Mario Kart 7 is one of the best games currently available on the Nintendo 3DS, and the online community is part of what makes the game so much fun. Unfortunately, there were a few exploits made infamous by less-than-prestigious online competitors who cheated their way to countless first place victories. Yes, playing on certain race tracks (i.e. Maka Wuhu) often evoked deep sighs from many gamers, but this will no longer be the case.

Nintendo has finally released the much anticipated patch for Mario Kart 7, which addresses three of the most apparent (and debatably game breaking) bugs that can be found in the portable arcade racer. The update is necessary for anyone who wants to continue to play the title online, but gamers who don't have access to a wireless Internet connection, or just don't go online, won't be affected the next time they play any of the offline modes.

Downloading the patch will fix the glitch-caused shortcuts in the following maps:

  • Wuhu Loop
  • Maka Wuhu
  • Bowser Castle 1

In order to download the patch, 3DS owners must have the latest system update. They can then proceed to the System Settings > Data Management > Nintendo 3DS > Add-On Content, where the Mario Kart 7 download should immediately appear (it's also available directly from the Nintendo eShop). If it doesn't show up, then there's either one of two problems: 1) You don't have the latest 3DS update. 2) You're not connected to the Internet. If it's neither of those, then have you tried plugging the system in?

This patch will help make online competition a little more fair, but the issue should have been addressed a little sooner. Nintendo said initially that there were no plans to patch the glitches in Mario Kart 7, so it's definitely a case of better late than never. Now that those pesky exploits have been removed, how much longer are we going to have to wait to download new characters? It's about time Nintendo let fans get their Waluigi on.

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