Mario Kart 8 review roundup

The Mario Kart 8 reviews have hit the Internet highway – the plumber and his pals have really come to the party in their latest racing escapade.

The game is scheduled to release for the Wii U in South Africa on 30 May 2014, and if the international reviews are anything to go by, you should your pre-order your copy today.

Mario Kart 8 was sitting at 89 on Metacritic at the time of publication.

Dualshockers – 9.5/10

Mario Kart 8 looks to be one of the, if not the best, Mario Kart titles with new mechanics, even better graphics, high frame rate, faster racing speeds, new items, a bigger roster and a host of other new changes that add complexity and depth to an already excellent franchise. While I do wish certain mechanics such as two-racer teams and character exclusive specials would have made the list, and many gamers might be disappointed with the partial voice chat, 8 is still an excellent entry that should not be missed.

Eurogamer – 10/10

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.

IGN – 9/10

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.

Joystiq – 4.5/5

Despite an unfortunate change to its battle mode, MK8 is a solid extra lap on a series with a great foundation. The gravity-shifting sections spliced into existing and new tracks feel like a natural extension of the series rather than a gameplay-changing revelation, but it’s a strong compliment to an already enjoyable experience. The social features are surprisingly solid and may even outlive the total course selection, but it helps that the new tracks feel as worthy of a revisit as the series’ standouts.

Mario Kart 8

Polygon – 9/10

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 – 8/10

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.

Will you be picking up a copy of Mario Kart 8? Let us know the comments and forum.