Mario Kart 8

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Template:Infobox Mario Kart 8 is an upcoming Mario Kart game for the Wii U, which will be released in Japan on May 29, 2014, North America and Europe on May 30, 2014, and Australia on May 31, 2014 both physically and digitally through the Nintendo eShop. Being the follow-up to Mario Kart 7, the game is the eighth installment in the mainstream series, and eleventh overall in the Mario Kart series.

The most prominent new addition within the game is anti-gravity, allowing players to drive along walls and ceilings. Bikes, gliders, and underwater driving are also confirmed to return. In addition, ATVs have been confirmed to join traditional karts and bikes as a new class of vehicle.

Gameplay

File:WiiU MarioKart8 scrn01 E3.png
Mario demonstrating the anti-gravity mechanic in Mario Circuit.

The gameplay maintains the traditional elements of previous Mario Kart games, mostly from the two recent installments on the Wii and 3DS respectively. Karts, which feature similar designs from Mario Kart 7, can be customized once again, alongside the returning bikes, which handle similar to the karts now and can only perform a wheelie via a boost, and the newly introduced ATVs, as well as, according to an interview, more customization options that have yet to be revealed.[1]. The hang-glider and underwater mechanics also return, as well as Coins, with the player being able to collect up to ten in one race as in Mario Kart 7. Like Mario Kart Wii, twelve racers are present in normal races[2].

The newest feature for the series is anti-gravitational segments that not only allow for more dynamic track design, but also for racers to drive across walls, ceilings, and other seemingly unusual places. When in anti-gravity, if a racer bumps into another racer, the kart spins rather than just bumping and both racers receive a speed boost. These tracks have been described as more narrow when compared to previous Mario Kart tracks, specifically those from Mario Kart Wii.[3]. For the fifth time in the series, courses from previous Mario Kart games will be included, and both the game's anti-gravity mechanic, as well as Mario Kart 7 's glider and underwater mechanics will be incorporated into these retro courses, much like the retro courses in Mario Kart 7.

The game is also to feature Wii U GamePad integration. In addition to the standard Off-TV Play, players also have the option of displaying the course map as well as using it as a horn button. Players have the option to toggle between these three features at will.[4]

Point management works similar to Mario Kart Wii, except that every racer gets at least one point in Grand Prix mode. Below is a chart of the point spread comparison between these eight games:

Point Spread Comparisons (GP)
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th
Super Mario Kart
Mario Kart 64
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
9 6 3 1 0 0 0 0 - - - -
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!
Mario Kart DS
10 8 6 4 3 2 1 0 - - - -
Mario Kart Wii 15 12 10 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Mario Kart 7 10 8 6 5 4 3 2 1 - - - -
Mario Kart 8 15 12 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Grove-green bg signifies victory results (great clapping, character(s) cheering), best after-race music
Yellow-limegreen bg signifies moderate results (mild clapping, moderate character reaction), same music in Wi-Fi as winner (different in MKDS GP)
Normal bg signifies losing results, losing music; - means not available
In Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart Super Circuit, 5th or worse forces the player to retry the race. If the racer fares this badly four times, the Grand Prix must be started over. In Mario Kart 64, 5th or worse forces the player to retry the race, but without the restrictions on how many times the player can retry a race. Starting with Mario Kart: Double Dash to recent installments including this one, the Grand Prix normally goes forth.

It has been confirmed that there will be Miiverse integration, which will allow players to share their replay videos and comment on others' videos, in a feature called "Mario Kart TV".[5] Another change is that in 2-player mode, the screen will split vertically instead of the horizontally in the other console Mario Kart games, a feature that was originally intended to be in Mario Kart 64 but was removed from the final game.

Game modes

Various game modes have been announced for Mario Kart 8. All modes available on singleplayer (some also on local and online multiplayer) are listed here.

The Main Menu of Mario Kart 8, as of version 3.0
The game's main menu.

