Review: Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8 is the highly anticipated version for the Nintendo Wii U of the kart racing game, which blends the most popular Nintendo characters, various power-ups, and themed tracks full of obstacles. With high-definition graphics and new mechanics, the game is a move by the Japanese company to make its new console more attractive to the general public. Check out my full impressions of Mario Kart 8!

First launched in 1992 for Super Nintendo, the game became one of the system’s “best-sellers” due to its undeniable ability to provide fun and intense races with banana peels and shells. Mario Kart needs no introduction to anyone with any experience in video games.

More than twenty years have passed, and the strong impression we get is that Nintendo doesn’t need to do much to keep the game in great shape. The good news is that the company decided to roll up its sleeves to bring yet another game with impressive quality for the Nintendo Wii U, and guess what? They nailed it.

The basic formula remains intact. Several racers (up to 12) on tracks filled with sharp turns and ramps battle for the top spots in the race. To make things even more interesting, competitors have the help of several items, obtained from floating boxes scattered across the race track.

Additionally, Mario Kart 8 introduces new power-ups, ranging from Piranha Plants, Boomerangs, to horns capable of destroying blue shells, among others.

The balancing of item delivery continues to be flawless, as it is customary in the series. Players who lack skill in racing receive help, while those in the lead must settle for modest and fun green shells and coins as bonuses.

The mechanic, which at first may seem somewhat unfair, is what makes the game such an accessible and fun experience for all audiences, as the races constantly undergo twists in a matter of seconds, making the gameplay even more fun and engaging.

The variety of characters is quite vast, with a total of 30 playable racers. Among them are the main names from the Nintendo series, such as Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Bowser. There are also new additions, like Bowser’s children, Baby Rosalina, and metal versions of Peach and Mario, completing the extensive list of amazing racers.

When choosing a specific character, it is also possible to customize the vehicle they drive, selecting the chassis, wheels, and glider. Additionally, bikes, karts, and ATVs are available, each with unique and interesting handling for gameplay.

The player can also choose optional parts that affect not only the appearance but also the performance of the cars, which can be configured for more speed, control, and acceleration. Parts and characters are unlocked as you win tournaments and collect coins on the tracks.

Nintendo’s great success was the gameplay in Mario Kart 8, where we have simple yet precise vehicle control, something that is a strong entry point for newcomers. Driving the karts has never been so easy and captivating, both using simple motion controls and the traditional setup, which requires only one button for acceleration, one for items, and the directional pad to guide the vehicle through the race.

Veterans will also not be disappointed with the controls, which offer good depth, with jump, drift, and turbo start commands that require some practice and skill from the player, making the game even more fun, producing incredible and varied results throughout the race.

The Nintendo Wii U gamepad wasn’t used for much more than displaying the track map and activating a horn button, which can also be activated with another gamepad button. The only point to note is that the map is on the controller screen, making it difficult for those who opted to use a Wii Remote and/or Pro Controller.

In Mario Kart 8, we have a total of 32 tracks, divided into tournaments with four different courses in each track. However, 16 of these tracks are remastered versions of classic tracks from older Mario Kart games.

The new tracks in Mario Kart 8 are large, colorful, and well-designed. Inspired by Nintendo characters or game phases, they highlight the low-gravity sections, where the vehicle wheels (including karts, bikes, and ATVs) become a sort of magnet, allowing them to literally go upside down and/or race on walls.

On the classic tracks, instead of just being high-definition versions of previous games, Nintendo opted to carefully remake the courses, adding new elements such as the low-gravity system.

One of the main reasons fans were excited for Mario Kart 8 was the fact that it was the first high-definition version of the franchise. Fulfilling the players’ main request for better visuals, Nintendo really nailed the graphics, making this easily one of the most beautiful games of the current generation.

Characters, tracks, power-ups, karts—each object seems to have been modeled with extreme care, using the full processing power of the Nintendo Wii U. Small details like Donkey Kong’s fur moving and dirty tires are great impressive examples.

In addition to all that, the game runs at a smooth 60 frames per second (60 fps), with no noticeable performance drops, even with the screen full of effects, items, and characters.

In terms of sound, Mario Kart 8 doesn’t fall behind, with exciting music that fits perfectly with the chaotic and fun atmosphere of the game. There are also several tracks that beautifully pay homage to other Nintendo games. The quality of the soundtrack, recorded by different musicians and bands, also stands out.

In addition to the traditional split-screen multiplayer modes, Mario Kart 8 introduces an updated online mode. Online matches support up to 12 players simultaneously, with two players able to use the same Wii U.

The available modes include: battle mode, normal races, and tournaments, where registered players compete for specific points in tracks that are randomly selected from suggestions by the race participants (through the traditional vote from the racers). Time Trials against Ghosts uploaded by other racers are also available.