If you own a 3DS, I highly suggest you buy this game. You will have fun with MK7.
First of all, MK7 is your typical Mario Kart game; choose a character, a kart and your choice of tracks to race on. The menus are simple and to-the-point, making it super easy to jump right in to the drivers' seat and race against your favorite Nintendo icons.
There are as many characters to choose from in MK7 as there are in MK DS (17 in total). The only main difference between the two is that in MK7, you have the option to race as any of the Mii characters you created in Mii Maker. A few characters from MK DS are absent in MK7, however, like Waluigi and R.O.B. the robot. Of course, MK7 has new drivers to the series like Lakitu and Wiggler just to name a couple. (Would have preferred Waluigi over Wiggler, but that's how the dice rolls)
The tracks themselves number in 32 altogether, 16 being brand new to the series while the other half are glorious remakes of older tracks, such as the original Rainbow Road from 1992. The new tracks are great fun, as they add underwater and hang-gliding sections to them, and this gives players even more options when it comes to getting ahead of their opponents.
For the first time in MK history, the go-karts get to be customizable, however slightly. Simply choose a vehicle body that suits your personal tastes and/or suits your performance preference. Next, choose a set of tires (my personal favorite customization) then lastly, choose a hang-glider to go with your kart. This really adds to the overall experience in MK7 if you ask me, and it's a good addition to the series that I hope gets deeper with future MK titles.
Another new addition to the series is a first person view in the drivers' seat. That's right, you get to see what it's really like to drive a Mario kart in the Mushroom Kingdom. And when in first person mode, you can steer by tilting your 3DS left or right. It's a blast to play this way.
New power-ups are here in MK7: the Tanooki tail from SM3D Land is here, the ever faithful Fire Flower debuts, and the 'Lucky 7' will make you feel like an invincible god. Oh yeah.
The graphics are, WOW, crystal sharp and amazing. Photos and videos don't do this game justice, even if they are recorded in HD. You have to see the game in person to get a true perspective of the quality graphics. It's like playing on a downsized Wii or something very similar.
The online mode is quite fun and easy to jump in to. I have had a few issues when trying to connect on more than one occasion, even though my internet connection was working properly, but after a try or two, the online mode works flawlessly. Once online, you can race with up to 8 people from across the globe at the tap of a stylus (or finger tip). The system will search for available drivers and will quickly gather a random group for you to play against. After the drivers have been gathered, you each then vote for which track you'd like to race on. The one that gets randomly picked by the system is the one that the drivers will race on. (Note: once you start a race online, there is no pausing the game. If you linger too ling without moving your character, however, you will forfeit the race and go back to the main page)
You can also race against registered 3DS friends if they happen to be playing MK7 online. You can join the group they are in and race against them and see who's the better driver.
The Battle Modes are fun both on and offline. Now, in offline mode, you can battle against the computer characters, so you don't have to play against friends in order to play your favorite balloon-popping kart chaser.
All in all, MK7 is a treat and a blast. Everything about the game is top notch quality and it shows. If you have a 3DS, BUY IT. You will have fun.