Nintendo has released a new update for Mario Kart World, version 1.6.0, following its previous update in January. This patch introduces several gameplay adjustments and addresses a wide range of bugs to enhance the player experience.
Key gameplay changes primarily focus on items. Bullet Bill has received a performance boost, making it easier to control and slightly faster on certain tracks. Conversely, boomerangs have been nerfed, with reduced range and fewer allowed consecutive throws.
Crushing mechanics have also been tweaked. Players can no longer be crushed by environmental objects while spinning out or crashing. However, they can now be hit by lightning and Spiny Shells immediately after being crushed, adding a new layer of challenge to recovery.
For a comprehensive overview, the full patch notes are detailed below:
General Adjustments
- Added “Bob-omb Blast” as a Battle Mode. Players can hold up to 10 Bob-ombs at once, and throw distance is determined by how long the L button is held.
- Adjusted Bullet Bill’s performance:
- Increased lateral movement range.
- It is now easier to take shortcuts immediately after using Bullet Bill.
- Increased Bullet Bill speed on specific sections of Bowser’s Castle, Starview Peak, and Rainbow Road courses.
- Adjusted Boomerang performance:
- Reduced boomerang range.
- Reduced the number of consecutive throws allowed.
- Adjusted the probability of items obtained from item boxes during races.
- Adjusted invincibility time after spinning out or crashing during a race; it now varies based on character and vehicle weight. Heavier weights grant longer invincibility.
- Players can no longer be crushed by objects like Thwomps when spinning out or crashing.
- It is now possible to be hit by lightning and Spiny Shells immediately after being crushed by objects like Thwomps.
- Items like Bob-ombs and Bananas no longer bounce off Piranha Plant vines.
- In solo or 1-player online/wireless play, up to two warnings will now display when items like Red Shells or Spiny Shells are approaching from behind.
- Shortened the time before the roulette stops to determine the course in online and wireless play.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue where the starting position was sometimes incorrect.
- Fixed an issue where cows and other creatures summoned by Kamek’s magic would sometimes fall through the ground.
- Fixed an issue where the display of Wiggler, summoned by Kamek’s magic, was sometimes incorrect.
- Fixed an issue where Thwomps or Rocky Wrenches would appear in the Airship Fortress or in cannons leading to the Airship Fortress.
- Fixed an issue where the character would sometimes disappear from view when looking in the rearview mirror after using a Mega Mushroom.
- Fixed an issue where players could not rewind past a Piranha Plant vine after transforming into Bullet Bill.
- Fixed an issue where item locations were not displayed correctly after using Boo and returning to Free Roam mode.
- Fixed an issue in Knockout Tour where players passing a checkpoint after the first-place player had already reached the goal were not eliminated, even if their rank was outside the predetermined limit.
- Fixed an issue in Time Trials where the display of stacked tires was sometimes incorrect.
- Fixed an issue in Free Roam where an escaping Nabbit would sometimes fall through the ground.
- Fixed an issue in Trials where scores were not displayed on the results screen during practice.
- Fixed an issue where the screen display would sometimes distort after selecting “Change Character” in Free Roam during online play.
- Fixed an issue in Knockout Tour and Online Play where rankings were sometimes incorrect after passing checkpoints.
- Fixed an issue where the selected event would disappear if a communication error occurred after selecting Online Play.
- Fixed an issue in online and wireless play where rivals using Bullet Bill would sometimes appear untransformed.
- Fixed an issue where final results were not displayed after spectating in Knockout Tour in online or wireless play.
- Fixed an issue in Knockout Tour where the observed player would not change after being eliminated.
- Fixed an issue where gliding distance could be excessively long during races between Airship Fortress and Dry Bones Burnout.
- Fixed an issue where using the Feather while jumping in Shy Guy Bazaar during races between Airship Fortress or Wario Stadium and Shy Guy Bazaar could cause players to deviate from their path.
- Fixed an issue where driving onto a wall in Shy Guy Bazaar during races between Airship Fortress or Wario Stadium and Shy Guy Bazaar could cause players to deviate from their path.
- Fixed an issue in Bowser’s Castle where players could crash while driving on lava with a Dash Mushroom.
- Fixed an issue in Salty Salty Speedway where players would sometimes fall through the ground after being hit by lightning and shrinking.
- Fixed an issue in a battle on DK Pass where players were sometimes not returned to the course after using a Feather and ending up off-course.
- Fixed an issue where using a Mega Mushroom near the fence in Dino Dino Jungle could cause players to return to the course.
- Fixed an issue in Koopa Beach where some buoys were buried in the ground.
- Fixed an issue in Mario Circuit where using a Mega Mushroom could cause the player to get stuck on a fence.
- Fixed an issue in Mario Circuit where players could sometimes be returned to the course when driving on a block wall.
- Fixed an issue where players were sometimes returned to the course when driving along the wall near the Faraway Oasis starting point.
- Fixed an issue where Bloopers would sometimes appear dark in Rainbow Road replays.
- Fixed an issue in Rainbow Road where Spike Balls summoned by Kamek’s magic would sometimes move erratically.
- Fixed an issue where using the Feather to take a shortcut on Rainbow Road could sometimes lead to incorrect final rankings.
- Fixed an issue where players would sometimes recover too much ground if they fell off the course while gliding on Rainbow Road; Time Trial ghosts affected by this issue may be removed from leaderboards without notice.
- Fixed an issue in the race between Wario Shipyard and Starview Peak where players could sometimes fall off the course when taking a shortcut.
- Fixed an issue where using a Mega Mushroom near the fence in Wario Stadium could cause the player to fall off the course.
- Numerous other minor issues have been resolved to enhance the overall gameplay experience.