Mario Kart 8

 Wii U
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2023 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,789 out of 2023
  2. Mixed: 86 out of 2023
  3. Negative: 148 out of 2023
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  1. JuanPablo21G
    Jun 26, 2018
    10
    Este juego es muy bueno, ya que implementa varios circuitos nuevos y recopila algunos clásicos de otras consolas como DS y Wii, posee una amplia cantidad de personajes jugables y aprovecha la potencia del Wii U dándole gráficos HD buenos, y sin bajones de fps. También es muy bueno el modo online, multijugador, los 2 DLC. Sin duda este Mario Kart, junto con el de Nintendo Switch, son losEste juego es muy bueno, ya que implementa varios circuitos nuevos y recopila algunos clásicos de otras consolas como DS y Wii, posee una amplia cantidad de personajes jugables y aprovecha la potencia del Wii U dándole gráficos HD buenos, y sin bajones de fps. También es muy bueno el modo online, multijugador, los 2 DLC. Sin duda este Mario Kart, junto con el de Nintendo Switch, son los dos mejores Mario Kart, los definitivos. El único detalle en contra es el modo batalla que no es tan complejo, pero de resto, el juego es de lo mejor de Wii U.… Expand
  2. mikemormai
    Apr 26, 2019
    10
    Pra min esse mario kart foi o melhor de todos, jogo por horas ele em familia , recomendo
  3. YoshiFun149
    Feb 19, 2020
    10
    Mario Kart 8 is a must buy game, and the only reason to buy a Wii U. This game much like his predecessor -Mario kart 7- gives you the ability to costumise your kart combination by using different tires gliders and karts. The game is lots of fun, and more can be added with the DLC wich -at really reasonable price -add 6 more characters ,8 new karts -5 karts 2 bikes and 1 ATM-, and fourMario Kart 8 is a must buy game, and the only reason to buy a Wii U. This game much like his predecessor -Mario kart 7- gives you the ability to costumise your kart combination by using different tires gliders and karts. The game is lots of fun, and more can be added with the DLC wich -at really reasonable price -add 6 more characters ,8 new karts -5 karts 2 bikes and 1 ATM-, and four more cups ,wich are the Egg cup,Triforce cup,Crossing cup and finally Bell cup. This game is really fun and reccomended. Must play.… Expand
  4. PureReviews
    Mar 30, 2020
    10
    If you own a Wii U, this is simply a must have. This is the best game of the series.
  5. deycd
    Aug 13, 2021
    10
    La experiencia de Mario Kart definitiva, por los controles, calidad, circuitos, online, personajes, no hay más quejas que el modo batalla, que es una truchada. la nota sería pues de 9.6, pero redondeando, es un 10.
  6. GreenPufferFish
    Jan 12, 2021
    10
    its honestly the best racing game ever to be made it is funny for family and freidns with online adn split screen play
  7. Mando44646
    Jun 7, 2014
    9
    Fantastic, fun, creative, and finally a counter to the blue shell. Need I say more? I hope for DLC characters and new tracks, but this legitimizes owning a Wii U by itself. The roster is a bit of an let down with unimaginative choices like good Mario and Peach, too many babies, and 7 Koopalings. Overall, you need this if you own a Wii U. If you don't own a Wii U, go out now and buy the MK8Fantastic, fun, creative, and finally a counter to the blue shell. Need I say more? I hope for DLC characters and new tracks, but this legitimizes owning a Wii U by itself. The roster is a bit of an let down with unimaginative choices like good Mario and Peach, too many babies, and 7 Koopalings. Overall, you need this if you own a Wii U. If you don't own a Wii U, go out now and buy the MK8 console bundle.… Expand
  8. London_Calling
    Jul 17, 2014
    9
    Perhaps the ultimate multiplayer game. Brilliant graphics, brilliant track design, brilliant fun. The video replays of races (especially) against mates in slow motion is a joy to behold. Too good.
  9. Ireland914
    May 30, 2014
    9
    Everything I could have hoped for in a new Mario Kart game. Fantastic HD graphics, tons of levels, characters, and custom karts... and online play! I've had a hard time finding a flaw with this game.
  10. Tomplifier
    Feb 17, 2021
    9
    Evergreen. This game is fun, you can play it with everybody. Anytime. And there are so many great tracks, characters and cars.
    The gameplay is superb, easy to learn and you can discover so much everytime you play again. My kids love this game too.
  11. WildFire15
    May 31, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart remains the prime example of what Nintendo is capable of. To some, that means rehashing the same franchise (and usually fail to acknowledge Call of Dutys and Assassin's Creeds are far worse if you consider rehashes to be lots of sequels), but for Nintendo it means adding new mechanics and tweaking existing ones to perfection.
    Courses are well designed, items are better balanced    Mario Kart remains the prime example of what Nintendo is capable of. To some, that means rehashing the same franchise (and usually fail to acknowledge Call of Dutys and Assassin's Creeds are far worse if you consider rehashes to be lots of sequels), but for Nintendo it means adding new mechanics and tweaking existing ones to perfection.
    Courses are well designed, items are better balanced (even better so as you can't hoard a spare, not to mention the Blue Shell finally has a proper counter) and the general handling is perfect. Graphical and audio wise, it's a step ahead of even next-gen offerings, reminding once again that pure graphical horse power does not instantly make a game visual superior. Online is also well developed and smooth, though it would be nice if, when choosing tracks in random games you could choose from all of them rather then 3 randomly picked ones and a random option.
    MKTV's a neat additional feature as well, allowing you to upload automatically generated highlight reels of your races. There's little manual control beyond who gets focused on and what sort of content/length you want, but it's still a cool item to have.
    There are aspects that aren't perfect, of course. If you don't like Mario Kart then 8 isn't going to change your mind, the lack of actual battle arenas is disappointing and for some reason playable Miis all where helmets (so they may as well be anyone), but if you've been sat on the fence about the Wii U, now's the perfect time to get one for this game.    … Expand
  12. wade22fan
    Nov 16, 2015
    9
    Of course, Mario Kart 8 is not perfect. There are times of ridiculous rubber-banding and unfair punishment, which shows a flaw in the gameplay. But, for the most part, this game is excellent. Overall, Mario Kart 8’s fun factor is through the roof! It’s a blast to play alone, with friends or online. With tons of characters and tracks, new items, kart customization, amazing sound design,Of course, Mario Kart 8 is not perfect. There are times of ridiculous rubber-banding and unfair punishment, which shows a flaw in the gameplay. But, for the most part, this game is excellent. Overall, Mario Kart 8’s fun factor is through the roof! It’s a blast to play alone, with friends or online. With tons of characters and tracks, new items, kart customization, amazing sound design, gorgeous visuals and much more, Mario Kart 8 is one of the best racing games money can buy. It completely validates a Wii U purchase for those haven’t made the jump yet. Like there aren’t enough reasons already. Go grab a Wii U with a copy of Mario Kart 8 and get racing. You will NOT regret it.… Expand
  13. funkamonkey
    Jun 4, 2014
    9
    After selling my Wii U last year due to the lack of games, I always knew I would return for some Mario Kart action. This has been my favourite franchise and has always been a great series to play with friends.

    Mario Kart 8 is no different. It's brings fun back to your living room and with the solid, and free, online features, MK8 is the perfect progression of the series. The first    After selling my Wii U last year due to the lack of games, I always knew I would return for some Mario Kart action. This has been my favourite franchise and has always been a great series to play with friends.

    Mario Kart 8 is no different. It's brings fun back to your living room and with the solid, and free, online features, MK8 is the perfect progression of the series.

    The first thing that hits you is the HD graphics. From the load screen and replays to the reflections on the players helmets, Nintendo have gone all out to impress this time round.

    The gameplay is amazing fun and even better online. The customisations, although a tad limited, are a great addition to the home console version and the tracks are designed with love and attention.

    It's not perfect by any means. The reason it doesn't get a ten is because the single player seems to be a lot easier than previous games and the battle mode has been ruined but this game is all about multiplayer racing, both local and online.

    Get some mates together or fire up the online mode and this is where MK8 excels.

    If you love gaming or you just wanted a reason to buy a Wii U, this is it.    … Expand
  14. PanthersFanStev
    May 31, 2014
    9
    Beautiful, shiny, fast racing game is a good description. Awesome courses and very fun online play. Don't hate me here, but I cannot help but compare to MK Wii which was better IMO. Why was MK Wii better? Character roster, tracks and challenge to unlock karts and characters. At current pace I will have everything unlocked in a week, it took 2+ months of play on MK Wii which made itBeautiful, shiny, fast racing game is a good description. Awesome courses and very fun online play. Don't hate me here, but I cannot help but compare to MK Wii which was better IMO. Why was MK Wii better? Character roster, tracks and challenge to unlock karts and characters. At current pace I will have everything unlocked in a week, it took 2+ months of play on MK Wii which made it more fulfilling to me. Hoping there are some additional characters to unlock, I am a fan of Dry Bones Bowser, Funky Kong and others that were dropped for Koopalings. That said, this is a MUST BUY Wii U game that you would be crazy to pass up, especially with the free game offer.… Expand
  15. ransonshan
    Jun 27, 2014
    9
    Being the 8th installment of a beloved franchise, I expected this game to do great. I was wrong, it did not do fantastic for my standards, IT SURPASSED ALL OF MY STANDARDS! This game was the reason I bought a Wii U like most people did and I don't regret one penny I spent on this title. The graphics are superb, one of the best looking Wii U titles on earth. You can see every detail onBeing the 8th installment of a beloved franchise, I expected this game to do great. I was wrong, it did not do fantastic for my standards, IT SURPASSED ALL OF MY STANDARDS! This game was the reason I bought a Wii U like most people did and I don't regret one penny I spent on this title. The graphics are superb, one of the best looking Wii U titles on earth. You can see every detail on every character and kart in the game as well as the wonderfully creative courses new to the series. The sound is a mix of classic, adrenaline-pumping, calm, jazzy, psychedelic, and fun soundtracks to go along with updated remixes of old stages. Playing split screen, once again, is a blast with friends and strangers alike. Being an Assassin's Creed multiplayer fan only, i had little expectation for this game's online multiplayer. How wrong I was, this is one of if not the most addicting multiplayer I have ever being happy to be apart of in the digital age of gaming. The lag is noticeably absent for the most part and never had i felt so comfortable playing with other players online thanks to this game's beginner-friendly community. If anytime you come across i player or players so far out of your league, there is nothing preventing you from limiting your options to lower level players in the new custom menu to get used to the game's controls and stages. The single player mode in this title has been flushed out more than any other game in the series thus far, making the 150cc AI much harder this time around for added competition as well as the new highlight system to give your single player experience better purpose than just to waste time. This game features an all-star cast of unforgettable Mario characters as well as lesser-known characters. Kart customization is back from Mario Kart Wii and I am glad to say that the kart customization is much more expansive and offers a large variety of control setups depending on your character, wheels, and glider. The anti-gravity featured in most stages gives off such a vibe that was absent from previous games, making the stages feel grand and epic simultaneously with its large array of gimmicks and visual spectacles. So after all of that you may think this is the absolute perfect Mario Kart ever made, I wish I could say that. The main beef many people have with this game (and many reasons there are more negative than mixed scores) is the lack of classic battle mode. By that I mean it ditched the arena concept of the original games and instead opted for the players to race ON THE RACE TRACKS to battle one another. I appreciate trying something new but this was not the way to go, this mode can drag on and most of the time players barely make contact with other racers. Fix this mode and all that remain are very minor nitpicks, like the meta-game first place player being safer in this game than ever before compared to 2nd, 3rd, or 4th place players fearing for their lives. Overall, a phenomenal game with all the reason in the world to buy a Wii U.… Expand
  16. hunttom420
    May 30, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very addicting! The graphics on a 1080p HDTV is simply amazing! A must have for any Wii U owner, by far the best game for the Wii U yet! I don't want to spoil the game so go out and buy it already! Have fun with your family, friends, or random internet gamers.… Expand
  17. cndman
    Oct 6, 2014
    9
    Very fun! keeps the same feel as Mario Kart 7, the items are balanced, and the stages are beautiful and exciting. The bad parts include the uninspired roster, and perhaps the fact that rainbow road isnt that hard.
  18. SwitSwat
    Aug 24, 2014
    9
    I'm going to be honest here... I wasn't planning on buying this game. Mostly due to the fact I lost interest in the series when Mario Kart Wii came out (I just didn't like it). The free game offer from Nintendo sweetened the deal for me though, so I went ahead and bought it and I am so glad I did. It... is... AMAZING! It has some of the best, if not the best graphics in a Wii U game toI'm going to be honest here... I wasn't planning on buying this game. Mostly due to the fact I lost interest in the series when Mario Kart Wii came out (I just didn't like it). The free game offer from Nintendo sweetened the deal for me though, so I went ahead and bought it and I am so glad I did. It... is... AMAZING! It has some of the best, if not the best graphics in a Wii U game to date. The courses are cleverly designed and it features very addicting multiplayer and challenges. It even allows for voice chat with friends. (Although it would have been cool to have voice chat with all players.) The one thing I didn't like though, was the battle mode. They just recycled the regular tracks. No arenas. It's sad o see they got lazy with it. Even so, this is probably the best Mario Kart to date. 9/10… Expand
  19. ericiidx
    May 31, 2014
    9
    So far, an incredible refresher on the pretty familiar Mario Kart formula. For the first time ever, kart handling finally feels like an organic thing! The graphics are just right, the artistic design is out of this world, and the environments are exploding with detail and personality. There's some pretty nice item balancing going on, especially since things can get nasty with 12So far, an incredible refresher on the pretty familiar Mario Kart formula. For the first time ever, kart handling finally feels like an organic thing! The graphics are just right, the artistic design is out of this world, and the environments are exploding with detail and personality. There's some pretty nice item balancing going on, especially since things can get nasty with 12 players. I've played every Mario Kart game (most of them thoroughly,) and this is shaping up to be the best one yet.

