Mario Kart: V² Circuit is a entry in the Mario Kart franchise created for The V² by Toroko with conjunction from Nintendo. The game features a entirely new roster, mostly re-imagining it from the ground up. It returns many mechanics that were present in previous games such as vehicle customization and kart transformation through land, air, water, and anti-gravity. New to this installment is a casual story mode ala Mario Tennis Aces and the Phantom Drift move. Interestingly, this is the first installment to introduce a racing mode without items.
The game's title is a callback to the Game Boy Advance title Super Mario Circuit and features a similar cover. Additionally, elements from the Super Mario GP series appear as well, such as the subseries' unique lock-on feature for firing items and power slides.
Gameplay
Mario Kart: V² Circuit plays pretty similarly to other Mario Kart titles in that the player races eleven other characters on a track, using items from Item Boxes to change the tide of the race. Races can have different objectives based off what mode the player is in. Karts return with the customization they had from Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart 8, as well as the land, underwater, air, and zero gravity modes they had.
New to this installment is the Phantom Drift. This appears as a small meter that can be seen on the lining of most of the tires in the game and appears as a small meter on the ui as well. When activated, this drift allows the kart to phase briefly through opponents as well as perform extremely sharp turns extremely quickly. The Phantom Drift meter fills as you drift, incentivizing drifting.
You can also now lock onto opponents to fire items at them. This only works with a certain range, but allows you to fire quickly with precision. You can also lock your camera onto nearby racers if you are close by. When drifting, holding it longer for 2 seconds will allow you to perform a powerslide that blocks most attacking items. You can also perform it quicker if you drain some of your built up Phantom Drift energy.
Smart Steering and Auto-Accelerate return from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, although the double item holding does not return.
Grand Prix
The Grand Prix mode can be played up to two players with six available cups to race in. Each cup has four races on four unique tracks. The player must consistently win in the lead in these races to win, amassing enough points to top the leaderboard. The player can select from 10cc, 50cc, 100cc, 150cc, and 200cc engine classes.
Master's Prix
The Master Prix mode is the Grand Prix mode stripped of items and the kart modes (no underwater, air, or zero gravity modes). Additionally, the player can "super boost" when they drift; when then are drifting a meter will appear, dropping and raising. By consistently hitting the triggers on the controllers when the gauge is full, the player will amass more speed. The player can select from 10cc, 50cc, 100cc, 150cc, and 200cc engine classes.
Vesus Mode
With up to eight players, the players can race against each other in custom races. They can select what items appear and the rarity of them, the cpu difficulty levels, how many races and how many laps appear on each race. They can also select between Team or Solo races as well as what courses appear.
Double Mode
Pick two characters on your kart and switch between them during the race. The character hanging off the kart will carry an item while the character's stats transfer if they are driving the kart. This opens a lot of possibilities as you can have two items held at once and can swap your entire stat range in a instant, making for a lot of interesting mix-ups.
Time Mode
Cosmic Clone Trials
Race against a Cosmic Clone of your character to beat their time. After defeating the game's Cosmic Clone, you can try for a better score or get data from online Cosmic Clones that steadily rack up in difficulty, allowing for bigger and bigger rewards of coins. Beating a track's Cosmic Clone will also also unlock a character.
Frog Trials
Inspired by Wario Land 4, Frog Trials are strict time trials where you have to navigate the course and complete a lap in time to get to the vortex and escape before the Frog Switches triggered at the start of the race explode the course. These versions of the courses feature a lot of coins and Bonus Medals, which are rare items that only appear in this mode and only feature four per track.
Battle Mode
Each player has three balloons and drive around in specialized battle arenas using item boxes to grab items to attack other players with. Players can tell who hit whom with a area on the bottom of the screen alerting players of hits, as well as a balloon leaderboard showing how many balloons each player has. After a player gets hit, they have 1.7 seconds of invincibility to prevent flurry attacks from taking out their entire balloon stock.
Adventure Mode
A strange, powerful racer known only as Phantom X has arrived on Kartios Island, challenging the Mario gang to the race of a lifetime. Take your character of choice and go through many trials to train against this mysterious racer.
