Mario Kart - News
April2017
Play The First NLife Battle Tournament in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - To the Battlefield!
No mercy...
As you may have seen earlier this weekend we had a Grand Prix tournament here on Nintendo Life, but now all in the community with a copy of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe can scrap it out in the game's new Battle Mode. NLife Battle Time (Code 4737-8576-9515) - starts on 30th April at 7am Pacific / 10am Eastern / 3pm UK / 4pm CET - Six hour runtime...
Play The First NLife Grand Prix in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Join the Race!
Drift into our Tournament
As you may have seen this week we're running two tournaments in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe; the first one is the NLife Grand Prix. Simply search for the code or name (details below) in the online Tournament menu and join in! NLife Grand Prix (Code 4698-2634-6539) - starts at 7am Pacific / 10am Eastern / 3pm UK / 4pm CET - Six...
Video The Top Ten Best Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Tracks
According to Alex and Arekkz Gaming, anyway
Well, if you want to know what this video is about, the headline sure clears that up. Our video man Alex has teamed up with his chum Arekkz Gaming to put together a top 10 list of race tracks in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which is sure to fire everyone up (and hopefully in a good way). This writer would...
News LAN Play in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is Only Truly Suitable for Competitions and Events
Everyone bring their adapter!
Back when we published our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe preview, focused on the Battle Mode, we mentioned the presence of a LAN multiplayer option. It was notable because, while standard local wireless play supports eight players, LAN allows the full complement of 12 players that you normally get in online matches. We quipped...
News Super Mario Kart Started Life As An F-Zero Multiplayer Prototype
Mario Kart got boost power!
Super Nintendo launch game F-Zero was an impressive feat of development at the time. With its use of Mode 7 visuals it made for a compelling single-player futuristic racing experience that is enjoyable to play even today. It's a shame that the franchise appears to be pretty much dormant now with the last entries being...
News Official Nintendo UK Store Embraces Luigi Meme in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Listing
Get a free 'Dare to Stare' t-shirt
With Mario Kart 8 Deluxe now just a week away, the official Nintendo UK store has unveiled an updated pre-order option for those that love the 'Death Stare' Luigi meme. As always it's the approach NUK takes to complete with being undercut on the likes of Amazon. In this listing the standard retail price - £49.99...
Video Mario Kart 8 Deluxe as an 'Ultimate' Handheld Release - Digital Foundry Weighs In
The technical breakdown
Though its release is still a week away, plenty of reviews and opinions on Mario Kart 8 Deluxe are now live - for our part we loved it. In our review we remarked that performance and visuals do the job nicely on the upcoming Switch version, though as always Digital Foundry has outlined the specifics in an analysis video...
Deals Get in the Race With These Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Accessories and More
Play Mario Kart in style
The release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is only a short way off now, and it might be the first time a lot of Switch owners have played this game as not everyone had the Wii U. Still, current owners of the non-deluxe version will no doubt be delighted by the new-found portability, new characters and of course the all-important...
Weirdness You Can Play and Win in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Without Touching the Controller
The smart & furious
Smart Steering is an addition to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe that many would consider a good thing, especially for younger or inexperience players. It nudges you in the right direction so you don't go careening off the edge of the track with reckless abandon, but upon closer inspection is can even be used to play the game for you. When...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Will Last About Three Hours on the Switch's Handheld Mode
Roughly on par with Breath of the Wild
When it comes to the Switch's main hardware, one of the sticking points for some seems to be that the battery life is a little less than ideal. Perhaps two to six hours won't last on the longest of car rides, but considering the kind of games that can be run on the Switch, it's certainly something that can be...
Video Let's See How Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Switch Compares to the Wii U Original
360 progressive difference
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe may not be a wholly new game, or really that much different from its original Wii U version at all, but nevertheless we were promised a solid 1080p 60fps experience from this souped-up version of Mario Kart 8, so we've pitted the two releases side-by-side in the video above. Naturally YouTube does an...
News Japanese Super Mario Website Has Updated Character Profiles and Mario Kart History
Even Waluigi makes it into the spotlight
Nintendo recently updated its character profile and Mario Kart history pages on the Japanese Super Mario portal website. Unfortunately these new descriptions are currently only available in Japanese, but it's easy to enjoy the artwork and design. In a neat touch you can listen to character sound effects in...
News The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Nintendo Switch Bundle Isn't Fake, But Is Exclusive to Russia
Ok then...