    My only complaints are negligible ones; for example, you are given the names of selectable tracks in a multiplayer session, but the names are removed when the random selection takes place. The new anti-grav element feels more like a gimmick than anything else, but it does subtly provide shortcut opportunities and more eye candy, without taking anything away from the core experience.    … Expand
  20. gizmo2501
    Sep 21, 2014
    9
    Wasn't in to this version of Mario Kart at first, but it's really grown on me. It's much harder than Mario Kart Wii, but still incredibly enjoyable. The fact that it's harder means it's more enjoyable for good players. But it's also really accessible for new players and children.

    The attention to detail is astounding. There are loads of small things that put a smile on your face. The    Wasn't in to this version of Mario Kart at first, but it's really grown on me. It's much harder than Mario Kart Wii, but still incredibly enjoyable. The fact that it's harder means it's more enjoyable for good players. But it's also really accessible for new players and children.

    The attention to detail is astounding. There are loads of small things that put a smile on your face. The graphics are beautiful. The new DLC is very reasonably priced and looks set to continue.

    The ONLY problem with this game is the battle mode, but I am sure that will get fixed.

    But, most importantly, this game is FUN and with HUGE replay value.    … Expand
  21. Maxson
    May 30, 2014
    9
    Visually one of the best looking mario game to date. All the courses especially the new ones are absolutely gorgeous. Also the anti-gravity thing in this game is awesome!!! Driving upside down and sideways on some of the courses is a blast!! 9/10!! ALL THE WII U OWNERS OUT THERE!! BUY THIS GAME!!!
  22. GoombaJMR
    Jul 14, 2015
    9
    Nintendo strikes gold again with Mario Kart 8, making me roll back into the groove of the Mario Kart Franchise. In terms of hour-counts, I've put around 500+ on MKDS, 70 on MKWii, and 90 on MK7, and MK8 is quickly rolling to the 20 hour mark. I've felt that this game's just got so much polish everywhere. The gameplay itself in races is perfectly solid, and the item use is almost perfectlyNintendo strikes gold again with Mario Kart 8, making me roll back into the groove of the Mario Kart Franchise. In terms of hour-counts, I've put around 500+ on MKDS, 70 on MKWii, and 90 on MK7, and MK8 is quickly rolling to the 20 hour mark. I've felt that this game's just got so much polish everywhere. The gameplay itself in races is perfectly solid, and the item use is almost perfectly balanced. The coins are great, new items are alright, and the music is definitely pretty good. I have a small gripe on the battle mode, and am a bit disappointed that it hasn't returned to infinite-time battles seen in Mario Kart DS. It isn't too big of a problem though, and the positives instantly outweigh the negatives. The online components are okay, but really good in terms of Nintendo's online systems. I feel that Mario Kart 8 does a good job with everything, and the DLC is just worth the money with all that good stuff. The game isn't exactly that long, but the replay value is pretty good. Also, I am somewhat disappointed with the lack of variety for the character roster we have for this game. Baby counterparts for many characters, 7 whole slots (instead of repaints) for the koopa kids is somewhat of a waste (I believe), and other random counterparts like tanooki mario are a bit unnecessary. I would have liked to see the return of some characters, including Dry Bones, King Boo, or maybe some new characters like the Goomba. Either way, the game is solid - definitely worth all your money

    Gameplay: 9/10
    Story: N/A/10
    Music: 9/10
    Presentation: 9/10
    Length: 8.5/10
    Overall: 9/10    … Expand
  23. JohnWitten
    Sep 29, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Overall Premise: Improve the series in many ways imaginable and as of yet not thought of.

    Graphics and Sound: The visuals look excellent on the Wii U and are the best in the series so far. Sound is comprised of good track selection and audio accompaniment ambiance as well.

    Playability and Entertainment: The gameplay is even more fun thanks to new twists and turns, literally at times. The controls work well on the standard controller.

    Replay Value: Moderately High.

    Overall Score: 9.0/10.0    … Expand
  24. brockcheese
    Sep 17, 2015
    9
    This is a very good mario kart game. The controls are on point and the tracks are as imaginative as ever. Including new characters not seen before, this is a worthy purchase for a wii u exclusive title.
  25. camilosanchez16
    Dec 4, 2014
    9
    Sin duda el mejor apartado gráfico que hasta el momento Nintendo ha creado y uno de los mejores que el 2014 ha sacado a luz, junto con InFAMOUS SS, jugabilidad, excelente DLC y pistas únicas, con un contra que es el modo batalla, el cual no juzgo pues no lo juego.
  26. knifeandfork
    Oct 27, 2014
    9
    Before the gravity mechanic of MK8 was revealed, I expected it to be just another Mario Kart game, with few actual new ideas. But I was proven wrong. In Mario Kart 8, Nintendo has created their best Mario Kart in years. There's an abundance of ideas in this new entry, which makes it a joy to play.

    One of the most exciting things about MK8 is the fact we're finally getting a Mario Kart    Before the gravity mechanic of MK8 was revealed, I expected it to be just another Mario Kart game, with few actual new ideas. But I was proven wrong. In Mario Kart 8, Nintendo has created their best Mario Kart in years. There's an abundance of ideas in this new entry, which makes it a joy to play.

    One of the most exciting things about MK8 is the fact we're finally getting a Mario Kart in HD. And it doesn't disappoint. The game looks amazing, constantly throwing in another welcome visual surprise. Mount Wario, for example, is a wondrous sight. The visuals in it are varied all the way through and you'll see a variety of views. What about Sunshine Airport? This intricately crafted track has you crossing a wide variety of terrain, with the visual spectacle of seeing a plane soar above you as you glide to the end of each lap. It's clear that there are a lot of points in the game which serve the purpose to simply amaze you visually again and again. With the fluid animations and crystal-clear graphics, it's impossible to complain about the visual side of things at all. What's more, the new anti-gravity mechanic makes it even more spectacular. You'll see things you never thought you's see in a Mario Kart game.

    But what about the sound? Simply put, it's wonderful. Much of the music is recorded live, giving a much richer quality than in past Mario Kart games. All the various pieces are excellent, contributing to the polish of MK8.

    However, the graphics and sound are merely an afterthought compared to MK8's revolutionary gameplay. Though gliders, kart customisation and all the rest of it return, the focus is on the brand-new mechanic that changes everything: anti-gravity. You can drive up walls, upside down, up a waterfall, and more. This new mechanic is used in many ways, and apart from the visusl thrill of driving upside down, it grants the gameplay a lot too. In Toad's Turnpike- which is actually a remake of the N64 version- you get the choice of driving on the walls the whole time, or staying on the road. This gives gameplay a whole new strategy. Also, when driving in anti-gravity, slamming into another racer doesn't slow you down, it instead gives you a speed boost. This means that now, even if you're playing as Mini Mario, you'll want to hit Bowser or DK to get that speed boost, completely overturning everything we knew about Mario Kart. Of course, MK8's other big innovation is Mario Kart TV- a feature that creates highlight reels of a race, with impressive camera angles, slow motion and the ability to edit the reel. You can then share these short videos on Miiverse and Youtube, a pleasant surprise from a tentative company when it comes to online. MKTV works well with anti-gravity because during gameplay, the camera still stays right behind you when you go upside down, meaning you still see it from the racer's perspective. However, MKTV shows the highlights from other camera angles, so you'll see your racer on their side or upside down- an impressive sight. On the whole, MKTV is an excelent addition which gives you the chance to share the best moments with friends.

    As for the multiplayer in MK8, it's a lot of fun. It's disappointing that you still have to play split-screen in spite of the Gamepad, but multiplayer is so fun that's easily forgivable. Online is great, with the well thought out voting system making a return so that a variety of courses can be played. There's no voice chat during play, and I wish you could type messages yourself between races, but the online is nevertheless solid.

    So far, I've been very positive about the game, though there are a few small complaints I have. The fact the Gamepad has the map is no longer a flaw since the update, so I can count that one out. However, the amount of characters you can play as is small. I appreciate the inclusion of the Koopalings, but overall the roster is underwhelming. And the less said about MK8's horrendous battle mode, the better. It was an enjoyable distraction from the main game in previous MK titles, but in this one, the battle stages have inexplicably been replaced by ordinary tracks, making it a mundane experience.

