Mario Kart 9 Needs To Break This Franchise Tradition

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Despite having been unveiled just a few weeks ago, the new game for Nintendo Switch 2, being tentatively called among fans, has easily become one of the most highly-anticipated upcoming releases. Yet, while excitement may be at an all-time high, must also deal with an almost insurmountable amount of pressure. Not only must the title follow the gargantuan success of, but the 11-year wait for an original entry will naturally result in huge expectations from fans for the title to push the series forward in a new direction.

One way that could stand out is by foregoing some of the series staples in exchange for entirely new ideas. While such a shift could risk the new game lacking the series' signature charm and appeal, it could be the change needs to maintain that sense of creativity and wonder. In fact, there's one series tradition that should be left behind for, as it could hold the game back from becoming the ambitious, original entry that the franchise needs.

One common tradition introduced to the series has been the format adopted for the course selection. Starting with, a majority of the entries have included a selection of older tracks from previous games for players to race on alongside new courses. The older tracks that are included are often given updated visuals to match the art style of the rest of the title, while some will be slightly altered to incorporate the mechanics of that specific entry, like 's paragliders or 's antigravity.

is the only mainline entry following to not include tracks from previous games. The inclusion of retro tracks was added as standard from onwards.

The mix of old and new tracks has become a beloved tradition, and for good reason. The series' multiple entries are home to a wide range of iconic and fan-favorite courses that offer near-endless replayability, and relegating them to their debut games would be a colossal waste. The tradition of remastering older tracks for newer entries not only gives these courses the recognition