Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - US Version

I'm old enough to remember the OG Super Mario Kart way back on the SNES and spent way more hours than I would like to admit with the N64 version. This game takes me back to those simpler times. The look is amazing now compared to the old versions, so much so that my old as....eyes... sometimes get a bit overwhelmed with what all is going on. But that isn't a negative. It's great to see some tracks that I remembered from my days but also some new tracks to mix things up. The game is as straight forward as always with 3 modes, solo, versus and multiplayer. Controls are basic enough that my 9 year old was able to pick it up and go in no time, but there are tricks to get the most out of your kart. I really enjoy the friendly competition with the kids, and I dominated like the good ol days, for about 2 hours, now I suck. The game is based on a system of the more you play, the more things you unlock, and yes there is an opportunity to spend money on the game for some "special" add ons. They are unnecessary and dont provide any advantage; they just tend to look a bit cooler. You are able to customize your driver with a Mii or with several good ol Mario characters. You also have several choices for kart, I prefer the submarine because submarines are cool. You also get to pick out some different wheels and gliders. There are different "stats" with each of the karts and wheels but honestly, even the slowest options with the better driver will still dominate so it's mostly for fun/looks. We have a good sized TV so split screen couch co-op is no problem, but with up to 4 carts going on the same screen, it could be an issue on a smaller TV. You are able to use each of the controllers that slide off the switch as individual controllers, or you can play solo with both. If you want to play with 3 or 4 players on the same console you will need 2 extra controllers. The game also supports a steering wheel controller attachment if you would like. We don't have the steering wheel controller but I find steering with the joysticks much easier than by tilting the controller like a wheel. If you are looking for a bit of nostalgia with a facelift, or if you just enjoy racing games that don't take themselves to seriously, this is a staple for the switch. I'm glad to see Nintendo keep this series alive for us to show our kids and kids kids. Side note: we originally purchased this from Amazon ahead of Christmas. The item arrived very quickly as is expected with anything Amazon, however, our son opened up a case to find no game card inside. We aren't sure what happened as the case was sealed with what appeared to be the factory plastic, but the card was just not there. We filed for a replacement which showed up in just a few days, no questions asked (Thanks Amazon!), but it was a bit of a bummer for our son to wait a few days past Christmas to play his new game. I know, I know, first world problems, but still something to consider when you purchase these items online. This mild inconvenience didn't result in me dropping the rating. 5 stars, everything I expected, great price, fast shipping, so power slide the game into your cart before someone pops you with that red shell.