Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: DLC Release #4 Track Reviews

Tour Amsterdam Drift - Starting off as per usual with a tour City track. The Netherlands is actually a country I have visited! Although I have never been to Amsterdam, there are some similarities with the background details and building architecture that seem familiar compared to when I was on holiday there. Definitely isn't a let down with regards to colours, especially in the tulip sections. I personally really like the underwater sections as well. I feel that has been a bit lacking in updates up until this point? But as I keep saying pretty much every update, the tour City tracks don't feel like they really work in deluxe. The Stark contrast between the Windmill Field section and the rest of the track was a massive let down to me. It feels very reminiscent of moo moo Meadows on the Wii. Considering that track had a massive visual overhaul when it was brought into Mario Kart 8, I feel like they really could have designed this section much better. I also found the music somewhat annoying for this track. Not entirely sure why, but after my first race here I played with the TV turned down again.

GBA Riverside Park - I am honestly at A Loss for Words at how nice the GBA tracks have been updated in these DLCs! Straight off the bat, this track already drew me in over its colours, visuals, and lighting during the intro sequence. When the race actually started it did the same, but even more so! This is probably the most enjoyable GBA track to drive in this game so far, and one of my favourites in this update. However, I know that this is pretty hypocritical of me based on how I've heavily critiqued and complained about retro track redesigns in the past. Especially when custom tracks on CTGP receive this treatment. This track's design feels familiar to me in the sense that I might have tried it on CTGP, and not enjoyed it. But that just goes to show that this sort of redesign doesn't really work in MKWii.

Wii DK's Snowboard Cross - This is probably the only track that I knew was in this DLC update prior to trying it out for myself, and that is mostly because I saw clips of everyone and their grandma attempting to do the single and double shortcuts. Despite my pretty feeble and almost cringeworthy attempts at the single in this recording, both shortcuts are actually possible! Which is a massive surprise to me. I personally also really like the soundtrack. The electric guitar playing the melody gives it almost a Mario Kart 7 vibe, which I like! This was also one of the first soundtracks in Mario Kart Wii that I first fell in love with, so it's nice that it got at least a little bit of a retouch. But like most previous tracks that were present in MKWii, this track has also fallen victim to being scaled too big in some areas. Specifically the cannon section that is a problem to me, it is just so slow now! If you get hit off by anything at the very beginning there on lap 3, then your race is essentially over.

Yoshi's Island - is it me or does it feel like the track name text on the title sequence is shifted over to the right? I'm not really big on Yoshi as a whole, nor have I really tried any Yoshi's Island games. But I'd still say that this is a pretty cute track, with some pretty unique aspects and design. It gives me pretty strong Kirby's epic yarn vibes, and it is very interesting how the track Cycles through different sections that almost feel like they are from a completely different track. I also didn't realise until I returned to play the track for my grand prix, but that flying question mark after the glider actually reveals a hidden Red path that lets you cut in the final turn a little bit tighter. Which I think is very cool! However, the track also feels a little reminiscent to some newer CTGP custom tracks, which I am not personally a fan of.

Tour Bangkok Rush - I feel like there's been a bit of discussion (or joking) about this track getting into the DLCs from Tour, so it wasn't too much of a surprise seeing it. The lighting and some building architecture feels a bit reminiscent of the Paris track to me, and I get a vibe for those Mario and Sonic Olympic game games for whatever reason. Some sections of the track feel heavily reminiscent of shy guys Bazaar (which I wouldn't mind returning as a DLC track). The boat and market sections in particular, which I like! There is also some sort of pedestrianised High Street later on in the track that has a shiny floor tile texture I really like! Pretty reminiscent of some of the new areas in my town, or in London. The music is pretty good too! Definitely like it better than on the Amsterdam one. But unsurprisingly, the same criticism I have said for every tour city track at this point still applies here.

DS Mario Circuit - another track that really pleasantly surprised me, to say the least! At first glance of the opening sequence to this track, I thought this might be one that I'd criticise for changing too much from the original. The only gripe I have in that regard is that the section before the pipe with the fire-breathing piranha plants doesn't quite feel right. But honestly, that is about it! This is probably the most enjoyable DS track to drive in the game, and contends GBA Riverside Park as one of my favourite tracks in this update. I really like the pine Forest section after the pipe. The way the light comes through the trees is very satisfying, and honestly reminds me of some of the forests I like to walk in near home. If alpine pass was implemented in the last update like this, then I definitely wouldn't have shat on the track nearly as much! But again, you can also use that CTGP CT hypocrisy argument here as well. Especially considering I know for a fact that I absolutely despised this track's existence when it received the same update treatment in CTGP.

GCN Waluigi Stadium - This is probably the track I was expecting to see the least out of all of them. Admittedly, it tends to be one of the ones that I forget about in Mario Kart Wii as well, and I really don't know why. But despite not being thought of too often in that regard, I definitely have to say it has been done more Justice there than it has here. I am really not a fan of this mud and dirt texture, it looks disgusting on my TV. DS Wario Stadium came out great, why couldn't they have given this the same treatment? Being fairly lacklustre colourwise, it definitely disrupts how colourful this update has been so far. But it is OK to drive, especially on 200cc. Which is fine.

Tour Singapore Speedway - Probably one the most colourful tracks in this update, and the better looking of the tour tracks as well. This actually gives me a little better vibe for London then the actual London track from the last DLC release (but I would say that is mostly because the last few trips I've taken to London have been during night). It also feels HEAVILY reminiscent of go Vacation's City resort at night-time, as well as as wii party's spin-off (which would have probably made for a nice little Easter egg on top of one of the buildings). The music feels somewhat Wii Party/Party U like. And there is also a section on this track that reminds me of shy guys Bazaar as well. But in terms of the main layout or design of the track, I'd say it is the least interesting of the tour City tracks in this update. The beginning of the track really could have been designed better, instead of just having this long straight away to the first turn. Some sort of church or Cathedral keeps standing out to me. I know it's probably a reference to something in Singapore, but to me it just looks out of place in comparison to the rest of the track. As per usual the same thing that I say about every tour City track also goes for this one.