Surprise Nintendo Direct video is all about Mario Kart 8

mario-kart-directWell, this was a surprise.  A little over a month before releasing the eighth game of their venerable racing franchise, Nintendo has come out with a new Direct video all about Mario Kart 8.  If you’re a Kart superfan, or just curious as to what all the fuss is about, this video is a must watch.  Read on for all the details.

Anyone in the mood for a quick history lesson before we get to the video?  No?  Well, too bad.  The original Super Mario Kart debuted all the way back in 1992 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.  Designed by the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto, the game’s cast of famous characters, sharp sense of humor and innovative use of power-ups made it an instant classic.

22 years later… yes, TWENTY TWO YEARS later, the series is still a top seller for Nintendo, with the eight game due out at the end of May.  Mario Kart 8 will be bringing a number of new features to the series, the most visible of which is anti-gravity racing, which will allow Mario and pals to race up walls and ceilings.  New power-ups like the Boomerang, Piranha Plant, and Super Horn will be available, with the Super Horn acting as both an offensive and defensive weapon.  Mario Kart 8 will support multiplayer of up to 12 players at once, and will allow for the creation of both public and private tournaments.  And if you’re not into the whole playing with other people thing, you can download ghost runs and compete with friends and strangers without ever having to actually interact with them.  The game will also sport a new feature called Mario Kart Television, which will allow players to view replays of their races, edit them with built in editing tools, and upload them to YouTube.

So that’s the shallow end summary.  Ready to dive into the deep end of the Mario Kart pool?  Check out the full Mario Kart 8 Direct video below.

Mario Kart 8 will be released May 29th in Japan, May 30th in North America and Europe, and a day later in Australia. Or… a day earlier, since they’re a day ahead… which would mean it’ll be released on the same day… only, not. I don’t know, timezones suck.


About the Author: (@Joe_of_the_Dead) Lead Editor, Writer

Joe was born in a time of war. A console war. Two electronic titans were locked in a heated battle for the living rooms of America. Which titans, you ask? Well, the Fairchild Channel F and the Atari 2600 of course. You see, Joe is old. So many of his favorite games tend to be on the older side as well. But that hasn’t stopped him from developing unhealthy obsessions with such modern franchises as Halo and Mass Effect. Just don’t tell him how long it’s been since the original Metroid was released. His aging heart can’t take the shock.

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