    These are small flaws when compared to the quality of the majority of the game. MK8 is one of the best entries in the series, with some of the most innovative game design I've seen in years and an impressive feature enabling you to share highlight reeks of races. Despite a couple of odd slip-ups, it's an outstanding game overall.    … Expand
  27. reviewmatt
    Jun 21, 2014
    9
    A nearly Perfect Game. If you liked any Mario or any karting game, get a wii u and buy this game.
    Pros: The visuals. Wow. It looks amazing. The races. The Characters. Multiplayer etc.
    Cons: The battle mode. This is the thing that held it back from a 10. They put actual race tracks in the game instead of those cube tracks. This results to instead battling it out with your friends, you    A nearly Perfect Game. If you liked any Mario or any karting game, get a wii u and buy this game.
    Pros: The visuals. Wow. It looks amazing. The races. The Characters. Multiplayer etc.
    Cons: The battle mode. This is the thing that held it back from a 10. They put actual race tracks in the game instead of those cube tracks. This results to instead battling it out with your friends, you drive through the track hoping you find them. And even you do find them, they're just gonna zoom past you.
    Anyway, Great game nearly a 10, but the battle mode ruined it. Still great though.    … Expand
  28. Dadrik
    Apr 9, 2017
    9
    Incredible graphics, even for the WiiU, amazing gameplay, great musics, lots of content...
    This is an instantly fun game, wether it's offline or online, and it'll keep you busy for quite a while.
    Nintendo has delivered once again with its main IPs, if you own a WiiU, this is one of the must-haves
  29. Aozz101x
    Jun 4, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart 8 will be best game for years and years sure it needs a little improvements but not a bad game, Mario Kart 8 will be best game but yet be best as Mario Kart: Double Dash and Mario Kart Wii
  30. flax0174
    May 30, 2014
    9
    The track design in this game is second to none, the virtual scenery is jaw dropping, just beautiful. there are tons of items to use which are well implemented, you can trump the blue shell attack, which thus adds more refinement and balance to the gameplay. the controls are smooth and responsive as they should be, the online is a hoot to play as well. the battle arenas are no longer,The track design in this game is second to none, the virtual scenery is jaw dropping, just beautiful. there are tons of items to use which are well implemented, you can trump the blue shell attack, which thus adds more refinement and balance to the gameplay. the controls are smooth and responsive as they should be, the online is a hoot to play as well. the battle arenas are no longer, nintendo has been lazy in my opinion and just used 8 tracks from the grand prix. you can change your kart as well with different well...karts, wheels, gliders to tweak your stats to your liking. The anti-gravity elements are in my opinion not emphasized enough in gameplay, say when go upside down your camera realigns with the track so it looks like your driving normally so it's more like a underlining concept to keep the series and action ticking. Overall though a stunning game, filled to the brim with pure charm and nostalgic joy.… Expand
  31. Soccerdude00
    Sep 11, 2014
    9
    A throughly excellent addition to my now growing Wii U library, Mario Kart 8 is without a doubt a worthwhile purchase. The game uses the Wii U's graphics to great effect, creating wonderful settings for whipping around the course with your favorite Mario mascot. Retro courses are well designed. But the new courses are exciting as well. Battles are a disappointment, however. Instead of aA throughly excellent addition to my now growing Wii U library, Mario Kart 8 is without a doubt a worthwhile purchase. The game uses the Wii U's graphics to great effect, creating wonderful settings for whipping around the course with your favorite Mario mascot. Retro courses are well designed. But the new courses are exciting as well. Battles are a disappointment, however. Instead of a small, compact, brand new/retro arena like Mario Kart Wii among others, you instead just race around the same courses you use for multiplayer and single player. This is the only reason why I didn't give this game a ten. Online mode is outstanding, with connection speeds that are fast and lag doesn't exist. Here's hoping they use online this well in the new Smash Bros!… Expand
  32. midway23
    Dec 10, 2014
    9
    Even if this game doesn't differ from previous iterations in the series, it would be a shame if it did. Mario Kart 8 brings enough new things to the table while keeping the core kart racing experience better then ever. Run's beautifully, looks amazing, plays great and is an absolute joy to play with friends. Is it worth buying a Wii U for Mario Kart 8? I'd like to say yes.

    This is the    Even if this game doesn't differ from previous iterations in the series, it would be a shame if it did. Mario Kart 8 brings enough new things to the table while keeping the core kart racing experience better then ever. Run's beautifully, looks amazing, plays great and is an absolute joy to play with friends. Is it worth buying a Wii U for Mario Kart 8? I'd like to say yes.

    This is the best Mario Kart game yet.    … Expand
  33. PissedOffWookie
    Jul 12, 2014
    9
    This game could've deserved a full 10 if it had at least an actual battle mode with arenas intended for it. Because it doesn't, it really doesn't deserve more than a 9. Lazy developers.
  34. Plasmaneedle
    May 30, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart 8 doesn't really add much either than some new characters and useful new items(finally can block the flying blue shell!). But it holds on to what makes every Mario Kart game so great: Rock Solid gameplay, well designed tracks and lots of charm.
  35. kayymoneyy
    May 30, 2014
    9
    It's always a god feeling when a console gets a timeless classic of a game like Mario Kart 8 is. This game adds to an already great, underrated lineup of games for the Wii U. The first thing I noticed when I threw the game in was the graphics. Finally, an HD version of a Mario Kart series that easily gets a spot in my top 10 all time greatest game series. The courses are beautiful and youIt's always a god feeling when a console gets a timeless classic of a game like Mario Kart 8 is. This game adds to an already great, underrated lineup of games for the Wii U. The first thing I noticed when I threw the game in was the graphics. Finally, an HD version of a Mario Kart series that easily gets a spot in my top 10 all time greatest game series. The courses are beautiful and you find yourself admiring just how good everything looks mid-race. The critics definitely nailed the key point here, the fact that you're getting everything you loved from past games in the series while giving you more features like customization and a couple new power ups. This is the first in the series where, in my observation, can be master of the controls in the former Mario Karts but will have a bit of a learning curve with this installment. You have to be a bit more careful on the turns when first starting up, but if you recently polished your skills with one of the older Mario Karts, you'll catch on by your 2nd or 3rd cup qualifier. All in all just an amazing racing game and a title worthy of donning the Mario Kart name.… Expand
  36. Krobolt
    Jun 2, 2014
    9
    There’s no denying that the Wii U has suffered a dry library of games for the last few months.
    With the release of Mario Kart 8, Wii U owners have a new reason to return to their Gamepads. Mario Kart 8 is filled with the traditional upgrades: new weapons, new tracks, new mechanics, and new characters. All of these elements are fantastic as ever, but it’s the game’s attractive visuals and    There’s no denying that the Wii U has suffered a dry library of games for the last few months.
    With the release of Mario Kart 8, Wii U owners have a new reason to return to their Gamepads. Mario Kart 8 is filled with the traditional upgrades: new weapons, new tracks, new mechanics, and new characters. All of these elements are fantastic as ever, but it’s the game’s attractive visuals and endless entertaining replay value makes it one of the best the series has to offer.

    The newest mechanic introduced in Mario Kart 8 is its anti-gravity gameplay. Many walls and roads feature blue lines that will shift your tires sideways and magnetize your vehicle against the track. Gravity transitions are seamless and offer shortcuts even boosts to help anyone lagging behind. Colliding with other drivers on anti-gravity sections gives racers a boost allowing racers to take advantage of the completion in new ways. Gravity sections also include rotating pegs that racers can drive into to gain speed. These features can allow a racer to come from behind and take advantage of their surroundings to gain the upper hand.

    Amongst the new features, includes new weapons as well. A new boombox item known as the “Super Horn” amides shockwaves that knocks out racers and can even destroy items including the infamous blue shell. Another new item is a piranha plant, which is a multipurpose item. When active, it chomps at anything in front of the racer, including opposing racers and obstacles. If there isn’t anything to hit, the piranha chomps at the air and offers the racer speed bursts. The boomerang flower allows the racer to throw a boomerang up to three times, with a chance to hit as it travels forward and back. Finally, the “Lucky Seven” item makes a return in the form of the “Crazy Eight” as eight items rotate around the racer giving the racer multiple options to devastate the competition.

    Upon hitting the track, there’s no way to ignore the gorgeous visuals Mario Kart 8 has to offer. Its vivid colors and bloom bring the tracks to life and easily makes this game one of the best looking on the Wii U, even surpassing Super Mario 3D World. Many of the first races I shared with friends left them in awe as they stopped to notice the beautiful environments.

    Each course in Mario Kart 8 is finely tuned, with tracks such as Toad Harbor, Mount Wario, Electrodome, and Sunshine Airport standing out as personal favorites of mine. Maro Kart 8 also houses the best versions of Mario Circuit, featuring a Mobius Strip style course, and Bowser’s Castle, which features a gigantic statue of the villain punching ripples into the track. Course design shines even brighter in their retro tracks. Royal Raceway is beaming with life and color and the inclusion of Rainbow Road from the Nintendo 64 redone as a beautiful grand finale is astonishing.

    The cast of characters is as strong as ever, with 30 drivers to choose from. There are several new characters that make their first appearance as playable drivers, including the Koopalings from Super Mario Bros 3. Characters are unlocked at random after completing cups, unlike previous Mario Kart games. Although the cast of characters is welcome, it is bulked with Baby characters as well as the many Koopalings leaving out the chance for a more diverse selection such as Boo, Bowser Jr, even R.O.B.

    Vehicle customization returns once again in Mario Kart 8. After choosing a driver, you put together your Kart, choosing a body, wheels, and glider individually to create your ideal ride. Whether its speed, handling, or even style, there is a wide variety of parts to choose from, with more to be unlocked as you collect more coins. You are not only limited to karts this time; Bikes return from Mario Kart Wii as well as ATVs which make their debut in this game. Each vehicle is fun to drive. Even after hours of playing with one vehicle, I still found myself toying with the customization finding new satisfying combinations.

    As with each entry to proceed, Mario Kart 8 shines most within its multiplayer modes. With multiple controller options, it’s easy to set up races with multiple friends. For the first time, up to four players can participate in grand prix tourneys. Competing against your friends as well as eight CPU racers is as fun as ever. Along with Grand Prix, one to four players can also compete in versus mode, which feature completely customizable rules (bikes only, no items, etc.). Playing single player or with one friend runs smoothly at 60 frames per second, but adding more players makes a noticeable frame difference. It may appear slower, but nothing game breaking such lag. You can even take the action online, where you and another friend can set up games against friends and random players. One disappointing feature is its battle mode, which abandons unique arenas from previous games in favor of competing on standard race tracks.

    Another new feature is its new Mario Kart TV system. At the end of each race, you’re given the option to watch a replay of your previous race. Each replay is fully customizable, from length to highlighted moments, such as drifts, actions, items, etc. It’s easy to edit, fast-forward and slo-mo each clip. You can even focus the camera on certain racers and watch their expressions as they jump ramps and slide past their competition. You cannot completely control the camera in this mode which seems like a missed opportunity. After you finish editing your clip, you can save it among your favorite with a star, or share it to the Miiverse and Youtube.

