Earlier this week, ahead of the launch of the first Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack, we let our imaginations — and hopes — run free in creating more DLC packs that we want to see. It was certainly fun for us, though a common complaint was that they weren't realistic. Forgetting the fact that predicting Zelda DLC a year ago would have likely been greeted by similar accusations, we thought we'd dial back and look at content that could feasibly be included in the Animal Crossing x Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2 — it's due in May 2015.
So far the only firm details Nintendo's given regarding this pack are the characters that'll be included — Villager, Isabelle and Dry Bowser. As you can see in the artwork above the rest is yet to be revealed, so we've decided to have a go at predicting what we could see in the vehicles and tracks.
There's logic in our choices, primarily in the fact that themed content in the first pack references other games — such as Dragon Driftway referencing bosses from the two Super Mario Galaxy titles, along with the Excitebike Arena showing retro flair — and a prominent returning franchise that had a presence in Nintendo Land, in the form of the F-Zero track Mute City. In that sense we've looked at brands that were given a push in the Wii U launch title and some major upcoming releases that could pave the way for semi-promotional tracks and vehicles. We've also looked for themes that would actually work in a racing context, of course.
You can see our thoughts below, then — bear in mind that we're covering bases and that, like DLC Pack 1, there may be a couple of retro tracks and a fairly generic inclusion (like Ice Ice Outpost), so it's highly unlikely that all of these ideas will make it. Nevertheless we think there's a reasonably chance that some of them could make the cut.
Leaf Cup
- Pikmin — With the recent release of the short movies, this remains a franchise that appears to be very important to Shigeru Miyamoto; naturally he can drive the agenda should he wish to. Considering the theme of the cup, the continued push to promote the brand with releases and the obvious potential for the track — such as riding around over-sized vegetation and fruit — this seems like a reasonable bet.
- Yoshi's Woolly World — Here's one of those promotional inclusions, though is less likely than some others due to the Egg Cup and Yoshi's Circuit appearing in pack one, yet few opportunities are missed by Nintendo to promote the cute mascot. With a stage already included in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, it wouldn't surprise us if Yoshi returned again in pack two.
- Star Fox (Corneria) — Whether it'll arrive in 2015 as targeted or not, Star Fox is coming to Wii U; this is a franchise that — when you step outside the bubble of dedicated fans — could do with a boost in profile. The limited releases in recent years and generations is eased by its ongoing prominence in the likes of Smash Bros., but a stage sweeping through a Corneria environment (with a battle raging all around) could build hype for its eventual arrival on the home console.
- Animal Crossing — Of course this is in there, and rather like Hyrule Circuit could come at the end of its themed Cup; we expect to see cute characters surrounding the tracks, the sight of the train passing through town and an overload of whimsy.
Bell Cup
- Super Mario 3D World — The presence of the bell logo that became so familiar in the Wii U platformer suggests that a track may be themed on the terrific Mario title. Our thoughts include a recreation of the retro Mario Kart level (how meta would that be) or a playful track encompassing a variety of stages from throughout the game's worlds. It could be marvellous, regardless.
- Luigi's Mansion — When you look at the bottom right of the image at the top of the article you see a track surrounded by looming, gloomy trees. The style reminds us primarily of Luigi's Mansion, particularly some artwork prominent in Dark Moon on 3DS. Whether a reproduction of a retro track or one in the standard spooky Luigi style — let's not forget its role in Nintendo Land, again — we think this is pretty likely.
- Metroid — As you can see in our vehicle predictions below, we feel that the Nintendo Land vibe may be applicable here, and the feeling remains that while the series is on ice at present — at least in terms of confirmed projects — it's still important to Nintendo. This could potentially take place on one of the many planets / space bases from throughout Metroid lore, or any environment where actual Metroids have the chance to fly around in the background.
- Mario Party — With Mario Party 10 coming to the Wii U, along with the playground setting and the series trend of competitors travelling together in vehicles — introduced in Mario Party 9 — this could be a relatively 'safe' and colourful inclusion. Some fun twists could come with items as dice that determine alternative routes, for example, so it could be creative despite its mini-game source.
Vehicles
- Animal Crossing Train — A miniaturised train as a vehicle in honour of the commuter's transport of choice into town? Yes please.
- Arwing — A kart shaped like the iconic Star Fox ship would surely be a fan favourite.
- 16-bit kart — We've seen a retro-styled sword in Hyrule Warriors, and Nintendo isn't afraid of playing on nostalgia.
