What parents need to know
Control Mario, his friends or enemies and take on everyone in many frenzied karting races in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.
 | Release date: April 28, 2017 Developed by: Nintendo Published by: Nintendo Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite Type of game: Race game Average game time: 10 minutes Estimate of the total duration of the game: Infinite Topics: Kart racing, competition Business model: Need to buy the game only once Number of players: 1 to 4 players locally. 1 or 2 players can join opponents to compose races with up to 12 players simultaneously online. Available in physical (cartridge) or digital (download) format To buy digitally, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, click here. This supports Shared Screen. Thank you! |
Possible configurations of the Nintendo Switch:
 |  |  |
| Players | 3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 16+ | 18+ |
| Neophytes |  | | | | |
| Intermediate | | | | | |
| Experienced | | | | | |
Replayability
Infinite game, as long as you want to improve or compete against opponents.
Difficulty
Several difficulty modes are present. They are represented by the speed of the karts: 50 cc, 100 cc, 150 cc, 150 cc (with races whose route is reversed), 200cc.
Violence, fear, nudity?
No problem.
Level of language used
baby talk
Positive message
Just racing, there is no story mode, and not much text.
Minimum reading level required
The child can be guided in very simple menus. Most of them are icons that help you navigate.
Additional costs ?
No microtransactions
Minimum level of execution on the controller required
Very easy to drive, accelerate, brake, left and right. Acceleration can be switched to automatic mode to make it easier to drive (Smart Steering). Another help can be activated to avoid getting off the track.
Principle of the game
The player chooses his character (among 42 characters from the universe of Mario, Zelda, Animal Crossing), the components of his Kart and his circuit (among 48). He then faces human or console-controlled opponents in order to finish first in the race.
He can also perform battles in which he must use bonuses to break the balloons that float over the opponents. More details below.
Local game modes
Grand Prix:
Doing 4 races in a row with opponents, the winner is the one who has accumulated the best places on the 4 circuits.
Fashion against the clock:
Race alone on the circuit to try to make the best time
Versus Local:
Either races or battles.
There are 5 battle modes that all take place in arenas (8 arenas available):
- Ball battle: Balloons that float over opponents with bonuses such as shells or bananas must be popped
- Bob-Omb explosion (time bomb with eyes and feet, cartoon style): you have to pop the balloons of others with bonuses of bomb types only.
- Track track hunt: A game of polices and thieves in which one team tries to catch the other team using the piranha plant
- Battle of coins: Grab as many coins as you run in the allotted time
- Sun Capture: Reach the sun and keep it as long as you can to earn points and win the game when the point threshold is crossed.
Online gaming modes
Requires a Nintendo Switch Online subscription to play on the Internet with friends or others.
Online, as well as locally, players can take on strangers or friends in randomly selected circuits. Game modes are Race or Battle in the Arena.
Conclusion
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is an excellent game, a must-have for the console. It can be recommended to everyone without a problem. It has sold more than 20 million units. Driving aids can be activated at will and help newcomers get by.
More information about the game: Official page of the game on the Nintendo website
