Racing video games are different. There is, for example, professional driving simulators like Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport, where every second computed hundreds of physical parameters, and each existing track is played in the game with photorealistic precision. But there are also insanely addicting and fun arcade, because not all gamers like the pretentious seriousness of the above mentioned racing game. Mario Kart just refers to the latter. This series of games by Nintendo, debuted in 1992, quickly gained cult status and spawned, in fact, a separate sub-genre of racing games. Today I will tell you about the new game Mario Kart 8 Deluxe console, Nintendo Switch.
First game of the series Mario Kart Super with the subtitle appeared on the 16-bit console, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1992. Broke an impressive run of 9 000 000 cartridges, the game became a sensation and won the hearts of even those people who earlier racing games were not interested in principle. The game concept was very simple: the eight characters of various popular Nintendo games, including Mario, Donkey Kong, Luigi and Bowser, participated in the karting championship, fighting for the first place. Innovation games were scattered on routes bonuses, giving the participants different benefits on the tracks and allowing it to interfere with their rivals to get ahead. For example, you could throw in ahead of you, the rider tortoise shell, forcing it for a while to stop. Or you could throw on the track skin from a banana, with which the opponent has lost control.
This simple and intuitive system is an integral part of the game series Mario Kart to this day. Since 1992, of course, the game mechanics have acquired new features and nuances, but in every new game still feel the breath of the original that made the series so popular in its time. Nintendo with enormous respect for its classic franchises, so very carefully, with feeling, plainly and emphatically brings in the new part of Mario Kart something new. Because you can inadvertently break the formula of his “perfect game” and losing the love of millions of fans. And such surprises to the management of the Japanese company does not need.
The original game Mario Kart 8 debuted in 2014 on the Nintendo Wii U. Despite the weak sales of the platform (to date, the world has sold about 14 million consoles), the game has sold more than 8 000 000 copies, which once again underlined its iconic status among gamers. For the first time in franchise history the developers have provided us with anti-gravity sections of tracks where you can drive on walls and even the ceiling. In addition, holders collectible figurines Amiibo could use them to get unique costumes for their Mii avatars. When the leadership of the Japanese company realized that Nintendo Wii U can not be saved, it was decided to port the game to a new platform – Nintendo Switch. The game received the subtitle of Deluxe and promised to please fans of extremely nice innovations and some new content, making the races even more exciting. On sale Mario Kart 8 Deluxe arrived on April 28 2017 and, no surprise, instantly became a hit. For the first day only in the US, it sold about 450,000 copies of the game. In one day! Only in the USA! For a console that came out a few months ago! You can imagine the scale of popularity of the series?
What the new offers us the Deluxe version of game of 2014? First, you can now play Mario Kart 8 anytime and anywhere, which personally I think is a huge advantage of the reissue over the original. Nintendo console Switch you can use, sticking in the dock connected to the TV, but you can remove it and take with you to travel, study or work. For example, I often take the console for a visit and even get into a bar to meet his friends. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is quite popular both among children and among adults. When connecting to a TV you can play a foursome with your buddies on a split screen, but remember that for this you will need an extra pair of controllers Joy-SOPs. Two complete controllers will be enough to play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with a friend or family member. And this can be done anywhere, even if you don’t have a TV, because in desktop mode the console screen is divided in half easily. If someone you know has your Nintendo console Switch, you can merge them via wireless local network, even without the near you available Wi-Fi network. And that, my friends, is a total delight – always have on hand a great party game. In portable and desktop mode, the game runs up to three hours on a single battery charge, that is really impressive.
Another innovation was that the game, the eyeballs filled with content. The main pride of the series Mario Kart has always been considered a wonderfully detailed race track. In a Deluxe re-release these tracks as much as 48 pieces and each is a real masterpiece of game design. This is not a dull gray circular tracks of Forza Motorsport, here each track is a whole new world, obey their rules. Tracks like live your own life, they are constantly changing and moving. On one you face the tram movement, for the other earthquakes, which part of the road under you can just fall into the abyss. On one of the tracks you will roll giant stone balls, just like in the movies about Indiana Jones, and the other you run the risk of being eaten by a huge carnivorous plants. But the danger is not all that can boast of the tracks in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Dozens of hidden ways to cut corners, a huge number of secret areas and alternative routes, multi-tiered tracks, and, of course, already proven the anti-gravity sections when you are at a huge speed rush on the ceiling or wall. All this despite the 25-year-old age series, Mario Kart feels so original that you come to the sincere delight of the children.
