Among the many announcements during today's Nintendo Direct broadcast were some exciting details about a long-established Wii U game. Nintendo finally provided full release details on the first DLC pack for Mario Kart 8, while also confirming the compatible amiibo figuries for the racer.
To kick off with the DLC, it arrives on 13th November in North America and Europe, available (as has been the case for a decent amount of time) individually or in a pack with the second batch of content that's due in May 2015. The content, meanwhile, is as follows — full track listings have also been released today:
- 3 Characters: Tanooki Mario, Cat Peach, Link
- 4 Vehicles: Blue Falcon, B Dasher, The Master Cycle, Tanooki Buggy
- 8 Courses as follows:
Triforce Cup: Wario's Gold Mine (Wii), Rainbow Road (SNES), Ice Ice Outpost, Hyrule Circuit
Egg Cup: Yoshi Circuit (GameCube), Excitebike Arena, Dragon Driftway, Mute City
A new trailer has been released that shows off the DLC pack's content, while a new episode of Nintendo Minute also shows Hyrule Circuit, Excitebike Arena and Mute City in full; both videos are below.
Finally, Nintendo confirmed previously leaked details on amiibo compatibility. This will be limited to 10 figures — when you scan Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Link, Captain Falcon, Fox, Samus or Kirby into the GamePad, you'll be able to race in Mii racing suits themed to that character. A Japanese trailer for this functionality is below.
Are you excited about this DLC next week, or the amiibo functionality? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments (72)
Glad I prepurchased this tracks look amazing in the nintendo minute video
Looking forward to the DLC, haven't played this game in months.
If we do get a third DLC I could see it containing Princess Zelda, Captain Falcon, and maybe Fox McCloud. This looks great and I can't wait.
Soooo.... why do we need a new F Zero again?
God, Link's derp face... the stuff of nightmares! My issues with him aside, his face looks really weird when he does a stunt - kinda freaked me out.
The Mii costumes seemed suspicious, but at least look goofy enough to not get in the way, design-wise.
@Ryu_Niiyama Because F-Zero eats Mario Kart for breakfast - if only Nintendo was aware of that..
Daft Punk puts the superiority of F-Zero into four simple words: faster, better, harder, stronger!
@Kaze_Memaryu I really want to read your post but I swear your avatar is going to give me a seizure...
So please note I'm saying this while not having read what you wrote because it hurts. I think this is great way to extend the spirit of a poorly selling franchise (yes I bought the gamecube and n64 versions) within the body of a successful one.
I really hope I don't have to scan the amiibo every time I want to use the costume. Guess I will watch video when I get home and hopefully it just is a one time unlock!
@SavoirFaire GameXplain confirmed you only have to scan it once.
Why in the world would they include SNES Rainbow Road again? I really don't get the logic behind that when it was just remade in Mario Kart 7.
Gonna rev it up..............
LIKE A FRYER!!!!!
Glad they gave us a date before it comes out so I can go pay for it now.
And I always race as my Mii, but it's a racing game, I'm a little too busy looking at the track to care what my Mii is wearing, so that's basically pointless amiibo DLC as far as I'm concerned. Which I know is the point, but I still find it lacking. The HW spinner is actually functional and cool at least. If he can ride Epona on top of the spinner I'm all for it
@Ryu_Niiyama Hm, too bad. Back to the drawing board, then... (I'll leave the implication of this sentence to you).
@CapnPancakes Is it really the same one? It looked like SNES Rainbow Road 2 to me, but I'm not entirely sure...
@CapnPancakes: For me actually since I don't have MK7.
Oh it's the SNES Rainbow Road, I thought it was the GBA one. Nintendo seems to hate the GBA tracks so it wouldn't surprise me if they had dumped it's Rainbow Road as DLC so they wouldn't have to use it for Mario Kart 9.
@Kaze_Memaryu I believe there's only one Rainbow Road in Super Mario Kart.
Can't wait to play the DLC. Nintendo is trolling us with the Captain Falcon gear and F-Zero inspired track, though...
Think all the F-Zero stuff in Mario Kart 8 is part fan service and part prepping peole not familiar with the series for a possible sequel.
