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Mario Kart is back and in a huge way. With HD graphics, anti-gravity driving, and 30 characters, the game is packed to the brim with fun. Mario Kart has always been one of the “go to” games in the Nintendo franchise, mixing fast moving racing and action style fighting while racing, the games have consistently improved and built more onto the previous iteration. This is particularly true of Mario Kart 8. The first thing you will notice is the graphics, sharp and bright and loud its like having and arcade game in your living room- except you and your friends don’t need fist fulls of quarters in order to wipe the floor with each other. Another advantage of having Mario Kart for the Wii U is the controller, it is perfect for racing games and in my opinion more fun then using the Wii controller. But both are available for usage with the game. Also usable is the Wii U Pro controller which is another welcome addition to the party. Up to 4 players can play at the same time with easy Grand Prix, Challenge more or Balloon popping. Grand Prix being a set of 4 races and a grand champion is crowned, Challenge is player controlled opponents only to keep the race pure and no one complaining about that Red Shell Luigi keeps throwing at them at the finish line. Balloon popping is more of a battle royale with lots of action and tons of fun.
The game starts out with 16 characters ranging from Yoshi to Wario, Mario, and Shy Guy, but as you progress through more races more characters are unlocked which include Morton, Iggy, Mii and Metal Mario. Each character has two specifications which effect game play weight and size. Wario is an example of a heavy, while Yoshi is a medium and Shy Guy is Light. This effects vary in what they do for each character ranging from handling to acceleration on different surfaces. There is a lot of tweaking and figuring out who is best for you to use and that is half the fun. Each character has different animations for various activities and also different personalities when winning or losing the race. The game is adored by Little Man and Big Man but is most fun with a group of people. The more the merrier. It is so much fun rocketing around the track throwing shells and pacing friends but in the end still placing 3rd in the race.
I would suggest this game to any video game lover, car racing game player or not- this is one of the games to have the Wii U for and if you don’t have a Wii U to play it on yet, go grab one ASAP.
Mario Kart 8 is available every video games are sold and at the Nintendo eShop for $59.99. As an added incentive, if you purchase the game thru the eShop you get to pick a free game from 4 predetermined games including Pikmin 3, Legend of Zelda Windwaker HD, Wii Party U, and New Super Mario Brothers Wii U. Thus, you get two brand name games for the price of one. This offer Expires on 07/31/14 so please act soon.
that game sounds like a lot of fun