During today’s Nintendo Direct, Satoru Iwata reached out to fans around the globe, and made numerous announcements. Among them was the release date for Mario Kart 8, one of the most highly anticipated titles for the Wii U this year (next to other big-league titles such as Smash Bros.). Mario Kart 8 will be landing on the Wii U on the 30th of May, and will most likely be packed in a bundle with Wii U consoles as well. But what else is new in one of Nintendo’s flagship series, you might ask?
Well, it turns out Koopalings are introduced in Mario Kart 8 as playable characters. If you don’t remember what those are, they are the turtle-like creatures that appeared as bosses in Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World. They are also sort of minion-like, and they are rather goofy little critters. Coming in different shapes, sizes and fashion styles, the Koopalings have distinct abilities in the game, each with strengths and weaknesses. They will most likely add to the game’s diversity, and are a welcomed addition. The 7 Koopalings coming to Mario Kart 8 are Iggy, Morton, Lemmy, Ludwig, Roy, Wendy and Larry.
As far as other interesting Mario Kart 8 features go, the game will be a considerable visual upgrade compared to previous titles in the series. Not only that, but Nintendo promises the game will run at 60 FPS, even in split-screen mode. And, last but not least, Nintendo has plans to include a 4-player mode. That might sound cool indeed, but it also means you’ll definitely need a bigger TV. Take a look at the latest trailer for the game, entitled Mario Kart 8 – Here Come the Koopalings:
