Mario Kart 8

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Template:Infobox Mario Kart 8 is an upcoming Mario Kart game for the Wii U, releasing in Japan on May 29th, both North America and Europe on the 30th and the 31st for Australia. The game is the eighth installment in the mainstream series, and eleventh overall in the Mario Kart series. Anti-gravity, a new feature for the Mario Kart series, has been confirmed. Bikes, gliders, and underwater driving are also confirmed to return. Buggies have been confirmed to join traditional karts and bikes as a new class of vehicle.

Gameplay

The gameplay maintains the traditional elements as most Mario Kart games, mostly from the two recent installments from the Wii and 3DS respectively. The karts, featuring a similar design to Mario Kart 7, maintain the hang-glider and underwater features from the previous game, while bikes make a return, albeit handling similar to the karts this time around, both can be customized with, according to an interview, more customization options.^[1]. Also, like Mario Kart Wii, twelve racers are present in normal races^[2].

The newest feature for the series is anti-gravitional segments, that not only allow for more dynamic track design, but allow racers to drive across the side of a track and upside-down as well. These tracks have been described as more narrow when compared to previous Mario Kart tracks, specifically those from Mario Kart Wii^[3]. For the fourth 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 "air, land & sea" mechanic will be incorporated into these retro courses, much like the retro courses in Mario Kart 7. An aesthetic change includes the kart headlights turning on in a dark area.

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".^[4] When in anti-gravity, if a racer bumps into another racer the kart spins rather than just bumping and the racers receive a speed boost. Coins, introduced in Super Mario Kart and returning in Mario Kart: Super Circuit and Mario Kart 7, also return for this game, and as Mario Kart 7 the player can collect up to ten coins at one race. 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.

Characters

Playable

So far, 24 playable characters have been confirmed for Mario Kart 8. 7 of these characters (the Koopalings) make their playable debut.

* - New characters

Other

Items

Kart parts

Bodies

Karts

Standard*
A blue and yellow body that slightly resembles a jet
A body modeled after a Para-Biddybud*^[5]
A body that slightly resembles the Flame Flyer or the Wild Wing^[5]
A green body that resembles the Classic Dragster^[5]
A body that resembles the Sprinter^[6]
A body modeled after Bowser's Airship^[6]
A pink cat body^[6]
A purple and yellow body shaped like a shoe^[6]

Bikes

Standard*
A bike body that resembles the Bolt Buggy
An orange body that slightly resembles the Mach Bike^[6]
A yellow and blue scooter-like body^[6]
A body that is similar to the Zip Zip^[6]
A body similar in build to the Wario Bike^[6]
A body shaped like a rocket^[6]

Buggies

Buggy-type bodies are confirmed to be in the game.^[5]

An ATV-styled body*^[5]
A Wiggler body^[6]

Tires

Tires similar to the Standard
Tires similar to the Monster
Skinny tires with a white and red stripe pattern, similar to the Slim tires
Skinny, red star tires
Wooden wagon tires^[6]
Tires with green lines, similar to the Slick tires^[6]
Small red tires^[6]
Sponge-like Red Monster tires^[6]

Gliders

Super*

* - Changes color depending on the character

Courses

So far, 19 tracks have been confirmed, consisting of 12 new tracks and 7 retro tracks, featuring one track from Mario Kart: Super Circuit, one from Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, one from Mario Kart DS, one from Mario Kart Wii, and three from Mario Kart 7.^[8]^[6] 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.

Nitro courses

File:MarioKart8AirportRunway.jpg

Sunshine Airport, a new course that takes place in an airport surrounded by islands.

Mario Circuit, a course shaped after a Möbius strip which is a chain of floating islands where Princess Peach's Castle is located.
Bone Dry Dunes^[9], a course filled with giant bones and boats.
Cloudtop Cruise^[10], a sky course with beanstalks and airships similar to Sky Garden and Airship Fortress.
Sunshine Airport, a course set on the runaways and terminals of an airport.
Sweet Sweet Canyon, a dessert themed course, decorated with references to Princess Daisy and Princess Peach.
Thwomp Ruins, a ruins course filled with Thwomps.
Toad Harbor^[11], a course that takes place in a town by the seaside with some similarities to the city of San Francisco.
Twisted Mansion^[12], a haunted mansion course with an underwater chamber and a dark garden.
Dolphin Shoals Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag 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.^[13] 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.^[14]

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.^[14]

Promotion and advertising

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.^[15] It includes not only the game but other merchandise as well, such as a Spiny Shell figurine.

