A kart racing game , also known as cart racing game or go-kart racing game , is a subgenre of racing games . Kart racing games have simplified driving mechanics while including unusual racetrack designs, obstacles, and vehicular combat . Though the genre has its roots in the 1980s, Super Mario Kart (1992) popularized the genre, with the Mario Kart series still being considered the foremost kart racing franchise.
69-507: Mario Kart 8 is a 2014 kart racing game developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U . It retains the gameplay of previous Mario Kart games, with players controlling a Mario character in races around tracks. Tracks are themed around locales from the Super Mario series populated with power-ups that help players gain advantages in races. Different difficulties are selectable prior to
138-477: A security vulnerability . The issue was fixed with an update, and online play resumed on August 3, 2023. Nintendo further stated that if further issues occurred, online play may be discontinued for the games. On October 4, 2023, Nintendo announced that online services for most Wii U and Nintendo 3DS software, including Mario Kart 8 , would end by April 2024. Online services for Mario Kart 8 were terminated on April 9, 2024. After initially being teased alongside
207-674: A "catch-up" mechanic, with racers ranked towards the bottom having a better chance of it spawning when driving into item boxes, giving them a better chance at diminishing the lead of the racer in top position. In addition to the Mario Kart series, the blue shell appeared in the Super Smash Bros. series from 2001's Melee onwards (it has been directly featured as a power-up item from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U onwards), and in Mario Hoops 3-on-3 . A character based on
276-803: A "mainstay" feature of the series. Readers and staff of Eurogamer voted Mario Kart 8 their game of the year, and GameSpot gave it the award of "Best Wii U Game". It was nominated for "Best Wii U Exclusive" in GameTrailers' 2014 Game of the Year Awards; for "Best Game" in Giant Bomb ' s 2014 Game of the Year Awards; and for "Overall Game of the Year" and "Wii U Retail Game of the Year" in Nintendo Life 's Reader Awards 2014, and it won both awards for both categories in their Staff Awards 2014. It won "Game of
345-626: A brand new course, Squeaky Clean Sprint. The final wave, Wave 6 was shown off in a Nintendo Direct on September 14, 2023, and released on November 9, 2023, containing the Acorn Cup and the Spiny Cup. Wave 6 features the addition of a music player featuring music from all courses in the game, as well as 18 additional costumes for the Mii racers. Starting in February 2023, Nintendo added eight more playable characters to
414-456: A celebratory dab . Mario Kart 8 Deluxe revamps the battle mode, adds a second item slot, among other minor gameplay improvements. Shortly after launch, Nintendo released a software update that changed one of the victory gestures done by the Inkling Girl. Prior to the update, the Inkling Girl performed a gesture that consisted of placing her hand on a flexed bicep and pumping her fist into
483-634: A course allow racers to drive on walls and ceilings. In these sections, players who collide with other racers or special bumpers will trigger a speed boost. New characters include the Koopalings and Pink Gold Peach . In addition to karts and motorbikes, the game also includes all-terrain vehicles . There are four new items: the Boomerang Flower, which can be thrown to attack players; the Piranha Plant , which attacks nearby racers and obstacles and provides
552-469: A course into one. The largest addition to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the updated battle mode. Deluxe includes five new battle mode-exclusive courses and three battle courses adapted from previous entries in the Mario Kart series. These battle courses are designed specifically for the mode, featuring layouts that allow for easier item play, rather than repurposing standard race courses like Mario Kart 8 . The Feather item, reintroduced from previous entries in
621-480: A free download code for a selected Wii U game. 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 as part of a downloadable update on August 27, 2014. In 2014, fast food company McDonald's released Happy Meal -branded toys based on
690-646: A month after the Switch's March 3 launch. Nintendo also announced a steering wheel accessory for the Switch Joy-Con controller to allow for motion-controlled steering . An overview trailer revealed details about the game's battle mode including several battle mode-exclusive courses, as well as the return of the Shine Thief mode from Mario Kart: Double Dash . After the release of the trailer, several internet memes circulated surrounding Donkey Kong appearing to perform
759-449: A race; harder difficulties make gameplay faster. In the new anti-gravity sequences, players drive on walls and ceilings. Mario Kart 8 contains a variety of single-player and local and online multiplayer game modes, including Grand Prix racing and arena-based battle modes. Nintendo revealed Mario Kart 8 in 2013 and released it in May 2014. Both paid and free downloadable content (DLC)
