NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 13: Nintendo of America, A guest enjoys playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the groundbreaking new Nintendo Switch at a special preview event in New York on Jan. 13, 2017. Launching in March 3, 2017, Nintendo Switch combines the power of a home console with the mobility of a handheld. It's a new era in gaming that delivers entirely new ways to play wherever and whenever people want. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Nintendo of America)
With the launch of the Nintendo Switch now past us, we can look forward to the games that will be coming soon to the new console. And there is no better way to celebrate Mario Day (March 10) than to talk about the new features in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe for the Nintendo Switch.
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Mario Kart 8 originally came out on the Wii U and this new version is just a simple port of the game. Even though it is a port, it includes some new features, with tracks, characters, and modes that were unavailable in the Wii U version.
In terms of new characters with which you can play, inkling boy and girl from the hit game Splatoon are two recently-developed choices. In addition to the Splatoon characters, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe also welcomes King Boo, Bower Jr. and Dry Bones who were not in the Wii U version of the game.
A new feature that will certainly be beneficial is the ability to hold two items at once. You can also power-up in new modes, including “Boo Ghost,” which makes you invisible.
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Due to the J0y-Con controllers, every two players can play wherever you go and you can play co-op right on your Switch screen. You can play with up to four players when you have your Switch docked in TV mode. If you are with a bunch of your friends and you all have a Switch, you can have a LAN party for up to 12 people so your Mario Kart tournaments can be even more exciting.
The biggest additions to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are the battle modes.
The first battle mode is called “Renegade Roundup.” You have to capture the players on the other team and put them in jail before time runs out. If you haven’t been captured and thrown in jail, you can help your teammates escape the cell to keep the game going.
The second battle mode is “Balloon Battle.” This is a classic battle mode from previous Mario Kart titles. Players earn points by popping the balloons on the back of their enemies karts.
“Bob-omb Blast” is the third mode. It made its debut back in Mario Kart: Double Dash. You are simply throwing the Bob-ombs at your opponents.
The fourth battle mode is “Coin Runners.” This is where you drive around the track collecting the most coins possible.
The final battle mode is called Shine Thief. Your purpose is to steal the coveted Shine Sprite and make sure you don’t lose it for 20-count in order to win.
You can play all these new battle modes and play as the new characters in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe when it launches on April 28 for the Nintendo Switch.