Nintendo and Pennzoil teamed up to promote Mario Kart 8^[16]. 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.

References to other games

Famicom Grand Prix II: 3D Hot Rally: The Mario's Motors logo is seen at the starting line of Mario Circuit. In addition, Mario's artwork from the game can be faintly seen above the logo itself.
Super Mario Bros. 2/Doki Doki Panic: The Shy Guy Metals sign seen at Toad Harbor says that they've been around since 1987, which is the year of the Shy Guy's first appearance.
Super Mario Bros. 3: Many aspects of Cloudtop Cruise, particularly the airships, are inspired by this game.
Mario Kart: Super Circuit: Mario Circuit returns as a retro course.
Super Mario Sunshine: Sunshine Airport has a Shine Sprite in its logo.
Mario Kart: Double Dash!!: Like in this game, characters hold items in their hands. Dry Dry Desert returns as a retro course.
Mario Kart DS: Tick-Tock Clock returns as a retro course.
Super Mario Galaxy: An image of a Luma can be seen on an airplane (from Galaxy Air airlines) in Sunshine Airport. Also, part of Cloudtop Cruise's music is a cover of Gusty Garden Galaxy's music and Sky Station Galaxy's music.
Mario Kart Wii: Twelve player races and motorbikes return. Grumble Volcano also returns as a retro course.
New Super Mario Bros. Wii: One of the planes in Sunshine Airport has a logo for Propeller Toad Transport with an insignia of a Propeller Mushroom. The Red Case first featured on the game's box art will return as a North American exclusive
Super Mario 3D Land: Goomba Towers appear as obstacles in Mario Circuit. A kart body also resembles a Para-Biddybud.
Mario Kart 7: Gliders and underwater areas return. Music Park, Piranha Plant Slide, and DK Jungle return as retro courses. Customization returns from this game.
New Super Mario Bros. 2: Twisted Mansion's entrance has a statue of a Boohemoth above it, an enemy from this game. Bone Piranha Plants also make an appearance in Bone Dry Dunes.
New Super Mario Bros. U: The Mecha Cheep returns in this game.

Gallery

Main article: Gallery:Mario Kart 8

WiiU MarioKart8 scrn01 E3.png
MarioMK8.png

External links

References

Template:BoxTop

Template:MK Players Template:Mariogames

[Go_Nintendo-1] 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] ttp://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/06/mario_kart_tv_will_allow_you_to_share_your_racing_skills_on_miiverse

[Dec2013_Direct-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p Nintendo Direct – 12.18.2013

[Feb2014_Direct-6] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m ⁿ ^o ^p ^q ^r ^s ^t ^u ^v ^w ^x ^y Nintendo Direct – 2.13.2014

[Ghost_House-7] Youtube - Mario Kart 8: Course 3 Ghost House Single-Player Gameplay Footage (E3 2013 Wii U)

[8] Mario Kart 8 E3 trailer

[9] ttps://twitter.com/NintendoUK/status/441982678867648512

[10] ttps://www.facebook.com/WiiU.co.uk/photos/a.596004050474333.1073741858.351440504930690/599017400172998/?type=1&stream_ref=10

[11] ttps://twitter.com/NintendoUK/status/439807507947859968

[12] ttps://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.490080237763241.1073741827.125686527535949&type=3

[13] Scrapped ideas led to the anti-gravity idea in Mario Kart 8 - Wii U Daily

[MTV-14] E3 2013: Nintendo's Hideki Konno Pulls Back The Curtain On 'Mario Kart 8'

[15] ttp://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/03/nintendo_of_europe_confirms_mario_kart_8_limited_edition_software_bundle

[16] ttp://www.joystiq.com/2014/03/08/pennzoil-and-nintendo-to-bring-mario-kart-to-life-at-sxsw/

