Alongside the official reveal of the Nintendo Switch 2, it appears thatMario Kart 9will be an early release for the console, which is a long time coming, since the original Switch didn’t receive its ownMario Kartgame. Instead,Mario Kart 8was first released for the Wii U, then brought to the Switch asMario Kart 8 Deluxe, featuring new characters and laterDLC that added a staggering number of new racetracks.
A newMario Kartmeans new racetracks, andThe Legend of Zeldaas a franchise has enough amazing locations to choose from to make tracks. So much so that it could have its own DLC forMario Kart 9to bring Hyrule and other places to the racetracks, and include a cast of iconic characters. But if the game has to limit the number ofZeldatracks that are included, then it needs to pick from the strongest contenders.
10A Water Temple Mix With Shifting Water Levels
Ocarina of Timehas an iconic Water Temple, but it could be more fun to have a track that blends various elements and designs of water-themed dungeons that have been part of the series over the years. Since it’s almost always a memorable experience in games, it simply makes sense to have a track that honors this dungeon and its many forms. It’s also a chance tomix underwater sections with regular sections.
However,this track would have to include water levels that changebased on which lap players are on. It’s a way to make it more dynamic, and it could make it a challenging race, especially if it’s the first time that players see it. The problem is that designing a track like this could result in it being too difficult to ultimately be a feasible idea.
9Gerudo Valley With Sand Storms
Mario Karthas included desert-themed tracks in its games before, so Gerudo Valley wouldn’t seem out of place.Previous desert tracks have also had obstacles like cactithat can stop racers and force them to regain their momentum, which can cost a lot of time and result in the racer dropping a few places. Quicksand has been used in similar ways as an obstacle, which can slow racers and make it tough to get back onto the normal sand track.
The design forGerudo Valley inTears of the Kingdomwould be a great inspiration for aZeldaracetrack. This is because Gerudo Valley, like other areas, is being affected by strange weather inTOTK, and that meansthere are sandstorms and sand tornadoes that make it impossible to see which way to go. Therefore, a toned down variation of this Gerudo Valley could be a racetrack that’s both fun and frustrating.
8Turn The Lost Woods Into A Dizzying Maze
TheLost Woods is actually terrifyingwhen its history and purpose are taken into account, since it usually protects important areas or items by cursing people who shouldn’t be looking for them. It also tends to have at least one puzzle that Link has to solve if he wants to progress deeper into the woods and find the Forest Temple or Master Sword, depending on the game.InOcarina of Time, this means getting through the mazein the beginning.
Mario Karthas experimented with labyrinthine tracks previously, like Yoshi Valley fromMario Kart 64.
TheOoTLost Woods keeps resetting Link if he picks the wrong path, which can make it difficult to figure out which way to go if he’s reset without realizing it. Now, however,the path to take is generally knownand there are tricks to help with that, but that wouldn’t have to be the case if it’s made into part of a forest-themed track. That maze alone could make this the most frustrating track, but also make it a fun throwback forZeldaplayers.
7Explore The Fun Of Castle Town Before Ganondorf
Castle Town inOoThelps show the stark difference between the time before Ganondorf took over and after he was in power for several years. At the time the game was released,Link’s first glimpse of Castle Town makes the area feel aliveand filled with people who are going about their daily lives, unaware of how drastically that might change. It’s so nostalgic and fun that it deserves to be a racetrack inMario Kart, but it also needs its original soundtrack playing for the duration of the race.
Of course, it would be possible to include some of the eerie scenes that fill Castle Town when Link is an adult if the game didn’t want to only use the first version from his childhood.The track could be split into halves, with one showing the childhood version and the other showing the adult version. However, it would likely be a better option to go with the lighthearted form of Castle Town, letting the racers enjoy the end of Hyrule’s peaceful period.
6Let Racers Explore The Sky
Games that include the Sky as its own zone aren’t uncommon inZelda, andTOTKlikely makes the most use of this, since Link divides his time between the Surface, Sky, and Depths while he’s searching for Zelda and figuring outhow to fight Ganondorf. The way thatTOTKhas various islands that Link can travel between in the Sky could be the perfect set-up for a sky-themed track inMario Kart 9. Plus,it would make great use of the gliders if they returnin the next game.