With a new Smash Bros. out soon featuring the Cap'n, and Mute City in Mario Kart, I'd say they could give F-Zero a go within the following years, without people being puzzled as to what the hovercars with kitsch superheroes in them is all about.
snes was on these mario karts
snes,gba,3ds,and wii u as dlc
on vc wii,and wii u
why could we not get snes 3d classics on the 3ds
f-zero,super mario world 1 and 2,super mario kart and some others
or like a f-zero 3d classic for 9.99 on 3ds
and could mario kart 7 get dlc
@JarredBuzzo Yeah it would be best if they made an actual F Zero game.
@Dipper723 You're right - I wonder what I mixed up there...
Yay! Hyrule Field gets a decent use!
GameXplain also has HD footage of Hyrule Circuit, Mute City, Dragon Driftway and Excitebike Arena uploaded. It's commentary free as well.
GameXplain also said in a Tweet that you can indeed race the new courses online, but EVERYONE in the room/lobby must own the DLC. Kind of disappointing that they don't just group DLC owners together in a room, as now it only takes 1 person to ruin the party, but at least the new courses are still playable online...
To those of you who regularly race online, but haven't purchased the DLC, PLEASE PURCHASE IT NOW!!! It doesn't cost much money and it's worth it. This is high quality content!
They looked amazing, and I was already planning on getting it. I guess I'll preorder both with an E-Shop card, get Oracle of Ages or Seasons, and maybe the short Pikmin films.
YES IT LOOKS SO GOOD
@rjejr
Well, Nov. 13th certainly beats getting these on Thanksgiving. So I am very glad of being proven wrong.
Slightly disappointed that we're getting less retro tracks than expected but can't complain.
@Kaze_Memaryu Oh hey you changed your avatar! Ok, went back and read your reply.
Hmm, agreed that F-zero is a better technical racer but I accept that while it has a dedicated fanbase it is a small (or broke one...take your pick). Plus what else are they going to add that would make it not just F-Zero GX HD?
I would like Nintendo to do a Captain Falcon spinoff game though. If they can put Fox on the ground the Falcon can stop racing and punching Mario to actually be a bounty hunter.
@Ryu_Niiyama Well jee, you're profile picture is a GIF too so you're being a little hypocritical.
@Nintendo_Ninja
Thank you Ninja! If you want to race me on the new courses next week, feel free to add me as a friend. My Network ID is vio361.
@Porky Actually I'm not being hypocritical . Kaze's original avatar had a garishly bright lightning effect going on. I wasn't the first to comment on it. Also, second note: I'm very photosensitive. Not that Kaze should cater to that but as I mentioned earlier that's why I didn't read any previous posts. Because it literally hurt. So I didn't want Kaze to think that I was just ignoring what he/she posted previously.
Also my avatar is from a music video with normal lighting .... shouldn't be too hard on anyone's eyes from that perspective.
In the interest of not derailing this further (I get annoyed easily by comments about my vision) I'll make an on topic comment. I wonder if they will patch in other costumes for the rest of the amiibo lines? Little mac's jumpsuit would be worth the money by itself.
@Ryu_Niiyama As I noted when you pointed it out last time: once I find something I like, I change it.
As for F-Zero: the problem is that F-Zero, while being a very technical racer, never became all that successful. All things considered, Captain Falcon isn't even the main protagonist in half of the games, yet he's pretty much the only recurring character (alongside Samurai Goroh) who isn't too obscure.
F-Zero desperately needs a boost, and a VC release of F-Zero X would be an excellent way to test the general interest, but Nintendo seems to doubt it too much to even do that much...
EDIT: Just to note that - I don't think F-Zero is the kind of game that adds new mechanics or gimmicks with each part, but simply becomes more refined and crazy as it evolves. But that might actually not be enough to be successful. The only things I can imagine that'd help F-Zero become more distinct would be Stoey campaigns for each character (as in, multiple arcs for each one). I always liked the way F-Zero integrated the races into a narrative.
@Porky Mine was by far flashier (and potentially deadlier) than his .gif.
I really want to get this DLC, ...maybe I can ask my friend if I can use his Gamepad so I can make some room for both the DLC and perhaps SSB4U. Though I'll be sure to have the DLC the next time I play online.
