Mario Kart 8

Gameplay

The game continues the traditional gameplay of the Mario Kart series, in which characters from the Mario universe race against each other in go-karts, attempting to hinder their opponents or improve their racing performance using various tools found in item boxes. In addition, the game includes four different difficulties, which can be selected before beginning the race. Returning features from previous installments include motorbikes, and 12-player racing from Mario Kart Wii, as well as hang gliders, underwater racing and vehicle customization from Mario Kart 7.

Mario Kart 8's new features include anti-gravity racing, in which certain parts of a track can allow racers to drive on walls and ceilings. During these sections, players can bump into other racers or special bumpers to trigger a Spin Boost, which gives them an extra speed boost. New characters include the Koopalings, Baby Rosalina, and Pink Gold Peach. New items include the Boomerang Flower, which can be thrown to attack players, the Piranha Plant, which attacks nearby racers and obstacles, the Crazy Eight, which gives the user eight items, and the Super Horn, which can be used both to attack nearby opponents and defend against items, including the previously nearly unavoidable Spiny Shell. The game features 32 tracks, with an additional 16 later released as downloadable content (DLC).

Along with local multiplayer, Mario Kart 8 supports online multiplayer for up to twelve players, with voice chat support outside of races. Players are able to set up tournaments with fully customizable rules and schedules, download ghost data from friends or top players, and receive stamps for use on Miiverse by beating staff times and completing Grand Prix races. Mario Kart TV lets the player view replay data from other players, including rewind and slow-motion playback functionality, and upload highlights to the video sharing platform, YouTube.

The game is compatible with the Wii U GamePad, Wii Remote and Nunchuk, Wii U Pro Controller, Wii Classic Controller and Wii Wheel. Players can also use Amiibo figures to unlock Nintendo-themed costumes that can be worn by Miis.

Development

Initially confirmed in a January 2013 Nintendo Direct presentation, the game was later unveiled at E3 2013. Some members of Bandai Namco Games were given special thanks in the game's credits. The "8" in the game's logo was designed to resemble a Möbius strip, as with Mario Circuit, one of the tracks in the game. Early in development, the idea of using a drill to penetrate the ground was considered, but was discarded for not being as creative as anti-gravity.

New features and enhancements are added via game updates. The first update, released on August 27, 2014 as Version 2.0, includes rearranged post-race options, an optional course map on the game screen, a player statistics screen, and improved online stability. The second update, released on November 13, 2014 as Version 3.0, adds support for Nintendo's Amiibo figures, allowing players to unlock Mii racing outfits based on other Nintendo characters. The 4.0 update, released on April 23, 2015, added a new 200cc class, a first for the series, and additional racing suits (including several non-Nintendo video game characters) to be unlocked via Amiibo.

Additional characters and tracks for the game have been released as downloadable content. The first is a free set of Mercedes-Benz-themed vehicles: the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLA, 1957 SL 300 Roadster, and 1934 W25 Silver Arrow, which were released on August 27, 2014 as part of the Version 2.0 update. On August 26, 2014, Nintendo announced two purchasable DLC packs, with each pack containing three additional characters, four additional vehicles and eight additional tracks; some of which are based on other Nintendo franchises, including The Legend of Zelda (Hyrule Circuit), Animal Crossing, F-Zero (Mute City and Big Blue) and Excitebike (Excitebike Arena). The first DLC pack, released on November 13, 2014 alongside the Version 3.0 update, features Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach and Link as playable characters, while the second pack, released on April 23, 2015 alongside the 4.0 update, features Dry Bowser, Villager and Isabelle. Additional multi-colored Yoshis and Shy Guys are given to players who purchase both DLC packs.

Promotion

Nintendo's launch promotions of Mario Kart 8 included a Limited Edition, which included a Spiny Shell figurine, and special Mario and Luigi themed console bundles, which included a hat, strategy guide, Wii Remote Plus controller, Wii Wheel and GamePad protector. In North America, Europe, and Australia, players who purchased and registered Mario Kart 8 on Club Nintendo before July 31, 2014 received a free download code for a selected Wii U game. As part of a promotional campaign with Mercedes-Benz, Mario, Luigi, and Peach were featured in a series of Japanese commercials for the Mercedes-Benz GLA, while three karts based on past and present Mercedes-Benz vehicles were added to the game as part of a downloadable update on August 27, 2014. In 2014, fast food company McDonald's released Happy Meal-branded toys based on the game's characters and karts.

Reception

Critical reception of the game was mostly positive, scoring 88/100 on Metacritic. Considered by Eurogamer to be "the most vibrant home console racing game in years", the game has been highly praised for its "exquisite details", vast sense of scale, orchestrated soundtrack, and gameplay. Digital Foundry deems it "near perfection" with "phenomenal attention to detail", featuring a "magnificent visual package" and "magical playability". Their technical analysis attributes the game's smoothness of motion and overall gameplay, to its typically high performance of 59 to 60 frames per second, with the split-screen mode's effective 30 frames per second nonetheless comparing favorably to industry standard. GameSpot generally praised the game, but criticized the game's Battle Mode for reusing the game's main race courses instead of presenting uniquely created battle arenas as prior Mario Kart games had done.

Sales

Shortly after the game's launch in the UK, it was announced that week-on-week Wii U console sales had risen 662% in the country, with Mario Kart 8 bundles accounting for 82% of the units sold. In its first four days on sale, 1.2 million copies were sold worldwide, making it a commercial success, and becoming the fastest selling Wii U game to date. Within a month of the game's release, 2.82 million were sold as of June 30, 2014. More than 1 million copies of Mario Kart 8 were sold in the United States as of August 14, 2014, and over 2 million copies had been sold by the end of June 2015. Worldwide, 3.49 million copies have been sold as of September 30, 2014. As of December 31, 2016, the game has sold 8.26 million copies worldwide, making it the best selling Wii U title at the time.

Legacy

The "Luigi Death Stare" is an Internet meme describing the automatic facial expression displayed by Luigi toward other characters upon attacking or passing them during a race, in which he gives them a disapproving glare as he goes past. It was featured in several viral YouTube videos and GIF animations, and the phenomenon was covered by WNYW in early June 2014. Moreover, the meme was acknowledged by Nintendo during their E3 2014 digital event. Venture Beat praised Nintendo's handling of the meme, noting that "It was a slick way of acknowledging fan culture without taking it away from them." The meme was nominated for the Best Gaming Moment at the 32nd Golden Joystick Awards.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

An enhanced port for the Nintendo Switch, titled Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, will be released worldwide on April 28, 2017. In addition to the inclusion of all previously released DLC content, the port also features additional content. Battle Mode has been reworked to be similar to that of previous Mario Kart games, in which players drive around an enclosed arena and attack their opponents. The new Battle Mode offers eight playable arenas and five game modes. The Boo item, which first appeared in Super Mario Kart, returned in Deluxe, along with the Feather item which can only be used in Battle Mode; Deluxe also allows players to carry two items at once during gameplay. Five additional playable characters were added to the roster, including Bowser Jr., Dry Bones, King Boo, and the Boy and Girl Inklings from Splatoon. The port also includes new Mii racing suits unlocked via Amiibo, as well as additional kart pieces for customization.