With these new additions, Battle Mode has transformed from “borderline unplayable” to all I want to play. I might not be the best racer in the world, but I know a thing or two about tossing bombs at passing karts.

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So while much of Mario Kart 8 remains the same in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Battle Mode has given me a whole new way to play and enjoy the game. I can’t wait to pick up a couple of extra Joy-Cons so I can play four-player splitscreen on a single tiny tablet.

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If you have played Mario Kart 8, don’t expect a lot of major changes outside of Battle Mode. The ability to carry two power-ups at once is nice but doesn’t make a massive difference. The already lush graphics look the same as they ever have to the naked eye, though the Switch tablet display really makes them pop. Mario Kart TV is still a thing, for those who enjoy flipping through highlight reels of past races, and it’s still not as robust a tool as I would have liked.

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If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. Part of the original Mario Kart 8 was broken, and Nintendo fixed it in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, giving an already spectacular game substantial new legs.

As for those of you new to Mario Kart 8, you’re showing up to the party at exactly the right time. We were just about to tap the keg. Leave your kart keys in the basket by the door and get on in here.