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Published on April 3rd, 2014 | by Admin

NEW ITEMS, CHARACTERS AND COURSES MAKE FOR GRAVITY-DEFYING FUN IN MARIO KART 8 – LAUNCHING 31st MAY ON Wii U

3rd April 2014 Nintendo today revealed new information on Mario Kart 8, the latest instalment in the fan-favourite racing series launching exclusively for Wii U on 31st May – in stores and on Nintendo eShop. For the first time in HD, Mario Kart 8 introduces original course designs that highlight the game’s new antigravity feature, which allows players to race upside down or up vertical surfaces. Racers will also enjoy a variety of series-favourite features including the return of 12-player online competitive play*, four player local multiplayer, hang-gliders, underwater racing and motorbikes.

New features include:

  • Spin Turbo: While racing upside down or on      walls, players can bump into other racers or certain course obstacles to      get a speed boost. Spin Turbo fundamentally redefines the way that players      compete, and makes antigravity 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 favourites including all seven of Bowser’s      minions, who are playable for the first time in Mario Kart history.
  • New items: Two new items join the fray in      Mario Kart 8. First, the Piranha      Plant attaches to the front of the players’ kart and chomps at other      characters, banana peels on the course 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      backwards.
  • New courses: Remixed classic courses make a      return in Mario Kart 8 with      favourites 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 reimagined. For example, Toad’s      Turnpike now allows players to drive up certain walls in antigravity mode.      The game 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 Wii Remote and      Nunchuk. The game can also be played in off-TV mode using just the Wii U      GamePad.

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When Mario Kart 8 launches on 31st May, fans can also get their hands on the Mario Kart 8 Limited Edition software bundle, which comes complete with a Spiny Shell Collector’s Item alongside a physical copy of the game. The Mario Kart 8 Limited Edition software bundle is available exclusive to EB Games while stocks last.

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