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#1732859516065828-565: A selectable kart and character. In June 2022, a mod was published that added Green Hill Zone from the Sonic the Hedgehog series as a course. Kart racing game Kart racing games are known to have simplified driving mechanics while adding obstacles, over-the-top racetrack designs, a wide range of background music and various action elements. Kart racers are also known to cast fictional characters, particularly from animated media franchises , as
897-501: A single product for Nintendo Switch , as well as being the first Mario game for the console. These features are accessible upon first starting the game, without the need to be unlocked. In addition to previous DLC, several new characters were introduced in Deluxe , including the Inklings from Splatoon , Bowser Jr. , Dry Bones , and King Boo . Other notable changes to the gameplay include
966-474: A single system, up to eight can play together through a local wireless connection (Nintendo Switch only), and up to twelve can play together via online multiplayer. As of April 8, 2024, online multiplayer is no longer available on the Wii U version of Mario Kart 8 due to the discontinuation of online services for the Wii U. The signature new feature of Mario Kart 8 is anti-gravity racing, in which certain parts of
1035-640: A speed boost; the Crazy Eight, which gives the user eight different 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 . The game features 32 courses spread across eight cups, with an additional 16 courses later released as downloadable content (DLC) in four additional cups. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe includes all downloadable content (DLC) for Mario Kart 8 , including characters, courses, and vehicle components, into
1104-455: A team of "renegades" trying to avoid the "authorities" armed with Piranha Plants , which takes inspiration from the children's game " cops and robbers ". Renegades may free their captured teammates by driving over switches under the cages controlled by the authorities. Initially confirmed in a January 2013 Nintendo Direct presentation, Mario Kart 8 was fully unveiled at E3 2013 . Some members of Bandai Namco Games received special thanks in
1173-510: Is a variation of Balloon Battle with all the items replaced with bombs. In Shine Thief, players must maintain control of the Shine Sprite for as long as possible; the player or team who possesses it for the longest wins. In Coin Runners, players scavenge coins from around the course and steal them from other players, aiming to have the biggest hoard. The final mode is Renegade Roundup, which involves
1242-420: Is often considered as the pioneer of kart racing series, and is the most successful in the genre, topping other popular games such as Diddy Kong Racing . Though the genre seems to have been the most popular among developers during the 1990s, Mario Kart DS (2005), and Mario Kart Wii (2008) became two of the best-selling kart racing games. In the late 2010s, Mario Kart 8 and its Deluxe port became
1311-479: Is one of the best-selling video games of all time , at over 71.36 million sold for both versions combined. The original version is also the best-selling Wii U game at 8.46 million sold and Deluxe is the best-selling Nintendo Switch game at 64.27 million. Mario Kart 8 is a kart racing game ; players control characters from the Mario universe, The Legend of Zelda , Animal Crossing , Splatoon , or
1380-487: Is unable to hit characters on its way to the lead, as it flies above the track using wings rather than gliding upon its surface. There are few techniques possible in some Mario Kart games to evade a blue shell, such as using a timed boost from a Mushroom item in Mario Kart DS onwards. In Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe , it is possible to use the new Super Horn item to destroy blue shells. A toy model of
1449-556: The Mario Kart series. Kotaku ' s Yannick Le Jacq considered the blue shell to be the most notable and game-changing among Mario Kart 's "most notorious" items, adding that this made it "a lot more fun" to use in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U too. Nintendo Power called the use of a Mushroom to dodge a blue shell a "defining moment" of gameplay in Mario Kart Wii . Maxwell McGee of GameSpot considered
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#17328595160651518-698: The best-selling Wii U game . Based on the sales data, more than half of Wii U owners own a copy. In the United Kingdom, shortly after the release of Mario Kart 8 , week-on-week Wii U console sales rose 662%, with Mario Kart 8 bundles accounting for 82% of consoles sold. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold 459,000 copies in the United States on its launch day, making it the fastest-selling entry in the Mario Kart series, ahead of 2008's Mario Kart Wii by 25,000 units. Roughly one year after launch, Deluxe had sold 9.22 million copies. It surpassed Super Mario Odyssey as