Yesterday, prior to the Nintendo Direct, we reported on a rumoured Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Nintendo Switch bundle that was apparently listed on the Russian web store - only visible in the country or via a web proxy. We wondered whether it was some Photoshop hijinks to raise hopes ahead of the Direct, though it seemed to have some
Rumour Russian Nintendo Store Leaks Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle
Possibly, if it's not an elaborate fake
We're honestly not 100% sure if this isn't an elaborate fake, but we'll leave it to you to make your own minds up. This Reddit thread makes a convincing argument for the existence of a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle for the Nintendo Switch. The theory is that this will be announced later today in the
Video Updated Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Trailer Aims for Top Gear
We know the karts don't have gears, please understand
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is getting closer, a nice early opportunity to enjoy plenty of karting goodness early on in the lifecycle of the Nintendo Switch. Wii U owners may have seen it all before, apart from the new Battle Modes and arenas, but there's no denying that with all of the former DLC thrown...
News The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe File Size Speeds Into View
Should fit snugly on your Switch
The release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on Nintendo Switch is just around the corner now, 28th April to be precise. One of the biggest selling points with the Switch version is the portability, however it's also got a fully fleshed out Battle Mode - unlike the more basic offering in the Wii U version - and you can also...
March2017
News Nintendo Confirms LAN Play, 'Renegade Roundup' and More for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
LAN enthusiasts will need those annoying adapters, of course
Earlier today we shared a neat overview trailer from Nintendo Japan for upcoming Switch title Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Now Nintendo of Europe has sent out a localised video and details, which give a full picture of some of the changes and new features in the updated racer. First of all, below...
Video Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Overview Trailer Shows Off Shine Thief and Lots of Footage
Revving up the hype
The Japanese market sometimes has a more long-term approach to building up major releases, which helps explain why Nintendo's YouTube channel for the country has gone big with an overview trailer for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It's the next big first-party Nintendo Switch game but isn't actually out until late April - nevertheless a...
February2017
News Nintendo Throws a Blue Shell at Real Life Mario Kart
Japanese Company "Maricar" is being sued for copyright infringement
A popular Japanese company that let you live out your childhood dreams and race karts dressed as Mario and company are being sued by Nintendo for Copyright Infringment. The go karting firm that goes by the name "Maricar" lets anyone that holds a Japanese driving license race around...
January2017
First Impressions Back on Track with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Switching gear
Given that a number of gamers who pick up the Nintendo Switch may not have owned a Wii U, it makes a lot of sense to have Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in the launch window for the new system. Not only is it one of the most fun games on the Wii U, but it has also been the best-selling too — with over eight million copies sold worldwide...
Gallery New Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Screenshots Look Pretty Fresh
Deluxe imagary inside
As we're sure you're aware by now, Nintendo Switch is getting an updated version of Mario Kart 8 in the form of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and it launches in April. In case you weren't excited enough already, here are some lovely screenshots from the Switch version. Feast your eyes. <screenshots...
News Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Launches On Switch In April, Features Splatoon Inklings
Revamped battle mode and more
Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will make its way to the Nintendo Switch sometime in April in North America and specifically on 28th April in Europe. Here's some info from the official PR: With Nintendo Switch, fans can enjoy the definitive version of Mario Kart 8 anywhere, anytime, even with up to 8 friends in local wireless...
News New Features for 'Mario Kart 8 Switch' Appear in Box-Art
UPDATE: Well, this is awkward
UPDATE: Vooks editor Daniel Vuckovic has admitted that the images were fakes - we blame hangovers from Christmas dinners on this one, folks. ORIGINAL STORY: In one of our previous articles, we went over a couple of Switch game listings that were published (and then hastily taken down) on the EB Games Australia's...
December2016
Video These Kids Might Be The Luckiest Mario Kart Fans In The World
Living the dream
Playing Mario Kart all day long is fun, but there's no substitute for having your very own circuit to race around in real life - and that's exactly what happened to two young fans of the series. Jack and Maddi Mello were given the treat of their lives when their parents Johnny and Krista created a track complete with working karts,...
November2016
Random Scarlett Johansson's Favourite Game Is Mario Kart, But She Didn't Say Which One
Toad in the Shell
When she's not busy taking down Hydra as Black Widow in the Avengers movies, it seems that talented actress Scarlett Johansson enjoys playing a bit of Mario Kart in her downtime. In a recent video chat with IGN, Johannson revealed her love of Mario Kart, though we don't know which one is her preferred version. Double Dash? Super...
Weirdness Mario Kart 8 Contains Hidden Swearing
But you'll have to do a lot of digging to find it
Modern computers allow gamers to dig into video game data files to their heart's content, and this often throws up some interesting discoveries which perhaps should have remained hidden. That certainly seems to have been the case with this latest Mario Kart 8 find. YouTube user Harm - who perhaps...
