(Note: We haven't been able to test online or local multi-console multiplayer as of yet.)
#Mario kart 8 iso wii u portable
We found this somewhat tolerable for two-player matches, but having three or four players crowd around the Switch's portable tablet screen made the play area a little too small for comfort, unless you're willing to have everyone scrunch very close together. That's thanks in large part to the Switch's big, high-resolution screen and comfortable analog sticks and triggers, which still feel amazing compared to the cramped DS and 3DS line.ĭeluxe is also the first Mario Kart to offer a portable, split-screen multiplayer experience with just a single console. On the Switch, Mario Kart 8 is now easily the best portable Mario Kart experience available. One of the biggest differences in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe comes not in the game itself, but in the hardware it's played on. And while the return of the item-stealing Ghost is a welcome addition, I found the jump-inducing Feather (only available in Battle Mode) practically useless. There are a few new vehicle options as well, but they don't feel all that different from existing ones. There are five new playable characters (including two from Splatoon), but as usual their differences from the existing roster are purely cosmetic (thankfully, though, all these characters are unlocked from the get go this time around). Other changes are even smaller than that. This is primarily useful for beginners who have trouble keeping a good racing line, but even experts may find it useful in the insanely fast 200p mode, which can now be played without leaning on the brake so much.
And it might be my imagination, but I feel like I got hit by more opposing items thanks to the change as well.ĭeluxe also offers a new optional Smart Steering mode that automatically corrects your angle as you approach the edge of the track (oddly, this feature is on by default when you first load the game). It also helps you cycle through items more quickly, letting you collect a new weapon even if you're saving a current one for defensive purposes. This does add some interesting strategy regarding when to throw out your primary item and use one in reserve. Gameplay-wise, the biggest change is the ability to carry two items, a la Mario Kart: Double Dash. The game looked great on the Wii U, and it still looks great now.
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I'm told, for instance, that the game now runs at 1080p resolution when docked to a TV (as opposed to the 720p resolution of the Wii U version), but I'll be damned if I can tell the difference unless I get uncomfortably close to my screen. Incidental changesĪside from Battle Mode, the changes in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe can be pretty incidental.
And the returning Bob-omb Blast feels like one of those crazy variations you used to play in Goldeneye where only explosive weapons were allowed-good for a fun change of pace, but not for a deep competitive dive. Coin Runners also returns, switching the focus from attacking to coin collecting in a way we didn't find completely satisfying. Shine Thief, making a return from Mario Kart: Double Dash, is much more satisfying, emulating schoolyard games like Capture the Flag and King of the Hill. We particularly liked the new Lunar Colony course, which lets you jump high off of crater lips thanks to the low gravity, but all of them are well-designed for fast-paced, at times almost claustrophobic battles when there are 12 cars rolling about. The Wii U version frustratingly put battles on regular courses built for lap-based racing, meaning you could spend quite a while just hunting down opponents to hit with items like shells and bob-ombs.įor Deluxe, Nintendo has taken the time to craft five new battle arenas (as well as revamped versions of three classic courses).
#Mario kart 8 iso wii u update
The most important update to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe comes in the Battle Mode. Here are some quick impressions of what has changed this time around. Further Reading Mario Kart 8 review: One step forward, one step backThe core racing in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe feels exactly like the Wii U version, right down to the excellent selection of 48 courses, so most of what we said in our original review (plus thoughts on the DLC, which is already included in this package) stand largely unchanged.