Battle Mode

Battle Mode[6] now features race tracks remixed to fit battle mode rather than contain all-new separate arenas. Balloon Battle can be played in teams [7] or in free-for-all mode.[8] It combines survival battle mode from Mario Kart DS and earlier installments and the timed points battle mode introduced in Mario Kart Wii; all players start with 3 points and 3 balloons each. Successfully making an opponent lose a balloon awards the player a point, and losing a balloon through any method will cause the player to lose a point. Balloons can never be regained (unless one is stolen from another player with a Mushroom), and if all balloons are lost, points can no longer be lost or gained. Players are can still drive and attack players as a Ghost however, so a player with a high score and no balloons can still win. Players can also now adjust the time limit from one to five minutes. [9]

VS Mode

Time Trial

Mirror Mode

Mirror Mode returns in this game, but unlike past Mario Kart titles, it is unlocked from the start. It also can be used as a set rule for online tournaments. [10]

Characters

Drivers

The full character selection screen in Mario Kart 8.

There are 30 playable characters confirmed for Mario Kart 8, consisting of 16 default characters and 14 unlockable characters.[11] There are 9 of these characters that make their playable debut, and of these characters, 2 (Baby Rosalina and Pink Gold Peach) make their overall debut. There are 7 weight classes[12], in order of the lightest to the heaviest: Feather, Super Light, Light, Medium, Cruiser, Heavy, and Super Heavy.Template:Refneeded

Starting drivers

Unlockable drivers

  • Mii's weight is determined by the height and weight of the Mii.
Unlocking criteria
Unlock criteria
Rosalina TBA
Metal Mario TBA
Lakitu TBA
Toadette TBA
Baby Rosalina Win the 150cc Flower Cup[11]
Pink Gold Peach TBA
Iggy Win the 100cc Mushroom Cup[11]
Roy TBA
Lemmy TBA
Larry Win the 150cc Star Cup[11]
Wendy TBA
Ludwig TBA
Morton TBA
Mii TBA

Driver base stats

Just like in Mario Kart 7, all characters have their own stats depending on which of the seven weight classes they are in.[12][13] The units are out of 6, displaying the different stats.

Character Stats
Weight class Speed Acceleration Weight Handling Grip
Feather
Baby MarioBaby LuigiBaby PeachBaby Daisy
Baby RosalinaLemmy Koopa
2.25 3.25 2.25 4.75 4.5
Super Light
ToadKoopa TroopaShy Guy
LakituToadetteLarry KoopaWendy O. Koopa
2.75 3 2.75 4.25 4.25
Light
Princess PeachPrincess DaisyYoshi
3.25 2.75 3.25 3.75 4
Medium
MarioLuigi
Iggy KoopaLudwig von Koopa
3.75 2.5 3.75 3.25 3.75
Cruiser
Donkey KongWaluigi
RosalinaRoy Koopa
4.25 2.25 4.25 2.75 3.5
Heavy
Metal Mario (character)Pink Gold Peach
4.25 2 4.75 2.75 3.25
Super Heavy
BowserWario
Morton Koopa Jr.
4.75 2 4.75 2.25 3.25

Other

Kart parts

This is a list of the currently known available kart parts to customize a player's vehicle. Currently, there are 13 karts, 9 bikes, 3 ATVs (25 bodies in total), 17 tires, and 11 gliders known.[21][22] Template:MarioKart8Parts

Courses

32 tracks[23] have been confirmed, consisting of 16 new tracks and 16 retro tracks, featuring one track each from Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart: Super Circuit, four tracks from Mario Kart 64, two each from Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart Wii, and three each from Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart 7.[24] As with the retro tracks from the 3DS installment, the retro tracks in this game will feature altered sections that incorporate the game's hang-glider, underwater, and anti-gravity features. The game will feature live-recorded music for all of the new tracks and most of the retro tracks.

Nitro courses

Mushroom Cup emblem for Mario Kart 8
Mushroom Cup
Flower Cup emblem for Mario Kart 8
Flower Cup
File:MK8 StarCup.png
Star Cup
File:MK8 SpecialCup.png
Special Cup
Mario Kart Stadium from Mario Kart 8
Mario Kart Stadium
File:WiiU MarioKart8 scrn01 E3.png
Mario Circuit
File:MarioKart8AirportRunway.jpg
Sunshine Airport
File:MarioKart8RosalinaBike.jpg
Cloudtop Cruise
Larry Koopa races in the underwater portion of the Water Park stage in Mario Kart 8.
Water Park
Mario Kart 8 screenshot of Toad Harbor
Toad Harbor
Yoshi driving the Wild Wiggler in Dolphin Shoals of Mario Kart 8
Dolphin Shoals
File:MarioKart8Peach.jpg
Bone Dry Dunes
File:WiiU MarioKart8 scrn05 E3.png
Sweet Sweet Canyon
File:WiiU MarioKart8 scrn04 E3.png
Twisted Mansion
The Koopalings driving through the Electrodrome track in Mario Kart 8
Electrodrome
File:40 Koopa 1.jpg
Bowser's Castle
File:MarioKart8Wario.jpg
Thwomp Ruins
Bowser and the Koopalings from Mario Kart 8.
Shy Guy Falls
File:47 Waluigi 2.jpg
Mount Wario
File:01 Course RainbowRoad 1.jpg
Rainbow Road

