King Boo in Mario Kart '8' and New Splatoon Goodness - Breaking Down the Nintendo Switch Reveal

If Mario Kart Switch/9 is anything like MK8 it will be amazing.

That Mario Kart definitively isn't 8 - the double items were from Double Dash. Mario Kart 9 in development confirmed?
I hope it follows the line of 8 and DD. That was my favourite.

Switchin in the kitchen is what I'll be doing come march.

new DLC for Mario Kart 8?

Remember that one interview where Nintendo said that each Mario Kart game is built from the ground up? It's a MK8 port.

I think Mario Kart looks new, and I'm guessing the Splatoon game will be as well. My best guess is that they're running off a similar engine and the games themselves are fairly similar to MK8/Splatoon. But who knows, could be massive updates/DLC I guess!

I don't believe this to be the final look for the Mario Kart game. Seems like a prototype using the old MK8 engine. So before everyone freaks out about it being just an expanded 8 rather than a new title, it's early days. It's very unlikely to be a launch title, let's face it.

@Ryu_Niiyama

Don't worry, Mario Kart has essentially been the same since MK64. You are in good hands.

Yeah, I think that may be Mario Kart 9

I'm glad that Nintendo is making these games directors cuts or improved versions of the original games from Wii U, and not just making them cheap ports. Having a Mario kart game early will really help the sales of the Nintendo switch .

Maybe Nintendo is working on a Mario kart Double Dash sequel.

It's all good!

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is the shot where 4 people are playing Splatoon sitting next to each other. This must mean 4 player local multiplayer in Splatoon!!! Maybe? Hopefully? Please god Nintendo..........

race course looks like a yoshi, is there one of those in MK8?

@DLevene17 From the Nintendo of America press release:

Furthermore, it is possible for numerous people to bring their Nintendo Switch systems together to enjoy local multiplayer face-to-face competition.

Honestly, graphic-wise Super Mario Switch doesn't look miles away from Super Mario 3D World. Yes, it does look better, better textures and effects, but the jump from Wii to Wii U was far more striking. Of course, we're judging fuzzy snippets of in-development games from a console reveal video, so they're bound to look much better on their separate reveals.

Anyway, I think we're looking at the new iterations of Mario Kart and Splatoon, not remasters.

Now for Super Smash Bros., on the other hand, we might see a remaster as it not shown at the video and it takes ages to build a new one.

@ap0001 Yoshi Circuit, one of the DLC courses in MK8.

Splatoon definitely looks new. Mario Kart, I'm really not sure if it's a new one or just an enhanced port. If I were to take a guess, I'd say it's a port, and 9 will be released in a few years.

Overall, I thought this was a really good reveal. Their messaging was clear and precise. Now we let social media do it's thing.

it's probably 9. i think they want a clear break from the wii u. doesn't mean no backwards compatibility, of course. but if they want to promote the new sexy, they would likely not promote it with the old sexy.

@Yoshi I trust you as nintendo life's certified yoshi expert, thanks!

When the girl playing the new Mario goes outside and hands a controller to a friend, could that mean that it can be a 2 player game? There wasn't a time limit either so I doubt it's a 3D Land/World sequel.

I'm hoping that there'll be multiple paths to take as well. There were purple arrows above the umbrella which you could possibly jump on to take you to a higher section.

I'm so excited, anyway.

I think it's quite typical of Nintendo's output in the last few years, heavily reusing games and put them out in updated forms, or on different machines. I can't blame them at all, as they must have lost a huge chunk on the Wii U project as a whole when you take on boar R&D, production, marketing, software development, so they're trying to squeeze new profit out of what they already have. I'm sure the NX is going to have plenty of it's own games, but the first 6-12 months is probably going to feature a LOT of 'enhanced' Wii U games.

I doubt either game is completely new, too much work to do. Makes more sense to be updated ports, specially if they are planned for launch.

Let's just say the refrain in the White Denim song in the trailer aptly described my reaction to all of this.

