Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass Wave 2 Review

The Turnip Cup and the Propeller Cup are ready to roll with the Booster Course Pass Wave 2 expansion for Nintendo’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Do these new tracks have what it takes to keep things fresh, or should players instead stick with the tried and true?

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass Wave 2 Review

The eight tracks that appeared in Wave 1 of the Booster Course Pass were a bit of a mixed bag, with us giving the initial run a 75/100. Cut corners and by-the-books layouts somewhat took away from the highs of tracks like the Mario Kart Tour hit Ninja Hideaway. However, the folks at the big N have taken this feedback to heart (likely after some harsh words from upper management) and have upped the ante with the new tracks in Wave 2.

For one, the tracks themselves have more dynamic layouts. New York Minute and Tour Sydney Sprint change things up every lap, forcing players to adapt their strategies based on the current segment. Meanwhile, tracks like Mario Kart Wii’s Mushroom Gorge allow players to utilize the bouncing mushrooms to net themselves a nice boost. There’s even variations to tracks like Kalamari Desert, which says nuts to logic and forces players to ride on the train tracks while avoiding an old-fashioned steam locomotive (don’t try this at home, kids). There’s even an added ball that has been thrown into the final lap of Mario Kart DS’ Waluigi Pinball.

Perhaps the biggest highlight of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Pass Wave 2 is the inclusion of its new original track: Sky-High Sundae. Set in a world that’ll ruin your teeth, this track features an anti-gravity element with steep slopes, lots of jumps, and an ice cream motif. This track is original, well-designed, and even has a 50s diner with Shy Guys, yoshis, and a jukebox – what’s not to like?

However, be warned that some tracks of this collection don’t take things far enough. Mario Circuit 3 (which originally made its debut in Super Mario Kart on the Super Nintendo) is far too flat for its own good. While it is true to its source material, it also comes across as plain. The same can be said for Snow Land, which shows its Mode-7 Game Boy Advance roots a bit too closely. Note that these tracks aren’t bad; they’re just inoffensive.

Thankfully, the presentation here is a marked improvement compared to Wave 1 of the Booster Course Pass collection. The polish and attention to detail are all present and accounted for; you can even see the fabric used in the flags for New York Minute.

Booster Course Pass Wave 2 runs with the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe formula and takes it to higher highs than Wave 1 from earlier this year. Some tracks are noticeably better than others, but these eight tracks are well worth a race-through.

This review of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass Wave 2 was done on the Nintendo Switch. The pass was purchased digitally.