Retro courses

File:MK8 ShellCup.png
Shell Cup
File:MK8 BananaCup.png
Banana Cup
File:MK8 LeafCup.png
Leaf Cup
File:MK8 LightningCup.png
Lightning Cup
Baby Daisy in Moo Moo Meadows, with Donkey Kong behind her, in Mario Kart 8
Wii Moo Moo Meadows
File:WiiU MarioKart8 scrn06 E3.png
GCN Dry Dry Desert
The Koopalings and Bowser racing through Wario Stadium in Mario Kart 8
DS Wario Stadium
File:TickTockClockMK85thTrailer.png
DS Tick-Tock Clock
Princess Daisy riding her Cat Cruiser through Mario Circuit in Mario Kart 8
GBA Mario Circuit
SNES Donut Plains 3 from Mario Kart 8
SNES Donut Plains 3
The babies racing through Sherbet Land in Mario Kart 8
GCN Sherbet Land
File:MK8PiranhaPlantSlide.jpg
3DS Piranha Plant Slide
Shy Guy driving through DS Cheep Cheep Beach in Mario Kart 8
DS Cheep Cheep Beach
N64 Royal Raceway from Mario Kart 8
N64 Royal Raceway
Mario Kart 8 screenshot
3DS Music Park
Morton Koopa Jr. racing in Grumble Volcano in Mario Kart 8
Wii Grumble Volcano
Luigi driving in N64 Toad's Turnpike from Mario Kart 8
N64 Toad's Turnpike
Mario Kart 8
3DS DK Jungle
File:52 Yoshi 2.jpg
N64 Yoshi Valley
Rosalina driving through N64 Rainbow Road from Mario Kart 8
N64 Rainbow Road

Battle Stages

Unlike previous installments of the series, there are no stages unique to Battle Mode; instead, a quarter of the tracks in standard race modes are modified and used as stages for battles and can all be played from the start of the game, including those that are originally in cups that need to first be unlocked in the race modes.[25] Tracks enabled for Battle mode are the following:

Items

Items found on the track

Item Box in Mario Kart 8
Item Box
Gives the player a random item. Items given are based on the player's position.
Artwork of a Coin in Mario Kart 8
Coin
Gives the player a small boost and increase top speed when more are collected, up to a max of 10.

New items

Boomerang Flower in Mario Kart 8
Boomerang Flower
Can be thrown up to three times, hitting racers forward and when it returns.
Piranha Plant in Mario Kart 8
Piranha Plant
Automatically chomps on obstacles and other racers, giving a short speed boost for each nibble.
Super Horn in Mario Kart 8
Super Horn
Emits a radial shockwave, destroying all obstacles and items, and hitting racers.
Crazy Eight in Mario Kart 8
Crazy 8
Generates eight items (Coin, Bob-omb, Mushroom, Star, Blooper, Green Shell, Red Shell, and a Banana) that circle around the player for them to use.

