Why Mario Kart Just Isn’t as Fun as It Used to Be

howtogeek.com:

It’s a bit jarring playing the latest Mario Kart for Nintendo Switch when the last time you played Mario Kart was the N64 version. Questions abound: Who are all these characters? Why can’t I actually fall off the course? And why do I keep getting bananas while in first place?

But you never forget how to ride a bike, especially when the bike is shaped like Yoshi. Even when I was strapping on my mushroom head as Toad for the first time in years and losing over and over to my friends, I obnoxiously remarked, “Enjoy this time, because my skills will come back and then I’ll dominate.” And that’s exactly what happened.

While it’s considered one of the great Nintendo Switch games, Mario Kart has applied changes over the years that make the gameplay not quite as fun as it used to be, and those changes all seem to punish good driving and make it harder to get better. These are serious issues here.

Now before we proceed, I know what you’re thinking: Maybe it’s not as fun because you’re not 12 years old anymore and shouldn’t be writing an article criticizing a children’s game. That’s a good point, and I’m still a bit shocked as to where all this hair came from.

But I was thoroughly enjoying Mario Kart 64 well into my late twenties, and appreciate the game as much as any child, especially because I have a driver’s license and will still throw banana peels at other cars in a desperate attempt to recapture the gameplay.

Mario Kart was obviously never meant to recreate the competitiveness and endurance of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They don’t hit each other with green shells. But even in the initial versions, we often joked about the computer assistance giving great question box powerups like stars and the notorious first place-killing blue