Home > Why Mario Kart 8 Will be the Best Installment Yet
Since it's reveal last year at E3, I've been dying to get my hands on a copy of Mario Kart 8. As new details emerge, it seems like May 30th can't come fast enough. If you want to know why I think the Wii U version of Mario's iconic kart racer will be the best in the series, hit the jump by clicking
read more below.
Throughout the years, Mario Kart has improved and added new features with each installment. A lot of these features were exclusive to a certain game up until this point, but it seems like Mario Kart 8 is taking everything good from previous entries and adding it's own unique twist (literally). You've got the coin system from Super Mario Kart. Retro courses from Mario Kart DS are back. Mario Kart Wii introduced bikes and allowed twelve players to race simultaneously, which are both making reappearances. Mario Kart 7 isn't left out as the gilder and under water racing are both implemented.
However, returning elements don't make a game. Mario Kart 8 will have plenty of new gimmicks to make it it's own. The most obvious and highlighted of these is the anti gravity addition. With the ability to drive on walls and ceilings, tracks get a whole lot bigger. Another vehicle, the buggie, virtually doubles the options you have for play style. And of course, new items and characters are here to make the experience as fresh as possible.
Another first that Mario Kart 8 brings to the series is HD graphics. The games renders at 1080p at 60fps, and I've heard it's the best looking game for Wii U. The fps hold up for split-screen multi-player as well. Seeing retro courses remastered in HD is like being shot in the chest with a paintball of nostalgia. A beautiful twist (I know, too much) on these classic levels will add a lot to the experience.
The character roster and new items look sweet (specifically the Koopalings and the potted piranha plant), but the aspect I'm most excited for is the course selection. Courses like Sunshine Airport (pictured above), Electrodome, and Cloudtop Cruise stand out for their vibrant and cool atmosphere. The retro courses that have been announced are easily the best of any title to date, with sick tracks like Toad's Turnpike [N64], Tick-Tock Clock [DS], Music Park [3DS], Dry Dry Desert [GCN], and the epic Rainbow Road [N64]. Mario Kart 8 really takes retro courses to the next level, remastering them in a way that no entry has yet to do. You'll be able to relive the days of yore in a huge, detailed, and beautiful HD environment, and you can bet your bottom dollar that I'd buy the game just for that.
New characters, karts, items, courses, visuals, and gameplay all point to Mario Kart 8 being the best Mario Kart yet. The twist (I promise, I'm done) of old and new make Mario Kart 8 the ultimate kart racing experience, only on Wii U.
About the Author:
Rial Johnson
Rial Johnson founded Nintendo Castle in 2011 with hopes to build the largest collection of Nintendo walkthroughs, guides, and content on the web. He is an avid gamer with a special place in his heart for Nintendo, but often finds himself writing about games more than actually playing them. You'll likely see him around Nintendo Castle and on social media, mostly managing the front-end content of the site.
