There are a range of game modes to try in solo mode, like Grand Prix and Battle Mode, but you can also play with friends or connect to the web to race up to eight people anywhere in the world. With eight cups in which to compete and 32 courses in total (including 16 you'll see for the first time in Mario Kart 7), there is lots to enjoy. There are even time trials to help you hone your skills – just pick a course, set the best time you can, and race against 'ghost karts' saved from previous record laps.
When it comes to choosing characters to represent you on the road, you'll find all your favourite classic drivers to pick from, and you can also let your very own Mii get behind the wheel! There are new characters to enjoy in Mario Kart 7 too, including Lakitu (the lightweight Koopa who usually counts down the start of the race) and Metal Mario, who is just as heavy as his appearance suggests, though his top speed is still incredibly impressive. Elsewhere, don't be fooled by the elegant Honey Queen, as she can hold her own on the track and won't be nudged off the track so easily!
For those looking to battle others, Balloon Battle is a great way to play. Take on other characters and aim to burst all their balloons using items – the one who breaks the most within the time limit will take the top spot. In Coin Battle, the focus is much more on what you can collect – just choose a stage and grab as many coins as possible to emerge victorious. For multiplayer modes, you'll need to buy or download Mario Kart 7, but only one game card will be required for up to eight Nintendo 3DS users to join in the fun. However, players without a game card will automatically have Shy Guy as their selected character.
Not only can you race registered friends, but you can also take on previous opponents and others you have met through StreetPass. You can set the rules of play and exchange data with other StreetPass and SpotPass opponents, exchange Mii characters automatically, and save things like player names, ghost data, and other community information.
Nintendo 3DS offers Parental Controls so that parents can control the level of 3D their children can view on the Nintendo 3DS as well as the content they can access. Nintendo 3DS also features a 3D depth slider which lets players turn off or adjust the level of 3D they want on the 3D Screen, two built-in screens for different functionality, a Circle Pad which provides a full 360 degrees of direction, a built-in motion sensor and gyro sensor, and houses a 2GB SD Memory Card. It is equipped with three cameras (two of which are facing outwards to allow the taking of 3D pictures and video*), and is compatible with AR Cards which come packaged with Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo 3DS is also backwards compatible with most existing Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi games, which can be played in 2D on your Nintendo 3DS system.
| Platform | Nintendo 3DS |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Nintendo |
| Release Date | 2 Dec 2011 |
| Age Rating | Age 7+ |
| Genre | Hardware |
| Exclude from Zip Payments | No |
| Excluded from PayPal | No |