More details to come soon.
Hub Area
Info
Kartios Shores
TBA
Tanglewreck Tropics
TBA
Mystic Mansion
TBA
Savage Land
TBA
Wario's World
TBA
Phantom Mountain
TBA
Playable Characters
There are 121 unique characters that are playable in Mario Kart: V² Circuit. There are 36 starting characters, 54 unlockable characters, and 30 unlockable characters. On top of this, there is the Mii, who has variable stats and is designed more or less by the player.
Like Mario Kart 8, each character is unlocked in a random order except for Mii. Mii is always unlocked fifth or unlocked when the character uses a amiibo to unlock a Mii outfit. To unlock characters, the player must place first in a cup with any of the engine classes. Additionally, characters can be unlocked through collecting Coins and purchasing them on the menu using the coins.
Base Character Stats
Although you can create a vehicle out of parts similar to Mario Kart 7/Mario Kart 8, characters still have base stats that inform how vehicle parts effect them. Some characters start great in certain stats while some do not.
Speed: Top speed when going across the normal ground. Generally the speed is consistent across all types of terrain, although each presents a different drag that impacts all characters.
Acceleration: How fast you get to this top speed. After getting stunned or knocked off track, you will probably want to get back to top speed when possible. The bigger the number, the better.
Weight: The weight of a character puts them into certain classes. 1-2 are featherweights, 3s are mediumweights, and 4-5s put them into heavyweight categories.
Handling: This stat determines well can you turn on the terrain. Better grip means your car turns quicker and can do sharper turns.
Traction: How well you stick to the ground. This helps against slippery surfaces and can negate some of the lost speed you gain when you go off track.
Mini-Turbo: The length of a vehicle's mini-turbo in seconds, activated after drifting or gaining 10 coins. This stat is secret and not seen in normal gameplay. It is not effected by vehicle parts.
Click on the character icons to go back to their section in the character section.
Character
Speed
Acceleration
Weight
Handling
Traction
Mini-Turbo
Toad
2.5
2.75
2
2.75
4.5
2.5
Toadette
2.5
2.5
2
2.5
4.75
2.5
Koopa Troopa
2.25
2.25
2
2.5
4.5
2.75
Goomba
2
2.75
1
2.5
4.5
2.75
Shy Guy
3
1.75
1
2.5
4.5
2.75
Bandinero
2
2.5
1
3
4.5
2.5
Wanda
2.75
2
1
2.5
4.25
3
Burt the Bashful
2
1.75
2
3.5
3.5
3.75
Mimi
3
1.5
1
3.75
2.5
3.75
Diddy Kong
4
3.5
1
1.75
1.5
4
Koopa Kid
3.5
1
2
2.75
3.5
3.5
Stork
2.5
2
1
3.25
3
3.75
Mario
