It’s the annual celebration of all things Mario, and what better way to make the day than with a Super Mario-themed Set V Source? Earlier this year, the LEGO® Super Mario theme took to the track with sets inspired by Nintendo’s long-running kart racer Mario Kart. With 10 main games in the series, there have been countless karts based on several Nintendo characters, some of which have been transformed into brick-built creations. But how do the LEGO versions compare to those in the Mario Kart titles? Let’s find out in a Mario-themed LEGO Set V Source.
Mario Kart began life in 1992 on the SNES. The game used the Mode7 tech, which gave the race tracks a unique perspective for the time. It has since appeared on every major Nintendo console, along with a mobile version and an arcade machine. With each new entry in the series, new characters have been added, and their racing vehicles have become more elaborate. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for Nintendo Switch is the most comprehensive version of the game. It was a refined version of the Wii U but added more racers, more vehicles and a ton of fan-favourite tracks from past versions of the game. Mario Kart may have begun as a ‘cartoon racer’ spin-off of the Mario games, but it’s become a beloved franchise, so much so that a new entry in the series was teased in the Switch 2 announcement video. It’s also why it’s the inspiration for the latest wave of LEGO Super Mario sets.
Across the six LEGO Mario Kart sets, a small selection of in-game vehicles have been recreated in brick form. The first of these is a standard kart. This was first featured in Mario Kart DS and has been featured in every game since. The LEGO version is based on the Mario variant of the kart. Depending on its driver, the standard kart’s livery would change to match them. It’s one of the only LEGO karts to feature the glider attachment. Despite featuring the Mario logo, the set includes Toad as its driver. But this and all of the karts featured here are compatible with the LEGO Mario, Luigi and Peach interactive figures.
DK Jumbo first appeared in Mario Kart: Double Dash on the GameCube. As one of the many character-themed karts, the DK Jumbo looks like one of Donkey Kong’s iconic barrels. It’s not an easy shape to achieve with LEGO bricks, especially when also crafting it to be a kart, but the LEGO version is a great recreation of the in-game model. The set also includes a buildable version of Donkey Kong.
Biddybuggy was first featured in Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U and is based on the appearance of the Mario enemy, Biddybud. This bug-like creature was first featured in Super Mario 3D Land. The kart is quite compact and has lost a little of its ’roundness’ in LEGO form. The kart is paired with the Tri-Speeder, and they are driven by the baby versions of Mario and Luigi in the set.
Tri-Speeder debuted in Mario Kart 8, and unlike other vehicles from the series, the kart has only been featured in that entry in the series and its deluxe re-release on Switch. It’s an unusual-looking vehicle due to the engine found on the front of it. Despite the limited source material of the kart, the LEGO version is a great recreation, especially that oddly placed engine.
The B Dasher first appeared in Mario Kart DS and was the kart featured on the cover art for the game. Although it’s not as crazy-looking as some of the karts found in the LEGO Super Mario sets, it’s still a unique shape to create with LEGO elements. The result is one of the best vehicles in the range. The LEGO version is tied to Toad and technically doesn’t have a driver, despite two Pit Crew Toads appearing in the set. The set in which this kart can be found highlights the ability to mix and match kart parts from different sets. Wheels can be changed, and you can also attach weapons to different points of this and all karts in the range.
The Landship is a Koopling-themed kart that first appeared in Mario Kart 8. Styled after the wooden airships used by Bowser’s Koopaling minions, the kart is often driven by Bowser and his Koopa sidekicks during races. In the case of this set, it’s Lemmy. The LEGO version feels less wooden than the kart appears. It’s featured in the largest of the LEGO Mario Kart sets and is joined by two other karts and sections of trackside items.
The Wild Wiggler is another vehicle based on the appearance of a Mario enemy. The Wiggler is an oversized caterpillar-like creature first seen on Super Mario World. In vehicle form, it was an ATV-type vehicle first seen in Mario Kart 8 before becoming a kart in Mario Kart Tour. The LEGO version is inspired by the MK8 version and is tied to Princess Peach. Similar to other karts in the range, which are connected to Mario and Luigi, their baby forms are included as buildable characters, so you get to add Baby Peach to your collection. It’s one of the three karts features in the largest LEGO Mario Karts sets.
Bikes were first featured in the Wii version of Mario Kart but were absent from the 3DS game, Mario Kart 7. They would return in Mario Kart 8, and one of the variants found in the game was styled on Mario’s dino sidekick, Yoshi. The Yoshi Bike isn’t just a themed vehicle, it is shaped like a Yoshi creature. It features a couple of printed elements, such as the ‘eyes’ visor on the front of the bike and the Yoshi egg-themed hubcaps.
Similar to the Standard Kart, the Standard Bike is a base vehicle and was introduced in Mario Kart Wii. The colour of the bike would change depending on who was riding it. The LEGO version features Toad, so the bike features the livery of the character, along with a Toad symbol on the front of the bike. In LEGO form, it’s only let down by the red Technic axles used to fix the wheel to the front part of the bike. It’s joined by the Wild Wiggler and Landship in the largest of the LEGO Mario Kart sets.
Weapons are as much a part of the Mario Kart series as the characters and karts. There are various projectiles available to use in the game, and some of them are featured in the LEGO Mario Kart sets. They include a banana skin, red and green shells, plus item boxes. The shells can be fired from each vehicle, thanks to them being compatible with stud shooters.
In Mario Kart 8, you can mix and match vehicle bodies, wheels and gliders. Only one kart in the LEGO sets features a glider, but it can be added to any of the other karts as they all have the connection point.
As mentioned above, although each kart has a driver included in each of the sets, they are also compatible with the interactive figures. LEGO Mario, Luigi and Peach can be slotted into each vehicle. Once seated in the kart or bike, a Mario Kart mini-game begins. Thanks to the motion sensor in each figure, you can move the kart around to collect coins and combine the Mario Kart sets with others in the LEGO Super Mario range for expanded play features. The LEGO Super Mario Mario Kart sets are all available now from LEGO stores, online and from all good LEGO retailers.
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The LEGO Group provided these sets, upon request, for this feature. The thoughts within this feature are those of BricksFanz and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group or Nintendo. Providing a set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
