Not A Mario Kart Tour Fan? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC Gives You The Best Of Both Worlds

The Internet is a funny place. There’s been moaning and gnashing of teeth for years as the mobile-only Mario Kart Tour gets all-new tracks and everyone’s favorite classics – “Transfer this content to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe!”we demanded. Then the Booster Course Pack is announced and many (probably the same) people say: “What !? Are you using Mario Kart Tour content? Ugh, that’s so lazy.”

Well, that’s one of the points of view your humble scribe saw, and the personal response was a shrug. So what if Nintendo reuses content from a mobile game? If it’s optimized to run at 60fps and looks brilliant on the Switch, then it’s wonderful. Sure, it’s an easy approach, but it’s also 48 tracks in almost two years, doubling the number of tracks in the game. Also, we are not all avid Mario Kart Tour players.

For those of you enjoying the entry in the mobile-only series, thumbs up and we’re glad you’re having a great time. However, among our team, few stayed with it after launch, either due to problems getting it to run on an old phone at the time (raises hand) or because he didn’t particularly like the controls and auto-acceleration (raises another hand). This is a game that has changed a lot, keeps adding new content, characters and events, and is obviously successful enough to justify continued support.

To the credit of the Tour team, even we were envious of them at times. “Real” settings like Paris and Tokyo look downright charming and give us something a little different from the fantastic Mushroom Kingdom/other Nintendo IP games, while Tour also provided remasters of other classic tracks similar to those we have enjoyed many major MKs. titles. It makes sense for Nintendo to reassess the situation and its plans for the next couple of years and use the work already done elsewhere to breathe even more life into the MK8 Deluxe. yet one of his best-selling games every year.

The point, of course, is that This week, and to be precise, on Friday, March 18, we will receive two new Cups and eight new tracks, with several classics joining the “new” tracks of the Tour. Mario Kart 8 is still a popular game for fun (especially online), so seeing it get an extra life at the end of the day is a treat.

Here’s a quick reminder of the additions coming this week:

Gold Cup Dash

lucky cat cup

There are a couple of iconic retro tracks on there, and many of us haven’t seen Paris Promenade, Tokyo Blur or Ninja Hideaway. at allso the DLC will likely generate excitement for many players who haven’t raced through real-world-inspired locations before in a Mario Kart game.

We’ve already written about what this DLC and its structure has to say about Nintendo’s strategy for the next couple of years. No matter what may have been planned in the past, if feels like we can still have a couple more years where Switch is in the lead and pushing the MK8 is a smart strategy for what it is. in the ultimate game in the system in terms of sales.

Also, there is no doubt that the DLC is being used as support for the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Its inclusion makes it beneficial for those of us already on board (especially those with a family pass) and may entice others to sign up (especially since the classics continue to appear on the N64 app too). This is a DLC pass that will allow Nintendo to earn money both through individual sales and expansion pack memberships.

We’re admittedly positive, happy that more content for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is coming soon, but we have to admit that some of the criticisms are certainly valid. It would be nice if Nintendo offered each part separately, perhaps at a higher price. overall cost when purchased individually, but gives players the ability to be picky and avoid waves they don’t care about. The fact that it’s only courses also raises accusations that it’s a low-effort project with no new vehicles or characters joining in on the fun; at this stage it seems like a missed opportunity. Who wouldn’t want to take a course inspired by Pikmin or Kirby with the respective protagonist at the wheel?

And yes, it’s not Mario Kart 9, but as mentioned, it will likely wait a couple more years if this Booster Pass is anything to go by. However, it will definitely marvelous when it comes.

Whatever the debate around content, its transition from mobile devices, and so on, we still have a week of new content for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. That thought certainly helped to feel pretty upbeat in the NL office this Monday.