2.75
2.75
3
2.75
2.5
3
Luigi
2.75
2.75
3
2.25
3
3
Princess Peach
3
2.5
3
3
2.25
3.5
Yoshi
2.5
2.75
3
3
2.50
3.75
Princess Fusee
1.5
4.75
3
2
2.50
3.75
Princess Daisy
3.75
1.75
3
1.75
3.5
3.75
Kritter
1.75
1.75
3
3.75
3.5
3
Broque Monsieur
1
2.75
3
3.75
3.25
4.5
Rex
2.5
2.5
3
3.25
2.5
3
Pauline
4.75
2.75
3
2.25
2
3.25
Princess Shokora
2.5
2.75
3
2.25
3.25
3.75
Cranky Kong
1.25
1.25
3
3.25
5
2.25
Wario
3.25
2.25
4
2.25
3
4
Bowser
2.25
3.25
5
2.5
2.75
4
Donkey Kong
2.25
2.25
5
3.5
2.75
4.25
Captain Syrup
4.25
1.25
4
3.5
1.75
4.25
Waluigi
3
1.25
4
4.5
2
4.5
Rosalina
4
2.25
5
2.5
2
4.75
Midbus
1.25
3.25
5
3.5
2.75
4.75
Funky Kong
4.5
1.75
5
1.5
3
3.5
Madame Broode
1.25
1.25
5
4.5
3.75
3.5
Cosmetta
4.25
2.5
5
2.5
1.5
4.75
Boom Boom
2.25
2.25
5
2.5
3.75
4
Shake King
3.25
2
5
2.5
3
4.5
Dixie Kong
2.25
2.25
2
3.25
3
2.75
Kirby
1.5
1.5
1
4.5
3.25
2.25
Olimar
1.75
1.25
1
3.5
4.25
2.5
Goombella
2.5
2.5
1
2.5
2.25
2.25
Vivian
3
1
2
3
3.25
2.75
Nabbit
4.75
3
1
1
2
2.75
Mewshi
2.5
2.25
2
3.25
2.75
2.5
Cappy
2.5
2
1
3.5
2.75
2.75
Bowler
3
1.5
1
3.5
2.75
2.75
Tiny Kong
2.25
2.25
1
2.25
3
2.75
Dry Bones
1.5
1.5
1
3.5
4.25
2.25
Banana Fairy Princess
4.5
1.5
1
3.5
2.25
1.25
Gooigi
2.75
2.75
1
2.25
3
3.5
Suna
2.75
3
1
2
3
2.75
Jane B. Christie
2.25
1
1
4.50
2
4.75
Blinky
2
5
1
2
1.75
2.75
Ms. Pac-Man
3
4
2
2.25
1.5
2.5
Mametchi
4
3
2
2.5
1.25
2.5
Slanito
2.5
2.5
3
3.25
2.5
3
Inkling
2.25
2.25
3
3.75
2.5
3.75
Link
2
2
3
3.25
4.5
3.25
Mona
3.5
1.5
3
3.25
2.5
3.5
Captain Toad
2.5
2.75
3
2.75
4.5
3
Captain Toadette
2.5
2.5
3
2.5
4.75
3
Bowser Jr.
2.5
3.75
3
2.25
2.25
3.25
Nastasia
2.5
1
3
3.75
3.5
3.75
Hammer Bro.
2.5
2.5
3
3.5
2.25
3.75
Birdo
3.5
1.75
3
3.25
2.25
3.25
Bandit
4.5
3
3
1.25
2
3.75
Lanky Kong
2.25
2.75
3
3.25
2.5
4
Queen Merelda
2
3
3
3
2.75
3.5
Princess Lotus
2.25
2.25
3
3.75
2.5
3.75
Captain Falcon
3.25
2.5
3
3.25
1.75
4
Geno
3.5
2.5
3
2.25
2.5
3.75
Mach Rider
3.75
3.25
3
2.25
1.5
3.75
Pac-Man
4
2
3
2.5
2.25
3.75
Lubba
2.5
3.5
5
2.5
2.25
4
Samus
3.5
2.5
4
1.5
3.25
4.25
R.O.B.
3
3
4
2.75
2
4.75
King K. Rool
2.5
3.5
5
2.25
2.5
4.75
Rudy the Clown
1.5
3.5
5
2.25
3.5
4.25
Metal Mario
2.75
2.75
5
2.75
2.5
4
Queen Ruby
2.5
2.5
4
3.25
2.5
4.25
Petey Piranha
3.5
1.5
5
3.25
2.5
4.5
King Boo
2.25
2.75
5
3.25
2.5
4.5
Pom Pom
3.25
2.75
4
1.25
2.5
4.75
Xananab
2.5
2.5
4
2.75
3
4.5
Chunky Kong
1.25
1.5
5
3.5
4.5
4.25
Princess Cinnabon
1.75
2
5
2.5
4.5
4.25
Chiro
3.25
1.5
4
2.5
2.5
4.5
Deathborn
1.25
1.25
5
3.75
4.5
4.75
Don-Chan
2
3
4
3.75
2
4.5
Foreman Spike
1.75
2.25
4
3.5
3.25
4.5
Pink Gold Peach
3
2.5
5
3
2.25
4.5
Mii
Variable
Variable
Variable
Variable
Variable
Variable
Morton Koopa Sr.