October2016
News Mario Kart 8 Has Now Sold 8 Million Units Worldwide
On a system with just over 13 million owners
Nintendo's has confirmed that Mario Kart 8 has sold 8 million copies since launch. The popular racer launched in 2014 and has become the Wii U's biggest commercial hit. What makes this achievement all the more remarkable is that the Wii U has only sold 13.36 million units to date. Elsewhere, Super Smash...
News King Boo in Mario Kart '8' and New Splatoon Goodness - Breaking Down the Nintendo Switch Reveal
Small hints for an exciting future
We have a big breakdown of the Nintendo Switch on the way, but we thought we'd look at some details from two games featured in the video - the ports / remasters / sequels / whatever they are for Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon. First of all, here's the trailer again. Let's start with the Mario Kart we see - it looks...
Random Office Mario Kart and the End of Productivity
They're all winners
Occasionally we get sent goofy videos and links on social media, many of which we politely leave alone, but to help change the subject from Pokémon and "where's NX", we thought we'd share one of the better recent examples that's proven popular over on Facebook. For those of you that use Facebook as much as this writer, all you...
August2016
News Disney Was Working On A Mario Kart-Style Racer Called Epic Disney Racers
Would have used co-op mechanic like Mario Kart: Double Dash
Last week we reported on a cancelled game by the name of Epic Donald, a spin-off from the Epic Mickey series. That wasn't the only canned "Epic" title that Disney was working on - another game in the same universe would have borrowed elements from Nintendo's Mario Kart series to create a...
July2016
Random Turns Out Mario Kart Might Make You A Better Driver In Real Life
Just don't thow any bananas skins, please!
Gamers rejoice - a recent study has revealed that playing action videogames can improve your real life driving skills. New York University Shanghai participants were trained by playing Mario Kart, using a steering-wheel controller to drive a go-kart on a track. The data showed that by playing Mario Kart the...
June2016
1992 interview gets translated into English for the first time
Mario Kart is one of Nintendo's most recognisable series but back in the early '90s the idea of the famous mascot hopping into a car was quite unique, and was even seen as something of a risk for the developer. With the benefit of hindsight we can clearly see Super Mario Kart as a moment...
Say hello to the "Make Believe Digital Event"
Those of you with long memories will recall that we covered the first episode of The BitBlock's "Make Believe" series a while back. Focused on the idea of the Wii U Animal Crossing game we all really wanted (rather than the one we actually got), it boasted lavish production values rarely witnessed on...
Rumour Nintendo UK Hints at More Mario Kart 8 DLC
Hmm, Kalimari Desert wasn't in the game...
Mario Kart 8 was arguably one of the most polished entries in the series yet (barring the botched battle mode, argh) and featured a substantial DLC campaign that greatly expanded upon the existent content that came with the disc. Many thought that the DLC was "done right", as it offered an impressive amount...
April2016
Nintendo Life Weekly NX Rumour Denied by New NX Rumour, Preorder the Prettiest New 3DS XL, and More
We're reaching critical mass
As E3 draws ever closer, the Nintendo NX rumour mill continues to churn out "information" at an alarming rate. We wouldn't blame you if you hadn't been able to keep up with all that's happened, so once again we've squashed all the week's happenings down into one convenient video. This week we look at an NX rumour that...
News Mario Kart Arcade GP DX Gets A Sizeable Update
Adds long-awaited new course "Pac-Man Stadium"
We've all been having so much fun playing Mario Kart 8 here at NL Towers that we've forgotten all about the existence of that other game that's not quite 'in the series', Mario Kart Arcade GP DX. Thankfully the good folks at Namco Bandai Entertainment haven't forgotten and are continuing to support the...
March2016
Random Fan Ports Super Mario Kart to HTML5
Not exactly perfect, but it works
Though it can seem a bit basic by modern standards, Super Mario Kart was an innovative racer for its time, and it kicked off one of the most successful racing game franchises to date. It did have some unique mechanics that haven't completely been translated to the newer games, and there's certainly still a fan...
News Mario Kart TV Website Confirmed for Closure on 5th April
In-game functionality remains, however
Mario Kart 8 has had a lot of excellent features that have earned it plaudits, such as anti-gravity mechanics, amiibo support and paid-DLC. A much trumpeted feature when it launched, also, was Mario Kart TV, which allows you to upload highlight reels directly to YouTube. Though you can access much of this...
