It's official, May belongs to Mario. Despite the game's launch at the end of the month, reviews for Mario Kart 8 have already started dropping, and it's easily the most critically well received game of the month. We've rounded up the scores for the game, as well as a few other Mario Kart goodies for you too.
Mario Kart 8 Limited Edition Will Only Be Available At Nintendo World Store
But first, the scores:
Eurogamer, 10 - "Mario Kart 8 is a revelation. It's undiminished by familiarity. It may be furnished with recognisable props, faces, scenes and modes - but it's also the most vibrant home console racing game in years...Bold, accessible, deep and rich, Mario Kart 8 is premium video game development. It feels expensive. But this isn't the vacuous lavishness of the Hollywood blockbuster; its excesses and indulgences work towards a common goal - or rather, finish line. The game may build upon some of the steady inventions of its predecessor (the diversity of handling options, the airborne sections) but in these staggering, monument-like arenas, those ideas have been given space to fully blossom. Video game players are familiar with the law of diminishing returns. Even as new entries in a series tirelessly improve upon their predecessors, our interest nevertheless wanes; with games, improved is somehow less exciting than new. Mario Kart 8 is a rare thing, then: the best entry in a series and the most exciting yet.
IGN, 9 - "Mario Kart 8 is a beautiful, fun kart racer that introduces sound new ideas to Nintendo’s 22-year old franchise. While it doesn't reach Double Dash-levels of risk and experimentation, Mario Kart 8 builds on the series' most essential aspects better than any of its predecessors. Twisting U-turns, a blistering sense of speed, skillful track designs, robust tournament and online features, and gorgeous graphics fall into lockstep all at once. The end result shouldn't come as a surprise: Mario Kart 8 is the king of the mascot kart circuit, and it gave me hours of enjoyment...There’s a few other small disappointments in Mario Kart 8 as well. The GamePad always mirrors what’s on the television instead of splitting players into two separately rendered screens. Battle Mode probably suffers the most egregiously of all though. The arenas from previous versions are out, and the newly modified racetracks Nintendo replaced them with don’t feel differentiated enough from the standard tracks. It basically just adds three balloons to standard races. Ultimately, these changes have made what used to be a fun distraction into something completely forgettable...Mario Kart 8 is the best kart racing game Nintendo has made in a long time. It strikes a careful balance between refining old ideas while introducing fresh new ones. Admittedly, its gorgeous graphics and jazzy orchestrated soundtrack bolster its presentation, but you’re getting a lot more than just looks with this one – although I spent an awful lot of time gawking at the details in slow-motion, the fast and furious pace of racing with friends both locally and online is what really kept me coming back."
Get Your Mario Kart 8 Fix at GameStop This Weekend, Anti-Grav Go Karting Demoed in New Video
Polygon, 9 - "...it's as good as it's ever been in Mario Kart 8. Though it lacks hooks to hold players in, Nintendo's years of experience perfecting this style of game are mixed with the HD visual capabilities of the Wii U for the best pure Mario Kart experience yet...'You might only be able to have tons of fun for a month or two' is the closest thing to a complaint I could level against Mario Kart 8. It doesn't bring massive innovations to the formula, but it's overflowing in that Nintendo magic that makes it so easy to forget about minor shortcomings. Its gorgeous looks and tightly developed sense of speed ensured that I was never left unhappy after a race, even when I blew it and came in near the end. What more could I ask for than a game that keeps me smiling even when I lose?"
Gamespot, 8 - "There are no excuses anymore; Mario Kart 8 focuses on its excellent racing, and the experience is stronger for it. You feel the weight of your driver as you try to hang a tight left while centrifugal forces push you away. Slam into another racer, and you feel the impact; the heavier body cruises onward while the lighter competitor, battered and bruised, tries to regain his or her composure. Speed bursts are everywhere in Mario Kart 8. Turns beckon you to powerslide, ramps urge you to boost, and you're continually seeking new ways to keep your kart speeding along...Even though Mario Kart 8 does have a few problems, they're small enough that they don't detract much from the racing excellence. The greatest achievement of Mario Kart 8 is that it's as warm and welcoming as we expect, but doesn't cater to those who demand a helping hand. Instead, it strikes a balance, offering accessibility while demanding skill...Nintendo has done an admirable job of keeping Mario Kart relevant. How many franchises can you think of that have remained in top form for more than two decades? Not too many. I do admit that my first impression of Mario Kart 8 was pretty close to a yawn. Mario Kart is one of my favorite franchises, but it's hard to get excited for the same old thing. But the more I played, the more I appreciated the many small changes, and grew to love my time in the Mushroom Kingdom. And now that yawn has changed to a shout of joy. It's more Mario Kart! I'm happy Nintendo still understands what makes this series so darn fun."
So if you have yourself a Wii U, it seems like picking up Mario Kart 8 is inevitable, as it's shaped up to be one of the console's few "must have" titles, and might just pull the Wii U out of the muck its been hiding in for the last few months.
Meanwhile, Redditor and Imgurian "Hero of Pants" is at it again. After constructing a beautiful Titanfall Titan out of nothing more than Xbox One and Xbox 360 display boxes, he's crafted a MarioKart kart in honor of the eighth game's launch at the end of the month, using...what else? Wii U display boxes of course, and a carefully placed steering wheel for the proper touch of authenticity.
You can see the kart completed below in hovercraft form, but here's a gallery of pictures showing the build in action. Microsoft was nice enough to give Hero a Titanfall-themed Xbox One, I wonder if Nintendo will provide something similar. If anything, I hope his employer at least gives him a raise. The kart can be viewed in person at EB Games in Auckland, Australia.
If scores and a fan-made promotion weren't enough, we also have a nice video that goes over some of the easter eggs and nods to Mario games over the years to make longtime fans look forward to picking up the game that much more. Check out the video below, and see if you can spot ALL the references.
Mario Kart 8 releases at the end of the month as a Wii U exclusive. The racer features one of the biggest rosters yet, with Mario, Luigi, Peach, Daisy, Rosalina, their respective infant versions, Yoshi, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Toad, Koopa Troopa, Toadette, Wario, Waluigi, Shy Guy, Metal Mario, Lakitu, and Bowser's kids Larry, Morton, Wendy, Iggy, Roy, Lemmy, and Ludwig as playable racers. Pink Gold Peach, a counter character to Metal Mario, rounds out the roster, bringing the total character count to 30.
Beyond the characters, Mario Kart 8 also adds in new items, anti-gravity, both new and favorite retro tracks, and the return of bikes, gliders, and underwater driving. Nintendo's World Store in Manhattan will be holding a launch party to celebrate.
