The last DLC package for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe should include a gameplay mechanic from a previous installment | GAME3A
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The last DLC package for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe should include a gameplay mechanic from a previous installment

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has proven to be a major sales success for the Nintendo Switch since its initial release in early 2017. Despite originally being r...

Jordan Gerblick Jul 07, 2023
The last DLC package for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe should include a gameplay mechanic from a previous installment

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has proven to be a major sales success for the Nintendo Switch since its initial release in early 2017. Despite originally being released as a Wii U game, it found new fans on the significantly larger installed base of the Switch and has become one of the most popular multiplayer offerings on this platform. To date, over 53 million units have been sold, making it the best-selling Nintendo Switch game of all time.

As if the base game weren't already a fantastic racer, Nintendo has continuously added new tracks and characters to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe through the Booster Course DLC Pack. With 4 waves of content already released, and a new wave set to be released next week, fans of the game have plenty to keep them entertained with this extensive package. However, with the sixth and final DLC Pack set to be released later this year, Nintendo should look back to a previous installment and leverage one of its biggest selling points for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's last DLC offering.

New Mario Kart, New Ideas

The Final Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC Pack Should Include One Mechanic From a Previous Installment

The Mario Kart series has established itself as a staple of the Nintendo franchise, with a new installment in each console generation. From the original Super Mario Kart on the SNES to Mario Kart Tour on mobile devices, Nintendo has always worked to revamp the series and make it accessible for each new hardware generation. With each new game, Nintendo aims to shake up the formula by adding new gameplay mechanics or gimmicks to keep things fresh.

Especially the entry for the GameCube, Mario Kart: Double Dash, contained the most innovative gameplay expansion to date. As the game's subtitle suggests, Double Dash allowed players to have two characters on a single kart and switch between them at the touch of a button. This means that one character controls the kart while the other uses weapons and defensive items. The clever trick here is that both characters have their own items, which leads to players being able to collect a greater number of power-ups overall.

Including Double Dash's Dual Racer Concept

The Final Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC Pack Should Include One Mechanic From a Previous

Therefore, players can now hold a total of four items instead of just two. This is a feature that is still exclusive to Mario Kart: Double Dash and is not present in any other entry of the long-running series. It is unclear why Nintendo decided never to revisit this feature, but it brought a completely new level of fun and chaos to the race track. If Mario Kart 8 Deluxe receives additional content through DLC to make it the most extensive Mario Kart, adding another feature would not be a bad idea.

This would be particularly true not only for the main race tracks, but also for the numerous battle modes of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. These competitive matches would become even more intense with the ability to carry more items, bringing a new strategic element to the game. In particular, Bomb-omb Blast mode would become an even more frantic survival battle, as players could store twice the number of bombs in their arsenal.

With the next DLC wave for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which will be released next week, players have yet another package to look forward to. There is no confirmation as to what will be included in this final addition, but it would be intriguing to see Nintendo fully embrace this gameplay aspect, along with a plethora of new race tracks and characters, to spice things up.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is exclusively available for the Nintendo Switch.