Sequel keeps the appeal of the original while making improvements at the margins.
All in all, these missing features and changes for the worse are disappointing blemishes on what is still an incredibly enjoyable game. Mario Kart 8 isn't the best game in the series, but it adds enough new visual, gameplay, and track design flourishes to its well-trodden core kart-racing gameplay to be worth a look.
Buy it if you can tune out the story for an interesting take on the open-world genre.
If you ever had a good time with a previous Rock Band game, buy it and remember what you've been missing.
Buy it if you want to take a relaxing trip to the great outdoors without ever leaving your home.
Buy it for the excellent collection of built-in Nintendo-made levels. Get the Wii U version if you want to actually make your own.
Buy it if you're ready to be an exceptionally patient pet owner. Watch some videos online otherwise.
Those with a high tolerance for repeating difficult 2D shooting challenges should buy it. Everyone else should try it in Simple mode or just by watching on YouTube.
If you have a Switch, get this game. If you don't have a Switch, get one, then get this game.
Try it if you really want to see how hard it is to make branching narrative work on this scale. Otherwise, just catch up on Westworld.