Returning items

Artwork of a Coin in Mario Kart 8
Coin
Grants the player 2 extra coins.
Green Shell in Mario Kart 8
Green Shell
Travels in a straight line and knocks over a kart it hits.
Triple Green Shells in Mario Kart 8
Triple Green Shells
Three green shells that protect the player's kart from incoming attacks.
Red Shell in Mario Kart 8
Red Shell
Homes in on the closest kart in front of the player and knocks it over.
Triple Red Shells in Mario Kart 8
Triple Red Shells
Three red shells that protect the player's kart from incoming attacks.
Banana
Banana
Protects the player from incoming items, and spins out other karters that hit it.
Triple Bananas in Mario Kart 8
Triple Bananas
Three bananas that encircle the player's kart, protecting them from incoming attacks.
Artwork of a Mushroom in Mario Kart 8 (also used in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe)
Mushroom
Provides the player's kart with a small speed boost.
A Triple Mushroom in Mario Kart 8
Triple Mushrooms
Encircles the player's kart, providing them with three separate speed boosts.
Artwork of a Golden Mushroom in Mario Kart 8 (also used for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe)
Golden Mushroom
Provides the player's kart with continuous speed boosts for a short time.
Fire Flower in Mario Kart 8
Fire Flower
Allows the player to throw fireballs for a short time that cause other karts to spin out on impact.
Star in Mario Kart 8
Star
Provides the player invincibility from all terrain and items, and also giving a speed boost.
Blooper in Mario Kart 8
Blooper
Sprays ink on all racers ahead and reduces their visibility.
Bob-omb in Mario Kart 8
Bob-omb
Explodes after a short time when thrown or dropped, knocking over any kart in its blast radius.
Spiny Shell in Mario Kart 8
Spiny Shell
Targets the racer in first place, knocking over all other karts in its path.
Lightning in Mario Kart 8
Lightning
Causes all opponents to drop their items and drive slowly for a short time.
Bullet Bill in Mario Kart 8
Bullet Bill
Transforms the player into a Bullet Bill, rocketing through the track with auto-pilot, and providing invincibility from all terrain and items.


Stamps

Main article: Stamp (Mario Kart 8)

As in Super Mario 3D World and NES Remix, players can obtain stamps to use in Miiverse posts when they complete a certain objective, such as winning a cup in Grand Prix or defeating a staff member ghost in Time Trial. There are 90 stamps in the game.[26]

Development

Development for Mario Kart 8 started in 2012.[1] Some ideas that were scrapped in Mario Kart 8 included a drill that made drivers drive into subterranean depths. The idea was scrapped because the developers thought it was not as interesting as the anti-gravity idea.[27] The anti-gravity concept stemmed from the Wii U being a powerful console, and with the upgraded hardware, the developers wanted to make courses with a 3D plane in mind rather than the 2D plane as the other tracks in the Mario Kart series.[28]

The title, Mario Kart 8, is chosen to represent the anti-gravity mechanic as the "8" used in the official logo resembles the Möbius strip from Mario Circuit.[28]

Select tracks will be orchestrated, making this game the first Mario Kart game to feature orchestrated tracks.[29][30][31]

Promotion and advertising

Limited edition

Mario Kart 8 limited edition. Comes with Spiny Shell. Europe and Australia exclusive.
The limited edition bundle in Europe featuring a Spiny Shell figurine.

A limited edition version of Mario Kart 8 is available to pre-orders in the European and Australian regions.[32] It includes the game as well as a Spiny Shell figurine. This limited edition is also confirmed for North American release, though it is exclusive to New York's Nintendo World Store. [33]

Collaboration with Pennzoil

Nintendo and Pennzoil teamed up to promote Mario Kart 8[34]. It features real-life go-karts on a specially modified track. Icons representing some of the items in the game are spread in the course as well.

Card game

Nintendo is also developing a Mario Kart-themed card game. The game features two types of cards: Mario cards (includes Peach and Luigi cards) and Rosalina Cards (includes Lakitu and Koopalings cards). These cards come with the Japanese version of the game.[35]

Wii U Premium Pack

Nintendo is releasing a Premium Pack with Mario Kart 8. This pack is currently only available to Europe and Australia. The Nintendo UK Online store als offers two different bundles, being a Mario bundle and a Luigi bundle. Each will contain a Mario Kart 8 Premium Pack, along with a Wii Remote Plus, Wii U GamePad skin, and Wii Wheel in the corresponding brother's theme. It also contains a Mario or Luigi Hat and Mario Kart 8 guide book. Both packs will be released on May 30th, alongside the game itself, as well as Peach and Yoshi themed Wii Remote Pluses. Nintendo also revealed a Deluxe set for North American release; this one includes a black Wii U, a black GamePad, a Mario Wii Remote Plus, a red Wii Wheel, and the game. [36][37]

