One month from today, Mario Kart 8 will be released for the Nintendo Wii U, and in preparation for that release Nintendo presented a brand new Nintendo Direct video that announced some additional news, including a Mario Kart 8 Wii U bundle, a free downloadable game offer for Wii U owners who buy Mario Kart 8, details about online features, new characters and new items.
“Everyone loves Mario Kart,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “It’s a franchise that brings people together for fun at a family gathering, a frenzied race against friends or just an afternoon break at the office. The numerous new features of Mario Kart 8 make this the most ambitious version yet, and one that will have players of all skill levels racing for the checkered flag.”
Mario Kart 8 will features online multiplayer with up to 12 players in four different multiplayer modes. Players can create public or private tournaments for which they specify the day of the week, the time and the rules. As always, players will be able to race against ghost data from friends or the top 10 worldwide racers. If you should beat the development team’s ghosts, you’ll be rewarded with stamps for use in Miiverse.
As was previously announced, players can watch their highlight racing reels, rewind them, play them in slow motion or upload them to Miiverse. You can also upload your replay directly to YouTube.
Nintendo announced new items for the game, including the new super Horn which blows away all other items. Sounding the Super Horn issues forth a sonic shock wave that blasts away everything in the vicinity, including other drivers, Red Shells and even blue Spiny Shells. It’s a great asset, especially for drivers trying to maintain their lead. Mario Kart 8 also introduces the Crazy Eight, a swirl of eight different items that lucky players can use one by one. Other new items in MK8 include the boomerang flower and the piranha plant.
Two new playable female characters were introduced for Mario Kart 8 today. New heavyweight driver Pink Gold Peach joins the circut as well as Baby Rosalina. As in past Mario Kart games, you can again choose to play as your Mii. The game now has a total of thirty playable characters.
What’a new Nintendo game without a bundle to go along with it? Nintendo is of course releasing a brand new Mario Kart 8 Wii U Bundle on May 30th. The bundle will come with the Wii U Deluxe Set system, a Mario Kart 8 game, a red Mario Wii Wheel accessory and a red Mario Wii Remote Plus controller. MSRP for the bundle is set at $329.99.
Another incentive Nintendo is introducing is a free game offer. People who buy Mario Kart 8 and register the game with Club Nintendo before July 31st will receive a free Nintendo eShop download code for an additional Wii U game. Games of choice for this offer are New Super Mario Bros. U, Pikmin 3, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD or Wii Party U. That’s a two-for-one deal featuring some of the all-time great Wii U games. This offer also applies to people who get the game in the Mario Kart 8 bundle or digitally in the Nintendo eShop.