February2016
News Nintendo Targets and Blocks Mario Kart Hack Videos From YouTube
MrBean35000vr just switches them to Twitch
In the past we shared some videos from the MrBean35000vr channel on YouTube, particularly in the case of intriguing mods and hacks to Mario Kart 8. The channel had found a way to mess around with the source code for the Wii U title - though had minimised public details of the hack - and created some fun...
Video See How Many Faces You Can Name In This 101-Character Super Mario Kart Race
"And it's go, go, go!"
As we all know, Super Mario Kart on the SNES allows 8 famous faces from the Mushroom Kingdom to challenge one another in a no-holds-barred race to the finish line. Subsequent entries in the franchise have added more driver choice to the roster, but YouTube user Hat-Loving Gamer clearly feels Nintendo hasn't gone anywhere near...
Video Mario Kart Meets Star Wars In This Forceful Fan-Made Clip
May the Blue Shell be with you, always
YouTube channel Dark Pixel Digital has created one of the coolest mash-ups we've seen in a long time - it effortlessly combines Star Wars and Mario Kart to amazing effect, and is of such high quality you'd swear it was an official video. Created using 3ds Max, V-Ray and FumeFX, the clip runs for over three and...
News Mario Kart Flashmob Surprises And Potentially Terrifies UK Shoppers
The UK's own Coconut Mall
We love a good flashmob here at Nintendo Life Towers - unless it's threatening to make us late for our train ride home, of course. The crazy thrill seekers on YouTube channel Base37 certainly know how to do a flashmob in style, as they recently descended on London's Westfield Shopping Mall armed with motorised go-karts in a...
January2016
News Mario Kart 64 on Wii U VC Doesn't Have Support for Ghost Data
Controller Pak emulation seems to be the issue
Some of you from around the earlier days of the Nintendo 64 may remember the Controller Pak. This add-on slotted into the back of the controller and acted as a means of saving or transferring data between consoles. While it wasn't absolutely necessary in every N64 game, many used it to include features...
December2015
Feature How Mario Kart Brought Two Soul Mates Together
The road to true love is littered with red shells
From now until the start of the new year we're going to be republishing some of what we feel are our best features of 2015. Hopefully this will offer the chance for newer readers to catch up on content they might have missed and allow long-time fans to reacquaint themselves with features they enjoyed...
Play Get on the Grid for Festive Mario Kart 8 Races With Nintendo Life
Aim for the podium
As announced earlier this week, we're having a couple of short community gaming sessions to warm us up for the Holiday season. It kicks off today (22nd December) with Mario Kart 8. You voted for the rules in our polls, though we're keeping it light-hearted and fun; as a result the Tournament we've set up is 150cc, with All Items...
Play Enjoy Some Festive Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. With Nintendo Life
Playing as a community
It's been too long since we last ran some community online gaming here on Nintendo Life, so with the festive season and some extra play time at our disposal we thought we'd bring it back for some Holiday fun. It's a slightly off-the-cuff and late decision, but the plan is to host events that you can join for both Mario Kart 8...
News Mercedes-Benz Representative Explains the Company's DLC Deals with Nintendo
Appealing to nostalgia
In a rather strange turn of events, the first DLC ever released for Mario Kart 8 was all themed around Mercedes-Benz cars. Understandably, this put many gamers on edge and many saw it as a sign that the company was 'selling out', though this was perhaps an unfairly harsh criticism. At any rate, Mercedes-Benz DLC struck again...
Random Take a Look at This Unofficial Version of Moonview Highway on Mario Kart 7
The closest thing this game's seen to DLC
It's difficult to believe, but Mario Kart 7 just passed its 4th birthday. Things looked a lot different in the days of its launch; the Wii U was still a year away, the eShop was in its infancy, and there admittedly weren't very many 3DS games worth owning. Mario Kart 7 marked the beginning of change, kicking...
November2015
News Mario Kart 8 to Feature in Competitive TV Show on 5th December
Will be broadcast on the Disney big grin channel
Nintendo of America's marketing campaigns for the Holiday season take various forms, and one seems to be a partnership to promote one of the Wii U's biggest hits. This will be through "Clash of Karts: Mario Kart 8", a show that'll be broadcast on Disney XD this coming weekend. In essence it's going...
News Nintendo Badge Arcade Gets A Mario Kart 8 Turbo Injection
Vroom vroom
We had mixed feelings about Nintendo Badge Arcade when we took a look at it over the weekend, but those with collecting streaks will likely find the arcade too cute and compelling to put down. Today Nintendo of Europe revealed that new catchers containing badges from Mario Kart 8 have just been added to Nintendo Badge Arcade
October2015
News New Euro Wii U Premium Bundle Contains Mario Kart 8 And Splatoon
Launches this month, costs £239.99
Nintendo has confirmed today that it is releasing a new Wii U premium bundle which contains two of the console's most critically-acclaimed titles, Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon. The pack - which will be a limited-time offer - contains the standard black premium Wii U console with 32GB of storage and all the usual...
