Review: Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit

Mario Kart Live Home Circuit Featured Image 2

Check the fuel-controlled Mario Kart toy provided and run errands in your living room by following it on the Nintendo Switch screen with Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit!

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit BoxartRelease date: 16 October 2020

Developed by: Velan

Published by: Nintendo

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite

Type of game: Race game

Average duration of a game:30 minutes

Topics: Kart racing, competition

Business model: Paying for acquisition

Kart and accessories available in physical format

The game is only digital and available on the eShop for download.

Possible configurations of the Nintendo Switch:

Nintendo Switch Handheld modeNintendo Switch Tabletop modeNintendo Switch TV Mode

Age3+ 7+ 12+16+18+
New players
Intermediate players
Experienced players
Very easy to drive, accelerate, brake, left and right. Several difficulty modes are present.

Replayability

Infinite game, as long as you want to unlock the different costumes and items for Mario

Difficulty

Several difficulty modes are present. They are represented by the speed of the karts: 50 cc, 100 cc, 150 cc, 200cc.

Violence, fear, nudity?

No problem.

Language level used

baby talk

Positive message

Just racing, there is no story mode, or not much text.

Minimum reading level required

The child can be guided in very simple menus. Most of them are icons that help you navigate.

Additional costs ?

No microtransactions

Minimum level of execution on the controller required

Very easy to drive, accelerate, brake, left and right. Acceleration can be put into automatic mode to facilitate (Smart Steering).

Principle of the game

The player connects his Kart-shaped toy to his Nintendo Switch. He places the doors of the game in his living room. And he races Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit on his Switch, running the Kart virtually, and actually at the same time.

Very good explanatory video here:

Local game modes

1 player per kart and Nintendo Switch.

To play 2, you need another Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit Set AND ANOTHER Nintendo Switch.

There’s a Grand Prix mode and a time trial mode.

No online game modes

Conclusion

A very fun game but also very expensive. 130 CAD – taxes for a kit.

Even more expensive to play 2. Since you need another Nintendo Switch and a second kit containing a second toy.

More information about the game: Official page of the game on the Nintendo website

Recommendations

If you like this game, you’ll like it too.

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About Marc Shakour

Former video game programmer, columnist, teacher, competitor ... Marc has always been very familiar with the world and industry of video games. He decided to help neophytes about it, to discover new universes, worlds and fantastic creatures.

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