WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM -- (Marketwired) -- 04/03/14 -- Nintendo today revealed new information on Mario Kart 8, the latest instalment in the fan-favourite racing series launching exclusively for Wii U on 30th 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(i), 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.
When Mario Kart 8 launches on 30th 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 bundle is also available at the Nintendo Store, and will be available to pre-order whilst stock lasts.
To check out a selection of the new (and reimagined) features coming to Mario Kart 8, a special new trailer can be viewed here.
For further details:
Mario Kart 8 teaser site http://nintendo.co.uk/mariokart8
Wii U website http://wiiu.co.uk
Wii U (UK) on Facebook http://facebook.com/WiiU.co.uk
Nintendo UK on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/NintendoUK
Nintendo of Europe on Twitter https://twitter.com/nintendoeurope
Nintendo UK on Twitter https://twitter.com/nintendouk
Nintendo UK Store http://store.nintendo.co.uk/home.dept
(i)Broadband Internet access required for online play.
About Nintendo:
The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii U™ and Wii™ home consoles, Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 4.2 billion video games and more than 669 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii U, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance™, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokemon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe.
Contacts:
Nintendo UK
http://nintendo.co.uk/
