We’re both fans of Mario Kart and thought it would be fun to experience the game in VR. So we traveled to Shinjuku to try it out at VR Zone Shinjuku.

VR Zone Shinjuku is just a short walk from Shinjuku Station in the famous entertainment neighborhood of Kabuchiko. At the entrance you pick what type of ticket package to purchase. Each ticket lets guests play one round of a game of their choice. The more tickets in a bundle, the cheaper they are individually. As much as we wanted to stay for a while, we could only stay for a short time, so we only got two tickets each. Along with our tickets, we were also given a sanitary cloth to wear while using the headsets.

We walked inside and up the stairs to the second floor where most of the games are located. On the way to Mario Kart VR we passed many different VR games such as: Fishing VR, Evangelion VR, Godzilla VR, Ghost in the Shell VR, and a few others. We found the area with Mario Kart VR, and it unsurprisingly had the largest line. Fortunately, there are many different bays for the game, and each race only takes a few minutes each, so the line went fairly quickly. We read the instruction card while we waited for our turn. Behind Mario Kart VR was the Dragon Ball VR, and it was amusing to hear the staff and players all yell to power up and charge a Kamehameha.

Finally it was our time, and we were taken to our bay. Each bay has two of the four players; ours was Mario and Luigi. Michelle picked Mario, and Taylor had to take Luigi. The great thing about this VR experience is that you actually sit in a kart that shakes and moves as you race; it’s quite immersive. We put on our face cloth with the headset and a sensor on each of our hands. Fortunately, there’s room in the headset for glasses.

With the headset on, we sat in our kart at the starting line as we waited for everyone to be ready. Once we were told “Go!” the timer ticked down, and we were off. Since not everyone will likely take to VR as easily as others, a heavy handicap is placed on everyone to make it more competitive. You can’t drive off the track, and it generally guides you along. This doesn’t mean it plays for you, it just helps with dealing with the POV of the game. Each player still needs to accelerate, drive, and avoid obstacles along the way. The best way to describe the extra support given in-game is that it’s sort of like bowling with the bumpers up.

As we raced through the three laps, we had to raise our hands to grab the power-ups. Since this is a modified and simpler version of Mario Kart there are only three power ups; a banana, green shell, and hammer. Even though there are only three, they are more than enough for the game. Well, the banana is still sort of weak. The great thing about the shell and the hammer is you have more control over them than in normal Mario Kart. That shell goes in the direction you throw it, not just in the direction your car is facing like in the normal games, and the hammer can be swung all around you. When you get hit by a power-up or something in the environment, you spin to a stop and have to start back up again. It’s actually quite fun to watch a group playing and seeing someone move their arm as they rapidly smash the hammer or hold up their hand to throw the shell.

Taylor ended up winning the first race. With one more ticket left we could try out something else, but who were we kidding, Mario Kart VR was awesome, and we wanted another go at it. We got back in line and this time got to pick between Yoshi and Peach. Michelle loves Yoshi, so Taylor got stuck with Peach. That didn’t stop Taylor from winning the second race as well.

Mario Kart VR was such a fun game to play - we just wish we had more time and tickets. We’ll have to visit VR Zone Shinjuku again the next time we’re in Tokyo.

** UPDATE **

After writing this post we sadly found out that VR Zone Shinjuku permanently shut down due to developments within Kabuchiko. Fortunately there is a VR Zone in Osaka, but for some reason it doesn’t have Mario Kart VR yet. Based on the posting about the closing of VR Zone Shinjuku, there is the potential of it opening at a different location. We’re hopeful another one pops up in Tokyo so we can take our friends next time.

Google Maps Link: VR Zone Shinjuku