Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just received its first wave of DLC, consisting of 8 new tracks of a planned total of 48. Some fans were unhappy that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is getting DLC as opposed to an announcement for Mario Kart 9, as the base game is eight years old at this point. Despite this, the tracks added are all charming and fun to race on, bringing some excitement back into the game.
The tracks being added to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are primarily from previous entries in the series, such as Mario Kart DS or the GameCube's Double Dash, but others are included from the mobile Mario Kart Tour. There are even a handful of brand-new tracks being thrown in. The older tracks included in this first wave, like Sky Garden and fan favorite Coconut Mall, all look and play great. However, the tracks from Tour, as well as the originals, are where the DLC really shines.
Mario Kart Tour's Impact on 8 Deluxe
Two tracks from Mario Kart Tour are included in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's first wave of DLC, being Paris Promenade and Tokyo Blur. These tracks are already unique to the main Mario Kart games because they are based on real locations, so it is exciting to see major landmarks while driving through the city streets. Tour has many tracks based on other cities, like New York City and Sydney, so those are bound to make their way to 8 Deluxe at some point.
The real difference with these tracks is how they are driven. As opposed to the majority of Mario Kart courses, in which the same route is driven for all three laps, these tracks change as the race continues. Paris Promenade follows the same route for the first two laps, but takes a big detour on the third. Players take a turn that was previously blocked off, and essentially end up driving through parts of the course backwards. Tokyo Blur differs again, as all three laps are unique - the second lap adds a road with Thwomps to avoid, and the third adds a curving highway as well as a glider section.
Changing the route driven each lap makes these two courses feel more alive. It is exciting to see what changes await in other tracks from Tour, as well as from Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's future DLC as a whole.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's New Track, Ninja Hideaway
The real star of the show among these eight new tracks is the DLC's first brand-new one, Ninja Hideaway. Like all of Mario Kart 8's courses, Ninja Hideaway is absolutely filled to the brim with charm and character. From the vibrant pink cherry blossoms, to the Shy Guys dressed as ninjas, there are little details around every corner that bring this track to life. More importantly, Ninja Hideaway is also a ton of fun to drive.
Just like Mario Kart Tour's tracks, Ninja Hideaway brings something new to the table. The route is the same for all three laps, but the course is unique in that there is a whole separate route placed above. There are multiple ways to reach this secondary track, like taking a sharp turn to drive up a staircase or jumping into a gust of wind to land on the building's rafters. This upper route can be dropped in and out of multiple times throughout the lap, so each drive through Ninja Hideaway should feel completely different.
Despite initial worry of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe receiving DLC as an eight-year-old game, the first wave alone gives three course that majorly change the way that tracks are traditionally driven. Hopefully, this trend continues with the remaining 40 tracks that are releasing by the end of 2023, essentially doubling the amount of content in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is available now on Nintendo Switch.
