Been playing the new update. I'd been away from MK8 for a while, so I kind of forgot how much this game makes you fear Green Shells and hate coins in item boxes. Anyways, my take on the new stuff:
-First, I take back the GBA complaint, Ribbon Road is incredible. They did a LOT with that one to spruce it up. Cheese Land got some re-envisioning as well, but I found the end result more "meh" in that one.
-Baby Park is all Anti-Grav, making it even more crazy.
-The Super Bell Cup STARTS with Neo Bowser City. Odd choice, since I always found that course cool but tricky. Both the new cups start with two Retros and end with two originals.
-Big Blue is awesome, more challenging and varied than Mute City. Partly because, surprisingly, it's one of those long one-way courses.
-200cc, holy crap. This mode should come with an "EMERGENCY STOP: NEVER USE" button. Seriously, though, if they intend for you to use the Brake button on this mode, shouldn't there, I don't know, BE A BRAKE BUTTON ON THE WII REMOTE?!! The only way to brake with a remote is to release the accelerator and hit one of your two Jump buttons (1 or B). Somebody didn't think that through. It's nice that there is an actual point to lightweights now, though, since Handling is much more important. Also, for those wondering, clearing 200cc doesn't "count" to the lower classes the way 100/150 do.
-After Tanooki Mario and Cat Peach, you might have expected Dry Bowser to have some kind of buff. He doesn't. Probably for the best, since heavyweights are overpowered in any mode that isn't Ludicrous Speed/200cc.
-None of the new kart parts have any unique stats, but many of them do look cool, especially the P-Wing, which actually "spreads" during anti-grav segments (it's a top speed kart, like the Mach 8). The Streetle kart is a copy of Blue Falcon, City Tripper's in the same family as the Standard Bike, and the Bone Rattler is an ATV version of the Tanooki Kart. And good news, Leaf Tires give you high-acceleration wheels that don't look completely ridiculous.