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[Edit] Mario Kart 8 / Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Drivers
Featherweight			Baby Mario • Baby Luigi • Baby Peach • Baby Daisy • Baby Rosalina • Lemmy • Dry Bones
Light			Toad • Koopa Troopa • Shy Guy (Light-blue^a · Black^a · Green^a · Yellow^a · White^a · Blue^a · Pink^a · Orange^a) • Lakitu • Toadette • Larry • Wendy • Cat Peach^a • Villager (Female)^a • Isabelle^a • Bowser Jr. • Inkling Girl • Diddy Kong^c
Medium			Peach • Daisy • Yoshi (Light-blue^a · Black^a · Red^a · Yellow^a · White^a · Blue^a · Pink^a · Orange^a) • Mario • Luigi • Iggy • Ludwig • Tanooki Mario^a • Villager (Male)^a • Inkling Boy • Birdo^c (Light-blue ^c · Black ^c · Red ^c · Yellow ^c · White ^c · Blue ^c · Green ^c · Orange ^c) • Kamek^c • Peachette^c
Cruiser			Rosalina • Donkey Kong • Waluigi • Roy • Link^a • King Boo • Wiggler^c • Pauline^c
Heavy			Metal Mario (Gold) • Pink Gold Peach • Bowser • Wario • Morton • Dry Bowser^a • Petey Piranha^c • Funky Kong^c
Any			Mii
Vehicle parts
Bodies		Karts	Standard Kart • Pipe Frame • Mach 8 • Steel Driver • Cat Cruiser • Circuit Special • Tri-Speeder • Badwagon • Prancer • Biddybuggy • Landship • Sneeker • Sports Coupe • Gold Standard • GLA^a • W 25 Silver Arrow^a • 300 SL Roadster^a • Blue Falcon^a • Tanooki Kart^a • B Dasher^a • Streetle^a • P-Wing^a • Koopa Clown
		Standard bikes	Standard Bike • The Duke • Flame Rider • Varmint • Mr. Scooty • City Tripper^a • Master Cycle Zero^b
		Sport bikes	Comet • Sport Bike • Jet Bike • Yoshi Bike • Master Cycle^a
		ATVs	Standard ATV • Wild Wiggler • Teddy Buggy • Bone Rattler^a • Splat Buggy • Inkstriker
Tires			Standard • Monster • Roller • Slim • Slick • Metal • Button • Off-Road • Sponge • Wood • Cushion • Blue Standard • Hot Monster • Azure Roller • Crimson Slim • Cyber Slick • Retro Off-Road • Gold Tires • GLA Tires^a • Triforce Tires^a • Leaf Tires^a • Ancient Tires^b
Gliders			Super Glider • Cloud Glider • Wario Wing • Waddle Wing • Peach Parasol • Parachute • Parafoil • Flower Glider • Bowser Kite • Plane Glider • MKTV Parafoil • Gold Glider • Hylian Kite^a • Paper Glider^a • Paraglider^b
Courses
New courses		Mushroom Cup	Mario Kart Stadium • Water Park • Sweet Sweet Canyon • Thwomp Ruins
		Flower Cup	Mario Circuit • Toad Harbor • Twisted Mansion • Shy Guy Falls
		Star Cup	Sunshine Airport • Dolphin Shoals • Electrodrome • Mount Wario
		Special Cup	Cloudtop Cruise • Bone-Dry Dunes • Bowser's Castle • Rainbow Road
Classic courses		Shell Cup	Wii Moo Moo Meadows • GBA Mario Circuit • DS Cheep Cheep Beach • N64 Toad's Turnpike
		Banana Cup	GCN Dry Dry Desert • SNES Donut Plains 3 • N64 Royal Raceway • 3DS DK Jungle
		Leaf Cup	DS Wario Stadium • GCN Sherbet Land • 3DS Music Park • N64 Yoshi Valley
		Lightning Cup	DS Tick-Tock Clock • 3DS Piranha Plant Slide • Wii Grumble Volcano • N64 Rainbow Road
DLC courses^a		Egg Cup	GCN Yoshi Circuit • Excitebike Arena • Dragon Driftway • Mute City
		Triforce Cup	Wii Wario's Gold Mine • SNES Rainbow Road • Ice Ice Outpost • Hyrule Circuit
		Crossing Cup	GCN Baby Park • GBA Cheese Land • Wild Woods • Animal Crossing
		Bell Cup	3DS Neo Bowser City • GBA Ribbon Road • Super Bell Subway • Big Blue
Booster courses^c		Golden Dash Cup	Tour Paris Promenade • 3DS Toad Circuit • N64 Choco Mountain • Wii Coconut Mall
		Lucky Cat Cup	Tour Tokyo Blur • DS Shroom Ridge • GBA Sky Garden • Ninja Hideaway
		Turnip Cup	Tour New York Minute • SNES Mario Circuit 3 • N64 Kalimari Desert • DS Waluigi Pinball
		Propeller Cup	Tour Sydney Sprint • GBA Snow Land • Wii Mushroom Gorge • Sky-High Sundae
		Rock Cup	Tour London Loop • GBA Boo Lake • 3DS Rock Rock Mountain • Wii Maple Treeway
		Moon Cup	Tour Berlin Byways • DS Peach Gardens • Merry Mountain • 3DS Rainbow Road
		Fruit Cup	Tour Amsterdam Drift • GBA Riverside Park • Wii DK Summit • Yoshi's Island
