Alolan_Apples
“Assorted” Collector
Yesterday, the long-waited game of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has finally come out on the Nintendo Switch. Today, I managed to get a copy to play. After one battle game and four cups completed, I can review how the game is so far.
If you haven't played the game yet or if you're not interested, I put in spoiler information inside spoilers so I don't ruin it for you.
What has changed in MK8:
We all are aware that the inklings, King Boo, and Bowser Jr were going to make it to the game, battle arenas return with more games, the same 48 tracks were going to make it in-game, and the two-item mechanic returns while most of Mario Kart 8 stays the same. Here are some other changes that I noticed on my first time playing MK8 Deluxe:
What stayed the same in MK8:
Despite new and returning features, you wouldn't expect it to be much different than the previous. It is after all a remake for the Nintendo Switch. Normally, I am against making so many remakes of games, but making a MK8 remake for a portable system is a good idea, especially since Nintendo is more suited for handheld systems now. But there are some stuff that I am disappointed that they didn't change, and some stuff I felt they were right when they didn't make any changes.
As for my opinion on what I think is better between the original and the remake, I prefer the remake. Not only you can play it on a portable device and not to one TV, but it had more stuff you can do in it. Plus, they fixed some of the stuff we complained about in the original. No more battle tracks. We have battle arenas.
I can't wait until more Switch games come out. We already got Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and I know we're getting Super Mario Odyssey later this year. But I would like to get Pokemon Stars and the next Animal Crossing main series game for the Switch.
If you haven't played the game yet or if you're not interested, I put in spoiler information inside spoilers so I don't ruin it for you.
What has changed in MK8:
We all are aware that the inklings, King Boo, and Bowser Jr were going to make it to the game, battle arenas return with more games, the same 48 tracks were going to make it in-game, and the two-item mechanic returns while most of Mario Kart 8 stays the same. Here are some other changes that I noticed on my first time playing MK8 Deluxe:
- All characters (except Gold Mario) and tracks are unlocked at the very beginning. You don't have to play each cup to unlock other characters.
- The Boo and feather items were introduced. If someone triggers the Boo item, either the first place player or all players (except Boo user) will lose their item they are holding onto as a boo disappears. The feather one is more of a jump item.
- First place driver can now use the Bob-omb, triple shells, and triple bananas item. This should make defending easier.
- AI Players have gotten much more aggressive. Bringing back the two-item mechanic is a double-edged sword. While it has made defending easier as you don't have to find another item box if you lose yours, stuff like red shells, blue shells, and lightning have gotten much more common. Maybe I'm noticing it more since I was in first place and way ahead of second place, but I never seen blue shells and lightning so frequently.
What stayed the same in MK8:
Despite new and returning features, you wouldn't expect it to be much different than the previous. It is after all a remake for the Nintendo Switch. Normally, I am against making so many remakes of games, but making a MK8 remake for a portable system is a good idea, especially since Nintendo is more suited for handheld systems now. But there are some stuff that I am disappointed that they didn't change, and some stuff I felt they were right when they didn't make any changes.
- The coin item still exists. One major complaint I had with MK8 is that coins made a huge comeback. When you're playing Mario Kart and sustain first place, you need to defend yourself, especially when you're playing at 150cc and 200cc. When you're only getting the coin item, you can't defend yourself when a red or green shell hits you.
- Some Mario Kart veterans such as Birdo and Diddy Kong are not present in the game while we still have stupid characters like Pink Gold Peach and Baby Rosalina. But if I had to choose any Nintendo character not in MK8 or MK8 Deluxe to appear as DLC, I would prefer Eevee. When I first thought of having Pokemon characters for Mario Kart, I originally preferred Pikachu, but Eevee is so much cuter.
- The soundtrack for the race tracks stayed the same. Good!
- The cups and the tracks for each cup are the same in the exact same order. Like I said, it's only a remake with more features.
As for my opinion on what I think is better between the original and the remake, I prefer the remake. Not only you can play it on a portable device and not to one TV, but it had more stuff you can do in it. Plus, they fixed some of the stuff we complained about in the original. No more battle tracks. We have battle arenas.
I can't wait until more Switch games come out. We already got Breath of the Wild and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and I know we're getting Super Mario Odyssey later this year. But I would like to get Pokemon Stars and the next Animal Crossing main series game for the Switch.
