How do you change controller settings on Mario Kart 8? The Ultimate Guide to Customizing Controls

Hey friend! Choosing your controller and tweaking the settings to perfection is one of the most important things you can do as a Mario Kart 8 driver. With so many options, it can be confusing – but trust me, it‘s worth taking the time to really nail down your ideal setup. I‘ve been karting since the early days on SNES, so let me walk you through everything you need to dominate the track with the right controls.

A Brief History of Mario Kart Controls

The original Super Mario Kart introduced basic steering, hopping and drifting using the SNES controller. When the Nintendo 64 arrived, analog sticks brought far smoother steering control. But the real revolution came with Mario Kart Wii‘s motion controls – for the first time, players could steer by turning the physical controller.

This motion gameplay carried over to Mario Kart 8 on Wii U, along with greater button customization. The Switch version brought back traditional pro controllers, but also kept motion as an option. Through all these control innovations, the series has stayed true to its accessible but deep driving mechanics.

Now, let‘s jump into how to fully customize your preferred control experience in MK8…

Overview of Mario Kart 8 Control Schemes

Mario Kart 8 gives you several control scheme options:

Motion Controls – Tilt the Gamepad, Pro Controller or Joy-Cons to steer. More immersive but less precise than sticks.

Button Controls – Use the analog stick on the Gamepad, Pro or Joy-Cons for steering. Precise but not as natural as motion.

Wheel – Snap the Joy-Cons into the physical wheel accessory and turn the wheel to steer. Fun but limited.

Gamepad Touchscreen – Use the resistive touchscreen or tilt the Gamepad. Unconventional but surprisingly playable.

Pro Controller – The go-to for serious players thanks to its full size, gyroscope motion, and stick precision.

Joy-Cons – Highly portable and flexible, but tiny size takes practice. Optional wheel or grip accessories improve handling.

There‘s no definitively "best" controller – it comes down to your experience level and playstyle preferences. I‘d suggest trying out different pairings to see what clicks.

Accessing the Complete Control Settings Menu

Here‘s how to open up the full customization options:

1. From the Mario Kart 8 main menu, select "Controller Settings"
2. Choose your controller: Gamepad, Wii Wheel, Wii Remote, Nunchuk, Classic Controller, or Pro Controller
3. Select the icon of your chosen controller to edit bindings and settings

This is where you can really customize the nitty gritty details of how your input device interacts with Mario Kart 8.

Fundamentals: Steering Assist and Motion Controls

The first two settings to check are:

Steering Assist – Helps prevent driving off the track by auto-steering back on course. Useful for beginners, but turn off for true control.

Motion Controls – Steer by tilting the controller. Feels more immersive but can impact precision. Often better disabled for technical racing.

You can toggle these assists on or off by pressing the Y button on the settings screen. Serious players will want both disabled right off the bat.

Fine-Tuning With Button Mapping

One major advantage of MK8 is the ability to remap any function to different buttons via the Button Mapping menu. You can customize based on your reflexes and playstyle.

Steering – Keep this on the analog stick for the most precision.

Accelerate, Brake/Hop, Drift – Place these where you can easily jam them mid-race. I use right shoulder buttons for drifting and hopping to pull off tricks more quickly.

Item Use – Map this somewhere you can access without losing race line control. I use a face button I can hit with my left thumb while steering with my right.

Other Advanced Settings

Beyond assists and bindings, there are more advanced control options:

Yaw/Pitch Sensitivity – How much you need to tilt the controller to steer. Crank up for quicker turning or lower for more subtle motions. I push mine up near max for faster drifting.

Invert Yaw/Pitch – Reverse horizontal or vertical motion controls, if that feels more natural. Worth trying.

Steering Sensitivity – Higher makes steering more responsive with less stick movement. Helps avoid oversteering but needs a gentle touch.

Throttle Sensitivity – Determines acceleration speed when holding A. Higher sensitivity means faster acceleration. Keep it lower for more gradual speed control.

Fixing Joy-Con Drift Issues

A notorious issue is Joy-Con drift – where inputs register without touching the stick. This can seriously mess with your steering. Try recalibrating the sticks:

1. Go to System Settings > Controllers and Sensors
2. Select "Calibrate Control Sticks"
3. Follow the on-screen calibration instructions

Recalibrate regularly to minimize drift problems sneaking up mid-race.

Mastering Advanced Techniques with Control Settings

The pros use specific control tweaks to pull off advanced driving techniques:

Drifting – Map your hop/brake to shoulder buttons for easier mid-drift adjustments while steering. Disable any assists.

Fire Hopping – Certain button maps let you hit gas mid-air after a hop for speed boosts. Extends drift boosts.

Snaking – Rapidly alternate drift left/right on straights by quickly flicking the stick. Easier with higher steering sensitivity.

It takes practice to pull these off reliably, but the right settings give you the tools to take your driving to the next level.

Picking the Right Controller for Your Track, Vehicle and Playstyle

There are a few factors that can help determine the optimal controller:

• Track Technicality – Motion controls work fine on simpler flowing tracks, but buttons allow tighter driving on intricate sections.

• Kart/Bike Weight – Heavier vehicles are harder to steer precisely with motion. Better suited to button steering.

• Playstyle – Technical drivers need the precision of buttons. Freestyle players will dig the immersive motions.

I test different control schemes on each new track and vehicle combo to find the best pairing for both the layout and my playstyle.

Effects of Controls on Driving Lines, Items and Mini-Turbos

Control settings have a meaningful impact on:

• Racing Lines – Assists and motion make for wider arcs. Button steering allows sharper corners.

• Items – Motion aiming can be loose. Buttons provide reliable aim for crucial hits.

• Mini-Turbos – Precise drift control with buttons makes chaining turbos together way easier.

So whether you value stability, technique, aiming or boost power – there are optimal settings to suit your priorities.

Recommended Setups for Beginners vs Advanced Players

Based on my experience, here are my quick recommendations:

Beginners – Enable steering assist and smart steering for help staying on course. Motion controls are also more intuitive for casual players.

Advanced – You‘ll want both assists off for total control. Button mapping opens up advanced techniques. Pro Controller provides greater precision.

Kids – Tend to have a blast with wheel accessories and motion steering. Keep assists on to prevent frustration.

But there are always exceptions – play around to see what feels best for your skills!

In Summary: Key Controller Customization Tips

Here are my top pieces of advice for controller settings in Mario Kart 8:

• Take time to experiment with all the options to find your personal optimal setup. Every player is different!

• Turn off steering assist and motion controls if you want pure manual control of your vehicle.

• Customize button mapping to gain access to advanced techniques like easy drifting and fire hopping.

• Address any Joy-Con drift issues right away with control stick calibration and cleaning.

• Pick controls to match your playstyle – technical drivers need buttons while freestylers will love motion freedom.

• Adapt settings as needed for different tracks, vehicles and goals like boosting or aiming.

Hopefully now you‘ve got a better understanding of how to fine-tune those controller settings for your abilities and racing style. There are so many configurations to try – get out there on the track and start experimenting until it just "clicks"! Let me know if you have any other MK8 controller questions. Enjoy the drive!