EDGE: Mario Kart 8 gets a 9/10

Source: CVG

"Even 2011's effervescent 3DS outing, Mario Kart 7, feels somewhat lifeless by comparison.The new HD visuals are gorgeous, but Nintendo has also built on 7's neatly interlaced mechanics and introduced a nuanced handling model to create the greatest Mario Kart yet."

"The Mario Kart series' battle arenas were designed to funnel players into each other, but now you'll spend long stretches of time without even catching sight of a potential target as you trek round the circuit."

"But even this isn't enough to detract from an otherwise-joyous follow-up to the series' excellent 3DS outing. That it offers as much of its own innovation again speaks volumes; Mario Kart 8 is as essential a purchase as Super Mario 3D World."

The full review is in both the print and digital versions of the magazine, but it's the first review score released.

Good score. What is selling me is the free game you get with purchase. I have no doubt this will be the best version to date, but when you have the Wii version and the 3DS version, those are still fun to play.

Of course MK7 should feel lifeless.

Can't wait for this... Anyone know when the GS review goes up?

Well, I think this game will be released with rave reviews. No doubts about it.

Agreed. For me the added game is just a bonus though. I was getting this regardless.

IT HAS BEGAN

Great news .

"follow-up to the series' excellent 3DS outing." LOL.

It's going to be received well by most reviewers. My only question is, will it bump the sales for a long period of time.

The game doesn't come out for almost another two weeks (May 29th in Japan, to be exact) and reviews are already being posted for it? How can they even critique the online mode for it if no one else has the game?

Other journalists have the game? EDGE probably has more than one copy in order to try it?

Paid review! :P

May 15

Print publications get early embargo dates. Online modes are populated by hundreds of other journalists worldwide playing the game.

I really want to buy a Wii U and get in on that free game with MK8. And here I was thinking I could wait until SSB4

Technically, you could get Mario Kart 8 and the free game without buying the Wii U until later, so if you are tight on funds, I suggest doing that instead :)

My friends, I called this. I, specifically me, called this. By saying this would happen. Me. Due to being right.

All the Nintendo haters, eat it suckers. eat it. Masterpiece.

6.4 GS review confirmed.

I'd find it more hilarious if the game scored an 8.0 (though I'm thinking the game will score higher than that)

Ugh...

Yeah the free game is the cherry on top of the delicious ice cream sundae that is Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8...oh yeah baby.

It don't care what reviews are I'm getting it day one regardless. Gameshit will probably low ball the game for hits. Not like I take this sites reviewers seriously anymore though.

Mario Kart 7 got the same praise and it was weaker than its predecessor.

Same people that gave MK wii a 6? hmmmmm.

Well, that makes more sense then as long as there are plenty of other people playing it online.

Mario Kart Wii was garbage. The worst since Mario Kart 64. And because of breaking Wii's I've had to unlock all the characters multiple times so I've spent plenty of time with the game.

Isn't Edge notoriously tough on games????

If so that is a great score from them.

I think this is going to be the best Mario Kart ever...for the racing part, but I'm really disappointed that for the 3rd time in a row on consoles, it looks like Nintendo found a new way to screw up battle mode. They thankfully brought back free-for-all balloon battle and survival rules, but then screw it up by using tracks for battle mode instead of arenas.

I hope that Nintendo will at least release some retro battle arenas as DLC. Just give me Block Fort and Double Deck and I'll be happy. If not, it looks like Mario Kart 64 will have to continue being my go-to Mario Kart for battle mode for at least another 5 years until the next Mario Kart where, if the trend continues, Nintendo will most likely fix their mistake of not having battle arenas but simultaneously find a new way to screw up battle mode for a fourth time.

Carolyn Petit will review it and criticize it because all of the female characters in the game enforce gender sterotypes by driving pink karts.

I can see it coming.

I can actually see her doing that, lol.

It looks good but Nintendo dropped the ball when they priced the bundle at $330.

I think a really neat option is to just get the Wii U from Nintendo's online store for $200, and get the game separately for $60.

NintendoLife confirmed the Blue Shell limited edition will be available at the Nintendo World Store in NY.

Do people just leave their consoles on for days at a time? How do so many people's Wii's break? I've literally never had a Nintendo console break on me. Those things are practically indestructible.

After what happened with DK, I wouldn't be surprised.

Pre-order Mario Kart 8 and get a free Club-Nintendo download... what?! But it's Wind Waker HD, Pikmin 3, Super Mario/Luigi U? Dangit, I already got those. Good deal for others though.

I bet it'll score 8.0 here.

Never been too much into the Kart series as its enjoyment to me has always been contingent upon multiplayer, but all's the better if it's good. May pick it up at some point.

Sell the code on ebay.

dk got plenty of 8's, that's why its metacritic score's in the low 80's.

only when it comes to sony exclusives.

Wii's have survived so many damage tests online. I call BS on this. Nintendo has the MOST reliable hardware on the planet.

DK didn't get plenty of 6's, though.

We're not friends, we're enemies.

Hopefully Mario Kart 8 is a lot better than 7. What a disappointment that game was...

As a WiiU owner, buying MK8 is literally a no-brainer as not only do you get a good game, you also get a free game of your choice (Pikmin 3 here I come). The only question is whether this title and 'bundle' incentive will convince the masses to buy a Wii U.

Inb4uall and I were obviously talking about GS' review of Tropical Freeze... :|

EDGE is also pretty hard on several other developers/publishers too. Not just Sony. Even Nintendo has gotten this (LEGO City with TT games).

Man Cows are so butt hurt. Everything that comes out of their mouth is 'woe is me', even though they are selling gangbusters.

Along what I expected.

This will be the best Mario Kart ever and one of the best games of this year.

I was going to say this review is early. But the gamespot review is also early. Isn't this game launching 15 days after that ?