Mario and friends are back for another cute and competitive kart-racing adventure in the all-new Mario Kart 8 for the Nintendo Wii U.
Although the game doesn’t launch until 30 May, we got an exclusive hands-on with the latest version of Nintendo’s racing franchise earlier today.
As a Nintendo exclusive, there’s a lot riding on the success of Mario Kart 8, especially for the gaming giant’s ailing Wii U console.
So is it more of the same from the iconic Italian plumber and co, or has Nintendo decided to revamp the series? Read on to find out about all the new features, items, levels and characters in the game. And (most importantly) our first-look verdict on Mario Kart 8.
[alert type=alert-blue]The best-looking Mario Kart to date[/alert]
Mario Kart 8 is by far the best looking title in the franchise thus far. The colourful levels all look amazing and the different elements (whether you’re racing on land or underwater) are beautifully animated. The larger obstacles (such as the crushing 3D blocks and enemies) all look more ominous than before and the depth of the tracks is also a joy to view (the way they stretch out in to the distance is truly progressive – whether or not you’ll be able to pause to enjoy them amidst all the on-screen frenzy is another question).
The graphics run at 60 frames per second on single player and two-player, dropping to 30 fps on three-to-four player races. Although, you may not get a chance to admire the graphics if you’re playing on the full multiplayer capacity as the action is extremely fast-paced. We would recommend the biggest screen possible if you’re playing multi-player, otherwise you may find yourself squinting to keep up with these tiny racers.
[alert type=alert-blue]Mario magic[/alert]
Okay, so that’s a bit of a misleading header because despite containing his name in the title, this isn’t (and never has been) the Mario show. With plenty of new characters and the return of all your favourites (including Peach, Wario, Toad and Yoshi), we find that most people leave Mario on the shelf when choosing a character. The same goes for us.
With the game loaded on the Wii U, the difficulty chosen (we started on 100 cc – but eventually progressed to the hardest setting, 150 cc) all that remains is to choose your character and vehicle.
Characters and vehicles
Although Nintendo are keeping hush on exactly how many characters are in the game (we know the exact figure having played Mario kart 8, but we’re sworn to secrecy folks), what we can tell you at this stage is that there are quite a few new additions. Among the new faces are the tiny Koopalings (a group of seven Koopa siblings that serve King Bowser in the other Mario games).
Even more exciting than the elaborate amount of playable characters on offer are the vehicles. The vehicle customisation feature that was introduced on Mario Kart 7 returns here, and certainly adds a lot more depth to the otherwise limited, arcade-style gameplay. We found that the more we played, the more time we took choosing a character and customising our vehicle. Bigger characters obviously help in bullying opponents off the track but tinier characters (such as the baby versions of Mario and Peach) are more agile.
The same goes for vehicles, you can either race around on a kart, a buggie (the only new class of vehicle available here) or a motorbike. Additionally, you can change the wheels and add a glider or two different types of parachutes. Racing a bike was definitely more sensitive in terms of controls. Get the hang of it – along with the crucial drifting function – and you’ll be zipping in and out of players and obstacles with ease. That is until you’re hit by a red shell!
Multiplayer marvel
As fans of the series already know, Mario Kart is one of the most addictive and competitive multiplayer titles around. And – let’s be honest – multiplayer is where the fun lies.
Like no other contemporary title, Mario Kart 8 offers the type of old-school frenetic multiplayer action (with real-life players socialising and competing in the same room) that you just can’t find on games consoles these days. And although it may seem as more of the same to many gamers, it’s still a breath of fresh air when compared to the slew of titles that only allow you to play with friends online. Although we must add that an online mode is also available here – but unfortunately we didn’t get a chance to play it. But multiplayer is where it’s at. There’s nothing better than bouncing off other players (both in the game and in real life) and hearing the gasps, shouts and screams as everyone dashes to the finish. This time round, the fast-paced, dizzying multiplayer action is taken to new heights of frenzy on the higher difficulty settings.
[alert type=alert-blue]Zero-gravity[/alert]
The most obvious new feature is zero gravity, which allows you to scroll along the sides of levels (where more often than not you will find boosts). Zero gravity has also changed the dynamics of the tracks, they twist and turn along their routes forcing players to race upside down and in spirals. It can be disorientating at times, but definitely adds to the fun.
With 32 levels in total – including 16 new tracks and 16 retro tracks – there’s a lot of tarmac to race on. Most of the tracks, however, let you navigate on land, sea and in the air. The new levels exist side-by-side with the updated takes on retro tracks such as Moo Moo Meadows from Mario Kart Wii, Toad’s Turnpike from Mario Kart 64 and Donut Plains from Super Mario Kart, among others.
New items in the game are also immensely enjoyable to implement. They include the Piranha Plant (which attaches to your cart and chomps other players whilst giving you a handy speed boost) and a Boomerang Flower (that can be thrown forward or backward to stun opponents).
Arguably the most important new feature is the items menu, which allows you to switch off certain weapons and power-ups. Consequently, if you want to race without those slippery banana skins or game-changing blue shells, you can now.
The relatively easy controls, however, remain the same – allowing both casual and hardcore gamers to pick up and play the game. Additionally, you can play with all the Nintendo controllers, including the single Wii Remote (Plus), Wii Remote with wheel, Wii Remote with Nunchuk, Wii Remote with Classic Controller (Pro), and the Wii U Pro Controller.
[alert type=alert-blue]Verdict[/alert]
Nintendo has obviously worked very hard to get the balance between nostalgia and progression just right with Mario Kart 8. As a result, it’s still easy for new players to navigate the levels with their wide tracks, whereas Mario Kart veterans will revel in the new zero gravity option and in exploiting all the shortcuts and new items on offer.
As we mentioned previously, Mario Kart 8 offers unparalleled offline multiplayer fun for all the family. It’s incredible that despite having not dramatically tinkered with the game’s formula, Nintendo has still managed to create one of the most addictive arcade racing titles out there.
Overall, Mario kart 8 offers the kind of universal gaming experience that is a rarity these days. Even the most fiercest of gaming critics and skeptics alike will have a hard time resisting its appeal. The beauty lies in its addictive nature. Just when you think you’ve seen and played it all (and like we stated earlier, there are no drastic new gameplay features on offer here), it draws you back in for that familiarly competitive Mario Kart experience at the fastest speed the series has ever displayed. Roll on 30 May, we say.
