Mario Kart 8 Deluxe review: tuned-up racer tops the podium

When it arrived for Wii U in 2014, Mario Kart 8 was arguably the best, most full-featured entry in the beloved series. With the release of this new Deluxe version on Switch, there's no longer room for argument. The rock solid arcade racing at its core may not have changed much, but the huge amount of content and smart additions to the package makes this the greatest Mario Kart that has ever been.

Taking everything that was in the original game (or that was added later as paid DLC) as a starting point, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tweaks and refines the experience into something undeniably better, even if it doesn't look all that different at first blush. For example changes to the way items and powersliding work means the racing is fairer and deeper for experts, while accessibility options like smart steering and auto acceleration mean newcomers, kids and those with limited dexterity can still compete.

Mario Kart is even bigger and better on the Switch.

But tweaks and small changes alone aren't the main selling point here. Notwithstanding the fact that this release lets you play the greatest Mario Kart on the bus or in the backyard (which is arguably worth the asking price alone), this is a game with a seriously incredible amount of modes, content and ways to play.

All 48 courses that came to MK8 are available right from the jump, including 23 re-imagined classics from prior games and five crossover courses inspired by series like The Legend of Zelda and F-Zero.

The optional 'smart steering' antenna keeps less capable players from falling off the track.

Returning players might be miffed that there are no new race tracks made specifically for this version, but when the courses are this good it's hard to complain. The twisting zero-G sections that have you racing straight up a massive tree or on the side of a subway tube are as thrilling as ever, and the ability of the karts to drive underwater or fly through the air adds a great deal of variation to the perfectly designed, shortcut-ridden circuits.

In total there are 42 characters to choose from, including five newcomers, plus near endless vehicle customisation options to let you craft your perfect ride. In-keeping with the 'anyone can play' theme, there's a huge amount of variety across characters and vehicles both in terms of stats and aesthetics. Whether you want to find your ideal balance of weight, power and handling or you just want a cool squid-kid riding an adorable buggy made to look like a wiggler from Super Mario, you can do it.

As always Mario Kart is best enjoyed with friends, and the more you add the more options you have for multiplayer grudge matches or some friendly shell-tossing. Traditionalists who just want to crowd around the TV can host up to four players with one system for some split-screen racing or battling, but you can also network up to eight Switch consoles wirelessly at home or on the go.

Letting each player have their own screen really changes the game, as mid-race double-crosses or other sneaky antics can be plotted in secret. You can also mix and match by having two players on a Switch while linking up wirelessly with others, which is great for team play or if you have more players than you have consoles.

The social, portable nature of the Switch makes multiplayer a snap.

Of course, if you're connected to Wi-Fi, you can also take on the world in online races, battles and tournaments. The simple Mii-based lobby system is as friendly and welcoming as ever, and getting into an online match is generally fast and painless.

Courses can be taken on sequentially in the meaty Grand Prix mode that offers five different classes (from the dinky 50cc to the experts-only 200cc), or you can perfect your runs in Time Trials to compare your times against friends and the world's best. You can always tinker with the game options and race whichever track you like in Versus mode as well, or get aggressive in the brand new Battle mode which was sorely missing from the original Wii U version.

The sneaky Boo item is one of the many small additions to this version of the game.

Battling makes a great change of pace from the standard racing gameplay, as players compete in one of five different match types to test their wiles and item use rather than their speed. While traditional modes balloon battle, bob-omb blast, coin runners and shine thief are included, the all-new renegade round-up is the most exciting.

Splitting players into teams of two, the game plays out like cops and robbers with one crew trying to corner and lock up the others. Teamwork is essential, especially when only one or two renegades remain and must make a desperate run to break out their friends without getting nabbed. Battles take place in one of eight specially-designed arenas, and even vehicle handling and item selection has been changed slightly to suit the ultra-competitive mode.

Renegade roundup is cops and robbers with a Mario Kart twist.

On a technical level the racing is brighter and more colourful on Switch thanks to its improved HDMI spec and, importantly for such a fast-paced game, the whole thing runs at a rock solid 60 frames per second both in handheld mode and in full HD on a TV (unless you split the screen four ways for three or four player races, at which point it drops to 30).

In all this is a practically perfect iteration of a game that was already stellar the first time around. The satisfying rhythm of powersliding, gliding and boosting is more or less the same as it always was but the new content and tweaks paired with the connectivity and versatility of the Switch console means the deluxe version is streets ahead.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is out now for Nintendo Switch.