Buy Cheap Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: Booster Course Pass Keys & Digital Downloads bundle

Well, we're definitely off to a great start because this first wave of DLC has some bona fide classics as well as a few welcome surprises.

All in all, there may be some call for a bit of complaint here, but not much. The promise of 48 new tracks for $24.99 works out math-wise to just 52 cents per track, and I just can't see how anyone could argue the value of that!

Out of nowhere, a huge new wave of tracks for Mario Kart 8. This is the first pack of 8.PROS:MORE MARIO KART: It's hard to say "no" toOut of nowhere, a huge new wave of tracks for Mario Kart 8. This is the first pack of 8.PROS:MORE MARIO KART: It's hard to say "no" to more content for one of the best racing games in existence.GOOD NEW TRACKS: A very welcome injection of freshness for long-time players, and they're good too.LOTS OF VARIETY: From wide open speed tracks to tricky corners and environmental hazards, each of these tracks has its own character. Even if you're not fond of all of them, there is sure to be something for you in here.CONS:SMELLS OF MOBILE: A deep-pocketed company like Nintendo could have done a better work of porting these tracks to the Switch. The level of detail is recognizably inferior to the existing tracks, and it's clear that the new tracks were ported quickly, often from the mobile Mario Kart game. We're talking about one of the flagship games on Nintendo's only console. There is no justification for Nintendo not spending some extra care adding more details.

Unfortunately, the quality of the new tracks varies: Toad Circuit feels like a rush job, while Paris Promenade perfectly captures the wonderful chaos of Mario kart. In summary, we're happy for more Mario kart, yet we're a little disappointed that the first part of this expansion doesn't reach the towering level of the original.

Wave 1 of the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass breathes new life into the multiplayer favorite, adding some of the series’ best hits. While there are some noticeably cut corners in this inaugural launch, we’re eager to hit these streets at our next shindig.

Art is bad. Paris promenade is boring, Coconut Mall is less enjoyable than original. Most tracks seems "off". Ninja Hideway is the onlyArt is bad. Paris promenade is boring, Coconut Mall is less enjoyable than original. Most tracks seems "off". Ninja Hideway is the only interesting track because of how technical it is, but the rest looks like asset pushed in Unity with global illumination (Coconut Mall is such a disaster). More love should have been pushed is those tracks. Please don't do this again Nintendo!

For me, though, the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pack has been a wonderful reminder of how much I love this game. That on its own makes it well worth the price of admission, especially when it promises to keep giving me reasons to come back for most of the next two years. Hopefully, I’ll see you on the track.

For the first wave of many, it’s great. A lot of awesome tracks, and the tour tracks are very nice first experience for those who haven’tFor the first wave of many, it’s great. A lot of awesome tracks, and the tour tracks are very nice first experience for those who haven’t played tour. The popular legacy tracks like Coconut Mall and Choco Mountain feel a little off, but maybe that’s just me preferring Mario Kart 64 and Wii over 8. And the fact that you can get it for free with the NSO expansion pass adds great value to the NSO service.

If none of these tracks really tickle your fancy, you’re probably better off just waiting for the next proper entry in the Mario Kart series. For me, I’m cautious but optimistic the rest of the Booster Course Pass will be worth the $25 entry fee once all is said and done. Obviously, there are some great tracks included already with Wave 1, but if Toad Circuit’s inclusion is any indication, I shouldn’t completely dismiss the possibility of some stinkers getting through too.

There is no doubt that the Booster Course Pass is going to heralded as "must-have", but so far Wave 1 hasn't set the track on fire. The runaway winners of Wave 1 are the three courses featured from Mario Kart Tour, but that is not to say the other courses are bad, but are lacking in imagination compared to other retro-courses featured in the base game of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The lack of anti-grav and some questionable graphical decisions also mount up to disappointment and it is interesting to see if Nintendo are going to address this with the remaining 40 courses. However, in the grand scheme of things it is great to have new courses to race on and is certainly thoroughly recommended for all Mario Kart fans.