Given the immeasurable success of Mario Kart 8 on Nintendo Switch, it is more than obvious that some publishers want to bite into a small piece of the cake. Low-budget kart games are therefore regularly appearing and this time it’s Microïds that sticks to it. Smurfs (Smurfs) Kart lands on Nintendo Switch, with the hope of being a strong competitor once morest plumbers.
Image credit: Microids
It’s not the size that matters
Even if its publisher tries to move away from it during the promotion of the game, it must be recognized that Smurfs Kart is a game that is cheerfully inspired by Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. This is the second game featuring Peyo’s blue characters, while two more should still be in the works. And if it’s so easy to make the comparison with Nintendo’s license, it’s because Smurfs Kart uses more than just the outline. From the start menu, the choice is offered to us to embark on the grand prix mode, the free race, as well as the timed challenges. Knowing that this is accessible in solo as in multiplayer up to four players locally.
If we stop on the grand prize, which is unsurprisingly the main mode of the game, it will be possible to choose from three cups: Village, The forest, Gargamel. Each of them includes four circuits, more or less inspired by the world of comics. You can also choose between the “Fun” or “Super Speed” variant, the second is similar to Mario Kart’s 100cc or 150cc mode, for quick comparison. For the rest, it’s classic, you have to jostle during the races in order to climb in the first places, with the hope of having enough points to then reach the first three places of the podium.
On the other hand, do not be fooled by the panel of drivers available to us, which are 12 in number. Smurfs Kart is a production aimed at the youngest and in this sense, everything is done to be accessible. Witness the three options that can be activated to facilitate the race, such as assisted driving or automatic acceleration. Rider selection has also been simplified, as there is no question of weight class or handling here. Each character plays exactly the same, regardless of appearance or kart. The only difference will be at the level of their power, since each pilot has an ability of his own.
We try to do like the grown-ups
Smurfs Kart, however, leaves with good ideas, highlighting the strong use of objects. The idea of having a unique skill per pilot is not in itself bad, although some are clearly more effective than others. It is however spoiled by the fact that several of these powers have an equivalent effect in the normal objects which one can pick up on the track. Papa Smurf, for example, has a power that can put opponents around him to sleep, but a standard power accessible to other pilots allows you to do exactly the same thing. Which kills one of the only good ideas in the game, not to mention that there are several other shortcomings.
And on the side of objects, it’s also a bit of a cold shower because once once more it’s a pale copy of what we find in Mario Kart. The green shells take the form of an acorn, the star is present in the form of a sarsaparilla leaf and the red and blue shells are homing bees. We stay on familiar ground and that’s what counts, but we would have appreciated a little more fantasy. Especially since the blocks to collect these objects are in abundance on the circuits. We must mention the possibility of having two objects at the same time, a bit like in Mario Kart: Double Dash, but it is on the other hand impossible to use it as a defense by keeping the object behind our kart, or even to shoot behind us. This therefore immediately removes any strategic interest in wanting to keep a specific bonus in reserve.
We find the berries which accumulated up to 10 give a speed boost, but it’s really on the maneuverability that the game is not convincing. We constantly have the feeling of riding on a bar of soap, even though the circuits are as a whole well thought out. Nothing too crazy, but we alternate between tortuous tracks and which take advantage of skids, while others have sometimes larger areas and allow you to take the advantage with objects. Shortcuts are present and it sometimes takes a little dexterity to use them, which rewards players who want to invest in mastering the game. The room for improvement might have been interesting, but it is weighed down by the lack of depth that emanates from Smurfs Kart.
Don’t look into the details
It must be said that despite all the affection we may have for Peyo’s comic strip, we must admit that Smurfs Kart does not do justice to the latter. The universe of the Smurfs is far from being highlighted. There are a few character stickers to unlock, in the form of challenges to complete, but apart from that the dressing remains basic. It will be possible to see Gargamel, Azraël, as well as Grossbouf in one or two circuits, but do not expect much more. The levels lack life and the environments sport really dull colors. To the point that at times it affects visibility and it is difficult to discern the scenery, as in the circuit taking place in the marshes, which is a real ordeal to cross.
Without being able to call it bad, Smurfs Kart is just average. It’s not a bad game, but nothing really makes it stand out. He just does the minimum, but doesn’t do it really well. Good ideas, like unique powers, are hampered by other mechanics that sometimes completely reduce their interest. And to this is added the technical aspect which is painful to see, in addition to a sometimes disturbing maneuverability.
Neither good nor bad, that’s what I’ll remember regarding this Smurfs Kart. Even being not too demanding and knowing that it is difficult to reach the standards set by Nintendo’s kart series, we must recognize that there are still flaws that spoil our experience. We can ignore the lack of content and tell ourselves that this is a game that is intended above all for the youngest, but still it is necessary to have an affinity with the universe of the Smurfs, which is furthermore far from being put ahead. Maybe with better object balancing and a few more game modes, it would have lessened the feeling of being in front of a game that lacks polish. The result is a decent game, but one that doesn’t have much to hold its own once morest stiff competition, in addition to often being better.
