Mario Kart is one of the longest running and most successful video game franchises of all time. The latest installment in the 22-year-old series, Mario Kart 8, is the most beautiful to look at and listen to ever, according to multiple reviews.

The only problem that Mario Kart 8 has it that it's been released on a dying console. The Wii U simply has not sold in the numbers Nintendo or its investors have hoped it would. Nintendo recently had to revise its quarterly numbers to reflect the massive amount of unsold Wii U inventory it failed to move.

Still, Mario Kart 8 is a gem. It handles like a charm and you can use any Wii or Wii U controller to race. Central Pennsylvania FOX affiliate channel 43 gave it five out of five stars. Pretty darn good ya' think?

More popular sites like IGN, GameSpot and GameTrailers were equally as impressed. 

IGN proclaims the game is "The King of the Kart" and praises the new gameplay mechanics, specifically the anti-gravity racing. And so much for the Wii U's lack of graphical umph; IGN loved the fact that Mario Kart 8 played "at a stunning 60 frames-per-second." It's important to note, though, that in split-screen mode, the frame rate is halved. Still, the game is wholly playable and mind-numbingly addicting.

GameSpot was sold on the race first mentality of the game. It stated in its review that "there are no excuses anymore; Mario Kart 8 focuses on its excellent racing, and the experience is stronger for it." It subsequently awarded the game a solid 8 out of 10, or 'Great' in terms of their ratings system.

Finally, GameTrailers reviewers approved of Mario Kart's impressive design, story, gameplay and presentation. All in all, it awarded the first HD Mario Kart game a 8.6 out of 10.

Now all that Nintendo needs is more games as great as Mario Kart 8 and the hope that gamers the world over will notice how much fun Nintendo's Wii U offers.

Are you in agreement with all the positive, glowing Mario Kart 8 reviews out there? Do you think this game alone can revive the morbid Wii U unit and finally make it a sellable console? Let us know all your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.