racers are the best for pick-up-and-play gaming.
Still, it’s apparent that one of the major hurdles is monetization. The next attempt at a kart racer should undoubtedly have a player-friendly economy, or no paid-for unlocks at all. As Mario Kart 8 and Diddy Kong Racing have proven, the gameplay and track designs will last long after the excitement over character rosters. Chocobo GP may not be the game that fans were hoping for, but hopefully whatever racer comes next like the recently-revealed Disney Speedstorm will scratch the racing itch.