Nintendo Switch Hands-On: 10 Things We Learned
7. Mario Kart 8 Has Never Been Better
One of the most popular stands, not surprisingly, was for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Nintendo sensibly made all different configurations available to play, with different stations for TV mode, tabletop mode and even had eight Switch units linked wirelessly in a local multiplayer session in handheld mode.
The TV mode showcased the Joy-Con Wheel as well as the Pro Controller, and both were excellent ways to play the game. The Wheel is hugely reminiscent of the Wii Wheel, except downsized, but never felt too small in my hands. Fortunately, motion controls are not mandatory (although definitely supported) with this add-on, and there are two shoulder buttons built in for item use and drifting.
The Pro Controller feels as solid and comfortable as you would expect, and is likely to be the method of choice for the core gamer. The Nintendo reps were keen to emphasise that the game runs at 1080p and 60fps when docked, and as a result, the action is silky smooth.
Speaking of resolution numbers, the reps confirmed that the game runs at 720p when in handheld or tabletop mode, but retains the 60fps speed and looks just as good, due to the smaller screen of the Switch compared to a TV. I’m also happy to report that eight-player local racing worked flawlessly, with absolutely no slowdown or lag. Battle mode is also vastly improved over the Wii U version, with Nintendo clearly listening to the negative feedback over the removal of dedicated battle arenas, and obligingly adding several to the Deluxe version.
This is the definitive version of an already great racer.