Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass – Wave 1 Review

Players will be able to hit the track once again with the release of Nintendo’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass. Wave 1 of this collection brings with it eight tracks from the series’ rich history – does this opening lap set a good pace?

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass – Wave 1 Review

To set expectations, those hoping to see some never-before-seen tracks should lower their expectations; Wave 1 of the Booster Course Pass only features tracks from previous entries.

This isn’t bad in and of itself. Both the Golden Dash Cup and the Lucky Cat Cup feature tracks that hail from multiple titles; those weaned on the 64 bit adventures of Mario Kart 64 will be happy to see Choco Mountain make its return, while Wii aficionados will enjoy a return visit to Mario Kart Wii’s Coconut Mall.

While the choice of tracks all comes down to a matter of taste, those that are included now feature a number of new bells and whistles. It’s not just cosmetic, either (though that certainly helps); players can make use of their paraglider at opportune spots and can hit hills at the right time for an extra boost of speed. It’s not much, but it does get these tracks up to speed with the current standards.

However, arguably the biggest addition to Wave 1 of the Booster Course Pass are the three tracks from the mobile Mario Kart Tour. With Tokyo Blur, Paris Promenade, and Ninja Hideaway not appearing in any console or portable entry, these tracks from the Android and iOS title will no doubt be fresh with a controller as opposed to touchscreen.

Just note that each track varies on quality. Tokyo Blur’s multiple routes through the land of the rising sun have merit, but the biggest threat in this course are the random thwomps – nothing too out of the ordinary. Paris Promenade jaunt to France fares better, with landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and a reverse jaunt in the final lap. However, Ninja Hideaway (above) is the real star of the show; this multi-tiered level features air gusts, sharp turns, and falling traps.

It’s just a shame that there are some questionable design choices throughout the lot. There are certainly some cut corners in these tracks; sizing is an issue (we’ve never seen a Yoshi that large), landscapes like grass lack texture, and select crowds on tracks like the Toad Circuit are flatter than a board. There’s still some nice graphical flourishes, but one quickly gets the feeling that a bit more polish would have gone a long way.

Also worth noting is that Wave 1 just comes with the eight tracks; no additional racers are included. While we one day wish to see F-Zero’s Captain Falcon hit the track as a cameo racer, today is not that day.

Wave 1 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass breathes new life into the multiplayer favorite, adding some of the series’ best hits. While there are some noticeably cut corners in this inaugural launch, we’re eager to hit these streets at our next shindig.

This review of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass – Wave 1 was done on the Nintendo Switch. The pass was purchased digitally.