Hi there fellow readers, yes I know I'm writing another review; there must be something wrong with me! But I have to write about Mario Kart 8 (MK8); it was on my list of "Top 5 Most Anticipated Video Games of 2014." (If you haven't read it yet, what's the matter with you? Go check it out! [5 Most Anticipated Video Games of 2014]) Let's start this review with the new stuff, shall we? The new gimmick for MK8 is antigravity. I really like this new gimmick; it feels fresh yet feels as though it's been in the series forever. What I like about this new system isn't the fact you can drive up walls (which is pretty cool), but that when you crash into another driver you get a speed boost, which is always helpful. The transition from kart to antigravity doesn't slow you down, which was my main concern when they announced this feature.
The new items are pretty bland, if you ask me; they include the Boomerang, the Piranha Plant, the Super Horn, and Crazy Eight. The only item I like is the Piranha Plant because it gives you a mini speed boost and also eats up other drivers and items on the track. My least favorite item is the Super Horn. It destroys the dreaded blue shell, but whenever I receive this item I always end up getting hit by lightning, which makes you lose your item.
The track design is awesome; fair play Nintendo, you have done it again. Whether you're driving under the sea or into the sky on a giant bean stalk, the detail in these tracks is by far the best I've seen in any kart game to date. I am hoping to see some DLC for more tracks from my past, to see what has been updated; fingers crossed on the SNES Rainbow Road to make an appearance, as that is my favorite track of all time.
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| Who is your favorite character to play as in Mario Kart 8? |
Don't get me wrong, this game has faults; it's not perfect. There are small pet peeves, such as too many Koopa Kids and Mario Babies taking up most the roster. I also lost count of how many red shells hit me during a Grand Prix. All I seem to get hit by is red shells, and occasionally a blue shell. Third, the hard copy of the game crashes on me when I am waiting for the next track to load. However, here is my biggest issue with the game: Why does the player using the tablet controller have to go into split screen mode with player 2, when player 1 could use the tablet and player two can have the telly to him- or herself? </end rant>
For my closing statement I have to say that this game is a pure joy; I have spent most of my weekend trying to outrace my family and friends, and I am glad I put this game 2nd on my top five list. At the moment, it's my number one game of the year so far, and I give MK8 a 4 out of 5.
Don't forget to tell me what your favorite Mario Kart game is in the comments below!
