Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U

I've been playing Mario Kart 8 (MK8) on the Wii U a lot more than usual recently because of the lockdown. Mario Kart is a game franchise I've loved since Super Mario Kart, and I like the fact that you can quickly play a quick Grand Prix or a few online games.

It's great to see that MK8 online is still busy with people from all over the world and there's still tournament being held on it. I do wonder how long Nintendo will keep the servers running. The game came out in 2014, so it's doing well so far.

When MK8 came out in 2014, I borrowed work's Wii U over the holidays and bought my own copy of the game. Completed it, (hammered it!), then when I returned the Wii U, I sold the game. A year or so later, I bought my own second-hand Wii U when it was floundering in the marketplace and re-bought MK8 and also both of the DLC track packs.

The Switch came out in early 2017, with MK8 Deluxe (MK8D) a few weeks later. Similar to before, I borrowed work's Switch, purchased my own copy of MK8D and hammered it again over the holidays. It was great, but when the time came to return the Switch, I also sold my copy of MK8D, content to keep playing my own Wii U version, at least until they turn off the online.

Nintendo's page detailing the differences between MK8 and MK8D.

Why I stick with MK8 for now:

I like to play on a big screen. Although I do like handheld Mario Kart versions (I own them all), I always play in the home. So I'm not going to shell out money especially on a new console, especially when I'd be paying for a big feature I wouldn't really use that much.

Since I already own the DLC for MK8, MK8D offers me very little new apart from a couple of characters, ability to hold double items, and two items (Boo/Ghost - item steal and the feather). Of those three additions, the missing items would be nice, but not enough to buy a new console and a copy of the game.

MK8 online players on Wii U generally tend to be pretty good, and there's loads of Japanese players if you log on at the right time, which, with lockdown is easy - I can do a few races before work starts in the morning!

The graphics look absolutely fine. It's 720p on Wii U compared to 1080p on Switch, but I can't tell enough of a difference. It runs at 60fps (well 59fps some of the time), which is absolutely fine.

Although I do own other Wii U games, MK8 is the game I play the most BY FAR. I won't buy a Switch just to play one game that I nearly already own.

Lets be honest here, I rarely play using the GamePad controller as I don't enjoy the way I have to hold my hands. I have a Wii U Pro Controller which is a great controller. Really comfortable, I love it. When I buy a Switch I'll also have to shell (!) out for a new Pro Controller here.

What is definitely sure though, I will pick up an original Switch and MK8D at some point, and this will be even sooner if MK9 is released. (Would be a day 1 purchase!)