2
3.5
5
2.25
4
4.5
Iggy Koopa
3
2.5
3
2.25
4
3.5
Larry Koopa
2.25
3.25
3
2.25
4
3.25
Lemmy Koopa
3
2.5
1
4.25
2
2.5
Ludwig Von Koopa
3
2.5
3
2.25
4
3.5
Roy Koopa
2.5
3
4
2.75
3.5
4.25
Morton Koopa Jr.
1.5
2.5
5
4.25
3.5
4.5
Wendy O' Koopa
3.25
2.25
2
3
3.25
2.5
Dry Bowser
3.25
2.25
5
2.5
2.75
4.25
Princess Bowser
3.5
2
4
3
2.25
3.5
Lakitu
3
2.5
1
2
4.25
2.5
Villager
2
2.5
3
3
4.25
3.5
Isabelle
2
1.5
1
4
4.25
2.5
Ike
2.5
1.5
4
3.5
4.25
5
Corrin
3
2.75
3
3
3
3.75
Pit
4.25
1.25
2
2.75
3.5
2.75
Palutena
3.25
2.25
1
3.5
1.75
2.75
King Bob-Omb
1.5
4
5
1
4.25
3.5
Taj the Genie
4
1.5
5
2.25
4
4.5
Wizpig
4.5
1
5
2
4.25
4.5
Timber
4
3.5
3
1.75
1.5
3.5
Mary O.
2.5
3.5
3
1.5
3.25
3.25
King Watinga
2.25
2.75
5
3.75
3
4.50
Builder Mario
2.5
2.5
3
3.25
2.5
3.75
White Mage
2.5
2.5
3
3.5
3.25
3
Black Mage
2
3
3
3.75
3
3
Slime
1
2.25
1
5
3
3
Jade
2.5
2.25
3
3.5
4
3
Sonic
5
3.25
3
2
2
3.75
Shadow
4.75
3.25
3
2.25
2
3.75
Don Bongo
1.5
2.25
5
4.5
4.5
4.25
Pak E. Derm
4.25
3.25
3
2.75
2
4
Aqualea
3.5
3.25
3
2.5
3
3.25
Dr. Wright
1.25
2.5
4
4.25
4.75
4
Vampire Wario
3.25
2.25
3
2.25
3
3.75
Wart
2.5
3.25
5
3.25
3.25
3.25
Color Variants
Character
Variants
Bandinero
Yoshi
Ike
Corrin
Race Courses
Each Cup features four tracks.
Mushroom Cup
Mushroom Cup
Image + Name
Info
Super Circuit
Super Circuit is your standard Mario Kart track, featuring a couple bends here and there. It is a redone version of Peach Circuit from Mario Kart: Super Circuit but features splits in the track that loop back to the main course. These alternate paths contain anti gravity shifts but are much tighter and more dangerous to take.
Wario Castle
Wario Castle takes you across a grassy atoll populated by Spritelings from Wario World before eventually coming into the gold coated castle. There is two paths during the grassy atoll and a shortcut inside the mansion for those with high steering stats. The mansion is tighter than the grassy atoll but opens back up to the finish line. There is barely any coins outside the mansion, but plenty inside.
Gusty Gardens
Gusty Gardens starts you on a round disc planet and has you shoot through a star-dust/flowers road with several glider and antigravity segments. You will go through the Pear Planets, the Curve Planet, the Question Mark planets, the hedge ring planet, and Major Burrow's planet before making your way back to the finish line, going through a disk planet as you do. The only obstacle here is Flipbugs, which run away from the race if they're in the way and don't stun the driver on impact.
Bowser's Blossom Bastille
Bowser's Blossom Bastille is an expansive map full of tight turns on a giant battleship that is littered with sakura blossom trees. Tox Boms litter the wider turns of the stage, exploding in a posion that slows drivers down for a short time after they get stopped by the blast. An alternate glider route can be found early on in the track.
Flower Cup
Flower Cup
Image + Name
Info
New Donk Sewers
New Donk Sewers is based off the sewers of New Donk City and feature a variety of spinning walls that you will have to slow or speed through to get through the map safely. Additionally, Urban Stingbys appear during the thin road segments of this map, requiring speedy dodging to avoid getting hit by them.