While the track could focus just on the Sky islands inTOTK, and even use only Great Sky Island, considering its size, it could also include multiple islands that Link has visited in the Sky.This would allow each Sky level to be represented, since each game’s version could receive an island that’s part of the track, making the racer visit them to complete a lap. There’s the added element of being able to fall off the track by using the Sky as a setting, which is common in Rainbow Road, but could be used here.
5Using Echoes Of Wisdom To Shift Racers
A big part of the story inEchoes of Wisdomis the existence of rifts that connect to an alternate version of Hyrule, where there are evil copies of people from Hyrule who can take their place.EoWalso has a classic design when it comes to how Hyrule is presented, so it could be turned into a fun racetrack in a newMario Kart. Plus, the rifts could be a unique mechanic if they were used as part of the race.
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Rifts could be used as both obstacles and shortcuts on a racetrack. In fact, finding hidden shortcuts can be a lot of fun inMario Kart, and having some rifts that send racers to a previous part of the track, then others that send racers ahead on the track, could be an interesting way to include an important part ofEoWin a track based on the game. The potential for rifts on a racetrack is huge, and fits fairly well with other track designs the series has had in the past.
4A Dangerous Trip Through The Fire Temples
Like the Water Temple, the Fire Temple and equivalent dungeons is often an important section ofZeldagames, and generally a requirement for completing the games without using glitches. It also tends to make Link find and use gear that helps him survive in the intense heat that’s almost always present. Turned into a racetrack, there could be a lot of obstacles used in theZeldagames, such as dodging fire orGorons who are also racing through the area.
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The problem would be how much this type of racetrack might overlap with tracks like Bowser’s Castle, which tends to have a lot of lava and fire elements included in it. Therefore, it feels unlikely that a racetrack based on the fire dungeons of theZeldaseries would be included inMario Kart, simply because there would be a lot of potential overlap. However, it’s worth considering, especially if the track includes racing Goron NPCs being disruptive around the map.
3Using The Days Of Clock Town
Clock Town is the central hub ofMajora’s Mask, and it’s part of both main and side quests that Link has to complete to collect various masks in his quest to stop the moon. AmongZeldalocations, this one feels like a strong contender to appear in aMario Kartgame as a racetrack, andMajora’s Maskhas had locations featured in other games, likeSuperSmash Bros. However, Clock Town has a unique feature that could turn a racetrack into an unsettling experience.
InMajora’s Mask, Clock Town is where Link sees the passing of time most clearly. This is because of the moon coming increasingly closer across the three-day cycle during which the game is set. Since most tracks include three laps inMario Kart,each lap on a Clock Town track can bring the moon closer to the track, similar to the effects that are seen in the background of the game as days pass. While it wouldn’t have an impact on how the track is played, it would be a great way to pay homage to the game.
2A Race Through Hyrule Castle
Hyrule Castle is another location that appears multiple times throughout the series, and a track could either focus on one version, or createa new version that blends together features of different castles. Even if Link doesn’t get the chance to spend time in the castle, its existence is generally important to the game overall, if only because it’s the home of the royal family. However, the versions that Link can explore include a lot of interesting details that could be used for a racetrack inMario Kart.
The most difficult Hyrule Castle would be the one at the end ofOoT, wherethe structure is crumbling while Link and Zelda escape. But using a version, such as those fromTwilight Princess,EoW,BOTW, orTOTKall have unique features that could be fun to see used inMario Kart. This is especially true for those that have enemies that could act as obstacles, like the laser-shooting Guardians at Hyrule Castle inBOTW.
1Exploring The Majesty Of Hyrule Field
If there is only one racetrack made for aZeldalocation inMario Kart, then it should be Hyrule Field. This is an area that appears in most games, and it always gives Link a refreshing overview of the world in which he’ll be exploring during his journey in that game.It’s also the best way to include multiple other locations as referenceswithout having to make entire tracks for them.
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Traveling through Hyrule Field for a racetrack could include areas that reference other locations from the series, such as Hyrule Castle in the distance, Lon Lon Ranch, and even entrances to other locales, such as Zora’s Domain or Goron City.It’s an iconic area that acts as a connection between other main areas inZeldagames, so it would be the ideal option in the case that only one location could be used as a track. Plus, the open space could be refreshing if it’s put in a cup that has more cluttered maps inMario Kart.
News of the Switch 2 is exciting, and the early footage of the nextMario Kartequally so. WithThe Legend of Zeldabeing another classic franchise for Nintendo, it likely has a game in the works for the new console as well. In that case, it could be fun to bringZeldalocations toMario Kart 9in a crossover.
