REVIEW | Hori Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe
I DIDN'T buy into Mario Kart 8 Deluxe when it first came out for the Nintendo Switch on the basis that I already owned the Wii U version and didn't see a point in double-dipping. That was two years ago before Hori decided to release the Mario Kart Racing Wheel Pro Deluxe for Nintendo Switch last year.
Even then, after borrowing a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe to play with the wheel, I finally took the plunge and purchased the game last week.
Arcade experience at home?
These days I realise that buying a re-release needs a strong gimmick to justify a purchase. That's probably the reason why I was instantly sold into buying the Pro Deluxe to specifically play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with the intention to re-create playing Mario Kart Arcade GP at home.
Mario Kart Arcade GP was a great arcade experience as the cabinet had a racing wheel and pedal incorporated into the gameplay. In the years since Mario Kart have been around, there's hasn't been a proper steering wheel to accompany the arcade experience until the Pro Deluxe.
But despite the initial awe, I felt left wanting more from this wheel. Although I have to keep in mind this is an entry-level steering wheel while writing this review.
The Build
If you're familiar with Hori's effort at the steering wheel, the Pro Deluxe is based on Hori's RWA: Racing Wheel APEX which was released a couple of years ago for the PS3/PS4 and PC.
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| Hori's RWA Racing Wheel APEX |
First the build, it's a pretty good solid steering wheel, awesome rubber grip on the sides, though the red part does come off a tad bit cheap cos I can feel how hollow it is. Regardless, the wheel's ergonomic design is comfortable and the sturdy build can withstand some rough turns.
The pedals are great too, though basic with just a brake and acceleration with no clutch or gear in hand, which again reminded me that this is an entry-level wheel after all. There's a flap underneath that helps in somewhat keeping the pedals in place while racing.
You can mount the wheel in two ways, firstly with the suction cups that come included in the package or the grip which fastens on the table. The latter feels more stable.
Assign and Customise
Meanwhile, on the face of the steering wheel, you have a controller layout and an assigned button that lets you customise button/trigger/pedal functions as well as adjust the dead zone and sensitivity of the wheel to your liking. You can also adjust the turn radius of the wheel between 270° and 180° as some games more are suited to one style than the other. Don't worry, all of this comes with a manual that tells you how to do the settings.
The wheel utilises a bungee system that pulls back the wheel to the centre every time you let go of the wheel after making a turn. There's no force feedback on this wheel, so you won't feel the virtual asphalt or even the need to counter-balance the wheel while making turns.
Which kinda, sadly, gives this wheel a toy-like feel despite the premium look as you direct the car where you want it to go and not feel the physics of the terrain or how heavy your car turns. It's basically a controller playing the part of a steering wheel. This comes with the territory when you're dealing with an entry-level wheel.
With the wheel supporting most racing titles, when it comes to the games, we've tested Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled (needs to re-assign the wheel), GRID Autosport (needs to create an in-game Wheel profile) and Team Sonic Racing may see you utilising the assign function as some of the game's default controllers scheme are not particularly built for the Pro Deluxe.
So How Does it Play?
It's great! For casual gamers.
It's a breath of fresh air to finally playing racing games on a Nintendo system with an official wheel. That is only after you configure it to your liking, meaning you probably have to patiently tinker around the sensitivity, dead zone, turn-radius and choosing between digital and analogue inputs to achieve that sweet spot.
To reiterate, this is an entry-level wheel, so those expecting to simulate the arcade experience found on Mario Kart Arcade GP may have to temper your expectation as the nature of the wheel's design seems to cater for those just looking to add a bit of immersion to their racing games.
Despite some shortcomings, as far as Nintendo Switch accessories go, this is one of the best racing wheels out there now, partly because it's the first proper racing wheel for the system that delivers great fun for casual gamers who love a bit of kart racing with a side of blue shell mayhem thrown in.
You can find the wheel and the games here:
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