1587-477: The best-selling game on the Nintendo Switch in 2019, and Mario Kart Wii as the best-selling Mario Kart game in 2021. Since its release in 2017, Deluxe has been a consistent top-selling game on the Nintendo Switch. As of November 5, 2024, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has sold 64.27 million units, making it one of the best-selling games of all time . "Luigi's death stare" is an Internet meme describing
1656-626: The "Booster Course Pass" received mixed reception from fans. Many disliked that additional content for a previous game was being prioritized over a new entry in the series, citing how it had been nearly eight years since Mario Kart 8 first released on the Wii U . The graphics of the courses in the "Booster Course Pass" were also a point of contention, with some saying that they fell short of the standards set by Deluxe . After release, critics were mixed—according to Metacritic, Waves 1 & 5 received "mixed or average reviews", and Waves 2-4 & 6 received "generally favorable reviews". Criticism focused on
1725-461: The "great art direction" in Mario Kart 8 and Deluxe was "a major reason" for the game's graphics remaining "gorgeous". Easy Allies called the soundtrack "something special", saying that both original and returning songs were "fantastic and downright catchy". Eurogamer called the game's soundtrack "outrageously upbeat", and that Deluxe 's "defining moment" was the game's live band rendition of Super Mario Kart 's main theme. Upon announcement,
1794-531: The Blue Shell the “Blue Shell of Death”. In 2017, Keith Stuart of The Guardian included the blue shell as one of the "11 greatest video game objects" in history, calling it "the most controversial item in the Mario universe." Calling it "The Great Equalizer" for its enhancement of the elements of struggle and luck, Kotaku ' s Nathan Grayson considered the blue shell to be the most despised, and best, item of
1863-661: The Nintendo Switch's eShop , or by having an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription. The first wave of the "Booster Course Pass" was released on March 18, 2022, containing the Golden Dash Cup and the Lucky Cat Cup. Wave 2 was released on August 4, 2022, containing the Turnip Cup and the Propeller Cup. It also featured Sky-High Sundae, an original course not introduced in a previous Mario Kart game. Alongside
1932-633: The Nintendo Switch's announcement in October 2016, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was formally revealed at the Nintendo Switch Presentation on January 12, 2017. The trailer showcased mechanics such as Smart Steering and crossover elements from the Splatoon series—additional crossovers with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild were added in an update post-launch. The release date was set for April 28, 2017, only
2001-801: The Rock Cup and the Moon Cup. The ability to remove certain items from "VS Race" mode and online races was also added. Wave 4 was released on March 8, 2023, in North America and March 9 elsewhere, containing the Fruit Cup and the Boomerang Cup. It also featured a brand new original course based on Yoshi's Island (1995). Wave 5 was released on July 12, 2023, containing the Feather Cup and the Cherry Cup. It also featured
2070-399: The Year Awards in 2017, and the game was awarded "Old Game of the Year" at Giant Bomb 's 2017 Game of the Year Awards. In its first four days on sale, Mario Kart 8 became the fastest-selling Wii U game, with more than 1.2 million copies sold worldwide. Within a month, it increased to 2.82 million. As of September 2021, more than 8.46 million copies were sold worldwide, making it
2139-490: The Year" by The Guardian . In IGN ' s Best of 2014 Awards, it was nominated for "Best Multiplayer" and "Best Racing", and won the award for "Best Wii U Game". Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also earned recognition at year-end awards in the 2017–2018 season. The game was nominated for "Best Switch Game" and "Best Remake/Remaster" in IGN 's Best of 2017 Awards . Destructoid nominated the game for its "Best Switch Game" in their Game of
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2208-493: The ability to hold two items at once, and accessibility features to assist newer players, such as auto-acceleration or smart steering, which prevents players from veering off course. Deluxe also reintroduces the Boo item, which allows the player to steal another opponent's item and then temporarily become invisible. In Deluxe 's "Booster Course Pass", several courses have differing layouts in every lap, condensing multiple variations of
2277-501: The air. In Japan, the gesture means something similar to "bring it on!", though in European and Latin American countries, it was likened to the bras d'honneur , an offensive gesture that can be interpreted as "up your ass", " fuck you ", or similar meanings. After the update, the Inkling Girl no longer clenches her fist around her flexed arm, instead simply performing a " fist pump ", though
2346-403: The automatic facial expression displayed by Luigi toward other characters upon attacking or passing them during a race, in which he gives them a disapproving glare . It was featured in several viral videos and animated GIFs , and the phenomenon was covered by WNYW in early June 2014. Nintendo referenced the meme in their E3 2014 digital event. VentureBeat praised Nintendo's handling of