@Kaze_Memaryu This could be a way for Nintendo to test if people are interested in F Zero. If lots of people download this, it might spark people's interest in F Zero. SSB for Wii U and 3DS could do the same. Although Captain Falcon was in every SSB game and it hasn't really sparked people's interest, maybe this time it will work. They could always just make a new F Zero game exclusive to the Wii U or 3DS e shop.
@DJSmith99 That could really work and might be in line with all the recent talk of spin offs and collaborations. (which I feel can also mean smaller experiences or handled by a lower tier studio either within or outside of Nintendo) After all a collaboration could just be dev work heavy lifting. Similar to Bamco helping with Smash.
@DJSmith99 I really hope that's not the case. I hate it when developers make the future of a game dependant on the success of something only halfway related to it (like Marvelous does with Senran Kagura).
Besides, I don't see this as a good indicator, since there are enough Mario Kart fans who just get everything, no matter what it is, and a good portion of Captain Falcon fans don't even care about F-Zero.
@Kaze_Memaryu HAHA! I WAS RIGHT! PEOPLE WOULD LOOK AT THAT AND IT WOULD HURT! XD
Well. While its nice to see a SNES track back, why did they had to bring rainbow road? We played it last game...
Oh well. Seems like GBA got the short end of the stick.
Im hoping the other DLC pack adds a GBA track.
@sinalefa - 1 of the regulars on here, Ricklongo or jariw or emblem or Capt Gonro or somebody had said Nov 13 was empty and figured that would be the date. Works for me.
I was going to get the captain falcon amiibo. Then I saw his giant white protrusion. I'll pass. Samus and kirby for me then.
Pretty damn excited for the Zelda and Excite Bike tracks. I love that in Zelda course you collect rubies instead of coins
Amiibo DLC is useless for me. I hate racing as a mii so no benefits here. Can't wait for the new tracks though! Tad annoyed that SNES Rainbow Road is back again. I got very sick of playing it all the time online in MK7. And after the perfection that is N64 Rainbow Road we didn't need another one.
Maybe its because they used it in Mario Kart 7 that they brought it back here to save on development time.
They should really have grouped the four retro courses, including Excitebike Arena, together in one Cup
What the... They kept those loving helmets for the Miis ! Even with the Amiboo feature !! o_O I was really hoping that I would be able to wear the typical Mario hat, or what the hell... but no more of this damn helmets ! >.< So now, the only "Miis-Amiboo-suited" that will look cool are Captain Falcon and Samus. arf... I'm going with Samus then xD
Please watch the profanity — TBD
Am I the only person that thinks that thinks Captain Falcon would be an interesting DLC for the game? He's a racer after all.
nice to see the SNES rainbowroad here. My favorite mariokart track! Weird choice to include it again after MK7 though. Other tracks also look awesome. I can't wait to try them all out.
It is somewhat weird that these tracks can't aways be selected in online play, but then again, I have no idea how many people still play MK8 on a regular basis that didn't buy the DLC, maybe not too many. Would be great to somehow select people who also have the DLC when playing online.
HYPE!
@SanderEvers yes yes my bad, you know what I mean
I hate it that there are no heavy weight good guys and I don't really like miis' helmet. Glad these amiibos change my mii'sappearance a little bit. I might go with Falcon's or Samus' outfit.
I love f-zero. For lack of a new gx game or an uber edition, this is definitely the next best thing.
@Prime Uuuuuuh, you okay?
@BensonUii Isn't Donkey Kong a heavyweight character? Or is he a cruiserweight, like Rosalina?
@TheGreatBrawler No. He's a bounty hunter. And has a reason to participate in the F-Zero GP. Unless the criminals he's hunting were suddenly in Mario Kart as well, this would be the the dumbest thing in the world.
@Kaze_Memaryu
Same like Rosalina and Waluigi. Metal Mario is heavier but with the same speed as DK afaik.
@BensonUii Hm, too bad. I never noticed that all heavyweights are antagonists (plus anti-hero Wario) before you pointed it out. Is Nintendo trying to tell us that fat is evil? ^_^
100% percent really happy with all the mk content. Link and the master cycle look perfect and the new tracks all seem beautiful. The costumes are not my thing but the Captain Falcon one looks great.
@Kaze_Memaryu
LOL! It would be cool (wishful) if the Diddy Kong amiibo will unlock him riding on DK's back and bump their category to Heavy. of course I'd prefer him to be playable separately.