		Boomerang Cup	Tour Bangkok Rush • DS Mario Circuit • GCN Waluigi Stadium • Tour Singapore Speedway
		Feather Cup	Tour Athens Dash • GCN Daisy Cruiser • Wii Moonview Highway • Squeaky Clean Sprint
		Cherry Cup	Tour Los Angeles Laps • GBA Sunset Wilds • Wii Koopa Cape • Tour Vancouver Velocity
		Acorn Cup	Tour Rome Avanti • GCN DK Mountain • Wii Daisy Circuit • Piranha Plant Cove
		Spiny Cup	Tour Madrid Drive • 3DS Rosalina's Ice World • SNES Bowser Castle 3 • Wii Rainbow Road
Battle courses		Wii U	Wii Moo Moo Meadows • GCN Dry Dry Desert • SNES Donut Plains 3 • N64 Toad's Turnpike • Mario Circuit • GCN Sherbet Land • N64 Yoshi Valley • Toad Harbor
Battle courses		Switch	3DS Wuhu Town • GCN Luigi's Mansion • SNES Battle Course 1 • Urchin Underpass • Dragon Palace • Battle Stadium • Sweet Sweet Kingdom • Lunar Colony
Other
Items			Banana • Blooper • Boo • Boomerang Flower • Bullet Bill • Coin • Crazy Eight • Feather • Fire Flower • Golden Mushroom • Green Shell • Lightning • Mushroom • Piranha Plant • Red Shell • Spiny Shell • Super Horn • Triple Bananas • Triple Green Shells • Triple Mushrooms • Triple Red Shells
Course objects			Antigravity Panel • Arrow field^c • Barrel • Bath Bomb^c • Beach Ball^c • Bell^a • Board • Bob-omb Car^c • Boulder • Bowser Statue • Bus • Bumper^c • Cannon • Car • Cargo truck • Cash • Ceiling Needle^c • Coin • Crate • Current • Dash Panel • Dash panel ramp truck • Drain pipe • Falling Pillar • Fire Bar • Fire Chain • Flipper^c • Glide Ramp • Goal Ring^c • Hoop^c • Hot-air balloon • Half-pipe^c • Icicle^c • Item Box • Lava Geyser • Leaf pile^a • Master Sword^a • Mecha Piranha Plant^c • Metal ball^c • Millstone • Mine Cart^a • Mushroom Platform^c • Mushroom Trampoline^c • Oil slick • Pickup truck • Pit^a • Ring • Rupee^a • Snowboy^a • Snowman • Spin Boost Pillar • Spinner • Submarine • Table^c • Tire • Toy Duck^c • Toy Goomba^c • Traffic cone • Train^a • Volcanic debris • Water Geyser^c • Winged Cloud^c
Enemies and species			Big Wiggler^c • Bone Piranha Plant • Boo • Bouncing Note • Bowser Monument • Bulber^c • Chain Chomp • Cheep Cheep • Clampy^c • Deku Baba^a • Dolphin • Dry Bones • Exploring Shy Guy^c • Fire Piranha Plant^c • Fire Snake • Fish Bone • Freezie • Frogoon • Fuzzy^c • Goomba • Goomba Tower • Goonie^c • Hammer Knight • Huffin Puffin^c • Incoming Chomp^c • Innertube Goomba^c • Jellybeam • Keese^a • Manta • Mecha Cheep • Mechakoopa • Mini Toad^a • Monty Mole • Moo Moo • Mr. Resetti^a • Nep-Enut^c • Noki • Penguin^c • Petal Guy^c • Pianta • Piranha Plant • Pokey • Ptooie^c • Raving Piranha Plant • Rocky Wrench^c • Screaming Pillar • Sidestepper • Skating Shy Guy • Small bird • Snowboarding Shy Guy^c • Star Thwomp^a • Stilt Guy^c • Swoop • Thwomp • Tiki Goon • Toad • Unagi • Whomp^c • Yoshi
Techniques			Anti-gravity • Drift • Hop • Mini-Turbo • Rocket Start • Slipstream • Spin Boost • Spin Turn • Jump Boost • U-turn • Underwater driving
Notable areas, landmarks, and sightings			Amsterdam^c • Athens (Hadrian's Arch · Parthenon) ^c • Bangkok^c • Berlin (Berlin Wall · Brandenburg Gate · Charlottenburg Palace) ^c • Bowser's Castle • DK's Tree House • Hammer Bros. Sphinx • London (Big Ben · Tower Bridge · Tower of London) ^c • Luigi's Mansion • Madrid (Prado Museum · Ventas Bullring) ^c • New York (Empire State Building · Statue of Liberty · Rockefeller Center) ^c • Paris (Arc de Triomphe · Cathedral of Notre Dame · Eiffel Tower · Louvre) ^c • Rome (Colosseum · Spanish Steps · Trevi Fountain) ^c • Peach's Castle • Sydney^c • Tokyo^c • Vancouver^c
Official tournaments	Mario Kart 8		Mario Kart 8 promotion tour • Mario Kart 8 Championship 2014