2415-522: The best-selling racing video game of all time. The kart racing mobile game GKART / QQ Speed (2010), which was heavily inspired by Mario Kart , became one of the highest-grossing mobile games. A notable recent addition to the genre is Smash Kart (2023). It's a kart racing game. It combines traditional racing with combat and customizable karts. Smash Kart aims to please both competitive and casual gamers. It has dynamic tracks and fun online multiplayer. Critics praised it, comparing it to classic games in
2484-401: The blue shell from the games, but "it feels like something's missing. Like there's something not quite enough in the game. So for now we've kept it in." Alex Langley's The Geek Handbook names as one of Mario Kart 8 's greatest frustrations, to be hit by a blue shell shortly before reaching the finish line. David Murphy from PCMag and Jamie Andrew from Den of Geek both called
2553-411: The blue shell is included in the limited edition package of Mario Kart 8 . A blue-shelled Koopa General (voiced by Scott Menville ) appears in the 2023 film The Super Mario Bros. Movie , obliterating much of the film's depiction of Rainbow Road after shouting "Blue shell!" as a battlecry. In a 2011 interview with Kotaku , Hideki Konno , who directed Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart 64 ,
2622-464: The characters and karts. 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. Game updates added new features and user experience improvements, such as support for Amiibo figurines, a 200cc difficulty setting, player statistics, and additional Mii outfits. Two paid DLC packs added characters, vehicles, and courses to
2691-402: The credits. The "8" in the logo was designed to resemble a Möbius strip , as was Mario Circuit, one of the courses. Early in development, the idea of using a drill to penetrate the ground was considered but was quickly discarded for not being as interesting as anti-gravity. Courses were designed with anti-gravity in mind, including tracks from older games which were redesigned to take advantage of
2760-479: The definitive version of the title. Deluxe was further called one of the best games in the Mario Kart series or one of the best racing games of all time. Some reviewers considered the game to be an essential purchase for Nintendo Switch owners. Improvements in Deluxe made certain features of Mario Kart 8 feel worse in retrospect. However, many reviewers criticized the lack of new content in Deluxe compared to Mario Kart 8 . The main racing mode of Mario Kart 8
2829-510: The drivers of vehicles with unusual designs, often reflecting the distinct trait or personality of the character driving it. Kart racing games are a more arcade-like experience than other racing games and usually offer over-the-top gameplay in which player characters can shoot projectiles against one another, collect power-ups to gain advantage, or perform special techniques to gain a speed boost. Typically, in such games, vehicles move more like go-karts and scooters , lacking anything along
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2898-512: The first kart racing game to implement combat elements within races. The game was also slower than other racing games of the time due to hardware limitations, prompting its developers to use a go-kart theme. Since then, many kart racing games have been released, with franchises such as Nicktoons and South Park featuring such games. The Crash Bandicoot franchise in particular (starting with Crash Team Racing in 1999) consists of numerous kart racing video games. The Mario Kart series
2967-551: The game, all having previously appeared in other Mario Kart titles. The first of these characters, Birdo , debuted in Wave 4; Petey Piranha , Wiggler , and Kamek in Wave 5; and Diddy Kong , Funky Kong , Pauline and Peachette in Wave 6. Mario Kart 8 received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic , whereas Deluxe received "universal acclaim". Overall, reviewers held Mario Kart 8 in high esteem among racing games, but considered Deluxe to be
3036-434: The game, despite making the game too easy for veteran players. However, some reviewers disliked how smart steering was enabled by default, and how it could overcorrect or interfere with precision inputs. The main criticism levied at Mario Kart 8 was its battle mode, which was less well received than previous entries. Easy Allies called it "abysmal", and Kotaku said it was "borderline unplayable". Giant Bomb panned
3105-523: The game. Some characters and courses are based on other Nintendo franchises , including Link ( The Legend of Zelda ), Isabelle and Villager ( Animal Crossing ), Mute City and Big Blue ( F-Zero ), and Excitebike Arena ( Excitebike ). Downloadable content for Mario Kart 8 is no longer available to purchase due to the discontinuation of the Nintendo eShop for Wii U. In March 2023, Nintendo halted online play for Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon due to
