It’s official: Nintnedo today confirmed that Mario Kart 8 getting Piranha Plant and Boomerang Flower is true. Mario Kart 8, a Wii U exclusive racing game, will hit retail and the Nintendo eShop on May 30, and those two weapons will be in the mix. You can get it delivered straight to your door if you pre-order Mario Kart 8 from Amazon
Mario Kart 8 marks the first time Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Bowser and Co. have raced in full HD. Along with the higher-resolution graphics, the extra processing power of the Wii U will let Mario Kart 8 introduce some original track designs, including several that highlight the game’s new anti-gravity feature.
Yep, anti-gravity — players will be able to race upside down or up vertical surfaces. That means you’ll be using the Piranha Plant and Boomerang Flower in some creative ways as well.
In addition to anti-gravity features, Mario Kart 8 will include the return of 12-player online competitive play, four-player local multiplayer, hang gliders, underwater racing and motorbikes.
While the fun news today is Mario Kart 8 getting Piranha Plant and Boomerang Flower, Nintendo also shared a few more Mario Kart 8 features:
- Spin Boost: While racing upside down or on walls, players can bump into other racers or certain track obstacles to get a speed boost. The Spin Boost fundamentally redefines the way that players compete, and makes anti-gravity 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 favorites, including all seven of Bowser’s Koopalings, who are playable for the first time in video game history.
- New Items: Two new items join the fray in Mario Kart 8. First, the Piranha Plant attaches to the front of the player’s kart and chomps at other characters, banana peels on the track 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 backward.
- New Courses: Remixed classic courses make a return in Mario Kart 8, with favorites 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 re-imagined. For example, Toad’s Turnpike now allows players to drive up certain walls in anti-gravity mode. Mario Kart 8 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 the Wii Remote and Nunchuk. The game can also be played in off-TV mode using just the Wii U GamePad.
So, what excites you more, Mario Kart 8 getting Piranha Plant and Boomerang Flower or the anti-gravity feature? Or is it one of the other features above?
