Mario Kart 8 is back, but now in “Deluxe” form on the Nintendo Switch.
And although it’s mostly the same game at its core, it’s hard to argue against the
new moniker when you look at it by the numbers: You get 48 tracks--which including the 16
DLC Tracks--a brand new Battle Mode with 5 modes and 8 new arenas, 35 characters, 5 of
which are new, and of course, the same rock-solid Mario Kart 8 gameplay, but now with a few
tweaks--oh, and to top it all off, the visuals have been slightly enhanced too, now running
at a full 1080p 60 frames per second.
This is, by far, the biggest Mario Kart ever--which makes it a pretty amazing value if this is
your first time purchasing Mario Kart 8.
But if you’re a big Nintendo fan--like myself--then there’s probably a good chance you’ve
already played most of that content on the Wii U...possibly for hundreds of hours...not
that I would spend that much time on a single game or anything...so the question then becomes,
is it worth double dipping for a game that’s still largely the same?
Well, by the end of the review, I’m hoping you’ll find your answer.
Okay, so when it comes to racing, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is, by and large, nearly identical
to the original version.
The core gameplay is mostly unchanged, and the track line-up is straight-up identical.
Which is a bit of a bummer for someone like me who’s raced each of them dozens--if not
hundreds of times already.
But at the least, almost everything is unlocked from the get go--which is nice for those who
have already gone through that process.
Although it is possible that may reduce the replay value for those new to the game, since
there’s less incentive to play through every cup & mode in single-player, besides to unlock
additional Kart parts and Gold Mario.
Now while the tracks may be identical, the core gameplay is...okay, also mostly the same
too.
BUT there have been some tweaks that will have some impact how you play the game--even
if not to a significant degree.
Such as the new Purple Sparks that award a much longer mini turbo for drivers who have
mastered long drifts.
But because it requires a relatively long and gradual turn, the opportunities to use
it are comparatively rare--which makes earning one all the better
But one change that’s considerably more prominent is the addition of a 2nd item slot,
allowing you to hold onto two items at the same time.
And that change comes complete with the return of the double item boxes from Mario Kart Double
Dash, allowing you to snag two items at once.
And this addition opening up new strategies & options that weren’t possible before.
For instance, on a track like Toad’s Turnpike, it now might be worth going out of your way
to snag a pair of item box for better offensive or defensive capabilities.
Having a 2nd item slot also helps address one of my complaints from the original game,
giving whoever’s in 1st place a better shot of getting an item that isn’t a useless
pair of coins
Similarly, the Super Horn used to be pretty worthless in 1st place, as it left you completely
vulnerable to most everything except Blue Shells, but now you can keep as backup while
you use something else as your primary defense.
The addition of the 2nd item really does change the game in subtle ways--and Im sure I’ve
just scratched the surface.
Although it does have the side effect of making races even more chaotic than before, since
you have way more items flying around, for better or worse
And speaking of items, Boo one is also back, allowing racers to steal another’s item--while
becoming invulnerable to attack themselves.
It’s not a major addition, but it does add another layer of uncertainty that wasn’t
there before--such as someone might now randomly end up completley defensiveless when their
only item gets stolen.
Now none of these changes really impact the core game that that dramatically.
But they do add a few new wrinkles to give returning players something fresh to learn
and master--and I appreciate them for that.
Although it’s still too early for me to definitively say that the changes are categorically
for the better, but again, I really do appreciate that they make the game at least feel a little
different from before.
Now Mario Kart 8 Deluxe doesn’t change things just for the sake of returning players--but
inexperienced ones too, as it now goes the extra mile to be as inviting as possible to
those new to Mario Kart--or heck, maybe even video games in general.
Because you can now turn your Kart into a self-driving car thanks to a couple of new
options.
Auto accelerate will ensure your car keeps moving, even if you forget to step on the
gap, and Smart Steering will help keep you on the track by avoiding walls or going off
road.
Now neither of these options will make you a champion, but they will certainly help prevent
newcomers from falling too far behind.
Although I do have one complaint--because it’s way too easy to accidentally toggle
these options on or off without realizing it until mid-race as I did several times.
Okay, now so far, we’ve clearly been discussing a game that’s largely the same as before--just
with just a few tweaks & adjustments here and there.
But the new Battle Mode is where Mario Kart 8 truly earns its Deluxe moniker, as it’s
been rebuilt it from the ground up, offering an experience vastly superior to the original
game.
Instead of the boring retrofitted tracks of Mario Kart 89, Deluxe offers 8 brand new arenas
custom built for Battle, featuring multi-layered and interconnected designs that the series
is best known for.
All 8 of which are compatible with Deluxe’s 5 different Battle modes.
Whether it’s popping inflatables in Balloon Battle, playing keep away in Shrine Thief,
dodging explosives in Bob-omb Blast, hoarding cash in Coin Runners, or evading Piranha Plant
cops in the team-based Renegade Roundup--there’s an impressive amount of variety here.
I mean, between the amount of modes and tracks, there’s 40 different combinations to play.
And it’s that variety that makes this Battle Mode stand out, especially since you can compete
against your friends in any of those different Modes within the same round, with the crown
going to whoever has the most points overall at the end.
Now even though I had fun with all 5 Battle Modes I did find some to be better than others.
Bob-Omb Blast can be just a little too chaotic at times--and I’m not terribly fond of how
it switches up the item controls for this mode only, with the distance you throw the
bob-omb being dictated by how long you hold the a button for.
And in Renegade Roundup, it can be a little tough to not only tell who’s who, but even
to tell what exactly’s going on, as it practically demands keeping an eye on the map, which itself
can be tough to read with all the player icons obscuring each other.
But even with my misgivings for some of the modes, I didn’t mind them occasionally popping
up as part of the rotation--again, it’s the variety that really makes the Battle Mode
work.
Plus Shine Thief is as awesome
But even with the amount of variety, I do wish there were a few more options to customize
each match though.
For instance, Balloon Battle still feels watered down compared how it used to work due to the
lack of an option to play the classic Last Man Standing version!
I also wish you could adjust the amount of CPU players instead of the all or nothing
option the game has now--but hey, at least the computer players are pretty good at holding
their own.
Plus, if you mostly play Battle Mode online, that won’t be much of an issue anyway.
And speaking of online, my experience with it so far has been flawless, with no noticeable
lag or connection issues in all my time racing or battling.
Although my experience with the online is of course based on testing before it’s available
to the public, so I’ll be sure to provide updated impressions if my experience changes
once the game’s available for everyone.
Oh, and Nintendo did make one major improvement to the online, as you can finally change your
character and kart setup without having to exit the lobby--thank god.
So when you get down to it, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is exactly what it sets to be: a slightly
enhanced version of Mario Kart 8 with a vastly improved, if not quite perfect, battle mode.
Oh, and it still looks absolutley beautiful to boot, with the upgrade to 1080 offering
an even sharper and cleaner look.
But that all brings us back to the question: Is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe worth picking up if
you already own it on Wii U?
For me, personally, that’s a clear yes.
Even though I played it to death before, the small gameplay tweaks on top of what was already
a very solid foundation has me hooked all over again.
Plus the new Battle Mode is a nice change of pace.
In short, I like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe a lot.
But that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.
Because if you either didn’t like the original game, or just grew sick of it, I doubt there’s
anything here that will change your mind--unless you’ve a really big fan of Battle Mode.
Alright thanks for watching and make sure to stay tuned to GameXplain for more on Mario
Kart 8 Deluxe and all things Nintendo Switch too.