Roundup assigns players to either the “Renegade” or “Authorities” team, essentially a cops and robbers scenario that places Renages in jail when damaged.
The new mode, Renegade Roundup, earns bonus points for creativity, but is also probably my least favorite.
Thankfully it is, and thankfully Battle is still overwhelmingly fun. This requires the winner to secure a Shine Sprite in order to end a match that will otherwise continue, as the Sprite is bandied between racers continuously ramming each other, hurtling shells, dropping bombs, and generally unleashing fury that would probably be quite hellish were this not an overwhelmingly endearing cartoon. Instead, it’s about embracing frenetic, shout-laden multiplayer, preferably of the local variety.Ĭoin Runners involves collecting the most coins before time runs out, Bob-omb blast sees contestants hurling only Bob-ombs when hitting item blocks, and Shine Thief returns from Double Dash!! largely unchanged. It’s no spoiler to state off the bat that all of these modes are fun, and unlike Grand Prix, Mario Kart’s battles have never been about winning. Outside of Balloon Battle there’s also Renegade Roundup, Bob-omb Blast, Coin Runners, and Shine Thief, most of which have appeared in other Mario Karts, rendering Renegade Roundup the resident newcomer. You can now hold two items at a time, which adds to the chaos, and inserts a layer of strategy to the proceedings that is definitely welcome. Foremost is standard Balloon Battle, where players zag across clever arenas and use items to rupture each other’s balloons. With logistics covered it's on to gameplay, and the major add here is a Battle Mode that finally mimics the classic, balloon-oriented mechanics found in previous versions. For a racer that probably doesn’t need to look as nice as it does, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe goes the distance. Locales like the new Lunar Colony and Sweet Sweet Kingdom are the best examples of this, and need to be seen in motion to be truly appreciated.
Somehow thwarting its complete lack of anti-aliasing, Deluxe in motion is like the pre-rendered concept art in Nintendo game manuals finally come to life, its Battle stages in particular flaunting Nintendo EPD’s considerable visual chops. In short, the end result is gorgeous at the moment, this is the prettiest Nintendo game there is.
Regarding graphics, the upgrades are simple – Mario Kart 8 Deluxe runs at a full, native 1080p, a substantial upgrade from the original’s 720p, and retains the 60fps found on Wii U as well. There are also optional features designed to make Mario Kart more accessible, including smart steering and auto-acceleration. What’s changed this time around (beyond Battle, which I’ll get to later) is essentially a visual upgrade and extras, the former delivering subtle but appreciated aesthetic gains and the latter appeasing stickler, detail-oriented fans, particularly those of the Double Dash!!-adoring persuasion. At its core, Mario Kart 8 is still a cutting-edge kart racer, the best and prettiest Mario Kart, and a monster of a party game, just like it was on Wii U.
The package is compelling on paper, but is it really worth revisiting for a full $60? Read on to find out.Īn immediate perk of porting a game just three years after its release is that the game itself ages quite well. Mario Kart 8 has returned on Nintendo Switch as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, awarded the second chance it rightfully earned and sporting a fancy new Battle Mode among a smattering of other frills, enhancements, and a boatload of included DLC. The game that brought us Luigi’s Death Stare, MKTV, and single-handedly revitalized its host console (sporting crazy high attach rates) was a reinvention for Mario Kart, and despite its success deserved to be played and owned by at least twice as many people as it actually was. The Wii U was no fiscal success, but without Mario Kart 8 it would have been a money-bleeding liability.