September2015
Weirdness Mario Kart 8's Yoshi Bike Found In Japan
Well, kind of...
Those familiar with the latest instalment in the Mario Kart series will know that one of the available vehicles is the 'Yoshi Bike' - a motorbike shaped as Mario's long-time dino companion, obviously. As cool as it looks in the game (if that's the kind of thing that floats your boat), it looks even better in real-life. Twitter user...
News Updated Mario Kart 8 Wii U Hardware Bundle in North America Includes Both DLC Packs
No plastic wheel though (sad face)
One of the most popular Wii U hardware bundles of last year was the Mario Kart 8 package, with the North American equivalent coming packaged with the game, a lovely Red Mario Wii Remote Plus and a red Wii Wheel; all in all it was a great deal. Nintendo of America has retooled its Mario Kart 8 bundle, with an...
Mario Memories Mario Kart 8 and Discovering the Joys of Online Multiplayer
6th Place Forever
In this series of articles celebrating the upcoming 30th Anniversary of Super Mario, various members of the Nintendo Life extended family will share their memories and thoughts on the iconic franchise. This time we have our delightful reviewer Narelle Ho Sang. Some of my favourite memories of Mario are the ones I'm still making...
Mario History Mario Kart Wii - 2008
Filling the world with plastic wheels
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario game per day, each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. Mario Kart: Double Dash! on GameCube played its part in shaking up home console racing in the iconic karting series, while Mario Kart DS...
Video See Mario Kart 8's Mute City in a Whole New Way
GBA Ribbon Road and 3DS Neo Bowser City also get the treatment
You may remember that in the past we shared some videos from the MrBean35000vr YouTube channel. The hackers often use their skills to show off cool areas of games we haven't seen much of before, and were among the first to break into the Wii U. Courtesy of Nintendo's efforts with...
Mario History Mario Kart DS and Mario Kart Arcade GP - 2005
When snaking shook the world
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario game per day, each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. 2005 was a busy year in terms of Mario releases, with a whole host of options across portable and home console systems, all in the form of spin-offs...
Mario History Mario Kart: Double Dash!! - 2003
Seeing double
In this series of articles we'll write about one or more Mario game per day, each representing a different year as part of our Super Mario 30th Anniversary celebrations. Arriving two years after Mario Kart Super Circuit on the GBA, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! (emphasis not ours) is the fourth game in the Mario Kart series, or third...
August2015
News Awesome Mario Kart Trophies Are Now Up for Grabs on Club Nintendo in Europe and Australia
Star Power
Club Nintendo is all wrapped up in North America and it's heading towards its end date in PAL territories, too. Fans of the service in Europe and Australia can still grab some goodies with their remaining Stars, however, and some particularly awesome rewards have just been added. All of these Mario Kart trophies are up for grabs, and...
Pokémon being the notable exception
There may be a new Call of Duty, FIFA and Assassin's Creed on store shelves every single year, but Nintendo of America's Scott Moffitt stresses that Nintendo isn't looking to pull the same trick any time soon. Speaking to The Examiner, Moffitt addressed the issue of yearly updates, something which publishers...
July2015
News Mario Kart 8 Soundtrack CD Club Nintendo Reward Powerslides Into View
The perfect driving accompaniment
Club Nintendo might be about to close soon in Europe (it's already finished in North America), but in the meantime Nintendo is still being generous with the goodies on offer for dedicated Stars collectors in the region. For only 3000 Stars in Europe (2000 in Australia) you can now grab the Mario Kart 8 Original...
Weirdness Doting Dad Transforms Nursery Into The Ultimate Mario Kart 8 Tribute
Defying gravity
Reddit user troymcklure didn't want any old nursery when he created one for his newborn child. He decided that bog-standard teddies and pastel-shades were too mainstream, and decided instead to create a room themed entirely around Mario Kart 8 - and the most amazing thing is, this work follows his Zelda and Yoshi-themed
News Catch Up With the Mario Kart World Cup as it Enters the Knockout Stages
A blue shell away from glory
Mario Kart is one of Nintendo's most beloved and bankable franchises - with just one release per system and the addition of DLC on Wii U, it's an integral part of any console from the big N and a must have. Mario Kart 8 on Wii U is no different. It's also a popular game to watch, and the next two weekends bring an...
