Mario Kart 8 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mario Kart 8 |
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Wii U cover art
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| Developer(s) |
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| Publisher(s) | Nintendo |
| Director(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Programmer(s) | Yusuke Shiraiwa |
| Artist(s) |
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| Composer(s) |
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| Series | Mario Kart |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release date(s) | Wii U
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| Genre(s) | Kart racing |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Mario Kart 8 is a fun kart racing game made by Nintendo. It first came out for the Wii U in May 2014. In this game, players pick a character from the Mario world. Then, they race go-karts around exciting tracks.
The game keeps the classic Mario Kart fun. Players use special power-ups to get ahead or slow down rivals. A cool new feature is anti-gravity racing. This lets you drive on walls and even ceilings!
After its first release, Mario Kart 8 got extra content. This included new tracks and characters. In April 2017, an improved version called Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, was released for the Nintendo Switch. This version included all the extra content and a much better battle mode.
Mario Kart 8 has been a huge hit. Critics loved its gameplay and how it looked. Both versions are considered some of the best Mario Kart games ever. They have won many awards. The game is also one of the best-selling video games of all time. Over 76 million copies have been sold combined. The Wii U version is the best-selling Wii U game. The Deluxe version is the best-selling Nintendo Switch game.
Contents
Playing Mario Kart 8
Mario Kart 8 is a racing game where you drive go-karts. You can choose characters from the Mario universe. Some characters from The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Splatoon are also available. You can even race as your own Mii character.
As you race, you can pick up power-ups from item boxes. These items help you attack other racers or boost your own speed. You can choose from four different speeds before a race. "Mirror Mode" flips all the courses horizontally, making them feel new.
Many features from older Mario Kart games returned. These include motorbikes and 12-player races from Mario Kart Wii. Also, hang gliders, underwater racing, and custom vehicles from Mario Kart 7 are back. You can play with up to four friends on one system. Up to eight can play using a local wireless connection on Switch. Online, up to twelve players can race together.
The biggest new feature is anti-gravity racing. On special parts of the track, your kart can drive on walls and ceilings. If you bump into other racers or special bumpers in these areas, you get a speed boost! New characters like the Koopalings and Pink Gold Peach joined the fun. There are also new vehicles like karts, motorbikes, and all-terrain vehicles.
Four new items were added:
- The Boomerang Flower: You can throw it to hit other players.
- The Piranha Plant: It attacks nearby racers and gives you a speed boost.
- The Crazy Eight: This gives you eight different items at once.
- The Super Horn: It attacks nearby opponents and can even stop the powerful Spiny Shell.
The game has 32 courses across eight cups. An extra 16 courses were added later as downloadable content (DLC).
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the version for the Nintendo Switch. It includes all the extra characters, courses, and vehicle parts from the Wii U version. You don't need to unlock these features; they are ready to use.
Deluxe also added new characters. These include the Inklings from Splatoon, Bowser Jr., Dry Bones, and King Boo. You can also get costumes for your Mii character by scanning amiibo figures. These costumes are based on Nintendo characters and even characters like Sonic, Mega Man, and Pac-Man.
Other cool changes in Deluxe include:
- You can now hold two items at once.
- New features like auto-acceleration and smart steering help new players. Smart steering stops you from driving off the course.
- The Boo item returned. It makes you invisible for a short time and lets you steal an opponent's item.
In the "Booster Course Pass" for Deluxe, some courses change layout each lap. This makes them even more exciting.
Exciting Battle Modes
The biggest update in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the improved battle mode. Deluxe has five new courses just for battle mode. It also has three battle courses from older Mario Kart games. These courses are made for battles, not just racing.
The Feather item is back, but only for battle mode. It gives you a small jump boost. There are five different ways to play in battle mode:
- Balloon Battle: Players use items to pop each other's balloons. The winner is the one who pops the most balloons.
- Bob-omb Blast: This is like Balloon Battle, but all items are bombs!
- Shine Thief: Players try to hold onto the Shine Sprite for as long as possible. The player or team who holds it longest wins.
- Coin Runners: Players collect coins around the course. You can also steal coins from others. The goal is to have the most coins.
- Renegade Roundup: One team, the "renegades," tries to avoid the "authorities." The authorities use Piranha Plants to catch them. Renegades can free their captured teammates by driving over switches. This mode is like the game "cops and robbers."
Making and Releasing the Game
Nintendo first announced Mario Kart 8 in January 2013. They showed it off at E3 2013, a big video game event. The number "8" in the game's logo looks like a Möbius strip. One of the courses, Mario Circuit, was also designed to look like this.
Early on, the idea of using a drill to go through the ground was thought of. But it was decided that anti-gravity was more fun. All the courses were designed with anti-gravity in mind. Older tracks were even updated to include these new sections.
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Nintendo had many promotions for Mario Kart 8. There was a special edition with a spiny shell toy. There were also console bundles with hats and other accessories. Players who bought the game early could get a free Wii U game download.
Nintendo also worked with Mercedes-Benz. Mario, Luigi, and Peach appeared in commercials for the Mercedes-Benz GLA car. Three karts based on Mercedes-Benz cars were added to the game in August 2014. In 2014, McDonald's also released Mario Kart toys in their Happy Meals.
Game updates added new features. These included support for Amiibo figures and a super-fast 200cc difficulty setting. Two paid DLC packs added more characters, vehicles, and courses. Some of these were from other Nintendo games. For example, Link from The Legend of Zelda and Isabelle from Animal Crossing joined the races.
Online play for the Wii U version of Mario Kart 8 ended on April 9, 2024.
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Release
Nintendo first hinted at Mario Kart 8 Deluxe when they announced the Nintendo Switch in October 2016. They fully revealed it in January 2017. The game came out on April 28, 2017. Nintendo also released a steering wheel accessory for the Switch Joy-Con controllers. This lets players use motion controls to steer.
A software update in 2018 added support for Nintendo Labo. This is a toys-to-life kit that uses cardboard to make motion-controlled toys. You could use the Toy-Con Motorbike and Car to control your kart in the game. An update in December 2022 added an item customization option. This lets players choose which items appear in races or battles.
Booster Course Pass
In February 2022, Nintendo announced a paid extra content pack for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It's called the "Booster Course Pass." This pass adds 48 new tracks to the game. Most of these tracks are updated versions from older Mario Kart games.
The "Booster Course Pass" was released in six parts, called waves. Each wave had eight courses, split into two cups. All 48 tracks were released between March 2022 and November 2023. You can buy the pass from the Nintendo Switch eShop. You can also get it if you have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription.
Wave 1 came out on March 18, 2022. Wave 2 came out on August 4, 2022. It included a brand new course called Sky-High Sundae. Wave 3 was released on December 7, 2022. Wave 4 came out in March 2023. It featured a new course based on Yoshi's Island. Wave 5 was released on July 12, 2023, with another new course, Squeaky Clean Sprint. The final wave, Wave 6, was released on November 9, 2023. It added a music player and 18 new costumes for Mii racers.
Starting in February 2023, eight more playable characters were added. These characters had been in other Mario Kart games before. Birdo came in Wave 4. Petey Piranha, Wiggler, and Kamek arrived in Wave 5. Finally, Diddy Kong, Funky Kong, Pauline, and Peachette joined in Wave 6.
See also
In Spanish: Mario Kart 8 para niños
