Hello there, guys and gals! Welcome to Wants of the Masses. I’m Thomas and I will be your most beloved host for this evening. This is an article in which I will discuss games, tech, or just about anything that you, the general public, are looking forward to! Let’s just get down to business, shall we? This week’s topic of conversation is none other than “Mario Kart 8“! Phew, 8? I don’t know about you guys, but as long as they continue to make them as good as they have been, I don’t mind 8 of them at all!
If you haven’t had a chance to visit Nintendo’s website for this game and check out the available drivers, items, and tracks they’ve leaked so far, I have to ask. Have you been living under a rock? Check it out now, or even once more here.
“Mario Kart 8” is an upcoming “Mario Kart” game for the Wii U, which will be released in Japan on May 29, 2014, North America and Europe on May 30, 2014, and Australia on May 31, 2014, both physically and digitally through the Nintendo eShop, with the digital version requiring 4.83 GB of memory to be installed. Being the follow-up to “Mario Kart 7“, the game is the eighth installment in the main series, and eleventh overall in all of the “Mario Kart” series.
A prominent new addition is anti-gravity, allowing players to drive on almost any surface. Bikes, gliders, and underwater driving are also confirmed to return. In addition, ATVs will join traditional karts and bikes as a new class of vehicle.
This game is set at a very traditional price, $59.99, a fair price for this game as it stands right now. There are quite a few different tracks, cups, and difficulties to keep you occupied with this game, not to mention the fact the “Mario Kart” game is perfect for ruining friendships at any party. New faces, and even some new gear and rides have been introduced which is what I’m looking forward to. Different types of cars balance out in differing values of speed, acceleration, traction and other variables, as seen here.
The gameplay, however, maintains the traditional elements of previous “Mario Kart” games. Karts, which feature similar designs from “Mario Kart 7“, can be customized once again, along with some returning bikes, which handle similar to the current Karts and can only perform a wheelie via a boost, and the newly introduced ATVs, as well as more customization options that have yet to be revealed. The hang-glider and underwater mechanics also return, as well as Coins, with the player being able to collect up to ten in one race as in “Mario Kart 7“. Like “Mario Kart Wii,” twelve racers are present in normal races, which seems reasonable enough to maintain a decent race.
The newest feature for the series is anti-gravitational segments that not only allow for more dynamic track design, but also for racers to drive across walls, ceilings, and other seemingly unusual places. When in anti-gravity (like seriously…anti-gravity…cool!), if a racer bumps into another racer, the Kart spins rather than just bumping and both racers receive a speed boost. This technique is called “spin boosting” and while I’m interested to see it’s implication during the races, I’m not sure it’s going to do much, but I could be wrong. The tracks have been described as more narrow when compared to previous “Mario Kart” tracks, specifically those from “Mario Kart Wii“, which, for some people isn’t going to be a good thing at all. I severely enjoyed getting addicted to these games so much that I knew all of the secret passages for all the stages. For the fifth time in the series, courses from previous “Mario Kart” games will be included, and both the game’s anti-gravity mechanic, as well as the glider from “Mario Kart 7” and underwater mechanics will be incorporated into these retro courses, much like the retro courses in “Mario Kart 7“, which is interesting because they’re using a retro course, that was already retro in the first place, does that make it like retro squared?
The game is also to feature Wii U GamePad support. In addition to the standard Off-TV Play, players also have the option of displaying the course map, and when neither the Off-TV display nor the map are being displayed, the GamePad can be used as a horn button. Players have the option to toggle between these features at will. The GamePad can also be used to toggle on and off the gyroscopic steering.
If I were you guys, I’d head out and start to see about picking myself up a pre-order as soon as possible! I am definitely going to go and get mine soon enough. This game releases soon, so you better get working on it! Don’t forget to check back next week for the next segment of Wants of the Masses. Catch you later, guys and gals!
–Thomas