Mario Kart 8
We need to talk. We need to talk about Mario Kart 8. Because it's awesome, because it shows how a long running series of games can continue to be fresh and innovative without drying up the well and because Mario Kart always has been and continues to be a game playable by anyone.
Mario Kart 8 basically took Mario Kart 7, which was perfect in itself and rebuilt it for play on Nintendo's big new system; the Wii-U. Of course, they didn't just port it over. Mario Kart 8 not only included incredibly improved graphics, but it also added a number of new player characters to choose from and a new twist on the tracks. In Mario Kart 7, the karts not only drove over land but also propelled underwater and flew threw the air. In 8, the tracks have all be re-designed to include anti-gravity sections. Portions of the track now defy physics as the kart's new anti-grav wheels allow upside-down or completely vertical travel giving this new game a huge new twist.
When it was first announced, I felt like the anti-gravity track sections were really gimmicky. Nintendo had already expanded on the possible track variations already in the two obvious areas. Land and Water. So it seemed as if they had really no other choice if they wanted to continue to release something new. As soon as I started playing however, I realized it was far from a gimmick. Adding the anti-gravity feature enhanced the game two-fold. First off, it allowed for some crazy new track redesigns that breathed new life into a number of favorite old tracks.
Secondly though, Nintendo now really gets to show off the power of their new system. For Nintendo fans, the Wii-U is the first console to finally include up-to-date high-definition graphics. All these new sequels we now get to see now matching the visuals we are used to seeing on our other consoles. So why not really show it off? All the new tracks are much more open than we've seen previously and the gravity defying new sections quite often give you a perspective that shows you far off distances and far back players as they round the track. Draw distance really isn't an issue anymore.
New tracks aside though, Mario Kart 8 really is just plain beautiful. Everything is perfectly detailed, karts and characters all gorgeous and the lighting, shadows and texturing are leaps and bounds above what we saw in previous Kart games. Plus, high-definition yields well to 4-player split screen, especially if you have a larger TV. Some thing more and more common now as large LCD and LED TVs have come down in price so much.
Then of course, there's also the addition of something in the area of about 8 new playable characters. Nintendo went and added all of Bowsers 'Koopalings' from the Super Mario World game as well as Baby Rosalina and Pink Gold Peach. That's three more female characters bringing the total in the roster to 9 female and 20 male characters. Which isn't that bad and adds a ton more variety that just having Princess Peach to choose from when Leia wants to play a girl.
Mario Kart 8 is by far my favorite Mario Kart game to date. It includes everything that was great about the best Kart games in the past, but also includes fantastic new graphics, a variety of control options, replays and even online video sharing. Anyone can pick up and play this game and enjoy it. It's the one game in our house that we all enjoy. A lot.
Mario Kart 8 basically took Mario Kart 7, which was perfect in itself and rebuilt it for play on Nintendo's big new system; the Wii-U. Of course, they didn't just port it over. Mario Kart 8 not only included incredibly improved graphics, but it also added a number of new player characters to choose from and a new twist on the tracks. In Mario Kart 7, the karts not only drove over land but also propelled underwater and flew threw the air. In 8, the tracks have all be re-designed to include anti-gravity sections. Portions of the track now defy physics as the kart's new anti-grav wheels allow upside-down or completely vertical travel giving this new game a huge new twist.
When it was first announced, I felt like the anti-gravity track sections were really gimmicky. Nintendo had already expanded on the possible track variations already in the two obvious areas. Land and Water. So it seemed as if they had really no other choice if they wanted to continue to release something new. As soon as I started playing however, I realized it was far from a gimmick. Adding the anti-gravity feature enhanced the game two-fold. First off, it allowed for some crazy new track redesigns that breathed new life into a number of favorite old tracks.
Secondly though, Nintendo now really gets to show off the power of their new system. For Nintendo fans, the Wii-U is the first console to finally include up-to-date high-definition graphics. All these new sequels we now get to see now matching the visuals we are used to seeing on our other consoles. So why not really show it off? All the new tracks are much more open than we've seen previously and the gravity defying new sections quite often give you a perspective that shows you far off distances and far back players as they round the track. Draw distance really isn't an issue anymore.
New tracks aside though, Mario Kart 8 really is just plain beautiful. Everything is perfectly detailed, karts and characters all gorgeous and the lighting, shadows and texturing are leaps and bounds above what we saw in previous Kart games. Plus, high-definition yields well to 4-player split screen, especially if you have a larger TV. Some thing more and more common now as large LCD and LED TVs have come down in price so much.
Then of course, there's also the addition of something in the area of about 8 new playable characters. Nintendo went and added all of Bowsers 'Koopalings' from the Super Mario World game as well as Baby Rosalina and Pink Gold Peach. That's three more female characters bringing the total in the roster to 9 female and 20 male characters. Which isn't that bad and adds a ton more variety that just having Princess Peach to choose from when Leia wants to play a girl.
Mario Kart 8 is by far my favorite Mario Kart game to date. It includes everything that was great about the best Kart games in the past, but also includes fantastic new graphics, a variety of control options, replays and even online video sharing. Anyone can pick up and play this game and enjoy it. It's the one game in our house that we all enjoy. A lot.
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