This ‘Mario Kart’ track in Cologne is the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time

Crazy go-kart races like Mario and Co.? In Cologne this is obviously possible.

I’ve ridden a go-kart a few times in my life and it was great fun every time. And even if I would like to do it more often, it usually stays with a virtual racing excursion, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. But when I look at a very specific go-kart track in Cologne, my fingers – or better: my foot on the accelerator – are so itchy that I would like to head straight to North Rhine-Westphalia.

What kind of go kart track is this? It is the “Battle Kart: Beyond Reality” kart hall, which opened its doors in August last year and obviously combines real kart racing with virtual elements. You sit in a real go-kart while virtual elements such as obstacles or the track itself are projected onto the ground.

Use items like in the famous example

This then allows different game modes such as the “Battle Race”, in which extra weapons can actually be used – just like in Mario Kart. Sensors in the karts should recognize hits or, for example, punish those who try to take shortcuts.

In addition to the classic race, there are also modes in which the largest possible part of the ground has to be painted in your own color or a variation of the cult mobile game Snake, in which you are not allowed to drive into the specially colored tail.

Since videos are worth a thousand words, here’s one from the Battle Race:

link to YouTube content

Of course it’s not a “real” Mario Kart track, the corresponding license is missing, but the principle is extremely similar to it. And Battle Kart seems to weave it all together in a way that I’ve personally never seen before and that really makes me want to try it. Just to see if it feels as much like Mario Kart as it looks. The user reviews that I read on various sites after discovering the track are mostly quite positive, at least the whole thing doesn’t seem to be an optical blender.

On the official website of the Karthalle you will find more information and videos about the game modes etc. A price list is also available and as usual for go-kart rides, the whole thing is not a particularly cheap pleasure. For my part, however, I will definitely drive a lap if I should be in Cologne or the surrounding area again.

Have you ever been to the “Mario Kart” hall? And how did you like it?