fan mods for Mario Kart 8 are not uncommon, and neither are mods dropping the world of one game into another’s engine. But here’s something special zelda: ocarina of time-Mod recreating the Hyrule from Nintendo’s 1998 classic as a course for the hit kart racer.
What is noticeable the mod, by RiazorMC – which won people’s hearts Zelda subreddit — is not only the authentic look of the models and textures. It’s the way it replicates the actual geography of ocarina‘s Hyrule and transforms the game’s adventure fields into a kind of open-world rally course, where each round takes you to different iconic locations.
The race starts at the mouth of the Deku Tree before going through Kokiri Forest on the way to Hyrule Field, whizzing past Hyrule Castle and Lon Lon Ranch, and through the desert canyons and ruins of Gerudo’s Fortress on the first lap. Then it’s on to Lake Hylia on Round 2 and back via Hyrule Field before heading on to a grueling, winding climb through Kakariko Village and up Death Mountain on Round 3.
I love how seamlessly the game’s locations have been blended together and how they are all exactly where you would expect them to be on the map; It looks like it would be fun to explore outdoors and just navigate from memory. The course also has an appropriate maze-like feel, crammed with secret shortcuts, and looks like quite the technical racing challenge (check out the nasty hairpin on the climb up Death Mountain). However, since it lacks the clear turn signals and track signage of an official Mario Kart course, it would be extremely difficult to actually follow it.
Unfortunately, we’re unlikely to get the chance to try – a Redditor Notes that RiazorMC never releases their mods. Which, considering how argumentative Nintendo can be about fan use of its properties, is probably for the best.
