Great game for childrens, great video grafics. Recommended

This game is a must buy, If you are a Mario Kart Fan. The game have a lot of replay value from the single, multiple to online options. The game is a sure winner for all ages, a great family gaming experience.

When it comes to my interest in Mario games, my interest gradually declined. I suppose it had to do with my more increased investment with Sonic over the years. I gradually stopped buying the mainstream Mario games after Sunshine. The only other mainstream Mario games I own are Paper Mario 2, and Super Paper Mario. I even quit buying the Mario Party games. Mario Kart is the only Mario game series I'm still interested in. For the game itself, this was a pretty strong installment. A fair number of unique characters, but my main gripe is the gimmicky ones. Some of the characters that are just cheap knock-offs of the more original ones could've been replaced with more returning characters. I was kind of disappointed that Boo wasn't a returning character, since he's my favorite to use in Double Dash and Wii. The addition of the Bowser children is a good one. The tracks are all really stylish ones. Once again, there are 8 cups: the first 4 being the new ones, and the other 4 cups being Retro tracks. With the new anti-gravity feature, this feature has been incorporated into the older tracks, making for some interesting gameplay. There is also the option to play online: worldwide, regional, or even with friends. Two people playing on the same console have the option to play online together. The game allows the use of the Gamepad, Wiimote, Wiimote and Nunchuck, and the Pro Controller. I recommend this game for any Mario Kart fan and even any gamer that enjoys racing games.

The new levitation and under-water parts are as smooth as one would expect. There wasn't much of a learning curve. The new tracks, karts, and characters are all wonderful additions plus there are returning favorites. If you liked Mario Kart in the past, this is another fantastic entry into the series. Additionally, the game looks gorgeous in full HD with 1080p at 60f/s. There are little attentions to detail around every turn. The new courses honor thwomps and other secondary characters in creative ways that feel right. Unlike Sonic all-star racing, this game was easy to pick up and play from the start. You will probably win your first cup on your first try, but it gets harder. Sonic gave me control issues that required too much unnecessary skill and practice before I even started to make some headway in the game. The gamepad is integrated well into the game, not forcing anything unneeded, but providing extra awesome. My favorite was to have the track displayed so I could check where the other karts were on the map. That brings me to the new battle. I think the change is awesome. You can battle in one-player mode with customizable settings on the real tracks. There were full sets of karts for the one-player battle, so I don't know if multiplayer will feel space, but single player did not. This is going to be the go-to party game. It appeared to be pretty flawless so I thank Nintendo for putting the extra effort in. Hopefully there are surprises too, for when I get more time to play further in the game.

This, to me, may be the best Mario Kart I have ever played. The controls are rock solid, I felt like I actually had to do some trial and error to find the right kart/bike/atv combination for me, and the races are even more intense than ever with 12 racers during one race instead of 8. Nothing feels gimmicky (for a Mario Kart game), and even playing Single Player at 150cc provides a pretty good challenge. It's common to get wrecked by 3 or 4 shells in a row, which at first just seemed unfair but provided a good sense of chaos and urgency during the races. The flaws of this game can be overlooked since the game as a whole is incredible, but they are worth mentioning and I hope that some of these will be / can be adjusted via an update. -The screen on the gamepad reflects what's on the screen, not just the player using the gamepad. So if you are playing with 4 people locally, the gamepad shows all 4 screens. It's a minor thing, and yes that player can just look at the TV for a bigger screen, but sometimes when you're holding the Wii U gamepad, you want to lay in a comfortable position and just look at the screen that's in your hands instead. -The map / player places during race / what items players have, are all on the gamepad screen. You have to switch between views to see them. This isn't a big deal if you play mario kart 7 on the 3DS because the map is literally right below the main screen, but when looking at a TV then having to look down at the map is ridiculous. And of course only the player with the gamepad can look at the map. There should be a map either in the middle of the screen when playing multiplayer, or maybe when there is 3 or more players, the bottom right corner should be the map and the gamepad person can just look at that screen. -The items in the game are great, but you can no longer hold an item behind you and pick up another item. Even if you are holding it, it'll say you still have the item and won't let you get another one until you shoot it. This is very different from all other Mario Kart games. It's something that I do not like but can see that it adds a bit more strategy and risk taking to using / getting items. With all of the flaws aside, I am having so much fun with Mario Kart 8. Is itiworth it to buy the Wii U for this game alone? I would say yes, especially since you can get a free game of your choice (Wind Waker, Wii U Party, Pikmin 3, and new Super Mario Bros Wii U). Depending on a bundle you may get, you could potentially have 3 games from the get go. The gameplay is rock solid, you will find a challenge, even if you are experienced, and though the online mode leaves some things to be desired during waiting rooms, the races themselves will leave you frustrated or cheering with victory. Mario Kart 8, get it.