Bullet Bill Battlegrounds
Bullet Bill Battlegrounds is a expansive course featuring giant stone bullet bill launchers and dart bills that shoot out if your car drives over certain tiles embedded into the ground. Avoid the Bullet Bills and watch out as the latter half of the course begins to squeeze into a tighter section. A giant mountain stands in the center of the track, acting as a wall.
Boo Library
Boo Library is a tight and intricate track that opens up early on and branches into three paths, with two giant Boohemoths pacing between the paths. A tight turn into a much more compact part of the track follows, which requires the racers to watch out for flying Bookends until the first turn of this segment, which is also another tight turn.
Rudy's Circus
Rudy's Circus is a fairly standard circular map until it turns into a wide expansive area shaped like a skull. Watch out for Omodons, Mr. Moons, and Suns, who appear as obstacles in the map; Mr. Moons appear as you come from the finish line while Suns punctuate the end of the track. Omodons appear inside the skull area.
Moon Cup
Moon Cup
Image + Name
Info
Foulwater Falls
Foulwater Falls is based off the canyon of the same name from Wario Land: Shake It!!!. It is a giant ravine with two branching paths- one of a wider and shorter route but requires tight turns, while the longer way around is tighter and features a underwater section. It lacks real hazards, although it is the introduction to underwater portions in the courses.
The rarest and most infamous item to grace Mario Kart. It automatically targets the player in the lead and comes through the air before slamming into kart to stun them hard. You can boost to avoid it, but your timing has to be tight!
The inverse of the Blue Winged Shell. It can be utilized to give the player in last place a boost by giving them the star power-up, which makes them invincible and much faster.
Transforms the kart into a giant bullet bill that speeds rapidly forward with very little input from the controller. Speeds through opponents and ignores collision with items.
Transforms the kart into a giant speeding train that oppresses all opponents in it's way! A longer, albeit nowhere near as fast version of the Bullet Bill item. Unaffected by collision or item effects. Has some limited tilt input from the controller to lean into nearby opponents.
Has the kart boost it's acceleration rapidly, giving a great burst of speed. Will knock opponents away if hit with the boosting kart. Acceleration quickly normalizes seconds after activation.
Acts as three mushrooms, with each activation using one of the mushrooms to accelerate. The boosting effect stacks but won't increase the time you stay boosted, merely just the speed.
Boost rapidly forward by repeatedly tapping the button. It runs off a timer system as opposed to a use system, so you only have 10 seconds to utilize your unlimited boosts from the Golden Mushroom once you activate it.
Accelerate forward while slowly ascending and descending into the air. Allows you to dodge shells that are coming towards you if timed correctly while acting as a somewhat extended boost forward.
Has the kart boost forward with a large amount of energy coming from the front of the vehicle. Acts as a very quick boost with large offensive potential- crashing into another kart with the boost will knock them straight up into the sky, halting all speed.
Acts as three garlic pots, with each activation using one of the garlic pots to accelerate. The boosting effect stacks but won't increase the speed, but rather the time it stays activated.
Charge rapidly forward. Each charge forward will briefly slow the momentum of the kart when at the end of the animation, although you can immediately boost to regain your speed. You have 8 seconds to utilize it and it has the same effects as the normal Garlic Pot.
Shoot bubbles forward or behind to capture objects and have them float in bubbles. You can also set up bubbles to briefly trap opponents if they drive into it. Acts on a timer system similar to the Golden Mushroom.
Use the Magenta Baby Yoshi as a balloon to raise yourself into the air. Use it to extend your air time while in air mode. Acts as somewhat of a drag while in the air, slowly decreasing your speed. Hit the gas right when you get back on the ground to gain a boost.
Use the Glowing Baby Yoshi as a illuminating light. While active, you can press the item button to have Glowing Baby Yoshi illuminate even more to stun opponents nearby. Your timing has to be tight to do this!
The fire bar swings around the kart, having four fireballs circle around the kart. It stuns opponents on hit and removes one fireball, needing to be hit up to four times to remove all the fireballs. Fireballs also slowly disappear with every 10 seconds.