- Samus' Ship — It could be based on the rather cute design of Nintendo Land, and would make us smile when blasting around the tracks.
Those are some of our thoughts on what the Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2 could bring, but what do you think? Which of these ideas do you like or think are possible, or what alternatives would you prefer to see? Let us know.
Comments 79
GBA retro track or riot!
Really, such good courses that would be great in 3D with anti gravity sections :<
(Broken Pier, Ribbon Road...)
I really want to see GCN Rainbow Road return.
"Mario Kart 8 - That Mario Kart that has 4 Rainbow Roads!
My prediction: a female villager alongside the male villager. I think it would be silly not to do it.
@VolcanoFlamesNL It would be 4, with SNES RR from DLC Pack 1 :>
Isabelle has already been confirmed.
I wonder if there'll be another Rainbow Road in pack 2, like Double Dash's Rainbow Road. Also, hoping there's a Kirby track,or...eh, screw it. I want an Earthbound track. It'd never happen in a million years, but I want that to happen.
Don't see how the 16-bit kart would work exactly since the Pipe Frame pretty much does the nostalgia job. Otherwise, everything else is indeed fair game. Can see Star Fox and Yoshi's Woolly World happening, Luigi's Mansion (as a new race track) would be nice too.
I shall look forward to DLC Pack 2 open-mindedly.
CHEESE LAND
@Gridattack Oh yeah, right. I don't have the DLC yet so that's an error on my part.
3 DLC tracks I think will get in are an Animal Crossing track, Wii Maple Treeway, and GBA Rainbow Road.
I need that Baby Park! 8 laps of battle royal racing... And special items, I really start missing them. Still, a fantastic game with great DLC so far, but Double Dash has a special place in my memory, and a large space in my games collection as I nearly finished my 16 player LAN setup
@SanderEvers That doesn't matter does it? I think it would be nice if you could make that choice.
For tracks, I think:
Animal Crossing Leaf Cup
Bell Cup
TBH i dont think theres gonna be many nintendo franchises track, ,its possible but i think its unlikely from what we have seen, so 3 new ffranchises track for sure, like metroid, animal crossing and star fox probably
@Grumblevolcano that sounds amazing to me I don't think there'll he another spooky house themed track but then again there are two desert ones so we'll see. I also predict they'll do a battle mode pack with old stages in there and that'll be the last DLC pack.
That starfox idea you pitched sounds great!
Makes me instantly think of the Skies of Arcadia track in sonic racing transformed
The best racing track in any game ever but of course I would say that I'm a little biased
I'm expecting a Starfox stage for sure and also I'm expecting a Kirby one rather than Metroid. I would also like to see a stage based out of SMB3.
I really really hope the animal crossing track takes advantage off the internal clock and changes depending on the time of day and has random weather, that would be incredible. Imagine playing it in the winter and it being snowy or at night time and its dark or during the day and having random times when it rains or is cloudy or during special events like on halloween the characters in the stands have halloween costumes etc. Please make it a reality Nintendo..
Where is SNES ghost valley?
I just want a Tropical Freeze track with music by David Wise- and I was thinking the image on the bottom right could be that. It doesn't look quite like a Dark Moon track to me. Besides that, there are literally zero new Donkey Kong tracks, which doesn't seem right since every Mario Kart has at least one.
Seeing as the first batch of DLC has turned out to be pretty awesome I welcome another helping on new and retro courses. A Metroid cart is a must for the next DLC!
@Gridatttack totally agree with you on Ribbon Road. I'd love to see that track and there's so much they could do with it.
I don't really care, after seeing hoe good thr first flc is they have all my confidence. It will be great.
I'm mostly curious how they'll differentiate the Animal Crossing cup and the already existing Leaf Cup... Maybe they could name the new one 'New Leaf Cup'?
I'm sure around 3 tracks are going to be original, and some are going to be retro tracks. Having 8 new franchise tracks seems like a bit too much.
It seems like Nintendo is adopting a strategy of including something for everyone with the first DLC. They include tracks, characters, and karts because most people are only interested in one of the three, but they'll buy it all for a low price. They have Link for those dedicated Zelda fans and those wanting a legitimately new character, and cat peach/tanooki Mario for younger girls/boys. They have original, retro, and tracks from many franchises. It's a good strategy, and I think they're doing it again. We animal crossing characters, but a character from Mario too.
