As a long-time Nintendo fan, there are very few titles that I always look forward to seeing on their new consoles, irrespective of how many other games in the series I’ve experienced on previous systems. For me, Mario Kart is just one of those games. It’s a classic that brings together all of the best Nintendo characters for a friendly race on the track, but each game in the series manages to add something fresh to the table. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is released on the Nintendo Switch. I’m happy to finally have this game because it seems to be getting better and better.
What you will see here:
1. Almost everything is available from the beginning
When you start Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo, you’ll have a massive cast of characters. There are a total of 42 characters, including a few new ones. All of them are available right away. Unlike the original Mario Kart 8, you won’t have to spend hours slaving away in Grand Prix mode to unlock new characters and race tracks for multiplayer. Having so much content available right once makes Mario Kart 8 Deluxe more approachable, especially for those who have already played the Wii U edition.
2. Experience an Actual Battle Mode Mario Kart 8 Deluxe!
The first Mario Kart 8 was a fantastic racer, but it lacked one important feature: a full fight mode. It also reused race tracks from the main game that weren’t suitable for full-fledged warfare. Deluxe addresses this by including eight-fight arenas — four new and four based on arenas from prior games — as well as five different types of battles.
Mario Kart games have a very large proportion of new fight possibilities. However, my personal favorite is brand new. The “renegade roundup” option gives each player a biting piranha plant, with the purpose of eating as many opponents as possible.
Bob-omb Blast is similar to Balloon Battle, but instead of balloons, players only have Bob-ombs. You can carry numerous Bob-ombs at the same time, and your own bombs will not harm you if they collide with them. It’s an explosively colorful mode since the bomb blasts match the color of your balloons.
In Coin Runners, the goal is to stack as many coins as possible. Also, making sure other players are struck with shells and other items. Leading them to lose their money. You don’t lose your stack when you’re hit, but you lose a few coins each time. It’s quite easy to go from rags to riches and back in a short amount of time.
3. The New Smart Steering makes it easier to control
The feature is known as “smart steering” is one of the new features of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The technology basically helps you stay on track by gently adjusting your steering to avoid crashes. When you add in the option of automated acceleration, you have the perfect racing game for kids. They can now concentrate solely on steering the kart and using the goods.
My four-year-old daughter completed the entire Grand Prix with both of these features turned on, finishing in fourth place; not bad for her first time playing the game. Each player’s options are turned on individually and making it simple for individuals of varying skill levels to play together.
4. You can access all the Downloadable Content in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Many new tracks and characters. Some from the outside of the Super Mario universe are introduced to the original Mario Kart 8’s downloadable content. You could race as Zelda’s Link through Animal Crossing-inspired towns, and there was even a fast-paced circuit based on futuristic racer F-Zero – perhaps the closest we’ll get to a new F-Zero game in the near future. So you’ll receive an extra 16 tracks and an eclectic mix of Nintendo characters straight out of the box.
5. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is Definitely not Static!
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo, like most Switch titles, benefits greatly from the console’s portability. Nintendo produced some of its greatest handheld entries with Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart 7. Also known as the console series. But it produced some of its best handheld entries with Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart 7. It’s a game that works well on the go, while aficionados of the first two installments may prefer to play split-screen with their friends in front of the TV. Both are possible in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
6. Users can carry 2 things at the very same time
The most significant gameplay change appears to be a minor tweak: you can now hold two objects at once. This is a major improvement. It fixes one of the game’s few flaws from the first edition. If you have a beneficial item like a flaming flower or a super horn, you don’t have to use it.
You can’t switch between the two products, unfortunately. The ability, on the other hand, adds a strategic element to an already fine-tuned experience. Once I got ahead of the herd, I found myself wanting to collect two sets of turtle shells or bananas to utilize as a defensive barrier.
7. Providing a Superior Gameplay
The game has a few fresh additions and modifications. There is now an auto-accelerate feature as well as a smart steering feature to assist younger/newer players. Essentially, the combination of these characteristics means that you can leave your controller on the table and your kart will continue to race, although in a bad manner. This will be a helpful feature for newcomers to the game, but I didn’t even realize it was turned on. Turning it on and off is simple enough.
Other new features include an Ultra-Mini-Turbo that comes after the orange turbo and ignites pink (but clever steering prevents you from achieving this extra boost). There’s also no longer any fire hopping exploit, which is a good thing.
8. Introducing New Characters!
There are six new characters, including some familiar faces:
- King Boo
- Bowser Jr
- Gold Mario
- Inkling Girl
- Inkling Boy
- Dry Bones
Because both of the original game’s DLC packs are included, the overall number of characters rises to “the answer to life, the universe, and everything,” and the total number of tracks rises to 48. When you add in the eight battle venues, you have the most comprehensive Mario Kart game ever created. It’s a fantastic deal for a well-made, thrilling kart-racing game. I’ve had a lot of fun with the Wii U version over the last several years, and it’s great to have Battle Mode added to the mix.
Conclusion
This is the best Mario Kart game yet, taking an already fantastic Wii U title and turning it into a near-perfect racing experience. Even yet, players who already own the Wii U version may want to wait for a deal.
