Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has released its first wave of DLC tracks, which means that speculation for Wave 2 is alive and well. The first wave included quality courses from throughout the series' history, most prominently the fan favorite Coconut Mall from Mario Kart Wii. The bar has been set high, and the hope is that Wave 2 will continue to bring excellent choices.
The Mario Kart series has been around since Super Mario Kart on the Super Nintendo. With many entries over two decades worth of games, there is a wide pool of tracks to choose from. Some, such as Double Dash's Yoshi Circuit, have been remade multiple times, while others have yet to resurface at all. Whether or not a track has been used before, the most important part of the process is making sure that the course is fun to race on. With so many potential tracks for MK8's Booster Pass, one would hope to see it live up to the hype.
From Super Mario Kart to Mario Kart Tour, every game in the series is full of memorable tracks, some much more noteworthy than others. In order to make Mario Kart 8's tracklist the best it can be, Wave 2 needs to bring some phenomenal tracks to the game. Thankfully, there are a few perfect additions waiting in the wings. Be they unique or just plain fun, Mario Kart 8 could definitely benefit from a few specific tracks.
Shy Guy Bazaar From Mario Kart 7 Is A Visually Stunning Track
Shy Guy Bazaar is one of the few Shy Guy-themed tracks in the series, and it makes a good impression. The track takes place in a desert, with the racers driving through a bazaar at night, weaving between shops while an audience of Shy Guys looks on. Kosuke Yabuki's assurance that MK8's DLC will faithfully the original tracks is a major relief, because Shy Guy Bazaar's distinct theming and design helps it stand apart from the rest of the series' desert tracks. The track's memorable nature made it no surprise when it was adapted into Mario Kart Tour.
The track has an overt desert theme, but that is only one of its inspirations. There are also several nods to Subcon, the world from Super Mario Bros. 2 where the Shy Guys made their first appearance. Subcon already had some inspiration from Arabian architecture itself, so the combination just seems natural. The atmosphere of the track is what makes it special. The night sky adds a special flavor to the course that makes it feel peaceful, even with all of the chaos that happens during a typical Mario Kart race.
MK8's total amount of courses will be ridiculous, and it would be a shame if Shy Guy Bazaar wasn't included in that. In terms of aesthetics, Shy Guy Bazaar is easily among the top tier of Mario Kart tracks. The desert track at night combined with the intricately designed bazaar makes it an incredibly beautiful track to look at, let alone race through. Shy Guy Bazaar should be an obvious pick for Wave 2, since it may be the best desert track in the franchise.
Peach Gardens From Mario Kart DS Is The Best Peach Track
Mario Kart DS was one of the series' more interesting entries. From being the first Mario Kart with online play, to the inclusion of R.O.B. as a playable character, it has its share of distinctions. It is also home to some very memorable tracks, many of which are already in Mario Kart 8. However, one of the game's best tracks has not been seen since Mario Kart Wii, and with Peach being Mario Kart's most popular character, Peach Gardens would be an ideal addition to Marion Kart 8.
Peach-themed tracks frequently involve her castle, and Peach Gardens is no exception. However, it has a twist that puts it above most of Peach's other tracks. Peach Gardens entirely takes place in the garden outside of her castle as the name implies, and it has one of the best layouts in DS. Drifting around flowerbeds feels very satisfying, and the fact that the starting line is near the castle entrance is a nice touch. However, the hedge maze section near the end of the track is what makes it iconic. Driving around hedge blocks while trying to avoid wandering Chain Chomps is one of the best segments in not only the track, but the whole game. With Mario Kart 8's continued success, bringing back this track would be a lovely thank-you to fans for their support.
Peach Gardens came back once in Mario Kart Wii, but it has been gone for over a decade at this point. As one of the most well-crafted tracks in its debut game, it deserves a return so it can be enjoyed by a new generation of players. Peach Gardens outshines any other Peach-related track, and bringing it to Mario Kart 8 would prove that.
Mario Kart 64's Wario Stadium Is One Of The Series' Biggest Tracks
Mario Kart 64 was the first game in the series to make tracks based on characters other than just Mario and Bowser. This led to some memorable courses, such as Toad's Turnpike and Yoshi Valley. It also still maintains an active speedrunning community, with one Mario Kart 64 player with 32 world records for every single track. However, one track that definitely deserves more recognition is the second-longest in Mario Kart 64: Wario Stadium.
Designed to resemble a motocross track, Wario Stadium in instantly recognizable, and not just because of Wario's face plastered along the outer wall. The course is full of jumps, with a few sections of small moguls to drive over. In addition, it also has the most dangerous jump in the franchise, that could potentially set players back a large portion of the track if missed. With the jump mechanics that have been a series mainstay since Mario Kart Wii, a returning Wario Stadium has the potential to be incredible, with players having opportunities to pull off near-constant stunts and speed boosts.
Wario Stadium has the unusual distinction of being the only track from Mario Kart 64 to never return as a retro track in a later game. However, a leaked promo image for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe revealed that Wario Stadium may well be coming in Wave 2. Considering how much more fun the track would be in Mario Kart 8, this would be an incredible treat. Hopefully Wave 2 can herald Wario Stadium's long-overdue return to the Mario Kart franchise.
The second wave of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe's expansion past has a lot of potential to improve the game. There are so many tracks that could add so much to the game that it's difficult to narrow it down to 8. Hopefully this next wave will do plenty to establish Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as the definitive best Mario Kart experience in the series.