Skippy » Thu May 15, 2014 8:06 am wrote:Eurogamer - 10/10Video 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.
Edge - 9/10That it offers as much of its own innovation again speaks volumes; Mario Kart 8 is as essential a purchase as Super Mario 3D World. Whether it will give Nintendo’s console the sales boost it so desperately needs is another matter, but the famously cloistered company is at last giving its players the opportunity to reach beyond the Miiverse with its YouTube uploads. However it plays out, Mario Kart 8 is yet another overwhelmingly powerful argument in favour of the company’s idiosyncratic approach to design.
IGN - 9/10Mario 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.
Polygon - 9/10Then again, "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?
Videogamer - 9/10In case you're the type of person who sees a wall of text and gets 'the fear', heed this, and heed this well: Mario Kart 8 is exactly what you want.
CVG - 9/10This is a multiplayer event showcasing Nintendo doing what it does best: bashing your expectations (which should already have been lofty) into dust and then rebuilding them anew into something bigger and better than you had imagined.
Gamespot - 8/10Nintendo 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.
God is a Geek - 9/10The most important thing is that Mario Kart 8 is just a whole lot of fun. Whether you’re on your own, or playing with any number of friends, you’re assured of a good time. The happiness on my childrens’ faces while playing was a joy, and then, suddenly, you notice you are smiling too.
It may not be revolutionary, but it adds just enough to pique interests while keeping the core experience we’ve all grown up with, regardless of age. Mario Kart is one of those timeless franchises that every age group can enjoy, and sometimes, that’s enough to celebrate.
Destructoid - 9/10Mario Kart 8 is my favorite series entry since Double Dash, and if it gets arena battle tracks at some point by way of DLC, it will be a near-perfect package. Its vibrant visuals will hold up for years to come, ensuring that the game will withstand the test of time, and it will be a staple in my household for a long, long while.
Gametrailers - 8.6/10Telegraph - ****1/2It’s really good fun and incredibly simple to use. Mario Kart suits the idea of sharing too. For example: throwing a green shell from second place, hitting the leader as they approach the line, seeing them flip up into the air, before whizzing underneath them to take the win.
Mario Kart 8 is full of moments like these. And while local multiplayer is still the best way to play, that you can share them in this more connected world is a smart evolution of one of the finest party games there is. It’s a small step for Nintendo where its competitors have made deliberate and purposeful strides, but a step forward nonetheless. It might be too late to completely turn around the Wii U’s fortunes, but when Nintendo are releasing games as good as this, it may just have a chance.
Gamesradar - ****Mario Kart 8 is a slick and gorgeous-looking kart racer that's perfectly solid but not always as exciting or addictive as we've come to expect from the series.
Digital Spy - ****Mario Kart 8 is a conservative update, choosing to polish and refine rather than reinvent, but it's still as alluring a racer as it ever has been.