    Most Mario Kart games stand out amongst others. Mario Kart 64 is a nostalgic classic to fans, and Double Dash shined with its unique gameplay mechanics. Mario Kart 8 deserves to be added to top-tier entries, with its rock-solid package that offers so much to all. Mario Kart 8 doesn’t change up the formula much, but it left me smiling the whole way through. Mario Kart 8 is the fast-paced, family-fun game that everyone should enjoy.    … Expand
  37. rhaynes7
    Nov 18, 2014
    9
    I haven't gotten into Mario Kart this much since the DS. This game is gorgeous, and the mechanics have improved so much since then. My only gripe is that a few of the retro stages have been changed for the worse, in particular the unnecessary addition of water sections and confounding zero gravity in some retro stages. It's also a shame that the staff ghosts on time trials areI haven't gotten into Mario Kart this much since the DS. This game is gorgeous, and the mechanics have improved so much since then. My only gripe is that a few of the retro stages have been changed for the worse, in particular the unnecessary addition of water sections and confounding zero gravity in some retro stages. It's also a shame that the staff ghosts on time trials are relatively easy to beat.

    Otherwise, this might be one of the most solid Mario Karts with excellent visuals to complement excellent track selection, and online play that is usually very capable of keeping up with the action.    … Expand
  38. eirikwatz
    Jun 8, 2014
    9
    Striking colors, fantastic music and unabashed fun, that is whats waiting for you in Mariokart 8.

    Mariokart 8 is fantastic game showing that a series in its 8th installment can still come up with fresh ideas and deliver such a high dosage of pure gaming joy. in a time where the trend to bash on Nintendo for being "unoriginal" and "behind the times" its refreshing to see a game without    Striking colors, fantastic music and unabashed fun, that is whats waiting for you in Mariokart 8.

    Mariokart 8 is fantastic game showing that a series in its 8th installment can still come up with fresh ideas and deliver such a high dosage of pure gaming joy. in a time where the trend to bash on Nintendo for being "unoriginal" and "behind the times" its refreshing to see a game without the mountains of blood, gore and excessive dlc and microtrnsactions from a AAA publisher.

    Let's pretend you have never played a game in the mariokart series. What does it play like? well mariokart (and almost every kart racer) builds upon the idea of crazy physics and over the top tracks that you duke it out on, often with some sort of item/weapon system. strategic use of items and Mastering of inline drifting is top priority.

    while the same basic concept remains the same for mariokart 8, it's still the most refreshing kart game i have played in years. The antigravity feature may not seem to be much of a change at first, but its how much it plays in with gliding and underwater portins that makes it all work together. while mariokart 7 also had the gliding and underwater sections, it never really meshed. But with the antigravity in mariokart 8 it manages to transition seamlessly from one to the other without it feeling like thoughtless addon.

    aside from thye new features what improvement does this 8th installment in this gaming megaseries bring to the table? for me it was the changes made to how items and drifting work. in past mariokart games you had the ability to pick up an item, shield you back with it and pick up another item in your hand, ready to blast anyone brave enough to slip past your defenses. This made first place almost invincible and impervious to attacks. not this time though as you can only pick up one item at a time, leveling the playing field. but as a consolation for the nefarious shell and banana fortresses they have the superhorn, an item so glorious, so magnificent it shattered the mind of many a mariokart fan, sending tears of gratitude from battle worn eyes. This item is able block the dreaded blue spine shell. halleluja!

    As mentioned earlier the other major improvement to this game lies the improvemt made the drifting system, the bikes in particular. in previous installments bikes had the ability to inline drift, makeing them superior to karts in every way. this is fixed in mariokart 8 by giving every new vehicle type its own advantagea and weaknesses. bikes have better drifting, ATV's have better traction rough terrain and recover faster from slipping of the course into mud or grass. regular karts have better overall stats on every field and have an advantage when racing straight ahead on regular asphalt. of course each character also brings their own stats and preferences for vehicles. this makes this the most ballanced mariokart to date. cpu's are still terminators hunting the player down though.

    the graphics in mariokart 8 is some of the best graphics i have ver seen in a video game eve. no its not the most technicaly advanced graphics ever seen, but its still gorgeous and proves the wiiu is no slouch when compared to the ps4 and xb1. the creativity that is put into the design of each track, both graphicaly and from a gameplay standpoint is mindblowing. even the the retro courses have been remade with new features and gorgeous HD visuals.

    the online is probably the best nintendo has ever had, you can customize EVERYTHING in the different modes, from item selection to tournament rules and times. i ahve experienced no lag or dropping and have not had any conectivity issues over my long play sessions of this game.

    there is only one issue i have with this game and that is a big one for some people. they completely ruines the battle mode. no more custom made arenas designed for crazy deathmatches and high intensity weapon slinging. instead you batle it out on the tracks from racing mode. this makes battle kode slow and tedious and completely unplayable with less than 12 characters. once the player count dips below it becomes more of a match of finding someone in an empty nothingness compared to the chaotic fun of previous battle modes.

    all in all this is a fantastic game and a testament to nintendo's creativity and skill in game design, showing us why they still reign when it comes to making an actaully fun game and not barely interactive "cinematic experiences" that is so popular today. if not for the lackluster battle mode this would have gotten a 10 out of 10, but it seems nothing can reach perfection. a stellar game worth every buck for years to come. a definite BUY.

    the    … Expand
  39. pinball123
    Nov 18, 2014
    9
    Do you like previous versions of mario kart? If you do buy this now, if you don't don't buy this. Simple as that. As a fan of the series I loved this game.
  40. guitarguy001
    Jul 3, 2014
    9
    A great Mario Kart entry and my second favorite in the series. The soundtrack is amazing, the retro tracks feel fresh and new with the Mario Kart 8 physics, the new tracks are extremely well designed and the visuals are hands down the best on the Wii U so far; seriously, this game has visuals that i personally feel are on par with Killzone Shadow Fall & Ryse: Son of Rome for some of theA great Mario Kart entry and my second favorite in the series. The soundtrack is amazing, the retro tracks feel fresh and new with the Mario Kart 8 physics, the new tracks are extremely well designed and the visuals are hands down the best on the Wii U so far; seriously, this game has visuals that i personally feel are on par with Killzone Shadow Fall & Ryse: Son of Rome for some of the best visuals on a console to date. The online is also very well done.

    I also noticed that this is probably the fastest Mario Kart when it comes to pace. Lakitu is not slow as a snail as he was in the previous games and the new mechanics with the zero gravity enforce aggressive play as many of the physics have speed boosts.

    As for negatives, the roster. The roster is horribly disappointing and uninspired, especially comparing it to Mario Kart Wii and Double Dash (especially the latter). Pink Gold Peach was a completely unnecessary addition and having ALL of the Koopalings as characters are waste of space imo, 3 would have been OK and it would have opened space for other characters like King Boo, Petey Piranha & Funky Kong.

    The other negative, the battle mode. The battle mode is no longer arena based, it's now the race tracks and you go against the opponent there. No longer as strategic as the other battle modes especially now since you can no longer get another item when you are already holding another item, and not nearly as fun. Comparing this battle mode to N64's or even Double Dash's battle mode, they make it look like a complete joke.

    Besides those two flaws, this game is incredibly fun. It improved Mario Kart in almost every single way with mechanics, soundtrack, track design and visuals (seriously they look amazing) but also makes the retro feel fresh and new. Despite the slightly nerfed multiplayer mode and disappointing roster, i highly recommend this game to anyone who has a Wii U (which probably most of you already own MK8)    … Expand
  41. PMG
    Feb 7, 2015
    9
    There is something about Mario Kart 8, that keeps me coming back. Is it the new items, courses or retro tracks? Is it the smooth as butter Online racing? The DLC? Aside from coins being an item, that can ruin your'e race and the destroyed battle mode, the game is also more balanced. This is the racer that the Wii U needs and deserves.
  42. nonchalantgamer
    Aug 13, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart 8 is an awesome addition to the franchise.The racing is as fun as ever, and the few new items they threw in definitely add fun to the variety of items. the tracks are incredible with beautiful visuals and tons of variety within. their are secrets paths to take with mushrooms and the flight paths you can reach and going into and out of the water adds more depth to the tracks. theMario Kart 8 is an awesome addition to the franchise.The racing is as fun as ever, and the few new items they threw in definitely add fun to the variety of items. the tracks are incredible with beautiful visuals and tons of variety within. their are secrets paths to take with mushrooms and the flight paths you can reach and going into and out of the water adds more depth to the tracks. the anti gravity areas on the tracks are very fun add on as well that adds an alternate switch of pace. the amount of cars/parts in the game is crazy and their so many ways you can customize your kart to fit your specific play style. the roster size is fairly large with the additions of bowsers kids and much more. the only gripes i have on the game is that the battle mode is really bad and feels like they got lazy with it just throwing you on the grand prix tracks and going at it, i felt they could have done much more. also the MP as fun as it is the servers are not that good and i cant find matches that often. overall what it comes down to is that alone or sitting in your room with a group of friends, mario kart 8 provides immense amount of fun and good times that will last you for quite a while and brings back so much nostalgia for me as a long time fan.… Expand
  43. BomarJr
    May 30, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart 8 is the most FUN I've had in a video game for quite a while. Gameplay is classic Mario Kart, but with a couple new items and elements that always keeps things interesting and on your toes. The level designs are almost awe-inspiring on a visual level and a whole lotta fun. If there is ANYTHING keeping me from giving this a perfect 10, it'd be the fact that the current characterMario Kart 8 is the most FUN I've had in a video game for quite a while. Gameplay is classic Mario Kart, but with a couple new items and elements that always keeps things interesting and on your toes. The level designs are almost awe-inspiring on a visual level and a whole lotta fun. If there is ANYTHING keeping me from giving this a perfect 10, it'd be the fact that the current character roster is saturated with Baby versions of characters already there. It make the selection of characters feel...lacking, and not really diverse. But that's a nitpicky issue, as they are all balanced better than ever before. For those on the fence for buying a Wii U, this is absolutely worth the ticket price. The engine is efficient (60 FPS for 1-2 players local and single-player) and looks as good, if not better than, most next-gen games currently available. It's also more fun than ANY Xbox One or PS4 game out now, and the best part is it'll keep on giving for years to come, especially with the strong possibility of DLC in the coming future.