If only that strategy would work as well for the Wii U itself.
I hope they add Baby Park, a SM3DW track and Peach Beach.
Don't you think if Nintendo had more references to other games in their tracks, they would advertise it currently for hype sake?
Would like the leaf cup to be called The village cup - Think that sounds good....
As there is a samus amiibo suit, I think a metroid track will happen (Captain Falcon's amiibo use and mute city - makes sense)
Based on that logic, there should be a kirby themed track also.
@Squid Village cup!
A Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon track would be awesome!
@VolcanoFlamesNL Rainbow Road(s) are the worst tracks of the series, REALLY hate them!
I think these all make perfect sense actually!
I really hope these more DLC in the future.
I personally would love a Kirby DLC pack. Kirby's already had a racing game so we've already got vehicles to choose from and well as some tracks. And Kirby just fits into the Mario Kart-esque scene so well.
I'd also like an F-Zero DLC Pack, but because Mute City and the Blue Falcon got in already, it feels like it won't happen because they've already included the basics of a F-Zero DLC Pack.
Retro F-Zero X and GX courses, please!
I would love to see these re-made for MK8.
GBA Sky garden
Wii Luigi's curcuit
GCN Mushroom bridge
N64 Banshee boardwalk
New courses
SMB3DW
Animal crossing
Donkey Kong conuntry
Wave Race dolphin park
@Shambo I always thought that Baby Park would make an excellent MK8 Battle Course.
Baby Park. That's all I ask. And Luigi Circuit from GCN, Maka Whuhu from 3DS, GBA Bowser Castle, and Maple Treeway. Plus, there is already a Luigi's Mansion type track in Mariokart 8.
Samus's ship may be the only vehicle I really want to see. I'll let Nintendo decide on the new tracks, too; I just want to see Waluigi Pinball and Wario Colosseum return.
@ThomasBW84 I think there's already a Leaf Cup in the game. It might be called the New Leaf Cup, or the Acorn Cup.
As for content I'd like to see? I'm not fussy, though I wouldn't object to Purple Yoshi and Purple Shy Guy, plus maybe even Brown and Magenta Yoshi and Grey and Magenta Shy Guy as extras. But at least add the entire core Yoshi family to the game! Remember Lilo & Stitch? What about ohana, Nintendo?
@mystman12 If the rumor with Diddy Kong Racing 2 arriving is true, they probably want to tone down the Donkey Kong references in MK8.
I can only hope the next Mario Kart is Nintendo Kart. Seems only logical. Love the suggestions! Pikmin in particular.
@mystman12 I'm with you there man, a dk track would be cool. Looks a bit mangrove like in that picture to me.......
The only franchise licensed stage I think we'll see in the Leaf Cup is Animal Crossing, with a track through the main city. PERHAPS a Luigi's Mansion stage as well.
As for the Bell Cup, surely a 3D World related stage would be in order, perhaps even a new Bowser's Castle considering Dry bowser.
As for the rest of the stages, I think we'll get mostly new stages with maybe one or two retro tracks. Which ones, your guess is as good as mine.
As long as Waluigi Pinball returns, I'll buy the pack. Otherwise, I'd enjoy a kart or two lifted from Double Dash, as the Bullet Blaster(?) and Waluigi Racer are two of my favourite vehicles from the entire series.
Cheese Cup:
Cheese Land (MK Super Circuit)
Cheese Bridge Area (SMW)
Chadder's Cheese Factory (ACNL)
Rainbow Cheese (Original course)
I think Maple Treeway Wii would do nicely in a leaf cup the track could get darker and darker by each lap and have more leafs blowing around kind of stormy ? Also i want to see Choco Mountain N64 brought back and i like the Star Fox Arwing Kart Idea alot actually.
I don't think it will be quite this exciting.
@Mode7 Rainbow Cheese is an instant winner!
If not a Yoshi's Wooly World race, then at least a Kirby's Epic Yarn track would be great, with all those threads and buttons... Beads instead of coins...
Yarn Farm, anyone?
I think Star Fox and Metroid are too important to be included in this DLC. I believe the'll probably get their own Star Fox/Metroid x Mario Kart 8 DLC packs. I'd really enjoy if Fox were to be a playable character ^^
CROSSING CUP:
GBA Sunset Wilds
Woolly World
N64 Banshee Boardwalk
Animal Village
BELL CUP:
3D Plains (3D World themed course)
Distant Circuit (Pikmin themed course)
3DS Neo Bowser City
Neo Rainbow Road
@NintyMan I don't think the ice track situation would be a reason not to have a Tropical Freeze track namely because the only frozen areas are towards the end of the game. Given the nature of those levels, I think it would be wise for another area in the game to be represented.