News Mario Kart Arcade GP DX Gets a Timely Boost with Major Update
Metal Mario and Rosalina join the roster
It's easy to forget that arcades exist in this day and age; if you've seen Wreck-It Ralph, that's how some of us still picture them in our mind. Unfortunately the majority of arcade machines nowadays are confined to bowling alleys alongside Whack-a-mole and Air Hockey tables. But we digress, Mario Kart Arcade...
May2015
Video What Do You Get When You Combine Mario Kart and Mad Max?
Mario Kart: Fury Road
It's the movie that everyone is talking about right now, Mad Max: Fury Road, starring Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult. Whilst you might not expect any crossover between this post apocalyptic world and the mushroom kingdom all it takes is some choice edits of blue shells, mushrooms and banana skins to the film's...
News Producer Of The Mario Kart Series Appointed As Head Of Nintendo’s Mobile Development Division
Likely to mean Hideki Konno
Following Nintendo's big announcement in March that it would partner with DeNA to bring popular Nintendo IP to new games on smart devices, there was much speculation about how exactly this enthralling venture would unfold. Now Japanese news outlet Sankei is reporting that Nintendo's latest financial results have shed...
April2015
News Mario Kart 8's 200cc Mode Has Apparently Negated Firehopping
"It's a legitimate strategy!"
Look at any popular, competitive video game and it's practically guaranteed that there will be a particular exploit that advanced players use to gain the edge over their opponents. Whether these exploits are "cheating" or not is very much debatable; it can certainly be argued that a glitch already in the game could just...
Video So, How Fast Is 200cc In Mario Kart 8?
Spoiler: Very - we compare it to 50cc, 100cc and 150cc
Oh Nintendo, with this free update for Mario Kart 8 you are really spoiling us! Sure, we're grateful for stability and the ability to purchase the awesome new Animal Crossing x Mario Kart DLC, but let's face it - today we are all about the brand new 200cc speed. This face-melting new difficulty...
Talking Point Mario Kart 8 DLC is a Winning Formula for Nintendo, But It Can Go Further
A real Battle Mode, Challenges and more
We suspect that the online multiplayer servers for Mario Kart 8 saw a handsome spike this week, with the launch of DLC Pack 2 and an update that includes the 200cc race class. It's a title that just keeps growing, and as we argued recently the arrival of non-Mario franchises points to a potential future for...
Video Here's Our Own Animal Crossing x Mario Kart 8 Showcase
The Return of Baby Park
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines....again! The second DLC pack for Mario Kart 8 is here and it is a must-buy piece of downloadable content if ever there were one. Even if Animal Crossing isn't your cup of tea, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about this pack. How about another F-Zero track? Is Dry Bowser...
Live Nintendo UK Shows Off Mario Kart 8 DLC and 200cc Mode
Remember to brake
As this is Mario Kart 8 day, in particular thanks to the free 200cc mode and the Animal Crossing x Mario Kart 8 pack, we thought we'd share yet another opportunity to check it out. Nintendo UK is running a live stream from 5pm to 6pm local time, which will be showing off the new tracks and 200cc mode. If you haven't yet had a...
Play Take On 200cc and DLC Racing in Mario Kart 8 With Nintendo Life
Race for honour and opportunities to gloat
It's a fun day for Mario Kart 8 fans, with a free update bringing a 200cc race class and more Mii costumes to unlock with amiibo. On top of that there's the main attraction, with DLC Pack 2 available now and bringing eight new tracks, three characters and four vehicles. We thought we'd celebrate the arriva
News Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2 Available to Download Right Now
Rev up the engines
The time is here, with the Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2 and software update now available to download; if you try and fire up your copy of the game it should automatically trigger a download update. Once that's done you can open up the game and set the DLC downloading - when that's finished you have various delights waiting for you...
News UK StreetPass Groups Planning Mario Kart 8 Race Meetings This Weekend
200cc mode is the focus
This week sees the release of the second Mario Kart 8 DLC pack, which brings new racers, circuits and vehicles to the Wii U's premier racing title. However, for many players these additions pale in comparison to the pack's most important feature: the introduction of a blazingly-fast 200cc race class
News Mario Kart Super Circuit Arrives on the Wii U eShop This Week in Europe
Yes, we're still waiting for the download update information
We're not sure why, but at the time of writing we're yet to receive the usual Nintendo Download Update news for Europe; we've enquired to see what's happening, in any case. Yet Nintendo of Europe does have its line-up at least partially confirmed, stating on Twitter that Mario Kart Super...
Bringing more gaming with less releases
Let's kick off this article with some current-day realities - not negative as such, but perhaps uncomfortable. At the moment, especially with the Wii U, Nintendo is responsible for producing the bulk of high-quality retail releases. There are partners or second-party studios producing some key efforts - like...