    9.5/10    … Expand
  44. DestinationMarc
    Jun 30, 2014
    9
    I really enjoyed this game! Now, it does have its issues, but first, what's good about it; the controls are nearly similar to Mario Kart Wii, and while I was worried about this, the underwater/parasail segments from Mario Kart 7 were actually easilly controllable. The visuals? Amazing. It is SO enjoyable playing a Mario Kart game in beautiful HD! The new items were cool, though II really enjoyed this game! Now, it does have its issues, but first, what's good about it; the controls are nearly similar to Mario Kart Wii, and while I was worried about this, the underwater/parasail segments from Mario Kart 7 were actually easilly controllable. The visuals? Amazing. It is SO enjoyable playing a Mario Kart game in beautiful HD! The new items were cool, though I personally find the fireball item a bit useless; maybe it's just me, but unless you have good aim or just get lucky, it's pretty difficult to hit opponents with it. The new levels are just GLORIOUS; Electrodrome is my personal favorite track! I'd also like to mention that the online functionality is WAY more improved from MKWii's; I love the tournament option personally! The anti-gravity is a cool feature, but honestly, though not to this degree, I've seen the concept before in another racing game, Crash Nitro Kart, sideways tires and all! Now, on to the bad; first and foremost, the battle mode. Everyone's said this already, and my opinion's no exception, but I think it was a bad idea to implement actual racetracks as battle courses instead of arenas. Secondly, when you're first place in a race, you'll usually get coins as items, which can be real frustrating, especially when you're trying to defend yourself. Also, Rainbow Road? Not exactly a challenge, which is considered a nitpick, but c'mon; everyone knows Rainbow Road is the craziest course in any Mario Kart game! So, all-in-all, while I'd like to give this game a 10, personally, those major issues do hold the game back a bit. But regardless, this game is pretty neat, so if you have a Wii U, definitely get it!… Expand
  45. amstans
    Jul 9, 2014
    9
    This game is almost perfect so I will only point out the minor flaws: it doesn't offer off-tv play, there is no map option on tv, and no option to turn off Mario TV. When you finish a race the default menu option is to watch a replay instead of playing the next race. These things are all very tiny issues in a game I must be hard on as a huge fan of the Mario Kart franchise.
  46. Luigifan10
    May 31, 2014
    9
    So, this game has been in development for a while and people say this is one of two games (The other one being Super Smash Bros for Wii U) that will sell the Wii U drastically. And if this game doesn't sell Wii U's, I don't know what will. For starters, this game is absolutely beautiful. The HD and details are insane! Luigi's mustache even blows in the wind! The new anti-gravity is reallySo, this game has been in development for a while and people say this is one of two games (The other one being Super Smash Bros for Wii U) that will sell the Wii U drastically. And if this game doesn't sell Wii U's, I don't know what will. For starters, this game is absolutely beautiful. The HD and details are insane! Luigi's mustache even blows in the wind! The new anti-gravity is really cool, even if it doesn't change up the core gameplay drastically, which is good. The new items are really cool and aren't over-powered or weak. Well, except for the Coin item. That's the item you'll get most of the time when you're in first, and all it does is add 2 coins to your coin count. The new tracks are some of the coolest ever, and the retro tracks are updated a lot. Except for Music Park. The only thing updated there was the graphics. The new Balloon Battle is a little weird because you're in race tracks instead of in arenas. This is fine, except that it may be hard to find others on occasion, because it's so big. The character selection is actually a little lame. The new Koopalings are pretty cool but another newcomer, being Pink Gold Peach, is a dumb Metal Mario clone. And, not to mention, there are 5 BABIES. 5. I think that's really stupid. The roster is also missing a lot of characters that could be better than others, such as Diddy Kong, Dry Bones, King Boo, etc. But if they add some DLC, then that problem could be fixed. The multiplayer is as fun as its ever been, but it might take a while for everyone to choose their kart combination. I wish there was a faster way to change your kart combo. The online is great, with little to no lag and fair rules for everyone. The reasons I didn't give it a 10/10 are that there are some unnecessary characters and the weird Balloon Battles. If you like Mariokart and don't have a Wii U, this would be a perfect time to get one with the Mariokart 8 Bundle! And if you have a Wii U already, the you need to get this game! Thanks for reading, and bye!… Expand
  47. AwesomeNick94
    Jun 2, 2014
    9
    This game is excellent. The graphics are unmatched, the game play is perfectly balanced, all of the courses are a blast, online gaming works great, and couch co-op is the most fun in the series.

    It gets an 9/10 from me for two reasons: 1 - The character selection is a bit lackluster. How about Diddy Kong, Bowser Jr., Dry Bones, Boo, Birdo, ROB, etc.? 2 - Battle mode is pretty much    This game is excellent. The graphics are unmatched, the game play is perfectly balanced, all of the courses are a blast, online gaming works great, and couch co-op is the most fun in the series.

    It gets an 9/10 from me for two reasons:
    1 - The character selection is a bit lackluster. How about Diddy Kong, Bowser Jr., Dry Bones, Boo, Birdo, ROB, etc.?
    2 - Battle mode is pretty much just racing mode that doesn't end until you get hit 3 times. It's terrible compared to other iterations of Battle Mode in Mario Kart, which used to be lots of fun.    … Expand
  48. Rahsmoove
    Jul 24, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very great game. Normally I don't play Wii u games, but Mario's done it again. Customizable karts. From changing the wheels, switching up your parachute, to getting unique karts. They really raised the bar. If you think Mario Kart Wii raised the bar, buy a Wii U and experience the best Mario Kart there is.… Expand
  49. Scottview
    Jun 5, 2014
    9
    Although there are a few unfortunate missteps in this new Mario Kart game, such as limited match customization options, Mario Kart TV not realizing its full potential, and a rather gimped battle mode, its not enough to take away how utterly fantastic the traditional racing mode is in this game. Every single new track is a winner; and although the new much touted anti gravity feature neverAlthough there are a few unfortunate missteps in this new Mario Kart game, such as limited match customization options, Mario Kart TV not realizing its full potential, and a rather gimped battle mode, its not enough to take away how utterly fantastic the traditional racing mode is in this game. Every single new track is a winner; and although the new much touted anti gravity feature never truly gives the sensation that you are upside down or riding on a wall, it allows for track designs that twist and curve in the most interesting and thrilling of ways. There is never a dull moment in a courses design. Necessary tweaks to items and a decreased punishment for getting hit make the game much faster paced, fairer, and more skill based. Gone are the days of ending up in first place by accident. Sure a few fortunate item pickups can help, but you need to use them properly, and if you get to first, by jove you've earned it.

    Also, not enough praise can be given to the games presentation. In my opinion, this is hands down the most beautiful game Nintendo has ever produced and the attention to detail is astonishing. The same has to be said for the soundtrack, which strikes the perfect balance between familiar and nostalgic tones with an energetic, jazzy, and more orchestrated sound that pairs perfectly with the frenetic on screen action.

    So, in the end, despite a few head scratching and aggravating choices to modes most people won't care to much about, this is probably the purest Mario Kart you can find. The racing mode is the perfect culmination of more than two decades of Mario Kart games and it shows in all the ways that matter the most. If you don't pick this up on the Wii U, than you are missing out on one of the best games it has to offer.    … Expand
  50. IntelligntGamer
    May 30, 2014
    9
    I could write this review using a single word.

    Fantastic. But it wouldn't be enough. It wouldn't describe the colossal amount of effort Nintendo has gone to to make Mario Kart 8 the prettiest game on Wii U, even prettier than Super Mario 3D World, the prior graphical showcase Wii U owners like me would use to show off what the console could really do if people just tried. From the    I could write this review using a single word.

    Fantastic.

    But it wouldn't be enough. It wouldn't describe the colossal amount of effort Nintendo has gone to to make Mario Kart 8 the prettiest game on Wii U, even prettier than Super Mario 3D World, the prior graphical showcase Wii U owners like me would use to show off what the console could really do if people just tried. From the character models to the fact that this game runs in 60 frames per second, even in split screen two player, Mario Kart 8 is now the go-to-game to show people that Wii U can rival even the PS4 when it comes to graphical prowess. The fact that this came out the same week as Watch Dogs, which looks last gen even on the PS4, makes this all the sweeter.

    It wouldn't be enough to tell you about the little graphical flourishes Nintendo have sprinkled throughout the world, so little that you don’t really notice them but they help bring the world to life. Things like Donkey Kong’s fur or Mario’s mustache rustling in the wind as their kart zooms around the track. The little background animations that don’t need to be there but are. The word “fantastic” would encompass these things, surely, but wouldn't tell you how impressive it is in its subtlety.

    It wouldn't let you know that the racing controls in this game are spot-freaking-on, just as they have been in every Mario Kart since the halcyon days of the N64.

    “Fantastic” wouldn’t explain how great the music is, from the synthesized beats of the Electrodome to the orchestral music of Cloudtop Cruise.

    Nor would it be enough to tell you how easy the online matchmaking is, putting more “adult” games like Titanfall to shame. Or how well online multiplayer runs. Or just how fun it is.

    Fantastic wouldn’t tell you where Mario Kart 8 stumbles, either. The most obvious stumble is Battle Mode, a multiplayer favorite since the original Mario Kart came out on the SNES. Whereas previous iterations of Battle Mode had custom built arenas, here Battle Mode is reduced to reconfigured versions of the Grand Prix mode tracks. It’s such an obvious fumble that you wonder why Nintendo even bothered to include Battle Mode if they were going to half-arse it like this.

    There’s also the use of the Gamepad; in the sense that apart from being a horn or being the usual avenue for off-TV play, it’s not really utilised as well as it could be. How about a reverse camera option, so you can always see what’s happening behind you? What about a local 2 player mode that allows one player to play on the TV and the other on the Gamepad? Great ideas that aren’t there for some reason.

    Mario Kart 8 may also prove the adage that you can have too much of a good thing. Some criticized Mario Kart 7 on the 3DS of having too few characters, but here there may be too many. Choice is always nice, but the fact that there are five different baby characters, and six of the Koopalings, makes the character choice seem a bit superfluous. There are differences between all the characters, of course, but when the differences are so subtle because of the large variety of characters to chose from, you end up wishing for less.

    There’s the consistent problem of the enemy AI being all knowing. I’ve always seen single player Mario Kart as Me vs. 8+ computer characters working as one. This problem becomes all the more obvious when you start making it to the front of the pack. For example, Mario Kart veterans know that the only time you get items like the Blue Shell, or the Lightning Bolt, are when you’re at the back of the pack. When you’re all the way back there, you can’t really know what’s going on in first. So it’s insane that when you’re leading the race, and about to jump over a precarious jump, that a Lightning Bolt hits you at just the right time to see you spin out and fall to your doom. There’s no other word for that than unfair; fantastic is definitely not apropos.

    A minor niggle I have… and it’s really minor… is the fact that the default menu choice following a race is the Replay button. If you’re anything like me, you’re constantly hitting A trying to speed up your progression to the next race. Mario Kart 8 looks set to break me of that habit, since starting a replay of the race just ends up slowing me down. The replay feature is a nice feature, don’t get me wrong; the ability to edit and share videos on Youtube and Miiverse is especially cool. But it’s not the main game.

    Overall, Mario Kart 8 is fantastic. Just fantastic. It’s pure fun. The new anti-grav feature is arguably a gimmick, but when it bends your mind (and the course) it’s just, well, fantastic fun. Mario Kart 8 stumbles in a few places, but the overall package is one of quality and substance. It’s a game all Wii U owners should be buying right now, and it’s a game that should make non-Wii U owners rush out and buy the console right now.

    Fantastic. Get it now.

