Nintendo today revealed new information about Mario Kart 8, the latest installment in the fan-favorite racing series launching exclusively for the Wii U console on May 30 in stores and in the Nintendo eShop. For the first time in HD, Mario Kart 8 introduces original track designs that highlight the game’s new anti-gravity feature, which allows players to race upside down or up vertical surfaces. Racers will also enjoy a variety of series-favorite features, including the return of 12-player online competitive play, four-player local multiplayer, hang gliders, underwater racing and motorbikes.
New features in Mario Kart 8 include:
- Spin Boost: While racing upside down or on walls, players can bump into other racers or certain track obstacles to get a speed boost. The Spin Boost fundamentally redefines the way that players compete, and makes anti-gravity racing even more exhilarating.
- Returning Characters: In Mario Kart 8, players can race with returning characters Metal Mario, Lakitu and Shy Guy. These newly revealed returning characters join a host of previously announced favorites, including all seven of Bowser’s Koopalings, who are playable for the first time in video game history.
- New Items: Two new items join the fray in Mario Kart 8. First, the Piranha Plant attaches to the front of the player’s kart and chomps at other characters, banana peels on the track or even shells thrown by other characters. Each time the Piranha Plant lunges forward to bite, the player receives a brief boost of speed. The second new item is the Boomerang Flower. After acquiring it, racers can throw a Boomerang at opponents to stun them, and its arc allows players to strike multiple opponents with a single toss. The Boomerang can be thrown three times – forward or backward.
- New Courses: Remixed classic courses make a return in Mario Kart 8, with favorites such as Moo Moo Meadows from Mario Kart Wii, Toad’s Turnpike from Mario Kart 64 and Donut Plains from Super Mario Kart, among others. The graphics and layout of these courses have been redesigned and re-imagined. For example, Toad’s Turnpike now allows players to drive up certain walls in anti-gravity mode. Mario Kart 8 will include 16 new courses and 16 remixed classic courses.
- Live Recorded Music: For the first time in the Mario Kart series, select courses in Mario Kart 8 feature music recorded by live performers.
- Control Scheme: Mario Kart 8 will support a variety of control schemes, including the Wii U GamePad, the Wii U Pro Controller, the Wii Wheel and the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. The game can also be played in off-TV mode using just the Wii U GamePad.
Looking forward to this game, I hope it delivers!
Uhh hello! this look inkredibal! I want two play this game so badlee!
I know, can’t wait to play this game.
so there are definitely only 16 new and 16 classics??? i was hoping for more. maybe we will be able to get more via downloadable extras. still hoping you can make custom GP’s and pick the number of laps you do. i’d also like a ‘challenge’ mode, where you chase the kooplings and bowser, and need to hit them with shells within a time/ lap limit. it could be made different difficulty levels with more or less of them to hit, using only green shells, or shorter time limits. :)
i would like to add that the game looks amazing and i will definitely be getting it no matter what. mk7 is my favourite 3ds game….
IT’S STARTING!
There is also a custom items, where u can turn off items, and which to only certain items….All blue shell race here we come
This is the best game of the last 10th Whatever! I can not waittttttt!!!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA………!! <3 <3 <3
Yay Mario kart 7 with hd graphics
“Dude you people saying that make no sense. How much can you really innovate a Mario Kart game? Other than new tracks, racers, and items, there isn’t much you can do, and yet each Mario Kart I’ve played feels unique. By your guys logic they shouldn’t have made one beyond Double Dash. Oh wait they added bikes in Wii, WOW! Such a game changer!!”
Dont worry, We know you are jealous of people getting the game.
Yay, new COD with…..nothing different at all.
Seriously. A lot of games do this. get use to it.
besides, At least the mario kart series makes a difference per game, making it feel unique. Unlike a handful of others.
Metal Mario? what a waste of a character.
that might be because he is really popular in Japan. Everytime I play against japanese at least 50% of them use metal mario…
Yea that is true with me too, is there something special about him? Does he have an edge over everyone? Or do Japanese people love him that much? Also, if someone has 99,999 points online on Mario Kart 7, did they cheat to get that high? Or is that legit? Seen a few of them and I think they were all Japanese. And I’m not trying to be racist or anything, just stating what my experience was. I’ve beaten them, so I feel good lol but would like to know if they just really have no life and play Mario Kart 7 EVERYDAY since release. I got to 10,000 to get my last gold piece and stopped playing and hopped on other games. It took quite some time to get to 10,000, so 99,999 seems like an incredibly long journey.
that’s because he’s the best character to use. he’s like the funky kong of MK7.
Can’t wait for this though I hope they add DLC for more courses! Also I hope they bring back the babies, and cart size differences so that we can have as many carts as Wii had. Though I like to get rid of custom carts, I prefer ready-made carts.
Looks amazing, i will play this whole summer for sure!
Fucking unreal man, the magic of Nintendo never fails to amaze, the rainbow road music almost brought tears to my eyes, its up to you Mario Kart, Wii U needs ya!
Hell yeah! I hope balloon battle is last erson standing, not time limit again.
This is some of the best nintendo news in a while!!
Not gna lie Mario kart never ceasesto amaze me. The fact that I was having fun just watching that gameplay tells you something lol
HOLY. fucking shit this looks SO amazing omg, May 30th can’t come fast enough
Glad to see (hear) Rainbow Road 64 music getting some remixed love. It’s the most epic Rainbow Road AND music to me.
Mario Kart 7.5 ….sigh
fuck off frank, we’re having a good day here
Dude you people saying that make no sense. How much can you really innovate a Mario Kart game? Other than new tracks, racers, and items, there isn’t much you can do, and yet each Mario Kart I’ve played feels unique. By your guys logic they shouldn’t have made one beyond Double Dash. Oh wait they added bikes in Wii, WOW! Such a game changer!!
If you cant afford it, stop crying about it and let people ejoy it. Dont be a jealous dick.
??? is that a term?
everything is awasome
Great movie
Let’s-a go!
Holy shit! That was awesome! ♫ rainbow road -theme ♪
This game should be a launch title… this is one main reasons why Wii U is dead.
Too bad the video quality is not very good, when you see the videos in full quality will be even more impressed.
Perfection!
Take NEXT GEN PS4frames !
11/10
I can not wait to wipe off the dust my Wii U has been collecting and play this game. I haven’t been this hyped for a game in awhile.
Rainbow Road looks absolutely stellar this time around (pun intended).
Nintendo just take my money
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So it sound’s like no wii classic controller support?That’s a shame I was going to order the Mayflash Gamecube adapter on Amazon so I could play with my Wavebird.This makes me think Smash Bro’s Wii U will be the same way.Not a deal breaker but it suck’s none the less.Maybe if there is enough backlash they will patch it in at a later date.’Fingers crossed’
JESUS CHRIST! that’s Rainbow road from N64! my favorite Mario Kart of all times! I’m done guys, I’m done.
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