TEST GAMES TEST GAMESario Kart 8 was an
absolute blast when
it came out three years
ago. For the first time, Nintendo’s
iconic racing franchise was created
in glorious HD – and it was a heck
of a lot of fun.
Missed out on the sheer joy
of Luigi’s death stares, blue shell
chaos and power-sliding around
Rainbow Road once again? Then
this Deluxe edition of the game
is absolutely essential on Switch.
Not only does it give you 48
dizzying tracks to speed across
via 42 barmy characters; it also
completely revamps the original’s
Battle mode.
Where previously this used
tracks from the main game that
were too big and ungainly, you’ve
now got eight purpose-built
courses on which to slay your
bezzie mates. These include
returning favourites like Battle
Course 1 (from SNES) and
Luigi’s Mansion (GCN), as well
as the Splatoon-themed Urchin
Underpass, with your goal being
to pop or steal balloons in order
to score points. There is a metrictonne of rubber to be burnt across
the epic contents of MK8D.
If you’re already familiar with the
game’s Wii U incarnation, and the
genius DLC that Nintendo cooked
up for it, then this is much less of
a must-have. Only that frenetic
Battle mode and the ability to
conquer Baby Park on the go are
substantial new additions, which
means you’ll be playing a lot of
stuff for the second time. Anyone
who’s already worked their way up
from a 50cc to a 200cc champion
might not find that too appetising
a prospect... even if enough time
has passed now that you’ll have
forgotten how to corner properly
on Moo Moo Meadows.
But when the greatest criticism
you can throw at MK8D is that
some people might have played
it already, there’s no getting away
from the fact that it’s an absolute
stonker. With this and Zelda:
Breath of the Wild, Nintendo’s
Switch has two must-play titles
less than three months into its
existence. Let’s hope it can keep
up this blockbuster pace.
Rob LeedhamSTUFF SAYS It was already the best Mario Kart – and on Switch it’s even better +++++
MarioKart 8 Deluxe
Nintendo’s joyous racing series zooms onto Switch – and the latest
instalment is even more of a high-speed fun-fest than it was on Wii UM
Splatoon’s
Inklings are a
new addition,
alongside the
unlockable
Good Mario.The key to
victory? Riding
in your birthday
suit, at least
according to
Dry Bones.Switch / nintendo.com