Splatoon possibly an updated port, I'm gonna guess. And Mario Kart looks like a new game, not Mario kart 8. If you think about it, Mario Kart 9 makes the most sense, since new Mario Karts typically come every 3-5 years. SMK - 1992, MK64 - 1997, MKSC - 2001, MKDD - 2003, MKDS - 2005, MKWii - 2008, MK7 - 2011, MK8 - 2014, MK9 - 2017? So releasing a new MK in 2017 would make perfect sense rather than a port of MK8 with new characters and such.

Day one for me dood!

I guess graphically I shouldn't expect any big leaps but you could definitely have fooled me into thinking they were just remasters of Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon.

I'm wondering what this means for Smash Bros.....there was that rumour about a remastered port coming to the NX after all.

How much do you want to bet its also Region locked?

You could have two items when holding items behind you also, I hope it's back.

I think the MK game is a port of Mario Kart 8; it has the same art style. However, if the other game really is Spla2oon then that would be a system seller.

I really don't think this is a brand new Mario Kart, mostly because of it being basically identical (King Boo and double items the only difference). I think it is likely a port with a few updates.

Also, is it just me, but does it seem like Nintendo Switch won't have backward compatibility?

It would be very nice if those games were sequels instead of remasters, to avoid Switch coming across as a port machine. Besides, the teams @ Nintendo have had PLENTY of time to work on completely new installments, what else have they been doing all these years?

I can't speak for Spaltoon, but that Mario Kart game does look like 8. I'm alright with an enhanced port though, since I like MK8 so much.

i bet its going to have the dlc for the wii u version to

I think both are new games, following this logic: if not, why wouldn't they showcase Smash Bros.?

I think it's just dlc on Mario kart 8 and wii u owners will get this free.

@Sinton My thoughts too, especially with the esports section. Possibly because the only potential new additions to a Smash port would be a character or two, which you can't really hide as easily in the trailer (which now clearly seems to be part of the intention here). Plus Nintendo seems extremely determined to promote Splatoon up to esports status. They tried to showcase the NX in a variety of situations/applications, so I guess Splatoon simply stole the niche in the trailer that would be ideally reserved for Smash.

Could be Wii U ports with extras for the NS.

MK9 Confirmed!

New Double Dash baby!

Instead of ports I hope it's Splatoon 2 and Mario Kart 9. I dont like ports with exclusive content (which they didn't do with Zelda NX)

Yay! Finally I can play with King Boohoo again.
And glad to see they finally incorporated Doubledash into the game. I was waiting for a Doubledash DLC for years!

But where did @AlexOlney get all that information from? There was hardly anything Splatoon-related in the trailer, only that part at the end. I just watched it again and you literally don't see anything that was mentioned in the article.
EDIT: Okay I just foundthis about the hairstyles, pants and maybe maps, but that still doesn't explain the rest. Hope we'll get confirmation about the motion controls soon.

Mario Kart has never been a release game but I've always said that Nintendo missed opportunities by not making it a release game. Mario Kart is still a system seller for a lot of people. By providing Splatoon, Mario Kart, and a Mario game at/or around launch would give the Switch the ammo it requires to sell systems in bulk at launch.

Now if they turn out to be ports, I think they might not do as well and might ultimately have the opposite effect at selling systems. I know I have no desire to re-buy the same games over again.

I'm very much of the view that these games featured in the trailer are for illustrative purposes only - it's best not to read too much into it.

Probably shouldn't overanalyze what was seen. To me, these are sequels, but not drastic ones. This is Splatoon with added features/customization. I want to say a new Mario Kart just because of the two item mechanic. In my mind a new Mario Kart wouldn't have a bug change in art style from MK8. I could see these games recycling some Wii U content just to get them out timely...there still are quite a few people who haven't played these because they didn't buy a Wii U. Breath of the Wild is probably the go-to for Wii U owners.

Didn't see any motion control stuff in the clips I watched but the rest seems about right to me.

I'm thinking these are both going to be ports with a few tweaks and extras initially and then a gradual flow of new content throughout their life.

