It's been years since a new Mario Kart game hit the market and even longer since the series has brought new mechanics. Mario Kart 8 was a great entry, especially once it moved to the Switch and came with all the DLC, but it didn't really add anything new to the series. It's time for something fresh, and Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed has some unique gameplay mechanics that would be welcome in Mario Kart and future games, much like how certain items or battle modes have become a staple. At the very least, it would be nice to see some of this Sonic game's modes in a new Mario Kart.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed was released on a slew of platforms, including the Wii U, Nintendo DS, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox One & 360 and even PC. It was a fairly popular racing game featuring not only Sonic characters but other major Sega characters and some exclusives, depending on which platform it was being played. The game illustrates just what kind of racing experience a new Mario Kart could be by adding new features and branching out a little.
Mario Kart 8 does have some characters from other Nintendo franchises like Link from The Legend of Zelda and Animal Crossing residents, as well as tracks to go with them. However, these were initially added as DLC rather than included in the original release. There were also some nice, simple customizations regarding kart types, gliders and tires. It wasn't just aesthetics either -- they drove differently and provided different stats which more hardcore players could min-max to play better online and in competitions and get the best possible times. Some characters even had their own customization options in terms of color, which was a nice, smaller addition. However, it's been so long since there's been a new game that the next title in the series is going to need a fresh coat of paint to get people interested.
Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed has some great gameplay for Mario Kart to borrow from that would fit perfectly. One of the biggest features is this Sonic racing game's campaign mode and how it's structured. Instead of a cup or general set of races to complete, it has worlds and a path system, similar to Super Mario Bros. 3. Instead of levels, though, each stop is a race or challenge, and there are also branching paths. Races and challenges must be completed in order to receive stars, a collectible to needed to move forward or unlock other paths. The challenges encountered aren't just typical time trials or one-on-one races as players would expect. Some are quite tough, like collecting a number of rings in a short time or holding a drift for a certain amount of time. It provides a good variety of challenges and keeps the game from just being about races.
This system would fit perfectly into a Mario Kart game as it's how non-racing Mario games typically work, like Super Mario World and even more modern Mario games like Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe. Cups will always be a part of Mario Kart games, but adding a story layer with progression and branching paths would be much more fun than passively collecting coins to unlock karts and characters. It could also incorporate Battle Mode trials and other challenges, similar to how Sonic & All-Star Racing Transformed changes things up.
Another fun addition would be changing vehicles throughout a race or using a different one on a particular track, as was done in Diddy Kong Racing on the N64. Adding some variety in vehicles could mean more varied tracks. Imagine flying through a Nimbus Land track from Super Mario RPG or using a mini motorboat to sail around Delfino Isle rather than race through its plaza. These changes would give players more to unlock and more ways to enjoy the game. It's been a long time since Nintendo fans have seen a new Mario Kart, so hopefully, Nintendo spices things up and announces something soon.