Video: Join Us For A Relaxing Weekend Drive Around Mario Kart 8's Vintage Circuits

Pumped! I'm ready to burn tires. May 30th can't come soon enough.

I really want to watch these videos, but I want as many tracks as possible to be a surprise, so I'm avoiding watching anything MK8 related.

Envy

I hope in future, Ninty do more retro tracks as Downloadable content. I want an update Wario Stadium and Bowsers Castle from N64

Was that your own green shell that hit you it the first track? Priceless

Is it just me or is falling off the track much more merciful this time around? There seems to be very little downtime after falling off course. Maybe it's a situational thing.

Thomas, you truly were a speed demon in many of these clips. In terms of the game, I've been trying to avoid MK8 videos as much as possible, but these are impossible to resist. The disappointing new Battle Mode and somewhat limited roster aside, this looks to be the best Mario Kart yet

I hate those stupid looking helmets. I hope they're optional.

Remember guys, Only 20 days LEFT!!! @[email protected]

@Ootfan98 no DLC for this game is a missed opportunity. I really hope they'll add new courses and characters down the line. I don't mind paying for it.

Hey, that's not fair, you're getting a huge amount of practice before everybody else even gets the game!

@AyeHaley Yes! I want Baby Baby Park! I think thats the name of the track.

I can not wait for this game...looks brilliant.

@Ootfan98 Yeah, maybe with Bowser Jr, Birdo and Diddy Kong included...

N64 Rainbow Road gave me chills... the music, the graphics... ALL OF IT.

Thanks for the video! I get more and more excited for this!!

Wait, when did this release date change? I swear it was May 20th ;___;

@LastLife yes I did notice that, after thinking about it, maybe they're trying to balanced the game to be more race oriented. The only reason I thought this was the reason they added the new item that can block the blue shell, maybe less downtime when fallen is geared towards the same idea. Just a thought.

Double Dash has always been my fave MK. Hope there's a handful of them tracks in MK8 with the HD touch up.

Just done a bit of research. Dry Dry Desert and Sherbert Land return from the GCN. Not two of the greatest, but decent. I long for my MK track ever. Gamecube's Bowser's Castle to be re-imagined.

can not wait! going to be a bast online..

One thing I always wanted to know...HOW THE HELL DO YOU PLAY THESE THINGS WHEN THEY'RE NOT RELEASED YET?!?!

@Nintendolphin you do realise that games reviewers get review copies before the official release date. How you do you think some games get reviewd so quickly around release days?

This comes out 8 days after my graduation... SO EXCITED!

The more I see this game, the more I want it. I MUST HAVE IT!!!!!!!!!

Some of those tracks were barely recognisable; Wario Stadium in particular was one I didn't see the resemblance to until right at the end. Which is really good actually, I'd rather have newer feeling tracks than converted copies of stuff I already have on other games.

Simply AMAZING!!!

So awesome! So hyped!....but one complaint:

Holy crud that Mii voice is annoying! I wanted to put some tape over it's mouth if I had to hear him say "yay!" or "go!" one more time.

@SMEXIZELDAMAN The release date for Mario Kart 8 is May 30th. Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection is being shut down on May 20th.

Man, that N64 Rainbow Road...

Cool, really loved Wario stadium on DS. But Grumble Volcano was my least favorite and worst course.

@Chubblings Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't MK8 have the largest roster yet with 30 confirmed playable characters, not something I would call a "somewhat limited roster"

20 days!

I guess the penalty for falling off the course is a lot less severe. Didn't seem long at all for the guy to put him back on track.

Nice tracks - Makes me wish for a F-Zero "revival" ....

I'm getting pumped just waiting for Mario Kart 8 to hit street release date here where I'm at in the US on 5/30/2014. I will give credit to Thomas for being a great driver in this game early on. But imo, I'm sure I can take him if we ever meet up in a race in a community. All in all, I really enjoyed 3 tracks he played: GBA Mario Circuit , N64 Royal Raceway & N64 Rainbow Road. Nice skillz pal!

The game looks amazing so far, this is definitely on my priority list for the Wii U if you exclude SSB4.

Likatu is too merciful in this game. Flat retro courses aren't completely flat. Awesome! Cool that we still get Peach's Castle in the N64 Peach course, but it appears the gate is locked and you can't detour onto Peach's lawn like in the 64 version.

Also, is it still possible to drag a banana or shell behind you, or did they remove that mechanic? If so, it leaves a racers completely unprotected, just like in Double Dash.

@StarDust4Ever By the looks of other gameplay videos, you should be able to drag shells and bananas behind you. Although it won't let you get another item until the item is hit/used.

They seem to have made it less of a big deal if you fall off a course, not sure how I feel about that. Rainbow Road is supposed to end friendships not make them

I like the idea of speeding up the downtime when you fall, but this is just a little too fast I think. In MK Wii one mistake in first place would land you atleast 4 or 5 places behind, which is a hard punishment when you're hit with a blue shell while jumping over a hole. On the other hand, when you make a stupid mistake you shouldn't be let off so easily. I mean, I want winners to be determined by pure skill.

The retro tracks look great though, had a nostalgia attack when seeing Royal Raceway and N64 Rainbow Road. Although I've seen every MK8 video, I'm still left amazed by the graphics after every one of them. Clearing all the cups on all the CC's will be extremely pleasant! Also can't wait to play this online with some friends and some headphones hahaha.

@Jetson True, 30 is indeed the highest number of characters ever to be seen in a Mario Kart game. However, 20% of them are part of the koopa family. As much as I welcome them, it takes away the diversity of choice. In MK Wii you had Funky, King Boo, Diddy, Dry Bowser and Dry Bones, all of which are diverse characters.

I would much rather have only 2 extra Koopas and 5 or 6 other characters. I mean, Pink Gold Peach, lovely and I like it, but why does it have to be a replacement instead of an addition?

I know hidden characters is something in MK, but following the information, I gather these are all of the characters, which you will unlock as you progress. Ever seen a MK with so many characters BEFORE the hidden characters were unlocked?

I always used to love leaving banana peels on the edges of dash ramps. Anyone who slips on it will fall into the abyss, LOL!

Likatu is way too fast now. It's barely as much slowdown as hitting a shell or spinning out after hitting a banana peel. Great way to reward sloppy play, Nintendo...