Poll Would You Like Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. DLC to Expand for a Whole Generation?
Platforms within platforms
This week Super Smash Bros. on Wii U and Nintendo 3DS had its first DLC in the form of Mii character outfits, while on 23rd April we'll get to enjoy the Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2. We know there's more to come in Super Smash Bros. in the form of purchasable characters - Mewtwo (already available to eligible Club Nintendo...
Video Nintendo Minute Races Around the Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2
On the starting grid
The Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2 - or Mario Kart 8 X Animal Crossing, if you prefer - is now just days away, adding another eight tracks, three characters (four if you count Boy and Girl Villager separately) and four vehicles. There'll also be the 200cc mode as a free extra for everyone, too. One of the Wii U's finest games is about...
Poll What Are You Most Excited About in the Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2?
Tracks, characters, vehicles, amiibo suits and free 200cc all coming
Earlier today Nintendo finally unveiled its full line-up for the Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2, with a whole host of lovely videos joining the announcement. We've also had a chance to go hands on with everything the DLC has to offer, including 200cc mode, to share our views on how its...
Hands On Hitting the Tracks in Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2 and 200cc Mode
It just keeps getting better...
When Nintendo announced that the second Mario Kart 8 DLC pack was coming earlier than promised, we were appropriately excited. Now that we've had a chance to get to grips with everything this extra content has to offer, suffice to say we're not disappointed. In this early look at the full DLC pack we check out the...
News Marvel at the Launch Trailer, Live Music and Tracks of Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2
Full details inside
After a lengthy period of furious winking, release date movement - for the better in this case - and rumours, Nintendo revealed the details for Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack 2. Some of the rumours actually proved correct, either by dumb luck or otherwise, and the line-up has certainly got plenty of fans excited. If you missed it, the...
News Nintendo of Japan Confirms the Tracks in the Upcoming Mario Kart 8 DLC
Baby Park and Neo Bowser City are in, after all!
With the second half of the Mario Kart 8 DLC just around the corner, speculation has been at critical mass. Just a few days ago, a rumour on NeoGaf stated that Neo Bowser City and Baby Park would be making an appearance, but that rumour was supposedly debunked. It has recently come to light that the...
Video Mute City in Mario Kart 8 Just Got Crazy Courtesy of 200cc Racing
The closest we'll get to a real F-Zero experience for now
It's not long until we'll be racing around in Mario Kart 8 at the slightly silly - but potentially awesome - 200cc speed. Whether a case of perspective or true to reality, the free update is bringing a level of pace that seems more than a mere one-third increase. Up to now Nintendo UK has...
Rumour Upcoming Mario Kart 8 DLC to Include Baby Park and Neo Bowser City
Supposedly dug up from the game's code
Update: Cancel the baby (park) shower, this is apparently a load of old bunkum, as we suggested it may be in the original article below. We're back to dreaming once again... Original Article: The Mario Kart 8 second DLC pack isn't far away, which mean we can start to fantasize about what tracks will be on...
Video This 200cc Mario Kart 8 Comparison Footage Shows Insane Speed Through Piranha Plant Pipeway
The power of flight
Mario Kart 8 will have a load of new content soon, with the 200cc racing class arriving as a free update for all players. We've already seen footage showing just how much it'll shake up the way we race, with the speed on offer seemingly more that the 50cc boost suggested by the name. Comparisons with 150cc laps are certainly...
Video See for Yourself How 200cc Speed Affects Mario Kart 8 Racing
Some tracks will never be the same again
Nintendo may be exploring quite a lot of paid DLC options, but it still gives us some free treats - the upcoming 200cc update for Mario Kart 8 is a good example. Revealed during Nintendo Direct, it'll arrive on 23rd April and bring a whole new level of speed to the terrific kart racer. The reveal video...
News Mario Kart 8 Animal Crossing DLC Pack Brought Forward to April, More amiibo Outfits on the Way
Track changes with the real-world seasons
Mario Kart 8 was saved for the finale of today's Nintendo Direct broadcasts, and with good reason. Satoru Iwata unveiled a free update that'll introduce a 200cc mode, but we also got more details on the upcoming Mario Kart 8 X Animal Crossing DLC pack and additional amiibo support. To start with the DLC...
News Mario Kart 8 Is Getting A Blisteringly Fast 200cc Mode For Free
Feel the need for speed on April 23rd
150cc has always been the sternest test in the Mario Kart series. Right from the launch of Super Mario Kart, this expert racing class represented the very best the franchise could offer: incredible speed and tough, skilled rivals. However, during today's Nintendo Direct a bombshell was dropped - 150cc is no...
