Not the best karting game out there, but quite enjoyable nonetheless!
http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/37441/second-opinion-mario-kart-8-review
I feel somewhat uneasy in talking about a Mario Kart game in a post-Mario Kart 7 era. While it wasn't a bad game, I didn’t play much of MK7. I enjoyed the last three games more. My preference for the previous games and their gameplay certainly reflects on my opinion of Mario Kart 8. I’m not saying that MK8 is worse than MK7, or even that either are bad games. It’s just that MK8 retains elements that already felt redundant in MK7.
For example, the Grand Prix mode has changed very little from previous titles—it feels very routine. It’s still the main mode for unlocking content, but even then there’s very little to break the monotony. Characters unlock one right after another, and after unlocking them all, you’re only rewarded with new car parts for every 50 coins you earn. All CCs are available right from the start, so nothing is stopping you from going straight to 150cc and unlocking Mirror Mode from the very beginning. Finishing all the cups with star ranks provide a small reward, though not one that’s worth the effort required. This makes the entire scheme seem redundant. However, you can now play the cups with up to four people, which somewhat lessens the irritation involved.
The irritation is also lessened by the tracks, which might be the liveliest selection as of late. The new designs are great and offer plenty of variation. Sunshine Airport is a quick, rapid track with tons of entertaining obstacles, and Electrodome is a techno lover’s dream with Toads and other characters in full rave mode. Of course, there are also retro tracks to enjoy. The Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 64 is an amazing addition and is beautiful to look at. Sherbet Land from Mario Kart: Double Dash has also changed for the better with added underwater sections and lots of shiny ice. Overall, I am pleased with the choices the team made. The tracks are fun to play, even over and over again Time Trial mode.
Nevertheless, Mario Kart is always at its best in multiplayer. Along with Grand Prix mode, you can also choose your own tracks and rules with up to four players in local multiplayer. You can play conservatively, choosing every track in order, or you can throw frantic items into the mix to make everything insane. My only issue with the multiplayer lies with the two-player option, as the screen is now split vertically instead of horizontally. There are no options to change it, and you can't opt to use the Wii U GamePad instead. Instead, the only off-TV Play option is to mirror what is on the television. If you are playing alone, it’s a worthwhile option, but they could have done so much more with the controller. Beyond that, the GamePad features a gigantic honk button and a map that you won't use while actually driving.
The heart of the multiplayer is the Battle Mode, where you duke it out both locally and online. Sadly, Mario Kart 8 only features the Balloon Battle mode. But instead of the previous titles’ arenas, you now play the mode on eight existing tracks, six retro and two modern courses. That said, I had fun with the mode, discovering the tracks in new ways was kind of interesting. The routes in Toad Harbor, in particular, are great for a good game of balloon tag. It remains a step backwards, however, as there are less options and not as many new things to uncover.
Of course, most of my time was spent with the online multiplayer. While it’s mostly the same as Mario Kart 7, there are some variables in place that slightly change the experience. For example, Communities are now a thing of the past. Instead, we now have tournaments that use the same rule sets as VS mode. When your set amount of races concludes, you are thrown out of the tournament community and your final score is tallied. You can also return for endless amounts of practice rounds, and there’s even a special Miiverse spot for you and your tournament mates to post to.
Mario Kart TV is the freshest addition to Mario Kart 8. After every race, battle or Grand Prix, you can go into a menu and view the best moments of that race. Players can cut it down from 30 to 60 seconds, and have the clips focus on specific elements like action, items, and drifting. You can also watch the full race if desired, but the highlight clips are fun and a joy to behold. What is also fresh is that Mario Kart 8 is a beautiful looking game, with gorgeous environments and vibrant colors. The series has never looked better than on the Wii U, and the soundtrack is pretty great too as most of the music was recorded with an orchestra. This gives tracks like Moo Moo Meadows and Rainbow Road N64 an extra strong touch.
Mario Kart 8 is a fun game, but not one without flaws. The game looks and plays beautifully, but it still holds tight to many aspects of previous titles that held them back. Likewise, the GamePad’s implementation is less than stellar. Regardless, Mario Kart 8 is still a good game and sometimes that is all that matters.
Topic: Second Opinion: Mario Kart 8 Review (Read 12840 times)