@rjejr Yes, I pointed out the obvious hole at the 13th, but after that Tengami was announced for that date. But in the end, it was the correct date after all.
@3MonthBeef I also had that theory prior to E3. However, since then, Manfred Linzer had clearly indicated that a collaboration with Nintendo in that way isn't what they want.
@BensonUii Hahahaha! That would be awesome!
Do you need to scan in an Amiibo each time you power on to use a costume? Or is it a one time scan to unlock forever?
I'll be getting these for sure. This was one of the dates I guessed at in an earlier post. I have around $16 in my eshop account so it makes sense.
I'm most excited to play the Excitebike track.
What is the track with a dragon or something in it???
The ammibo support shown is silly... See no real value in purchasing ammibo for mk8, especially if I don't do smash.
@Kaze_Memaryu Mario Kart will always sell better because they have casuals at their side.
@RaphaBoss Of course, and I don't even see that as a bad thing. F-Zero simply doesn't work as a big-selling behemoth of a title, instead presenting intricate gameplay for a rather specific audience. Expecting it to be as successful as Mario Kart is delusional.
This DLC is flipping gorgeous. And the way the first one is released before smash bros is the icing on the cake. MUST WANT!
@DoomTurtle It's a one-time scan.
@jariw - Tengami looks pretty cool, I like pop-up books and japanese culture, but I'm going to guess the DLC has already outsold it tenfold. Sill need to purchase mine.
I think both Sonic games - both Nintnedo exclusives - come out on the 11th but I doubt this DLC matters much for retail games. Sonic sells what it sells. Good thing Sonic didn't wait another 10 days though.
@Kaze_Memaryu Bowser could have a bounty on himself by now. He has conquered some land, leads an empire, caused disturbance in the galaxy twice. Totally non Canon, but he had a bounty in Smash Melee's event. Falcon and Samus were fighting each other to collect him for bounty. So it's not a stretch for Captain Falcon to not be here.
Great DLC line up, don't really mind that SNES Rainbow Road is there, it's one of my favourite tracks and I was quite disappointed to only see 1 SNES track on the entire MK8 list which is Donut Plains 3.
Particularly liked the added touch of having Rupees instead of coins on the track on the Legend of Zelda Hyrule track.
Shame we have to wait 6 months for the Animal Crossing DLC as I am more stoked for that DLC than I was for this one.
@Kaze_Memaryu You changed your pic. People cant look at it. I told you that. I was right.
Sweet! Five brand new stages! The Wario's Gold Mine was an excellent choice, but their decision to put in Yoshi Circuit and Rainbow Road seems kinda weak, so I'm glad they didn't mess up another one with say, Donut Plains 6.
@Porky Except that the kind of violence necessary to apprehend Bowser isn't possible in Mario Kart. Also, Captain Falcon is mainly after higher-ranking criminals than Bowser - Mario & co. got him under control already.
@Prime Yeah, but I couldn't care less. I changed my pic because I found this one to be better.
@dkxcalibur
It's a new track called Dragon Driftway and it's absolutely gorgeous. The dragon is from Super Mario Galaxy 2 and you basically race through his entire body. Here's a video of it:
Thanks vio! That track looks great.
I'm happy with the entire package for the most part. I could have done without another rainbow road but it's really not that big of a deal. Tanooki Mario and Cat Peach are cool but I would have rather had some other characters as they are both already represented 3 times each. Why not the Diddy, Trixie, or Cranky? Or Captain Falcon? I don't buy into the bounty hunter argument. Do the Animal Crossing or Link have better reason to be racing against Mario? They could have put Samus and a "hunter class" designed kart in the game. Again, not that big of a deal, I like Mario and Peach in the DLC, but it would have nice to have some more variety.
Not only one but two tracks that have been rereleased already, SNES Rainbow Road was just few years ago in MK7. WHY!?!
I am so excited for this despite the Mario/Peach skins. I don't mind that SNES Rainbow Road is remade again, because I never had a SNES or a 3DS. Lucky me!
I hope that someday there will be Baby Park HD, as well Dino Dino Jungle 2.0...Those were my jam back in 2003.
Hyrule circuit a little on the short side... nice master sword room though. I'll prob stop racing and just stare at that room a while.
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