March2015
Video Mario Kart 8 Hackers Duplicate Items For Racing Mayhem
All offline and not being shared, importantly
Mario Kart 8 is one of the best games on the Wii U, and through its DLC - more of which is due in May - has kept racers busy for many months. It's not entirely avoided the hacking fate of its predecessor on Wii, however, though widespread modding and cheating hasn't been a major problem to date. YouTube...
Video Watch As A Gaggle Of Oldies Are Exposed To The Joys Of Mario Kart 8
"I'd prefer Poker"
Mario Kart 8 is a game with almost universal appeal, effortlessly able to transcend the boundaries of gender, race and - as the video below proves - age. Yup, the world-famous React YouTube channel has taken a group of old people, parked them in front of a Wii U playing a copy of Nintendo's famous racing title and shoved...
News Mario Kart 8 DLC Still Set for May as Online eShop Purchases are Offered in Japan
Mario Kart.tv now linking to an eShop portal
Nintendo's taken notable strides in recent times with its online services and the eShop, particularly in the area of improving convenience for those buying download games when away from their console. In North America it's now possible to buy a decent collection of games via the company's official website...
February2015
News This Mario Kart 8 RC Toy Pretends to go Into Anti-Gravity Mode
Yes please
Well known US retailer JAKKS is currently promoting a variety of Nintendo toys, and last week we highlighted an articulated Link toy that's on the way. Another upcoming toy has popped up online, and is perhaps a cut above the rest - in both cool-factor and price. As you can see in the images above and below it's a remote controlled Mario...
January2015
Weirdness Totaka's Song Appears to Have Been Found in Mario Kart 8
Listen carefully
Kazumi Totaka is one of Nintendo's most experienced and talented composers and sound directors, yet that's probably not the reason that many recognise his name. He's better know for Totaka's Song, a simple melody that has been hidden within a whole load of Nintendo games. The first appearance seems to have been in X on Game Boy,...
Video Teens Race and Talk Smack in Mario Kart 64
"Yo dawg I've got the golden mushroom"
YouTube has plenty of ways to entertain us, and one formula that's hugely successful is the React series in which different groups encounter games and are filmed as they get to grips with them. With Nintendo battling for attention against its big rivals, it can be fun to watch teens - particularly - getting to...
News Mario Kart 8 Beats Stern Competition To Become Eurogamer's Game Of 2014
Racing to the finish
The Wii U had a solid 2014 in terms of software, with titles like Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, Bayonetta 2 and Super Smash Bros. all gaining high scores and securing plenty of admirers. Nintendo's console also picked up some much-needed momentum in commercial terms, too -- although as many industry analysts will tell...
December2014
Poll Which is the Best Mario Kart Game?
Will you go retro, HD or portable?
It's a time of year in which plenty of time is spent with friends, family and fellow web gamers debating all manner of topics. Is Kirby Nintendo's cutest mascot? Has Mario's moustache become bushier in the HD era? Will F-Zero ever return? It's a time of opinions, and having checked out the Game of the Year results...
YouTube celeb Rosanna Pansino is understandably starstruck
If you're a YouTube fan that enjoys rather friendly and accessible baking videos, there's a pretty good chance that you know about Rosanna Pansino — she has nearly three million subscribers and we previously covered a Cooking Mama 5 video of hers. Pansino has now posted a Nintendo-themed...
Video We Go Hands On With Some 2nd Wave amiibo Figures
Tiny Falcon Punches
The world is going amiibo-mad at the moment, and in this wave of hysteria, some retailers are releasing the 2nd wave of figurines a week earlier than originally planned here in the UK. We picked up three of the new wave and because we're so nice, we've made this little video to show you what we think of them. You're welcome. [...
News Sorry to Disappoint, But That 'New' GamePad Mario Kart 8 Commercial is Pretty Old
Just wonky effects, we'd wager
Over the past weekend we saw some chatter around a potential 'new' GamePad in a Mario Kart 8 commercial posted on the Japanese YouTube account; we clicked on over and were disappointed. The focus was on a GamePad shot that showed a controller that appeared thinner but blurry, but we realised this was actually a retread...
News Mario Kart 8 Starting Grid T-Shirt Accelerates Onto Club Nintendo
A pricey option for PAL racers
Club Nintendo may still insist on the completion of particularly annoying surveys, but it's still a useful means to pick up some goodies. While the North American version focuses on download games and occasional extras, the PAL equivalents serve up a range of merchandise, with fairly regular additions in recent times...
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