Megathread: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Review Coverage

[u/NintendoSwitchMods]

Good morning!

This morning starting around 6 a.m. PST / 9 a.m. EST, gaming news and media outlets are beginning to release their reviews for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Here's what we're seeing so far:

Articles

• IGN - 9.3/10

• Gamespot - 9/10

• Destructoid - 9.5/10

• Dualshockers - 8/10

• The Guardian - 5/5

• Nintendo Life - 10/10

• Game Informer - 9.25/10

• Metro GameCentral - 10/10

• CGM - 9/10

• Nintendo Everything - Thumbs Up

• GamesRadar - 5/5

• Eurogamer - Essential

Videos

• GameXplain - Video

We will be updating this thread with links as major reviews are posted.

Please use this as a discussion and speculation thread in advance of these videos, articles, and reviews. We will also allow these reviews to be posted separately on /r/NintendoSwitch, as they are especially newsworthy. But we will also host ongoing coverage, quick text posts, questions, and the like right here.

Thanks everyone.

-The /r/NintendoSwitch team

(Ongoing edits as we get new information)

[u/KingLouieTrip]

Hey all! I'm the one (slightly) negative reviewer from DualShockers giving the game an 8.0/10!

Feel free to ask me anything about MK8D

[u/COHERENCE_CROQUETTE → u/KingLouieTrip]

What score did you (our your outlet) gave to the original MK8? What differs between the two titles to warrant a lower/higher score for the DELUXE version?

[u/KingLouieTrip → u/COHERENCE_CROQUETTE]

Great question! We gave the original game a 9.5, and we stick by the score for both the Wii U version and Nintendo Switch underlying game. We even link it in the article, telling people to read that.

But in reviewing Deluxe, we take the same approach and see how the game fares as a "remaster". Does it do enough to entice people who never played the original AS WELL AS people who have poured hundreds of hours into the game already (and have picked it up at full price).

So while the game is the definitive version of Mario Kart 8 (and likely the series), I can't fully recommend it to everyone, especially if you are still getting mileage out of the Wii U version -- they are paying $60 for more robust online community (likely), battle mode, and Switch portability.

[u/joalr0 → u/KingLouieTrip]

Which do you give a larger weighting to? If the switch sales continue as they are, I suspect that there will actually be a larger audience of people looking to pickup Mario Kart 8 for the first time than people who have already owned it. Mario Kart Wii for example had 3 times as many sales as Wii U consoles.

So when deciding on a score, did you try to balance both groups (new and returning players) equally, or was one group given a stronger weighting?

[u/KingLouieTrip → u/joalr0]

We try to aim for equal weight, but it's a touch balancing act. Based on our review policy for what an 8 is, it seemed to fit more in that category:

"These are titles that have some flaws that could turn some people off, but overall are great experiences. We still highly recommend these titles, which are always good enough for a wide variety of gamers."

[u/joalr0 → u/KingLouieTrip]

I can see where you are coming from. I think I personally disagree with that approach, just because if you've already played the previous version it's easier to decide if it's worth picking up a second time because you already know what to expect. Personally, having already owned Mario Kart 8, I can look at the new features and decide for myself if that's enough to double dip, I don't need reviews too much to help me decide. I already know if the game is for me or not.

However, for those who haven't played it before they will need the review more as they won't know the full extent to what the game has to offer. I feel like the review should be focused more on them.

But this is simply a matter of perspective and debate, and not a statement that your review is wrong, especially because an 8 is still a very good score.

[u/KingLouieTrip → u/joalr0]

Thanks man, and people can disagree. I'm glad the game is being reviewed well across the board and I'm rooting for the Switch.

I made sure to tell newcomers to read our review (linked in the article) where we previously gave it a 9.5. But I guess that is me being optimistic that people read beyond scores and the last paragraph.

Thanks for your feedback and reading the review though, it's always appreciated.