Mario Kart 8

Playing Mario Kart in HD is like having your childhood pictures digitally restored. There has been many incarnations of this game (its not really 8) including on the previous HDMI-less Wii…but this version on the WiiU gives validation to the Nintendo loyalists that this company can get by on first-party alone because it’s the only way we get to experience Mario, Zelda, and Metroid in High Definition. 

And when I say “get by” I don’t mean that Nintendo will rival Sony or Microsoft this generation I don’t even mean it will survive and make consoles in the future. Much in the vain of Sega Dreamcast, looking back we can look at the WiiU and say that it was a valid/solid/worthwhile console in its own right - its not there yet…but Wind Waker HD, Super Mario 3D World, and now Mario Kart 8 are top quality. They need an original Zelda title, a Metroid title, and probably another Mario. Super Smash Bros is already lined up. 

Mario Kart is everything it was supposed to be, it plays great and it showcases the WiiU - you can’t play it anywhere else…yet. I am really pulling for Nintendo, an integral part of our childhood.