The attach rate for the MK8 DLC must be among the highest of any game. I can't imagine many that owned it would have not bought it especially at that price. So if Nintendo were to release this as a tweaked port of 8 at a discount price they could then keep the game running in DLC packs for most of it's lifetime. Same for Splatoon which Nintendo already did this for one WiiU.

I mean I'd prefer them to be straight up sequels that then continued this way but I get they want these games to reach their maximum audience. And hey, it didn't do the PS4 any harm. Plus I'' glad that Splatoon is not being treated as a flash in the pan but becoming a significant IP for them. Because it's flipping amazing!

@Yoshi wasn't it originally from MK7? Yoshi circuit

@MoonKnight7 "Their messaging was clear and precise."

I thought it was well done, but the biggest question on my mind right now is touchscreen, yea or nay?

Yes - of course, it's a tablet, it has to have a touchscreen
No - its a display w/ removable controllers for multiplayer, and you can't touch it docked, so why have touch?

Middle ground - games won't have touch, but apps will

They took away the 3D effect on 2DS, took the map out of Zelda U as dual screen seems to be gone, maybe they are taking the touch out of tablets? But Sper Mario Run? I'm 50-50, what say the?

@shani I don't think we can call it Double Dash DLC just yet... it's only Double Dash DLC if we get to race with two racers on a kart each. I do approve of the two-item-for-one-kart mechanic, though.
_{I would be flipping out right now if we got DD DLC so... yeah.}

Well, whatever they are, I caught those in my analysis of the video too. Hopefully they'll be great!

@Blastcorp64 Yoshi Circuit was originally from Double Dash, then became a retro track in DS and finally a DLC retro track for 8. Clearly it and Baby Park (also a retro track in DS) being reused for the DLC in 8 is due to running low on unused Double Dash tracks. Here's the unused ones:
Mushroom City
Wario Colosseum
Bowser Castle
Rainbow Road

That logic also explains the Kalimari Desert tease pre-E3 2016 as there's only 1 MK64 track that's unused (Wario Stadium) so if there was MK64 DLC tracks then for sure they'd be already used ones.

@rjejr

Yeah I get what you're saying, but I think for this initial reveal it doesn't really matter. The message of the tease was to point out that it's a hybrid console, and I think they showed that very well.

I'll say this much to your comment, since they didn't show them using the touchscreen, it must not be "key" to playing the games. It might still be there for apps, or booting up the game as you said, but it seems mostly button oriented. That's my take anyway.

@Vee_Flames No I meant I was hoping for a DD DLC (for MK8) since MK8 was released. Or more precisely, since the possibility of DLCs was revealed).
Now that the new MK has incorporated the main feature of DD, there's no need for a DD DLC anymore.

One of the first things I noticed about the Splatoon footage is GLOVES and SHORTS!

Would I buy what is otherwise almost the exact same game but with all of the DLC available at retail on the cartridge, a new item system, and new playable characters like King Boo?

Heck yeah.

I think its just a updated port with new content,Im still gonna get it ☺

It's either a tech demo or Mariokart 8+. More characters, more tracks, double items, a revamped battle mode, and all of MK8's stuff and it's DLC in one game would be great.

@Nintendo_Ninja That would fall in line with Nintendo's tweet from earlier this year:
https://twitter.com/NintendoEurope/status/738777797125144576?s=09

@WilliamCalley Right... I don't think we've played the same MK games then.

@dkxcalibur I think a bunch of ports would be system sellers--to everyone who didn't buy a Wii U, which is most people. The number of Wii U owners who would be turned off would be tiny by comparison.

For those wondering:

Mario Kart Switch

Mario Kart 8

If you couldn't tell by my King Boo avatar, I'm very excited for King Boo's return to Mario Kart!

I hope wii u and switch versions of mk 8 and splatoon will play along online. Would feel ripped off if i had to buy the same game again

see I'm not so sure about them being in Mario kart 8 or splatoon. because
1. that means there will be another release for the Nintendo switch (which seems really pointless).
2. why would they make Mario kart 9 or splaTWOn much like Mario kart 8 and splatoon.
3. It would make more sense for the dlc/update in Mario kart 8 and splatoon.