3174-544: The genre. They also noted its unique, fresh elements that set it apart. Blue shell The Spiny Shell , colloquially known as the blue shell , is a power-up item in the Mario Kart video game series. Originating in Mario Kart 64 (1996) and featured in every main entry of the series since then, the Spiny Shell, when used, aims directly at the racer in first place, stopping them on impact. The Spiny Shell acts as
3243-442: The graphics and visual style of the game. Eurogamer praised both the vast sense of scale and the "exquisite details" of the courses. Digital Foundry deemed it "near perfection" with "phenomenal attention to detail", featuring a "magnificent visual package" and "magical playability". Their technical analysis attributes the smoothness of motion and overall gameplay to the consistent performance of 60 frames per second (FPS), with
3312-550: The graphics, which were lower in detail compared to courses from the main game. Digital Foundry attributed this to the courses being built upon their versions from Mario Kart Tour . On the other hand, many reviewers felt that the courses that originated in Tour were among the best gameplay-wise, and Ninja Hideaway in particular was praised as a highlight of Wave 1. Some courses in Wave 2 were lauded, with Nintendo Life calling Waluigi Pinball's graphics "stunning". Another common criticism
3381-446: The issue with the original Mario Kart 8 's battle courses. However, Electronic Gaming Monthly said that the battle mode was "not so much a point for Deluxe that these modes are included as it is a retroactive demerit for the original Mario Kart 8 ". Many critics considered Renegade Roundup to be the best of Deluxe 's battle modes, though GameRevolution and USgamer said it was their least favorite. Reviewers also focused on
3450-399: The item appears in the 2023 film The Super Mario Bros. Movie , voiced by Scott Menville . Initially, the blue shell was impossible to stop or dodge once fired, until Mario Kart: Super Circuit (2001) and subsequent games allowed ways for the targeted racer to do so, albeit only with combinations of precise timing and specific items. As it is likely to spawn at least once during a race,
3519-405: The lines of a gear stick and clutch pedal . Kart racing games are distinct from and not to be confused with kart simulators, which is a minor subgenre of racing simulator games that simulates actual kart racing without over-the-top gameplay elements. Power Drift featured go-kart racing in 1988, but Super Mario Kart (1992) is cited to have popularized the kart racing genre, being
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#17328595160653588-524: The meme, noting that it was a "slick way" of acknowledging fan culture. The meme was nominated for the Best Gaming Moment at the 32nd Golden Joystick Awards . Several mods have been created for Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe . In February 2022, a mod was created that added Kirby 's Mouthful Mode car transformation ( colloquially known as "Carby") from Kirby and the Forgotten Land as
3657-475: The new mechanic. Other courses had gliding and underwater sections added as well. 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. In North America, Europe, and Australia, players who purchased and registered Mario Kart 8 on Club Nintendo before July 31, 2014, received
3726-415: The original Super Mario Bros. (1985) and blue Koopa Troopas from Super Mario World (1990). In Mario Kart 64 , racers in 4th-8th place can obtain the blue shell. Since the release of Mario Kart: Double Dash!! , the series sees the blue shell being more common to characters closer to the lead (if the leader pulls away from the rest of the pack), and in all releases prior to Mario Kart 7 , it
3795-402: The original. Minor mechanical changes, such as the ability to hold two items, were praised, with many liking how it added more strategy to Deluxe 's item play. Accessibility options like smart steering and auto-acceleration received mixed feedback. Many felt that the additions made Deluxe the most accessible Mario Kart game, and others appreciated how they helped less experienced players enjoy
3864-583: The players' Miis , to race in go-karts around a course. They may hinder their opponents or improve their performance using power-ups found in item boxes throughout the course. It includes four different difficulties, each differing in speed, which may be selected before the race. "Mirror Mode" horizontally inverts all courses. 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 . Up to four players can play together on
3933-413: The power-up item has earned a reputation of frequently destroying a player's lead, or suddenly ruining their chances of winning. Because of this, the blue shell has largely come to be seen as one of the best and most famous, yet also one of the most frustrating items in video game history. The Mario series features some visually similar figures which predate the blue shell, such as the red Spinies from
4002-466: The release of Wave 2, Nintendo released an update to the Wave 1 course Coconut Mall that changed the cars at the end of the course to perform donuts , rather than remaining stationary, except for in Time Trials . This change was widely praised, especially after many were disappointed that the cars were stationary in the "Booster Course Pass" to begin with. Wave 3 was released on December 7, 2022, containing
