Is it throwback Thursday? That depends on if you're reading this on a Thursday. Lend me your eyes, and bare with me for minute. I'm here to talk to you about a game that came out for the Nintendo Switch five years ago. I thought it was gimmicky, and I thought it was too expensive. I was right about the too expensive part, but I was dead wrong about the former. This game is amazing. I'm super late.
Mario Kart: Home Circuit comes in a box almost the same size as the launch day Switch. Inside that box are four cardboard gates, two cardboard turn arrows, and an actual toy kart with a camera on it. You then download the game digitally, absolutely free. The game teaches you how to pair up the kart to your switch, and control it with your controller. Then you're off to the races, literally.
The game tells you how to set up the gates, and you can set those gates up anywhere. The camera recognizes if the gates are facing the right way, and where you place the turns. The camera isn't the clearest, but it doesn't have to be. It's just broadcasting your home to your Switch, which is half the fun. The other half, is the AR versions of the other racers, and the environments.
Different courses not only merit different versions of the Koopalings, but gives you different environmental hazards. Bowser's castle has firebars, and podoboos. And yes, of course you get power ups. It's Mario Kart. The power ups are all encompassing. Shells, bombs, Bloopers, and even the Blue Shell. There are even different speeds to choose from.
Making your own tracks, and watching the actual kart roll around your house is pretty awesome. It was pretty expensive when it came out, but I found one for $50. And you can play up to 4 players. There is even a Luigi Kart. If you can find one for cheap, I highly recommend it. The kiddo won't stop talking about it. I'll stream it someday.