Looks pretty much like Mario Kart 8. Nintendo want us to lay out another €50-60 on basically the same game but with an added gimmick and maybe a few new karts and courses? I feel like we can't fully comment as we don't know what's happening. It's all really just speculation.

I'd happily take an updated MK8 and Splatoon to get us started with sequels coming in a few years time.

@shani Oh I see. But I do think the main part of Double Dash was the two racers racing in one kart. I still hope for the day that will return...

@TheLegendOfLaser Let's hope we can also get Petey Piranha back too. He's one of my brother's favorites.

They're both gonna be expanded ports. Nintendo are obviously trying to recuperate some of their losses from the Wii U by re-publishing the handful of decent games it had on this new console.

@KrakenSoup Now put your thumb over the handheld releases and look at only home console releases... 5 years, 5 years, 5 years, and 6 years difference. I doubt we'll be getting MK9 any time in the near future.

My question for Nintendo is, if this system doesn't read discs and I already have all these games, then I ask...

1. Is there some trade in deal for Wii U at GameStop
2. Can I save my data from the old to the new
3. How really different are these games from the Wii U versions.

@Mister_Wu Yes very excited to have King Boo back and not Tanooki Cat and Metal Mario 😂. I wonder if we can zoom into the race map and see if there are any other new racers on the track... Boswer Jr., Dry Bones, Birdo, Petey Pirhana, Honey Queen, Funky Kong and Diddy Kong could all still return.

And the wait begins...

@whiffy5 Petey Piranha is another character I really want to return. I think that he really deserves it.

I hope they controls aren't as stiff as 8.

8 is my least favorite mario kart (along with 64)

I like that the new mario game features the return of the triple jump

@Vee_Flames really? I mean, yeah, I would be happy to see the double character setup come back too. But for me it was always about having switchable items, because that's the only relevant thing gameplay-wise. The thing I loved the most about DD was that you could save an item for later and therefore had more tactical options.

@AlexOlney: Ah okay, I was only doubtful because you don't see them actually move the Pro Controllers, only using the stick. But of course I hope you are right.

Pretty much a 99.99% chance Splatoon & MK are enhanced ports just like the dozens of remastered games the PS4 tossed out. Quick and easy way to buy some time for fresh new releases. These titles were talked about being ported to the NX ages ago as well. Nintendo would be getting off on the wrong foot if they released sequels looking identical to their recent predecessors.

@PanurgeJr You are absolutely correct. I did not think about it like that.

For me personally, it would have a negative affect. If I look at the launch day library & upcoming releases and the majority of games are remakes, then I may hold out or skip.

This is just wild speculation, but if that Mario Kart for Switch is an 'upgraded' version of 8, could Nintendo be releasing new DLC/updates for the Wii U version, allowing Wii U owners and Switch owners to race online together? That would be awesome if so. I know many of us will get a Switch day 1(myself included), but there will still be millions of Wii U/Mario Kart 8 owners that probably won't be picking up a Switch for a while...

@teamshortcut I assure you it does NOT look new. I've played many hours and hours of Mario Kart 8. Besides for the second item slot and King Boo, everything else is identical. The track looks identical to the MK 8 DLC track "Yoshi Circuit." The karts are from MK 8 as well. Mario is on the B Dasher and King Boo is on the Circuit Special. I'm pretty certain this is an 'enhanced port' with new features like the second item slot and new content like King Boo(and hopefully some new courses as well!). Mario Kart never launches with a new Nintendo console. They always come out mid cycle. Mario Kart 9 is probably in early stages of development right now. They're just porting MK 8 over to Switch with enhancements to fill the gap before MK 9 finally comes out, to give MK 8 some new legs and to give Switch owners who never had a Wii U a chance to experience MK 8.

@allav866
Woah, I forgot all about that.

@Luna_110
That most certainly is Mario Kart 8. While it has new features and a new character, it's the same game on a different system-- whether you like it or not.

The spawn point in splatoon is different, and the positions the inklings start off at is different too. The way they're standing, there's room for another 2 players per team...