	Mario Kart 8 Deluxe	North America	NOA 150cc Tournament and NOA Battlethon • Mario Kart North American Open • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Holiday Fun Run • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Championship Cup 2022 • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe North American Qualifier 2022 • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe North American Qualifier 2023 • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Championship Cup 2023 • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Championship 2023 Qualifier • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Championship 2023
		Australia and New Zealand	Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Super Saturdays • Mario Kart AU/NZ My Nintendo Cup • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: AU/NZ Grand Prix
		China	Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Summit Invitational Tournament • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Online Tournaments (2021 Tencent series) • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe National Battle Team Open Tournament • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Open Team Championship
		Europe	Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Seasonal Circuit • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe European Championship 2023
		Hong Kong	Nintendo HK 2021 Cup
		Japan	Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Online Challenge • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Online Challenge Final Stage
		Spain	TorneoMK8D
		UK and Ireland	Nintendo UK VS Cup • Nintendo VS UK Cup
Miscellaneous			Andrew Trego • Animal Crossing × Mario Kart 8^a • "Blue Shell Blues" • Cheese^a • Daisy Cruiser^a • DK's Tree House • Emblem • Finish line • From the Pit • Gallery (Deluxe) • Ghost • Glitches • Gravity • Heart^c • Highlight Reel • Hyrule Castle^a • In-game statistics (Deluxe) • Item probability distributions • Lakitu • The Legend of Zelda × Mario Kart 8^a • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass^c • Mario Kart Band • Mario Kart TV • Mercedes-Benz × Mario Kart 8^a • Miiverse • Poochy^c • Pre-release and unused content • Shoe^c • Soundtrack • Sponsors • Staff (Mario Kart 8 · Mario Kart 8 Deluxe · Booster Course Pass) • Stamp (list) • Update history
Indicates exclusivity to Mario Kart 8 ^a Indicates downloadable content in Mario Kart 8 Indicates exclusivity to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ^b Indicates content available in version 1.6.0 and later of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe ^c Indicates content available in the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass
Related Play Nintendo activities: Take a spin in one of these beauties! • Racing through this poll • One cup, four tracks… • Leaf it to me • Gaming gardens trivia quiz • Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Memory Match-Up

[Edit] Wii U games
Super Mario franchise	New Super Mario Bros. U (2012) • New Super Luigi U (2013) • Super Mario 3D World (2013) • Mario Kart 8 (2014) • Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker (2014) • Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars (2015) • Mario Party 10 (2015) • Super Mario Maker (2015) • Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash (2015) • Paper Mario: Color Splash (2016)
Donkey Kong franchise	Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze (2014)
Yoshi franchise	Yoshi's Woolly World (2015)
Wario franchise	Game & Wario (2013)
Crossovers	Nintendo Land (2012) • Sonic Lost World (2013) • Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games (2013) • Super Smash Bros. for Wii U (2014) • Skylanders: SuperChargers (2015) • Minecraft: Wii U Edition (2015) • Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games (2016)
Compilations	New Super Mario Bros. U + New Super Luigi U (2013) • NES Remix Pack (2014)
Nintendo eShop	NES Remix (2013) • Dr. Luigi (2013) • NES Remix 2 (2014) • amiibo tap: Nintendo's Greatest Bits (2015) • Mini Mario & Friends: amiibo Challenge (2016) • Virtual Console games (2013-2016)

Mario Kart 8

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