From Paris Promenade to Ninja Hideaway.
When Mario Kart 8 first came onto the scene in 2014, it instantly became one of the most beloved Mario Kart games in existence. Its only downside was that it was released on the Nintendo Wii U, a home console that regretfully, couldn’t even reach 14 million units sold worldwide. Thankfully, in 2017, Mario Kart 8 would get a new lease of life as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch and go on to become Nintendo’s best-selling Switch game, but also the best-selling Mario Kart game.
Then on the other side of the spectrum, we have Mario Kart Tour, a mobile spin-off that turns the entire series on its head, steers it into a new gacha direction and whilst being one of Nintendo’s more popular mobile titles, it has often been overlooked, but now times are changing. The game that allows players to collect and buy a large selection of racers, karts and gliders, in a bid to win races, rack up combos to earn stars and complete challenges, is starting to get the attention it deserves, but not in the way one might have expected.
With the Booster Course Pass DLC revealed for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe earlier this year and the first wave out now, giving players access to 8 of its 48 tracks, there can be no denying how well the DLC has been perceived, so far. Yes, there have been some complaints, especially those regarding Choco Mountain’s blandness compared to the other courses that have been reworked for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, but for the most part, courses like Ninja Hideaway, Paris Promenade and Coconut Mall, are to die for.
They may lack the same visual prowess and assets that all of the base game tracks are known for, but, compared to the mobile game these courses have been lifted from, it is easy to be impressed and this is where the benefit of being a Mario Kart Tour fan pays off. Although I have played my fair share of Mario Kart 8 and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in the past, Mario Kart Tour is the Mario Kart game that I play on a daily basis. In fact, I’ve played it every day since the mobile title made its debut and I do get plenty of enjoyment from my sessions with it.
Because of the time well spent, I have a huge adoration and appreciation for the courses I have been able to experience on a regular basis, much like other fans of Mario Kart Tour, but it also means on top of the tracks seen in previous titles, I also got to discover plenty of original tracks, based on real-world cities and they’re a lot of fun to see in action.
So, because of my time away from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, swapping it for a slower racing game, with “weaker” graphics, to see some of the tracks I’ve become accustomed to, upscaled in any capacity, is still a major graphical upgrade and one I am fully able to enjoy. It also gives me the perfect opportunity to return to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, slipping back into a game, where combos don’t earn stars, coming in first place does and it so good to be back.
The DLC is truly a blast from both past and present and it has us all completely excited for what the future has to bring with regard to the other 40 tracks that are in the works, and the whole package is well worth the asking price. Of course, the best thing of all, at least, as far as I am concerned personally, is I get to enjoy the whole thing for free thanks to already being a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscriber.
The price of a few SEGA Genesis and N64 games on Switch might have seemed a little step in the beginning, but now with Animal Crossing and Mario Kart DLC added to the mix, at this point, the Expansion sells itself. For those who are skeptical or on the fence as far as the Mario Kart DLC is concerned, with Mario Kart Tour being a game users can download for free, why not give it a try yourself? You never know, you might just like it.
About the Mario Kart™ 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass:
Racers who have an active Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership will have access to all of these newly-added courses as they are released at no additional cost. Non-members can access the courses as they are released by purchasing the Mario Kart™ 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass on its own from Nintendo eShop*.
Double your course options with the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass! – A total of 48 remastered courses from throughout the Mario Kart™ series are racing to the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe game as paid DLC*. Courses include those based on real-world locations like Paris Promenade and Tokyo Blur from the Mario Kart Tour game in addition to nostalgic favorites like N64 Choco Mountain and Wii Coconut Mall! Content will release in 6 waves of 8 courses from March 18, 2022 until the end of 2023.
Price: $24.99 to / Free Download for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers
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I liked the new style much more than the original, I always felt that Mario Kart 8’s look was too detailed or “realistic” in some way, like if it lacked the sharpness and colors of other mario games. These tracks are more clean and sharp, more vibrant. But yeah, I was expecting more for Choco mountain, it looks cool, but there are some details here and there, it also feels short and let alone that reused boulder, it looks extremely off, just a recolor for that texture would have made a whole difference.
Absolutely agree with you. Thank you.