

In-game, everything is perfectly synced to the speed, rhythm and settings of the race, making this soundtrack one of Nintendo’s most lively and kinetic. Like Super Mario 3D World, Mario Kart 8 features live instrumental performances mostly done in a big-band jazz sound, which features Nintendo composers and arrangers Yasuaki Iwata, Shiho Fujii, Atsuko Asahi, Ryo Nagamatsu, Satomi Terui, Asuka Ohta, and Kenta Nagata, alongside over 20 live performers. However, something that captivated fans, including myself, right from the get-go with 8 was its music and sound design. That may seem like an odd statement, considering that the Mario Kart spinoff games are a tent-pole franchise for Nintendo, and yet Mario Kart 8 is the Wii U’s bestselling game, blooming with a gorgeous art-style, some spectacular effects, and, most importantly, an overabundance of creative fun, making this kart-racer the most exciting entry in the series.

Mario Kart 8 can best be described as an unexpected surprise.