Bonus Game Promotion

Nintendo is giving another Wii U game to those in Europe, Australia, and North America who register Mario Kart 8 on Club Nintendo between May 30th and July 31st. Players can choose between a variety of different Nintendo titles, that differs depending on region. In Europe and Australia, players have the choice of: Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros. U, Game & Wario, Pikmin 3, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Sonic Lost World, Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, Wii Party U, The Wonderful 101, and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate[38], while North American players are limited to only New Super Mario Bros. U, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, Pikmin 3, and Wii Party U.[39]

References to other games

Gallery

Main article: Gallery:Mario Kart 8

Trivia

  • This is the first Mario Kart game since Mario Kart: Super Circuit to feature no new Donkey Kong courses or retro Bowser's Castles. Since Super Mario Kart, it also features no Luigi-themed tracks.
  • This is the first Mario Kart game where each course features its own background music, with no tracks sharing music. All previous titles in the series included at least two tracks sharing the same music, most commonly the regular circuit music.

External links

References

  1. ^ a b Mario Kart 8 - details on development time, GamePad ideas, hope for F-Zero - GoNintendo
  2. ^ Mario Kart 8 at E3 2013
  3. ^ Mario Kart 8 Team Talk GamePad Features, Track Design And F-Zero @ Nintendo Life
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/06/mario_kart_tv_will_allow_you_to_share_your_racing_skills_on_miiverse
  6. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQS-cVohMRY&index=2&list=FLTaS1PSdZeVZPDoDnqZ3ddQ
  7. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5edQL6_RHFY
  8. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8YG7O8ts2c
  9. ^ http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/Wii-U/Mario-Kart-8-765384.html
  10. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BNSMaOzPSM
  11. ^ a b c d https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fEa51c-wJ8c
  12. ^ a b http://mkboards.com/forums/threads/general-mk8-discussion.8/page-28#post-114226
  13. ^ http://mkboards.com/forums/threads/general-mk8-discussion.8/page-31#post-114323
  14. ^ a b Youtube - Mario Kart 8: Course 3 Ghost House Single-Player Gameplay Footage (E3 2013 Wii U)
  15. ^ http://mariopartylegacy.com/2014/04/brand-new-screenshots-and-a-trailer-for-mario-kart-8/
  16. ^ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/04/hideki_konno_emphasizes_that_mario_kart_8_balancing_means_its_not_all_about_luck
  17. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5edQL6_RHFY
  18. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZAuPXPDo2w
  19. ^ http://mariokart8.nintendo.com/drivers/
  20. ^ http://mariokart8.nintendo.com/tracks/
  21. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JIOu2EELJo
  22. ^ http://www.mariokartwii.com/6033753-post7.html
  23. ^ http://www.nintendo.co.uk/News/2014/April/New-items-characters-and-courses-make-for-gravity-defying-fun-in-Mario-Kart-8-launching-May-30th-on-Wii-U-870260.html
  24. ^ Mario Kart 8 E3 trailer
  25. ^ GameXplain - Mario Kart 8 Q&A: Online, Battle Mode, Rainbow Road, Secrets & more!
  26. ^ [2]
  27. ^ Scrapped ideas led to the anti-gravity idea in Mario Kart 8 - Wii U Daily
  28. ^ a b E3 2013: Nintendo's Hideki Konno Pulls Back The Curtain On 'Mario Kart 8'
  29. ^ http://www.reinodocogumelo.com/2014/04/nintendo-revela-que-mario-kart-8-tera.html?m=1
  30. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvWfvVzIU6U
  31. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEqt-E6VTPE
  32. ^ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/03/nintendo_of_europe_confirms_mario_kart_8_limited_edition_software_bundle
  33. ^ https://twitter.com/Nintendo_World/status/464443598503567362
  34. ^ http://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/08/pennzoil-and-nintendo-to-bring-mario-kart-to-life-at-sxsw/
  35. ^ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/03/mario_kart_8_pre_orders_from_amazon_japan_get_sweet_mario_or_rosalina_playing_cards
  36. ^ http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/57679/mario-kart-8-wii-u-bundles-revealed/
  37. ^ http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/04/north_american_wii_u_mario_kart_8_deluxe_set_bundle_races_into_view
  38. ^ http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Campaigns/Mario-Kart-8-Bonus-Game-Promotion/Mario-Kart-8-Bonus-Game-Promotion-879238.html
  39. ^ http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/Mf9RJDcWmALXECxUdPB0Lf3N9Jb2VtRt
  40. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkslNWnOQ84

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