Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Adjustments and Features

Character Adjustments

• Alternate Versions:
  • Metal and Gold Mario
  • Tanuki Mario
  • Cat Peach
  • Pink Gold Peach
  • Champion Tunic Link
  • Dry Bowser
• CPU Racer Adjustment:
  • Alternate versions of Mario, Peach, and Link won't appear as CPU racers if their original versions are already in the race.
  • Bowser and Dry Bowser can coexist in the same race.
  • Baby versions of various characters can also coexist.

Game Mechanics Changes

• Super Horn:
  • Can destroy spiny shells.
• Spiny Shells:
  • Appear more frequently but travel slower.
  • Players can outrun them in 200cc with sufficient speed.

Cultural Sensitivity

• Inkling Girl's Gesture:
  • Originally had a taunt gesture offensive in parts of Europe and Latin America.
  • Quickly patched out after the game's release.

Track Features and Design

• Sunshine Airport:
  • Includes a Koopa-shaped island reminiscent of N64 Koopa Troopa Beach.
• London Loop (Lap Three):
  • Chain Chomps break free and roam the course.
  • One can be seen playing in the river.
• Big Blue:
  • Announcer yells "Yeah! The final lap" in the final section, despite it being a point-to-point track.
• Mute City:
  • Features a traditional three-lap circuit with the standard final lap jingle.

Special Item Behaviors

• Boo Item:
  • If no racers hold items, Boo gives the player a mushroom.

Visual Elements

• 3DS Pania Plant Slide:
  • Wooden Glomba and bush cutouts showcase 3D effects but are retained on Wii U and Switch.
• Inklings:
  • Despite water being a weakness in their own series, they can use underwater routes freely in this game.

Track and Course Design

• Sherbet Land:
  • Snowmen wear blue caps and orange scarves, resembling enemies from earlier games and Paper Mario 64.
• Sunset Wilds (Deluxe):
  • Stays at sunset throughout the race.
  • Shy Guys reimagined as miners in camping tents.
• Toad Harbor & N64 Rainbow Road:
  • Features a Statue of Liberty-style Peach statue.
  • Actual Statue of Liberty appears in Tour New York Minute.

Miscellaneous Details

• Metal Mario:
  • Loses a race saying "Mia Mama," Mario's losing quote played in reverse.
• Course Themes:
  • The base game includes three tracks each of Rainbow Roads, Warrior, Snow, Toad, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Food themed courses.
  • Most tracks have three sets of stationary item boxes.