    Read my review here: http://intelligentgamer.org/2014/05/31/review-mario-kart-8/    … Expand
  51. randomguy94
    May 30, 2014
    9
    Tremendous level design and the soundtrack really does lift the MK8 experience. Game play is solid and playing online is a blast. Shame the courses feel too short, as everything looks GORGEOUS in HD, and this just leaves me wanting more. If the character roster had variation other than babies, metals and koopa kids would be a 10.
  52. posahh
    May 30, 2014
    9
    After 3 hours of playing i'm stunned. amazing tracks, nice new weapons and karts, 1080p / 60 fps what else do you need?! this game is must buy if you have wii u or even planning on buying it and promotion free game is always welcome
  53. Skullimari
    May 30, 2014
    9
    Only thing holding me back from giving this fantastic title a 10 is the inability to send online game request to friends. Other than that this is a solid title. The highlight reels are great after a race!
  54. mory3s2m
    May 30, 2014
    9
    There is just so much love in the making of this game. You can simply feel it in almost every track (except maybe one or two). It gets better and better as you play it, and four way split screen has never been this good. Unlike old kart games you can actually know exactly what is going on.
    Not a 10 because they did not add special arenas. They used to serve as a good distraction after    There is just so much love in the making of this game. You can simply feel it in almost every track (except maybe one or two). It gets better and better as you play it, and four way split screen has never been this good. Unlike old kart games you can actually know exactly what is going on.
    Not a 10 because they did not add special arenas. They used to serve as a good distraction after hours of racing with friends... Need to make it an update and not a DLC.    … Expand
  55. Bellachichi
    May 31, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart 8 is my favorite game in the franchise. This game is an absolute blast at every turn. The 16 new courses are gorgeous, and the 16 remastered courses are all changed enough to make it feel like a brand new experience, with just the right amount of nostalgia. Online play so far has been working flawlessly, and new games start in less than a minute.

    My only gripes is the    Mario Kart 8 is my favorite game in the franchise. This game is an absolute blast at every turn. The 16 new courses are gorgeous, and the 16 remastered courses are all changed enough to make it feel like a brand new experience, with just the right amount of nostalgia. Online play so far has been working flawlessly, and new games start in less than a minute.

    My only gripes is the character roster and the battle mode. The roster is filled with babies, koopalings, and metal characters. Which are okay, but when these characters take up the space of fan favorites like Dry Bones, Boo, and Birdo, I start to think that maybe we don't need 5 baby characters. And the battle mode is significantly different, now taking place on actual tracks from the game instead of in a fixed arena. It's difficult to catch people when you either have to tail behind them, or they zip past you going the opposite way.

    These issues are easy to look past, as the core gameplay and track design is better than it has ever been. This game is pure unadulterated fun, and is definitely worth your time as a Wii U owner.    … Expand
  56. sonchezz
    May 31, 2014
    9
    Great game, brimming with fun. Course design is great and the anti-gravity is an interesting new mechanic that makes team racing more interesting than ever before.

    Small complaints: would like a more diverse character selection next time, and instead of a completely reworked battle-mode, why not include both tracks and more free-form course design as in previous games. The game is    Great game, brimming with fun. Course design is great and the anti-gravity is an interesting new mechanic that makes team racing more interesting than ever before.

    Small complaints: would like a more diverse character selection next time, and instead of a completely reworked battle-mode, why not include both tracks and more free-form course design as in previous games.

    The game is very close to perfection, its hard to tell exactly where the game could improve in future updates to the series.    … Expand
  57. Raixima
    Jun 1, 2014
    9
    By far the most beautiful game on Wii u, to be fair, the game wouldn't be displaced if it was running on the PS4 or XboxOne, it's that beautiful, but as beauty isn't everything the game also provides excelent gameplay, thank god they took off that dumb automatic drift and the AI in 150 cc is mercyless, if you don't own a Wii U, now is the time, but be prepared for some tough competitionBy far the most beautiful game on Wii u, to be fair, the game wouldn't be displaced if it was running on the PS4 or XboxOne, it's that beautiful, but as beauty isn't everything the game also provides excelent gameplay, thank god they took off that dumb automatic drift and the AI in 150 cc is mercyless, if you don't own a Wii U, now is the time, but be prepared for some tough competition online!!
    AMAZING GAME, the only thing I don't quite adore in the game is the battle mode, that is kind off messy at first and the fact that on multiplayer the gamepad mimics the screen, that meand, in 4X4 your gamepad will be diveded in four parts.    … Expand
  58. Toshione
    Jun 1, 2014
    9
    The only reason someone wouldn't like Mario Kart 8 is if they just don't like kart racing video games. As with previous Mario Kart games there are 8 different cups to race as well as time trials, battle mode, and on line multiplayer. On line multiplayer works fast and is a real blast. There are lots of new characters to play as and plenty of different options when it comes to customizingThe only reason someone wouldn't like Mario Kart 8 is if they just don't like kart racing video games. As with previous Mario Kart games there are 8 different cups to race as well as time trials, battle mode, and on line multiplayer. On line multiplayer works fast and is a real blast. There are lots of new characters to play as and plenty of different options when it comes to customizing your kart.I won't say its the best Mario Kart ever made, but it is definitely a reason to buy a Wii U.… Expand
  59. counterfifth
    Jun 3, 2014
    9
    This game made me buy a Wii U! It's fair to say the Wii U had a rocky start but this is what Nintendo do best. You really don't need a machine with a tons of processing power and high end graphics cards to create a beautiful game. Let me tell you this game is stunning, it just looks gorgeous!!!

    The tracks are beautifully crafted and the different cc settings really open up the game    This game made me buy a Wii U! It's fair to say the Wii U had a rocky start but this is what Nintendo do best. You really don't need a machine with a tons of processing power and high end graphics cards to create a beautiful game. Let me tell you this game is stunning, it just looks gorgeous!!!

    The tracks are beautifully crafted and the different cc settings really open up the game difficulty to everyone.

    The score is up to Nintendo usual high standards and really adds another fantastic dimension to this game.

    I honestly think Nintendo are one of the only developers that consistently produce high quality 'video games'. Now your thinking why the 9/10 and not the full glory of 10/10. Well it's the playable characters that let it down. From all of Nintendos Mario characters why go with all the Koopa kids, just a little dull and short sighted if you ask me. In addition the Mii characters look terrible. Saying that they looked terrible in the last one so...

    I would recommend buying this game for the Wii U you'll have a blast. Get online and get racing!    … Expand
  60. deathgz00
    Jun 3, 2014
    9
    Nintendo did it again, I've been playing Mario Kart since the 64 era, and never since that time i really had that sensation that Mario kart 64 gave me, the speed, the power, the fx sound, the music; once you start the game goes right to the point, no **** you came to play, you got the game.
    P.S. the battle mode was pretty lame, for that reason i don't give a perfect score
  61. JJTX
    Apr 22, 2019
    9
    One of the very best games for Wii U, and the best in its series at the time of release. Mario Kart 8 is held back only by its seemingly unfinished battle mode, which is best ignored. It's worth owning for collectors, but the Nintendo Switch port is so superior as to make the original obsolete.
  62. The90sKid
    Jun 6, 2014
    9
    Odd design choices aside, Mario Kart 8 is an awesome addition to an awesome franchise. The single player options will get old fast, but thanks to robust online offerings as well as an unparalleled local multiplayer the game promises to remain an entertaining game for months to come. If you have been on the fence about getting a Wii U let me assure you that Mario Kart 8 is worth gettingOdd design choices aside, Mario Kart 8 is an awesome addition to an awesome franchise. The single player options will get old fast, but thanks to robust online offerings as well as an unparalleled local multiplayer the game promises to remain an entertaining game for months to come. If you have been on the fence about getting a Wii U let me assure you that Mario Kart 8 is worth getting one for. It is the Wii U's first fully-fledged killer-app. Nobody else makes kart racing this fun. I give Mario Kart 8 a 9/10.… Expand
  63. icaropio
    Jun 6, 2014
    9
    I need to say, im impressed! The graphics are really great! and the game its a lot of fun! Online matchs are great. i would like too see more options to chat between players before the race starts. i would like to see a way to play on tv and gamepad separately in 2 playes mode, but im really satisfied with Mario KArt 8. Thanks Nintendo!
  64. bleublimpgaming
    Jun 17, 2014
    9
    Probably one of the best Wii U games to date, the new maps are great and the graphics are crisp and clear. The controls are hard to master on the game pad at first but with about 5 races it fells like an instant classic.
  65. dmelendez34
    Jun 24, 2014
    9
    If battle mode was better, this game would get a 10 from me. Not having special battle mode areas was the worst idea Nintendo had. I would have preferred they simply reused the areas from past games at least than having players race around tracks.

    The tracks are great = the new ones are beautiful and creative and the old ones are touched up to make them more enjoyable. Online play    If battle mode was better, this game would get a 10 from me. Not having special battle mode areas was the worst idea Nintendo had. I would have preferred they simply reused the areas from past games at least than having players race around tracks.

    The tracks are great = the new ones are beautiful and creative and the old ones are touched up to make them more enjoyable.

    Online play is seamless and I hope more games use the online play system used for this game.

    If you have played Mario kart in the past, you wont be disappointed by this game...unless you are a huge battle mode lover.    … Expand
  66. ll33ee
    Nov 1, 2014
    9
    Un juego excelente.
    Tiene un gran Multiplayer, pero el modo Batalla no es tan bueno, al menos para mi, ya que usa las mismas pistas de las carreras.
    No hay que olvidar los 2 DLC, que lucen bastante bien: 4 Copas y Personajes a un buen precio ¿no creen?
  67. Lanternman
    Jun 25, 2014
    9
    Great game love the balance the Mario Kart games have for experts and beginners, wife doesn't win as many races but she has so much fun hitting me with the leader killers and lightning bolts.
  68. KuramaJP
    Jun 27, 2014
    9
    The reason i bought a Wii U and was not disappointed. Awesome. New times, weapons and characters add some much needed improvements needed after a very unsatisfying Wii release.
  69. JoshLuck1995
    Dec 28, 2014
    9
    Out of all the racing games available on xbox wii and ps4 this is by far my favourite. And the surprising thing is it was the wii u game I thought I would least enjoy
  70. 10squareben
    Jun 29, 2014
    9
    Highly enjoyable game with a massive single player game to play and an endless online one. Shame the battle mode is gimped, it would work better if it had arenas. Definite winner regardless GO AND BUY THIS GAME YOU DINGUS!
  71. Hipster1989
    Jun 30, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart 8 is simply a phenomenal Kart racer/ party game. It is highly competitive off line and online. 150 cc mode is the hardest that I have eve player. The online is well done to making it easy to start matches straight away with anyone around the world.

    Mario Kart 8 is the best next gen game so far in my opinion. Forget Titanfall, forget Infamous Second Son. Mario Kart 8 is where    Mario Kart 8 is simply a phenomenal Kart racer/ party game. It is highly competitive off line and online. 150 cc mode is the hardest that I have eve player. The online is well done to making it easy to start matches straight away with anyone around the world.

    Mario Kart 8 is the best next gen game so far in my opinion. Forget Titanfall, forget Infamous Second Son. Mario Kart 8 is where it is at.

    The only thing I dislike in this Mario Kart is the item selection but new ideas like Mario Kart Tv where you upload video highlights to youtube make up for that.

