Mario Kart 8

Anti-gravity racing introduced in Mario Kart 8

The game continues the traditional gameplay of the Mario Kart series, in which characters from the Mario universe race against each other in go-karts, attempting to hinder their opponents or improve their racing performance using various tools found in item boxes. In addition, the game includes four different difficulties, which can be selected before beginning the race to challenge players. Returning features from previous installments include motorbikes and 12-player racing from Mario Kart Wii, as well as hang gliders, underwater racing and vehicle customization from Mario Kart 7.

Mario Kart 8's new features include anti-gravity racing, in which certain parts of a track can allow racers to drive on walls and ceilings.[1] During these sections, players can bump into other racers or special bumpers to trigger a Spin Boost, which gives them an extra speed boost. New characters include The Koopalings and Pink Gold Peach. There are four new items: the Boomerang Flower, which can be thrown to attack players, the Piranha Plant, which attacks nearby racers and obstacles, the Crazy Eight, which gives the user eight items, and the Super Horn, which can be used both to attack nearby opponents and defend against items, including the previously nearly unavoidable Spiny Shell.[2][3] The game features 32 tracks in eight cups (Mushroom, Flower, Star, Special, Shell, Banana, Leaf, and Lightning), with an additional 16 later released as downloadable content (DLC) in four additional cups: Egg, Triforce, Crossing, and Bell.

Along with local multiplayer, Mario Kart 8 supports online multiplayer with up to twelve players and voice chat outside of races, however voice chat is only available with friends online. Prior to the cancellation of Nintendo's Miiverse social network on November 7, 2017, players could set up tournaments with customizable rules and schedules, post race videos there, and earn art stamps for decorating Miiverse messages by beating staff times and completing Grand Prix races. Miiverse features have been removed from the game, although downloading ghost data from friends or top players is still possible.

The Wii U version is compatible with the Wii U GamePad, Wii Remote and Nunchuk, Wii U Pro Controller, Wii Classic Controller, and Wii Wheel.[4] The Switch version can be played with an individual Joy-Con turned on its side, the Joy-Con Grip controller shell, the console tablet with both Joy-Con attached, or the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and the Nintendo Gamecube Controller with the Nintendo Gamecube Adapter (the game reads it as a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller). Amiibo figures can unlock Nintendo-themed costumes to be worn by Miis.[5] A free software update to the Switch version was made in June 2018 that allows players to use the Toy-Con Motorbike from the Nintendo Labo Variety Kit as a compatible motion controller.[6]

Initially confirmed in a January 2013 Nintendo Direct presentation, the game was later unveiled at E3 2013. Some members of Bandai Namco Games were given special thanks in the game's credits.[7] The "8" in the game's logo was designed to resemble a Möbius strip, as was Mario Circuit, one of the tracks in the game.[4] Early in development, the idea of using a drill to penetrate the ground was considered but was quickly discarded for not being as creative as anti-gravity.[8]

New features and enhancements were added via game updates. The first update, released in August 2014, included rearranged post-race options, an optional course map on the game screen, a player statistics screen, and improved online stability.[9] The second update, released in November 2014, added support for Nintendo's Amiibo figures, allowing players to unlock Mii racing outfits based on other Nintendo characters.[10] The third update, released in April 2015, added a new 200cc class, a first for the series, and additional racing suits unlockable via Amiibo.

Additional characters and tracks for the game were released as downloadable content. The first was a free set of Mercedes-Benz-themed vehicles: the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA, 1957 SL 300 Roadster, and 1934 W25 Silver Arrow, which were released on August 27, 2014 as part of the Version 2.0 update.[9] On August 26, 2014, Nintendo announced two purchasable DLC packs, with each pack containing three additional characters, four additional vehicles and eight additional tracks; some of which are based on other Nintendo franchises, including The Legend of Zelda (Hyrule Circuit), Animal Crossing (Animal Crossing), F-Zero (Mute City and Big Blue), and Excitebike (Excitebike Arena). The first DLC pack, released in November 2014, features Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach, and Link as playable characters. The second pack, released in April 2015, features Dry Bowser, Villager, and Isabelle. Additional multi-colored Yoshis and Shy Guys are included with both DLC packs.[11][12]

Nintendo's launch promotions of Mario Kart 8 include a Limited Edition with a Spiny Shell figurine; and special Mario and Luigi themed console bundles, with a hat, strategy guide, Wii Remote Plus controller, Wii Wheel, and GamePad protector.[13] In North America, Europe, and Australia, players who purchased and registered Mario Kart 8 on Club Nintendo before July 31, 2014 received a free download code for a selected Wii U game.[14][15] As part of a promotional campaign with Mercedes-Benz, Mario, Luigi, and Peach were featured in a series of Japanese commercials for the Mercedes-Benz GLA, and three karts based on past and present Mercedes-Benz vehicles were added to the game as part of a downloadable update on August 27, 2014.[9][16][17] In 2014, fast food company McDonald's released Happy Meal-branded toys based on the game's characters and karts.[18]

A soundtrack album containing 68 tracks from the game was made available as an exclusive reward available to Club Nintendo members shortly preceding the service's discontinuation in 2015.[19]

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe[lower-alpha 3] is an enhanced Nintendo Switch version, released worldwide on April 28, 2017.[20] It includes all previously released DLC, additional content, gameplay tweaks, 1080p graphics while docked,[21][22] and 720p in handheld mode.[22] Some features in Deluxe are reworked or restored from previous Mario Kart games: Battle Mode has eight new arenas and several gameplay modes; the Boo and Feather items are restored; and players can carry two items at once, even if they don't drag the first item. Five additional playable characters were added to the roster, including Bowser Jr., Dry Bones, King Boo, the Inkling Boys and Girls from Splatoon, and an unlockable Gold Mario costume for Metal Mario. Deluxe includes new racing suits for Mii characters unlocked via Amiibo, and additional kart parts for customization.[20] Nintendo's head of software development, Shinya Takahashi, confirmed in July 2018 that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe would receive further updates,[23] with the first, a new vehicle and alternate costume for Link based on those seen in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, being released the same month.[24] A later update added support for Nintendo Labo peripherals as compatible controllers.[6]

The original game received "generally favorable" reception, and Deluxe received "universal acclaim", according to review aggregator Metacritic.[26][25] Considered by Eurogamer to be "the most vibrant home console racing game in years", the game was praised for its "exquisite details", vast sense of scale, orchestrated soundtrack, and gameplay.[36] Digital Foundry deemed it to be "near perfection" with "phenomenal attention to detail", featuring a "magnificent visual package" and "magical playability". Their technical analysis attributes the game's smoothness of motion and overall gameplay, to its typically high performance of 60 frames per second (FPS), with the split-screen mode's effective 30 FPS nonetheless comparing favorably with industry standard.[72] GameSpot generally praised the game, but criticized the game's Battle Mode for reusing the game's main race courses instead of presenting uniquely created battle arenas as prior Mario Kart games had done.[42]

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe received critical acclaim with many critics highlighting the revamped battle mode as a welcome improvement over the Wii U version.[25] It holds a score of 92/100 on Metacritic.[25] IGN gave it a score of 9.3/10, stating that the game is "just as amazing in 2017 as it was in 2014".[52] Eurogamer, referencing the revamped Battle Mode, stated that Nintendo fixed one of the game's only shortcomings in a "generous port of a modern masterpiece".[73]

• Official website