Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart racing game series is a staple in Nintendo's line-up of video games. This spin-off is a kind of its own. A Mario Kart game has appeared on many of Nintendo's systems since the SNES. Super Mario Kart was the first Mario Kart game ever released, and now we're at Mario Kart 8.

Game ModesGrand PrixThere are two different versions of the Grand Prix the player can participate in. The Nitro Grand Prix and the Retro Grand Prix. The Nitro Grand Prix section of the Grand Prix contains sixteen brand new courses, where as the Retro one houses remastered courses from previous games. One has to beat a cup, starting from the Mushroom Cup or the Shell Cup, to unlock the next set of races. Each cup ups the difficulty of the rival racers and the courses get longer.

Time TrialEvery Mario Kart game features a Time Trial mode. In this mode, players race through the set amount of laps for each course to achieve the fastest time of completion they can. Players usually start out with Triple Mushrooms. Time Trials in Mario Kart 8 can be shared online with other players and, like other gameplay, can be uploaded to YouTube. You can also try to be others time by racing their ghost. If you are to beat somebody's fastest time, you will receive a Miiverse sticker.

Battle ModeThe verse mode in Mario Kart has changed significantly. Instead of being in an arena like place, your drive around on the same courses you race on in the Grand Prix. They have everything all the other races have in terms of items. The objective is the same, as you play to remove our opponents balloons through the use of damaging items.

FeaturesAnti-GravityAnti-gravity is one of the newest features to the game and was best shown off. Through special parts of the race courses, your automobile will be able to ride along surfaces you usually would not be able to race on, such as the side of a building. It adds more to the game itself, as new strategies are awakened to maintain your position as the Mario Kart champion.

Kart CustomizationKart customization is not a new feature, but improved and new to the home based console counterparts of Mario Kart. There are 36 different parts divided into 3 different categories; bodies, tires and gliders. Aside from looking cool and being a great way to show off what embodies you as a race, they actually serve to impact your kart stats. Whether is be to boost your speed at the expense of handling or sacrificing the strength of your mini-turbo to drive faster underwater and during anti-gravity, this is a key to victory.

Interactive ObstaclesLike previous installments in the series, Mario Kart has interactive objects on the track that the races take place. From the Giant Egg on Yoshi Valley to the Goombas that parade on any and every track they can. The twist this time around is, in anti-gravity mode, when you hit another racer or certain objects, you spin around and you perform a short burst of speed.

List of known Playable CharactersLightweights
Baby Mario
Baby Luigi
Baby Peach
Baby Daisy
Baby Rosalina
Toad
Toadette
Koopa Troopa
Shy Guy
Lakitu
Wendy O. Koopa
Larry Koopa
Lemmy Koopa
Mediumweights
Mario
Luigi
Princess Peach
Princess Daisy
Yoshi
Ludwig von Koopa
Iggy Koopa
Heavyweights
Bowser
Donkey Kong
Wario
Waluigi
Rosalina
Metal Mario
Pink Gold Peach
Roy Koopa
Morton Koopa Jr.
Mii*
List of known Racing CoursesNitro CoursesMushroom Cup Mario Kart Stadium
Water Park
Sweet Sweet Canyon
Thwomp Ruins

Flower Cup Mario Circuit
Toad Harbour
Twisted Mansion
Shy Guy Falls

Star Cup Sunshine Airport
Dolphin Shoals
Electrodrome
Mount Wario

Special Cup Cloudtop Cruise
Bone-Dry Dunes
Bowser's Castle
Rainbow Road
Retro CoursesShell Cup Wii Moo Moo Meadows
GBA Mario Circuit
DS Cheep Cheep Beach
N64 Toad's Turnpike

Banana Cup GCN Dry Dry Desert
SNES Donut Plains 3
N64 Royal Raceway
3DS DK Jungle

Leaf Cup DS Wario Stadium
GCN Sherbet Land
3DS Music Park
N64 Yoshi Valley

Lightning Cup DS Tick-Tock Clock
3DS Piranha Plant Slide
Wii Grumble Volcano
N64 Rainbow Road
DLC Pack 1 Egg CupGCN Yoshi Circuit
Excitebike Arena
Dragon Driftway
Mute City

Triforce CupWii Wario's Gold Mine
SNES Rainbow Road
Ice Ice Outpost
Hyrule Circuit
DLC Pack 2 Crossing CupGCN Baby Park
GBA Cheese Land
Wild Woods
Animal Crossing

Bell Cup3DS Neo Bowser City
GBA Ribbon Road
Super Bell Subway
Big Blue
ItemsItems are a key element in the Mario Kart series. They can be a determining factor in a race. They can either help you get in first place with the use of a Bullet Bill, or you losing that position because of a Blue Shell. So far, there are four new items and sixteen returning items.

Fire Flower
Lightning
Star
Super Horn
Bullet Bill
Bob-omb
Mushroom
Triple Mushrooms
Golden Mushroom
Banana
Triple Bananas
Crazy 8
Coin
Boomerang Flower
Piranha Plant
Green Shell
Triple Green Shells
Red Shell
Triple Red Shells
Blue Shell
Blooper
DLC
Mercedes Benz x Mario Kart 8
The Legend of Zelda x Mario Kart 8
Animal Crossing x Mario Kart 8