    If you are looking for a fun and challenging single player experience Mario Kart 8 has length as 150cc mode is tough and collating all of the parts, vehicles and characters will take a couple of weeks. Once that is done just play with family and friends when people come over for parties and there is always Mario Kart Tv and the online modes to keep you playing Mario Kart 8 from years to come.    … Expand
  72. dinosauryoshi
    Aug 10, 2014
    9
    The best Mario Kart since the N64 era. The end. Well actually that’s not the end, here’s the full review;

    On the gameplay front this is the best Mario Kart yet. The physics feel deeper and the karts feel so fun and smooth to drive. The anti-gravity works really well and I love the addition of the spin boost especially. I also think the new weapons are great and add something new. I even    The best Mario Kart since the N64 era. The end. Well actually that’s not the end, here’s the full review;

    On the gameplay front this is the best Mario Kart yet. The physics feel deeper and the karts feel so fun and smooth to drive. The anti-gravity works really well and I love the addition of the spin boost especially. I also think the new weapons are great and add something new. I even like the coin item as it means the leader can’t always bank on getting something to hang off their backside and protect them as they zoom to victory, I do however wish it appeared a little less frequently. Now only being able to hold one item at a time was also a good move in my opinion for similar reasons, the leader can’t have two protective items at once and is always at least a little vulnerable.

    Visually it looks good enough to eat (particularly the candy track). This (along with Mario 3D World) is one of the best looking games I’ve ever played and it truly feels ‘next gen’, a great display of what the Wii U can do. The amount of detail put into each of the tracks and backgrounds is wonderful, more than you’ll ever pick-up while zooming along. It’s a colourful visual feast throughout. The frame rate is a rock solid and smooth 60hz,only dropping in 3 or 4 player local play and the music played by a live band really adds energy to each track and brings the whole experience to life.

    There’s plenty of content too. 32 tracks, 16 of which are new and all of which are great. Not a dud in the bunch. The 16 retro tracks have been so well done and changed to accommodate the new anti-grav and/or underwater elements that they feel almost like new tracks themselves. The battle mode however leaves a little to be desired due to the lack of battle arenas and use of a variety of the tracks instead. This is still quite fun but gets boring quickly and the addition of some arenas really would have improved this mode no end. There are plenty of characters to choose from but the roster is a little samey and the lack of Diddy Kong is a particular shame. One has to mention the brilliant and well balanced vehicle customisations though which offer a lot of variety and are a lot of fun to play around with to find your preferred combination of kart/bike, wheels, and glider.

    The single player won’t take a seasoned pro long to complete and is made up of the usual 50, 100, and 150cc and mirror modes across 16 cups of varying difficulty but it’s in multiplayer where this game shines, particularly with the new refined online experience. The frame rate drops noticeably when over two players play locally which is a shame but is to be expected and this doesn’t stop the game being fun at all. It just loses a little of it’s polish. The online is magnificent. Tournaments allow for custom rulesets and times for tournaments to be open. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being able to join in on tournaments from my favourite online publications (Nintendo life etc) and to my experience the races run completely smoothly with lag a rare occurrence. Having 12 racers on the track from all over the world hurling shells at each other is honestly some of the most amazing fun I’ve had playing a video game in recent times, if not ever! Being able to play 2 player online is an excellent addition too.

    In conclusion this is easily the best Mario Kart since 64 with the only things holding it back from a perfect score being the lack of battle arenas, the slightly disappointing roster and the over prevalence of the coin item. All in all Mario Kart 8 is some of the best fun you could ever have on a console. It really is that good. Drop dead gorgeous, thrilling gameplay and a rock solid and fun online mode make this a game I’ll be playing for a long, long time.

    Update: An update is apparently imminent in which the map will be moved to the main screen along with a bunch of other small fixes. Whoop.    … Expand
  73. edirgl
    Jun 30, 2014
    9
    Great game!
    Some nice features were removed like the ability to hold two items at the time, manual/automatic selection.
    Some cool things added, cool anti-gravity, characters. Will play this for several hours.
  74. cwepahguy225
    Jul 5, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart 8 is awesome. The course design is great and creative. The character roster is the biggest yet, and has the Koopalings as playable characters (for the first time ever). However, there are too many baby characters (and what about Birdo, Diddy, Hammer Bro, and Dry Bones)? Even though anti gravity doesnt bring any massive changes, it's still fun and I love it. It was like "the glueMario Kart 8 is awesome. The course design is great and creative. The character roster is the biggest yet, and has the Koopalings as playable characters (for the first time ever). However, there are too many baby characters (and what about Birdo, Diddy, Hammer Bro, and Dry Bones)? Even though anti gravity doesnt bring any massive changes, it's still fun and I love it. It was like "the glue that connected hang gliding and underwater racing". Gamexplain said that. The tracks are incredibly detailed, making the game more like the real world. The music and graphics are both stunning. The game does have some cons though. You can't carry a backup item anymore, which sucks. Also, first place gets less items. The big downside is battle mode. Battle mode is ruined. It uses slightly modified courses instead of arenas. Also, the cpus are way too good, there aim w/ green shells is perfect. They need to be nerfed. The online play runs smoothly and is very fun. Summary: Mario Kart 8 is a fantastic, mind blowing game with great graphics, great gameplay and a great soundtrack. It has highly noticeable flaws, but it's still the best game in the series.… Expand
  75. masterlinkace
    Jul 7, 2014
    9
    This game is tons of fun, great for single player, multiplayer or online! the one and only issue I have with this game is they ruined battle mode...however when it comes to the racing, it's the best Mario Kart to date.
  76. GodOFGamers72
    Jul 17, 2014
    9
    This Game is just a masterpiece for Wii U owners everywhere and is a must Buy. My only problem is when you are battleing somebody it just seems very broken and out of place in the Game that needs to get fixed but for that it's still a must buy!!! 9/10
  77. OscarG
    Jul 21, 2014
    9
    This game isn't perfect, but man is it fun! Every single feature in this game is very fun like the Single Player for example. I usually don't have friends to play with so usually I play solo and this is one of the few games in which I have a blast playing alone (lol). Single player is really fun even if you get bored of it, every once in a while is still fun. But the REAL highlight of theThis game isn't perfect, but man is it fun! Every single feature in this game is very fun like the Single Player for example. I usually don't have friends to play with so usually I play solo and this is one of the few games in which I have a blast playing alone (lol). Single player is really fun even if you get bored of it, every once in a while is still fun. But the REAL highlight of the game is... the multiplayer. Multiplayer is as fun as ever, probably even better. Multiplayer is the same as ever: 4 player chaos in creative courses with mind-boggling items and newly made anti-gravity sections. Anti-gravity is as it sounds like, karts racing on walls and upside down, its not really a HUGE thing in my opinion but its a well made new and fresh idea. Online mode is a mode where you race aginst people Worldwide, Regionally, with Friends or in Tournaments. Worldwide is where you race with people around the world, Regionally is where I assume is where you race with people from your continent, with friends is with people you have played with randomly and people in your Friend List, and Tournaments is where you race with a set amount of rules and gain points to see in which place you landed. Like I said, this game ISN'T perfect, but it is a must buy for the Wii U. This is a game for you to buy a Wii U and play a ton of hours with.… Expand
  78. nigelgrab
    Jul 27, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart has successfully made itself feel brand new, more than any prior release in the series. The gameplay is familiar yet fresh and exciting, and the anti-gravity sections actually feel good - slightly more floaty and drifty than normal, but still a joy to control. The latter goes for all the gameplay - finding your style of play and a kart combination to match it is just awesome.Mario Kart has successfully made itself feel brand new, more than any prior release in the series. The gameplay is familiar yet fresh and exciting, and the anti-gravity sections actually feel good - slightly more floaty and drifty than normal, but still a joy to control. The latter goes for all the gameplay - finding your style of play and a kart combination to match it is just awesome.
    However, the replay value is actually fairly lacking, due to a disappointing battle mode that feels tacked on and empty, and no extra modes different to past entries. So pretty much once you complete every grand prix (and mirror mode if you're into that) you're left with nothing else worthwhile.
    Despite that, where it hits the mark, Mario Kart 8 is an absolute joy to play, and is definitely worth getting a Wii U for.    … Expand
  79. ToFewViews
    Aug 31, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart 8 did come out a few months ago, so if
    you are one of the many people who bought a Wii-U
    to play this game you already know how fun and amazing it is. I picked up Mario Kart 8 the day it released and didn't put it down tell I had beat all tracks on 150cc. Then once you do that...You unlock all the tracks in reverse! Leaving you with tons of races to try and beat. The game    Mario Kart 8 did come out a few months ago, so if
    you are one of the many people who bought a Wii-U
    to play this game you already know how fun and amazing
    it is. I picked up Mario Kart 8 the day it released
    and didn't put it down tell I had beat all tracks
    on 150cc. Then once you do that...You unlock all the
    tracks in reverse! Leaving you with tons of races to
    try and beat. The game also has a great online multilayer
    letting you play 2 players online with one system. Online
    has tournaments and a full ranking system to. The Graphics
    to the game are some of the nicest I have seen on the Wii-U
    since Super Mario 3D World. I find the game just about
    perfect, I have only a few problems with the game. I
    find the difficulty in the later races can be unfair
    and very aggravating. Also would have been nice to see
    more playable characters, seems like they filled the game
    with Baby versions of main characters and all the Koopa Kids.
    But over all this game is a must play!

    ToFewViews    … Expand
  80. Stafmeister
    Jul 31, 2014
    9
    Brilliant. Best racing since Mario Kart 64. The courses are great, the new ones and the re-imaginged ones. I really wanted to give this a 10, but they appear to have been lazy with battle mode - which used to be my favourite. Where have the arenas gone?!
  81. soccerzz5
    Aug 8, 2014
    9
    Almost the perfect game, not just racing game but game, stunning graphics, a lot of character and online features.
    The only thing that bothers me and everyone i guess, is the lack of battle stages, why nintendo???, we has them since Super Mario Kart, maybe we can get them as DLC, but we want it now.
  82. lpfm
    Aug 23, 2014
    9
    Recently I played Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 8 is a improvment in 80% of the content. Item by item (the more significant to me):

    1) The battle mode is tremendous better in wii; Seems like nintendo dedevelopers were lazy in this point; 2) The single player mode, to me, is just the same (means not deep); 3) I never tried the online play in wii one, but in the Mk8 the online mode is    Recently I played Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 8 is a improvment in 80% of the content. Item by item (the more significant to me):

    1) The battle mode is tremendous better in wii; Seems like nintendo dedevelopers were lazy in this point;
    2) The single player mode, to me, is just the same (means not deep);
    3) I never tried the online play in wii one, but in the Mk8 the online mode is great. Mention: Missing features: Voice chat (or at least a text one).
    4)The visual! One of the great improvement! No coments here more than "I really love the MK8 visuals;
    5)The balance is great. The number of variable that influence it is significant bigger (in this is great);
    6)Character choice has a improvement too.    … Expand
  83. AVdE
    Aug 26, 2014
    9
    Astonishing how beautiful Mario Kart looks in HD! The tracks are fabulous and the anti-gravity makes an exciting and awesome addition in terms of gameplay. Everything about this game is absolutely amazing, with a few exceptions:

    The battle mode tracks from previous mario kart games are replaced with slightly modified tracks. This makes battle mode feel a lot like regular racing, so    Astonishing how beautiful Mario Kart looks in HD! The tracks are fabulous and the anti-gravity makes an exciting and awesome addition in terms of gameplay. Everything about this game is absolutely amazing, with a few exceptions:

    The battle mode tracks from previous mario kart games are replaced with slightly modified tracks. This makes battle mode feel a lot like regular racing, so hopefully nintendo will fix this with DLC.

    The weapon selection doesn't feel balanced. Sometimes, you get boosts in first place, or a green shell in 8th place or lower. And once you end up in the middle during online races, you get brutally smashed.

