Mario Kart 8 Update 4.0 is live, and with it comes a whole new speed class — the 200cc engines are revved up and ready to roll! The new 200cc speed class is so fast, it completely changes the way Mario Kart 8 plays. It can take a while to get used to, and once you do, 150cc will never feel the same again.
We have tested the new speed in Mario Kart 8 to for hours on-end and uncovered some secrets to placing high in 200cc!
By following these exclusive 200cc tips and tricks for Mario Kart 8, you can cut your amount of spin-outs and full-speed crashes in half if not more! It is crucial to nab every advantage you can get in this chaotic full-speed dash.
Be Mindful of Your Kart’s Stats
While speed may be the biggest stat to watch out for in 150cc, that is definitely not the case for 200cc. Too much Speed will send you flying around corners at velocities that are incredibly difficult to handle.
Instead, the Handling stat should become a focus, in favor of being able to keep your Speed on turns. Not only does this reduce the amount of braking you’ll need to do, but it’s also faster.
For more in-depth information on finding the best character and kart combinations, check out our 200cc Kart guide.
Mario Kart 8 Brake Drifting
If you are taking on 200cc, then you should know how to drift by now (pressing and holding the R button while turning). While in 150cc you can get around the tracks’ many tight turns and corners with a simple drift, 200cc corners require a lot more braking.
“CRAZY FAST! Braking is crucial.”
–Mario Kart 8 200cc Description
If you tap or hold down the B button a little bit while turning, it will keep your turns tight and you will continue charging your mini-turbos so long as you slide to a stop. Keeping the B button in mind will save you from a great many pitfalls.
Out-In-Out Cornering Technique
This is a technique that professional racers use to take corners quickly and tightly. The idea is to approach the corner from the outer edge, drift towards the inside edge of the corner until you’re practically on top of it and then let go. The momentum you build up from drifting towards the corner will send you out again and into the middle of the track, ready to take on the next challenge.
Slow-In Fast-Out Cornering Technique
This involves slowing down right before the beginning of your drift to accelerate into a corner, and is normally helpful on sharper or longer turns. Some turns simply cannot be taken at full speed, especially on 200cc. A great example of this is one of the last turns on the Mario Kart 8 “Animal Crossing” DLC track in Neo Bowser City, before the item boxes just ahead of the Glider portion — you will fall off every time if you don’t slow down before approaching the corner.
Don’t Fear Experimenting With Corner-Cuts
You would be surprised what you could run over in 200cc without losing much speed, if any. Try taking weird shortcuts on a whim and just see if it works. You could have a stroke of genius that helps boost you all the way from 10th to 2nd place!
Practice Alone in VS Mode
While Time Trials will persist at sub-200cc speeds, you can always go into Multiplayer VS Mode with the CPU’s turned off. Consider setting the Items to All Mushrooms and you’ll be able to experiment and discover cool shortcuts you wouldn’t otherwise notice in a heated race. Unfortunately, Singleplayer VS Mode will not let you turn off the CPU’s.
Practice! Practice! Practice!
As they say, practice makes perfect. The only way to truly improve for the long-run is to keep playing 200cc! Mario Kart 8‘s new speed is exhilarating and chaotic. Watching yourself fly across the track unhindered by the course itself in 200cc is one of the most rewarding feelings around!
How are you handling the heat of 200cc for Mario Kart 8 so far? Found any super shortcuts that were just waiting for 200cc to pop up? We’d love to hear your developments in the comments bellow!
Published: Apr 24, 2015 07:22 pm