4071-559: The rest of the gesture was unchanged. A series of updates in 2018 added compatibility with Nintendo Labo , a toys-to-life kit that uses cardboard to create motion-controlled toys with Joy-Con controllers. The first update enabled the Toy-Con Motorbike as a controller for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe , allowing the player to use the physical throttle , handlebars , and gyroscope present on the Toy-Con Motorbike, while actions like braking, drifting, and item pickups are still performed using
4140-412: The series, is exclusive to this mode and allows the player to get a small boost in height when it is activated. There are five rulesets in battle mode. In Balloon Battle, players use items to destroy each other's balloons. Unlike in previous incarnations, the mode is point-based rather than last-man-standing , meaning that the winner is whoever destroys the most balloons before the match ends. Bob-omb Blast
4209-496: The split-screen mode's effective 30 FPS nonetheless comparing favorably with industry standard. Reviewers for Deluxe echoed this praise, with some saying that the graphics of Deluxe were an upgrade from the Wii U original. GamesTM praised the "incredible" lighting of Deluxe , saying that courses like Rainbow Road and Electrodrome stood out as "fantastic showcases for the Nintendo universe and its creative spirit". IGN felt that
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#17328595160654278-476: The standard controller buttons. A later update added compatibility for the Toy-Con Car, Pedal, and Key to control actions like braking, drifting, and using the horn on the steering wheel to launch items. An update released on December 7, 2022, added an item customization option for certain modes, allowing players to choose which items are obtainable in a race or Battle. During a February 2022 Nintendo Direct , it
4347-475: The use of repurposed race courses for battle mode in lieu of dedicated battle courses like previous entries, which made it difficult to find opponents to engage with. By contrast, Deluxe 's revamped battle mode received widespread acclaim. Easy Allies and Kotaku claimed that the new battle mode far outshined the original game, and Pocket Gamer said that Deluxe returned battle mode to its "original arena-battling glory". VentureBeat said that they remedied
4416-440: Was a critical success; reviewers praised its gameplay and presentation, but the battle mode was criticized. Critics praised Deluxe as the definitive version for its improved battle modes and presentation. Both releases have been named by critics as among the best Mario Kart games, have won and been nominated for several awards, and have been cited in following years as being among the greatest video games ever made . Mario Kart 8
4485-485: Was announced that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe would get a paid downloadable content season pass called the "Booster Course Pass". Courses in the "Booster Course Pass" are largely remastered from their incarnations in previous Mario Kart games. The "Booster Course Pass" was released in six waves, with each wave containing eight courses split into two cups, totaling to 48 additional tracks that were released between March 2022 and November 2023. It can be accessed by purchasing it on
4554-426: Was asked about the blue shell's inclusion in the series. He stated that it was introduced in Mario Kart 64 to keep players together due to the limited processing power of the Nintendo 64 and that "we wanted to create a race where everyone was in it until the end". In a 2017 interview with Eurogamer , Kosuke Yabuki, the director of Mario Kart 7 and Mario Kart 8 , said that Nintendo has experimented with removing
4623-589: Was released after its launch, including additional tracks and a new difficulty setting. It was rereleased on the Nintendo Switch in April 2017 as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe , with the original DLC for free, a revamped battle mode and other gameplay alterations. From February 2022 until November 2023, Deluxe was given additional DLC, the Booster Course Pass, which added 48 circuits and eight characters. Mario Kart 8
4692-441: Was that the earlier courses did not include Mario Kart 8 's signature anti-gravity or underwater features. GameSpot lamented how the "Booster Course Pass" initially only introduced new courses, rather than new characters or customization parts. Nintendo Life praised the audio design, calling it "stellar" and "a delight". The addition of courses that vary every lap was praised by critics, with Nintendo Life wishing it would become
4761-467: Was widely praised. Eurogamer called it the "most vibrant home console racing game in years". The rubber-banding mechanics present in the game's AI competitors was criticized, though Game Informer noted that "fans accepted that pitfall as a series mainstay long ago". Finding the core racing unchanged, they said Deluxe is still "the same great title from the Wii U". GameSpot and Nintendo Life also considered Deluxe 's racing to be as strong as
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