Initially, the game 2014 the developers have included 32 tracks, 16 of which were completely original. The remaining 16 tracks were remakes of popular tracks from previous games in the series, redrawn and animated from scratch using advanced graphics technology. Then they were joined by another 16 tracks released as DLC for an additional fee. However, in the game Mario Kart 8 Deluxe all 48 tracks were originally included, so spending money you don’t have to. That, however, does not exclude the output in the future paid kits with additional content (who of game publishers in their right mind would refuse such a temptation to earn extra money?). I am glad also that all the tracks in the game are unlocked immediately, so you do not have to undergo regime “Grand Prix” in order to get access to their favorite tracks. And in the game there is a mode “Mirror”, when it passed the tracks are flipped around the vertical axis. Believe me, to undergo the usual tracks like this are very unusual. Like open it for yourself again.
By the way, about the game modes. Everything here is quite familiar and understandable. “Grand Prix” will offer you to complete 12 races at 4 tracks for victory in each of which you will be able to get a stellar Cup. Mode “On time” will allow you to pass the track at speed and set new records. At any time you can set the mode “Race” according to their rules, among which is the ability to set the difficulty of the opponents running artificial intelligence to select the right tracks, set-UPS, power vehicles and more. But a real decoration of the updated of the game mode “Battle”, pretty prettier and recharged, after a not very successful implementation in the original game. In this mode, you will be asked to play against the computer or live opponents in several fun types of games eight unique extra tracks.
Only the mode “Battle” will offer five game types. The first is called “Sharabi”. Each player to the vehicle attached to several balloons. You throw enemies of various items, thereby bursting the balloons. Wins the one who to the end of the allotted round time to burst the most bubbles. In the game “Pursuit of piranhas” players are divided into two teams, reminiscent of cops and bandits. To vehicles one of the teams mounted pots with carnivorous flowers-piranhas. They are chasing members of the opposite team trying to catch them in the allotted time and put behind bars. If all the opponents will be caught, the team piranha will win. But the opposing team can release their members from custody, by clicking on the scattered buttons. If at least one of them will be free by the end of the round victory will be assigned to the fugitives. The third type of the game “Bob-OBM-battle” when you need to collect throughout the level of bombs (maximum ammunition – 10 pieces) and throw them at opponents. Fourth – “Time is money” is very interesting in my opinion, although already met in previous games in the series. You need to collect scattered on the track, gold coins, and after the allotted time the player who has accumulated the greatest fortune. Moreover, if the enemies are something you shoot, you lose some of the accumulated wealth. Completing five of the modes of combat “Fastfat”, when players will have to fight in the battle for the right to possession “Fairy of the Sun”. This mode resembles the classic “capture the flag”, but only on wheels.
Vehicles in the game, and all of them are divided into classes according to engine capacity in cubic centimetres. Upon entering almost any mode, you will be prompted to choose a class capacity: 50, 100, 150 or 200 cubes. And if 50 cubic centimeters is a slow race for seniors, 200 cubes your car rushing like crazy, requiring the driver where the more advanced skills in management and higher concentration. The vehicle can be modified by installing them on new wheels and folding gliders for planning from a great height. Each individual modification has its pros and cons, reflected in the impact on the five basic parameters of the vehicle: speed, acceleration, weight, handling and traction. Over time, you will discover in the game are all new and new parts, thus gaining the ability to fine-tune your car/motorcycle/kart suit your needs.
The basic gameplay mechanics of the series have been retained in full, but still have undergone some changes. The classic trick with the acceleration of the controlled drift of a received additional third degree of acceleration, and each player can now store not just one, but two bonus item. On the trails you will come across a double bonus boxes, grasping which will receive two useful bonus. It seems to be not a very big innovation, but now on the slopes reigns unimaginable fun. Given the fact that some power-UPS can radically change the balance of power, the race be truly hazardous and absorbing. The game also introduces two completely new bonus. This “Pen” that allows you in the “Fight” to make very high jumps and Dodge the shots of opponents, and a charming Ghost “Boo” for some time, making you invulnerable and secretly drags the nearest competitor of their bonuses. In addition, the game also introduces new characters, like the Inklings of the great shooter Splatoon, Bowser Jr. and other colorful personalities. Remember that your chosen character affects the main parameters of your vehicle no less than the established modifications.