Some of these could happen but there is not one original track on here, which is understandable because how could you predict such a thing.
Off topic but idc, cause I GOT MOTHER 3!
@CrazyOtto I really like it, but I would replace Neo Rainbow Road with something else.
MORE BATTLE COURSES!!! Maybe arenas....
@Mode7 Rainbow Cheese should be above Cheese Land for maximum effect!
I just want Baby Park to come back, too, that's all.
I want a Pokemon track
@Tsurii897
Don't get me wrong, I appreciated Tanooki Mario's horn sound too. I still think Tanooki Mario could be popular with kids, and that was probably Nintendo's reasoning for including him.
Would love Maple Treeway, but it's been in Wii and 7. I'd be surprised to see it.
@Vinelea It is an incredible track though!
Gotta be a Bowsers castle - do love me the N64 one
For the Animal Crossing car, they should add Gracie's car from the 1st game:
@YoshiTails Of course this an unpopular opinion but I really don't want any more N64 tracks in MK8, 4 is enough especially as representation from all other previous Mario Kart games is less than 4 (e.g. GBA only has 1). I would be perfectly fine with N64 battle arenas though as to me battle mode is pretty much nonexistent without arenas.
I predict:
Item/Animal Crossing Leaf Cup
Super Bell Cup
It all depends if there is going to be another DLC pack after this, but if there is I would guess Kirby and Metroid/Samus would be held back for more packs.
Its not being Called the Leaf Cup instead its being called the Crossing Cup and i reckon Maple Treeway will be in the leaf cup can see it being there as a good anti gravity track in the later part of that track but with the rest of the tracks im not sure
would be nice if nintendo do DLC for MK8 until have all the courses from the 7 games before ,adding also No-mario courses, karts and characters before the next installment being Nintendo Kart
@Mode7
AHAHAHAHA!!! THAT WAS GREAT!
@VolcanoFlamesNL Too many Rainbow Roads is impossible!
I really hope to see this turn more into a Nintendo Kart over time. We need the likes of Fox and Samus in there asap, not just those (A)Mii( costumes, which personally I don't really like all that much.
Cook ideas
I really hope there's a Captain Toad track.
As long as there is not yet another Rainbow Road track. Those tracks are like visual vommit.
@Darknyht More Rainbow Road tracks it is!
I think the first dlc pack they released Is amazing, so if they do the same thing they did for that one I'll be one happy camper. They don't have to blow my mind or anything. But Nintendo usually does anyway.
I hope there is a Kirby track or a Pokémon track.
I could certainly live with all of these predictions
They need more stages as promotions...like a Woolly World, Mario 3D World, Zelda U, Majora or Splatoon track..heck, even Smash Bros.
add the n64 classic battle mode.
this new one is so lazy and cheap. its racing with no laps to win. nintendo really ruining classic games lately. this console and nintendo are doomed.
@Tsurii897 By "marketing" I mean what they teased in the DLC announcement.
My predictions:
New Leaf Cup:
GCN Wario Colosseum
Wave Raceway: I remember Wave Race 64 when I was a kid and I would love to relive those memorys by making a course based of it. This will be mostly underwater of course. And a few ramps also.
Koopa Troopa Forest: This mysterious place is unknown to anyone. In shape a Koopa like Yoshi Circuit is one of its features. This course will have lots of anti-gravity. And it's theme will be very catchy.
Crossing Streets: a course based on Animal Crossing will have you climb up a waterfall and glide to see the sunset. This course will change each lap. Lap 1: Day, Lap 2: Sunset, and Lap 3: Night.
Super Bell Cup:
GBA Rainbow Road
3DS Neo Bowser City
Luigi Circuit: Luigi is one of my favorite characters in Mario. Why not add a course based off of him. the Year of Luigi must continue is one time!
Corneria: What this guy said.
My predictions:
=============
Crossing Cup:
Peach Gardens (DS)
Toadshrine Ruins
Mushroom gorge (Wii)
Animal Crossing Circuit
================
Bell Cup:
3D World Circuit
Baby Park (GCN)
Toadville Treetops
Lava Lake
Tap here to load 79 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...