    A minor flaw is that the gamepad screen displays the same split screen from the TV during local multiplayer, instead of only the own racer's screen.

    Further, there are a couple of tiny drawbacks that are going to be fixed with an upcoming update, so they're not really worth mentioning.

    Overall though, Mario Kart 8 is an amazing game. It's plenty of fun, it looks gorgeous, it runs smoothly and it's a blast to play with friends.    … Expand
  84. DreamcastUser
    Oct 19, 2014
    9
    One of the best Mario Karts to date. The artstyle is gorgeous, I love Rosalina and the kooplings being added to the roster, and lots of cool new carts. However best of all is the DLC Finally we can race Link in Mario Kart.
  85. GamertronGamer
    Sep 5, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart 8 is a fun new game for the Nintendo WiiU. The Battle Mode has only Balloon Battle, and all physics and graphics were improved. I love the tracks dearly, and overall, it is a great game.
  86. BariothGuy
    Sep 9, 2014
    9
    This is the perfect Mario Kart game. There's a ton of new gameplay mechanics and content but it still feels like Mario Kart. Even after you do everything you can in the single player modes and your friends/siblings get bored and want something different, you still can go online and race other people. The average player could get around 50 hours of gameplay out of it, but with new contentThis is the perfect Mario Kart game. There's a ton of new gameplay mechanics and content but it still feels like Mario Kart. Even after you do everything you can in the single player modes and your friends/siblings get bored and want something different, you still can go online and race other people. The average player could get around 50 hours of gameplay out of it, but with new content on the way there's even more fun to be had. The only flaw are the battle mode tracks, but Nintendo will probably fix that too. A Wii U must have.… Expand
  87. frogvsmosquito
    Sep 12, 2014
    9
    Before I got Mario Kart 8, the only experience i had with Mario Kart was playing it on my friend's DS. And that previous experience was positive. This, however, is even better. It's all I remember from the DS game and a lot more.
    The first thing you'll notice when you start racing is the antigravity. Antigravity sections work differently than the others. Colliding into your opponents    Before I got Mario Kart 8, the only experience i had with Mario Kart was playing it on my friend's DS. And that previous experience was positive. This, however, is even better. It's all I remember from the DS game and a lot more.
    The first thing you'll notice when you start racing is the antigravity. Antigravity sections work differently than the others. Colliding into your opponents would normally be a bad idea, but in antigravity when you collide into an opponent, you'll both get a little speed boost, so use it wisely to get ahead!
    The game has 32 tracks (16 new and 16 retro). Tracks have so much variety. On one track you'll find yourself in a world made out of sweets, on the other you'll be racing through pipes avoiding Piranha Plants, on the other one you'll be on a big floating track above the city, you name it! And with the new DLC coming, which will add 16 more tracks, expect to be racing through Hyrule!
    Online multiplayer is one of the best I've seen. Didn't. Crash. Once. And the feeling when you finish first, ahead of experts... it's so satisfying. You can also either participate in tournaments, or you can create your own for others to compete in. Rule settings are pretty detailed such as race class, time when tournament begins/ends, number of races... You can also bring a friend to play online with you in the same room! Oh the laughs, rages, ups and downs...
    The only thing I don't like is the battle mode. The goal is to pop other player's balloons. This time, instead of specially designed battle arenas, you'll be battling on one of the 8 selected tracks. It can take a while for someone to pass so you can pop the opponent's balloon. Or you can hide behind a rock or something and wait for some clueless Mushroom kingdom resident to pass and pop his balloons. Hehehe...
    Overall, very good game that you should own if you have a Wii U.    … Expand
  88. GamerJesus
    Sep 13, 2014
    9
    Finally un-locked all pre-DLC characters!
    Best looking Mario Kart there is.
    Missing Arenas that were replaced them with actual racetracks - that's a step back.
    Handles perfectly and I love the 8 Power Up
    I'll be buying the DLC when I can afford to because I want to play as Link and am looking forward to new tracks.
    If you own a WiiU, I wholeheartedly recommend this one.
  89. Vinccce
    Oct 14, 2014
    9
    Luigi is MLG MASTER quickscoping your mom with his death stare. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  90. REVIEWERWILL
    Oct 26, 2014
    9
    this game has a dlc that comes with link there shold be a nintendo kart that would be cool i do not have the dlc for this its very fun more than mario kart 7
  91. Red-Opposom-098
    Nov 20, 2014
    9
    Really fun game, the zero gravity is innovative and it's something fresh then just an average shooter (even though I enjoy playing them) I had a lot of fun playing
  92. sanluis20
    Nov 10, 2014
    9
    Mario Kart makes it long awaited appearance in HD and this game doesn't disappoint. The game is extremely fun, however for the love of God could Nintendo get rid of the blue turtle? At least, disable it on the final lap. I don't know how many games I've lost because of it. I know Nintendo does it for the kids, but I wish you could disable it, and other annoying items so it would makeMario Kart makes it long awaited appearance in HD and this game doesn't disappoint. The game is extremely fun, however for the love of God could Nintendo get rid of the blue turtle? At least, disable it on the final lap. I don't know how many games I've lost because of it. I know Nintendo does it for the kids, but I wish you could disable it, and other annoying items so it would make the game slightly more skill based. Nevertheless this is still an excellent game for the Wii U.… Expand
  93. micorial1
    Nov 12, 2014
    9
    This game provided countless hours of fun going through the grand prix and unlocking everything. This game is also very entertaining with many friends. the online was fun and it skill matched you with others of your caliber. The game pad was also well done being able to us it for many different things in the game gave many players different uses for it
  94. theodorethebear
    Nov 17, 2014
    9
    It's fun to play with friends. The tracks are created beautifully and creatively. Although there are glitches and un- fair-played NPC, this is a masterpiece.
  95. LuigiCuau
    Nov 24, 2014
    9
    Después de años desde el juego de Wii, llega este juego con la innovación de la gravedad, que la verdad se ve maravilloso, pistas padrisimas y un game play excelente, Mario Kart 8 es un juego que te ara pasar horas de diversión, sin embargo no logra el 10 por las siguientes razones:

    1 No hay escenarios para batalla de balones, jugar en las pistas no son divertidas 2 Senda arcoiris muy    Después de años desde el juego de Wii, llega este juego con la innovación de la gravedad, que la verdad se ve maravilloso, pistas padrisimas y un game play excelente, Mario Kart 8 es un juego que te ara pasar horas de diversión, sin embargo no logra el 10 por las siguientes razones:

    1 No hay escenarios para batalla de balones, jugar en las pistas no son divertidas
    2 Senda arcoiris muy pobre, se supone que debe ser la pista más difícil y más larga y es lo contrario muy corta y muy fácil
    3 personajes que no convencen, metal peach, baby rosalinda ¿quieren más ?

    De hay en fuera el juego es exelente    … Expand
  96. MarioFan1055
    Jun 24, 2015
    9
    Best Mario Kart game yet! This game fixes every disappointment from Mario Kart 7 because this game has bikes, flying and underwater driving, and even anti-gravity! Mario Kart 8 has DLC characters and tracks. The DLC tracks are new courses and retro courses from previous games.
  97. PyxyGames
    Nov 27, 2014
    9
    Now, this isn't the BEST game in the Mario Kart series, (my favorite was Mario Kart Double Dash) but honestly, I LOVE this game! New anti-gravity modes, Great HD graphics, A great attention to detail, and oh my god, don't even get me started on the new features! Parachutes, new car customizations and so much more! Lot's of playable characters and a nice sense of progression! 9/10 for sure!Now, this isn't the BEST game in the Mario Kart series, (my favorite was Mario Kart Double Dash) but honestly, I LOVE this game! New anti-gravity modes, Great HD graphics, A great attention to detail, and oh my god, don't even get me started on the new features! Parachutes, new car customizations and so much more! Lot's of playable characters and a nice sense of progression! 9/10 for sure! But once again, Mario Kart 8 isn't the BEST game in the Mario Kart series EVER, but it sure is close.… Expand
  98. sorasoprano
    Dec 30, 2014
    9
    Mario kart 8 has the bast graphics on the wii u. Match that with a great OST, action-packed online functionality, and local multiplayer that has an everlasting charm
  99. DBPirate1129
    Jan 10, 2015
    9
    As a big fan of the past two installments in the series, you'd probably be able to imagine how excited I was for Mario Kart 8. I was even more excited to discover that Mario Kart 8 surpassed my expectations by a long shot.

    The courses in the game are the best yet, both new and old. The new anti-gravity mechanic adds a breath of fresh air to the races. Add to that the gliding and    As a big fan of the past two installments in the series, you'd probably be able to imagine how excited I was for Mario Kart 8. I was even more excited to discover that Mario Kart 8 surpassed my expectations by a long shot.

    The courses in the game are the best yet, both new and old. The new anti-gravity mechanic adds a breath of fresh air to the races. Add to that the gliding and underwater sections from MK7 and you've got yourself some of the best courses in any racing game ever made. Particular standouts include Toad Harbor, Shy Guy Falls, every course from the Star Cup, Cloudtop Cruise, Bowser's Castle, and Rainbow Road. The music is also simply fantastic. It can't be denied it's the best music in the series yet.

    The character roster still isn't as good as Wii but at this point, who cares? It does everything else bigger and better! I was much more engaged in the kart customization than I was in 7 with more parts to choose from. I'm still not a fan of the 10-coin limit but it doesn't ruin the game as a whole. It's nice to see bikes return as I usually raced on them more than in karts in MKWii.

    Mario Kart 8 shows off the best online in the series with superb connection, a great new course voting system, and the genius new addition of Mario Kart TV. Mario Kart TV allows you to view your highlights or entire races and do lots of cool stuff with them like putting it in slow-motion. The glorious visuals really shine thanks to this addition. The only true downside in the game is battle mode which is a massive downgrade compared to Wii and 7. Instead of racing on battle arenas, you race on actual courses which is a shame.

    Overall, Mario Kart 8 is the best installment in the series yet. It's hard to imagine how it can get any better. The courses, online, vehicles, and new mechanics in the game are simply gold.    … Expand
  100. imoses
    Jan 26, 2015
    9
    Bought this game in June 2014, I'm still playing in January 2015! The best Mario Kart game on home consoles!

    Pros:
    + Online Multiplayer!!!!
    + Great tracks
    + New anti-gravity adds variety
    + DLC is excellent and reasonably priced

    Cons:
    - Battle mode
    - too many baby characters
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best Wii U Game of 2014
2
#2 Most Discussed Wii U Game of 2014
4
#4 Most Shared Wii U Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 82 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 80 out of 82
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 82
  3. Negative: 0 out of 82
  1. GameCritics
    Sep 18, 2014
    80
    Mario Kart 8 is pretty great in many ways, but undoubtedly moreso with a collection of friends to play with, or when facing off against other players online.
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  2. CD-Action
    Aug 25, 2014
    85
    No revolution here, but still it’s an absolute must-have for every Wii U owner. [08/2014, p.68]
  3. Universo Nintendo
    Jul 31, 2014
    95
    A beautiful and fun racing game, which uses the possibilities offered by its host platform to emphasize and renew the truly universal appeal of the series.
    Read full review
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