Newcomers to the series will certainly appreciate the introduction of special “Smart control”. By default it is enabled and allows players to feel more confident on the slopes. It saves the vehicle from falling into the abyss on the most dangerous turns, optimizes managed drifts, and generally makes life a novice rider much easier. However, the professionals series such simplification can come not like, such as semi-autopilot can prevent up to spent years tricks. Therefore, the “Smart management” at any time can be disabled in the special menu. Not disappeared from the game support Amiibo collectible figurines. You can still unlock them through 20 outfits for their virtual avatars Mii. Among the costumes, incidentally, are quite unusual and even those associated with the games of other publishers. For example, the costumes in the style of Pac-Man, Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man. In the main menu of the game you are offered Mario Kart TV. Here you can view saved replays of your best races. The game automatically selects the highlights of racing and allows you to view or show your friends. And even curiosities in Mario Kart has always been through the roof, so what will happen then on together to laugh.
Visually the game looks simply amazing! Bright, beautiful graphics, great lighting, and a sea of impressive special effects, and all this beauty runs at an incredibly stable 60 frames per second even in portable mode, games. Only if split-screen for four players fps drops to 30 fps, but it’s quite clear the decision of the developers. The picture resolution was increased to fair 1080p compared to 720p from the original, but in portable mode – it’s all the same 720p as a built-in screen Switch just not able to give more. In other respects, compared to the version of the game for Wii U specific changes I noticed, but even a version of Mario Kart 8 2014 looked great, but over the past three years it hasn’t lost its charm. Artists Nintendo have always been able to create stunningly attractive locations and characters, and the engineers of the Japanese company carefully optimized all under any hardware. In technical terms, the game is really just perfect! It is not buggy, not slow, and works just as conceived by its creators originally. This quality control is amazing. Especially given the fiasco many other major game publishers, whose projects in recent years, mired in a sea of bugs and flaws.
If you feel confident enough in yourself to fight with players from other countries, then it is time to look into the game modes on the Network. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe supports multiplayer races for up to 12 people and, again, makes it just perfect from a technical point of view. Matchmaking, given the incredible popularity of the series, works perfectly. In just a few seconds you will select the appropriate skill level of the opponents. If suddenly these players haven’t finished the previous race, so you are not bored while waiting, you will see how they fight with each other. While you’re hanging out in the lobby, you can send to your future competitors text messages like “good Luck to all!” or “Be gentle with me”. Messages are automatically translated into the languages of players from other countries, so all at once you will understand. Multiplayer mode – one of the most interesting. Because here you compete not against AI but against really pumped and advanced (especially Japanese!) players who spent days studying the profile of the tracks and nuances of the game mechanics. To lead the list of winners, have a lot to train and improve their skills. This is where the concept of “Easy to Learn, Difficult to Master” is revealed fully.
Pros:
- The perfect arcade racing game suitable for both children and adults.
- Bright visual component of fair 1080p and at 60 frames per second.
- The game works perfectly in the TV, laptop and desktop modes.
- Elaborate race tracks with lots of nuances and secret places.
- Each vehicle can finely be adjusted according to your driving style.
- You can play together on one console without having a TV.
- Classical mechanics was complemented by a number of interesting innovations.
- Five exciting battle modes make the game even more fun.
- Interesting system “Smart control” that helps to get used to the new series.
- All 48 tracks from the original game and the DLC available in the game originally.
- From a technical point of view, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is a role model.
- The list of available characters has been supplemented with new characters.
Cons:
- I can’t believe I write this, but the downsides of this game just yet.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best game in the series to date and one of the two best games in the library are still young Nintendo console Switch (second, of course, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild). Despite the fact that in front of us children at first glance, an arcade, it supports an incredibly deep, verified by years game mechanics, full of nuances and requires careful study of tracks. The game is so fascinating that is able to pull you into the tens or even hundreds of hours. And thanks to advanced multiplayer modes and the opportunity to take a console with you anywhere, and it is an inexhaustible source of joy for friendly company. The developers stuffed the Deluxe reissue of all sorts of improvements and new content, making its near-perfect Mario Kart 8 sparkle with new colors. I put the game 10 points out of 10 , and applauded the Japanese developers.
Review game Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Sergey Grey