When it comes to having a cheeky gaming session, the Wii U might not be your first choice in terms of chosen platform. However, just because it’s an older platfor?m, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a huge number of absolutely incredible games to play on it.&nbs??p;

I have ??fond memories of my Wii U, although sadly, it died a child’s drink spillage-related death a few years ago. It’s been a while since I picked one up, but I can still vividly remember playing on it for hours. Most of those hours were pumped into a select few games, so with that knowledge, here are my 10 favorite titles on the Wii U, in no particular order. 

Bayonetta 2

Nintendo is often considered to be the most family-friendly of all gaming platforms, so the fact that Bayonetta 2 (and the first game) exists on the platform is still something that I can’t?? quite wrap my head around. It’s filled with expletives right from the very beginning, is filled to the brim with fan service anima?tions that do nothing to progress the story, and is as far from family-friendly as you can possibly get. 

However, it does exist, and it’s incredibly fun to play. The hack-and-slash gameplay is weirdly addictive, and if you look past the astonishing ??amount of jiggle physics, you might even enjoy the story. Or, you know, if you’re into that kind of thing, then you might not even need to pay attention to the story. To each their own. 

ZombiU

Look, I know, zombies and games involving them have been done to death (no pun intended, but I’ll take all the puns I can get). However, ZombiU has stood the test of time in terms of anxiety induction, and there’s something it has that can’t be said about many other human-eating-walking-cor??pse titles â€?permadeath. 

Waking up in a London filled with flesh-chomping undead creepers is bad enough, but progressing through the story only to die and wake up as someone entirely ?different is definitely a frustration. Not to mention the fact that if you want to get your stuff back from your former self, you’ll probably have to kill them, which isn’t ideal if you become attached to who you once were. 

Yoshi’s Woolly World

There has always been something undeniably cute and comforting about Yoshi. He’s a dinosaur with huge eyes and a bright, happy smile. Now take that cuteness and convert it into crochet, and everyone’s fa?vorite dino becomes infinitely more adorable. 

Everything in Yoshi’s Woolly World has a touch of arts and crafts to it, with springy tree trunks, knitted backdrops, and, of course, Yoshi in all his crocheted glory. The aim of the g??ame ?is to retrieve the stolen yarn pieces from Kamek, who rather handily has dropped a bunch of pieces while making his escape, in order to knit your friends back together.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

I think it would be almost criminal to write up a list of the best Wii U games and not include a Zelda game, and Breath of the Wild is definitely the stand-out title that was released for the platform. Some of you might not even know that it wasn’t a Switch exclusive release because I’d forgotten until looking into what to include he??re. 

Breath of the Wild is often heralded as the best Zelda game to date, and for good reason. It was the first fully open-world title and is filled with beautiful areas to explore, collectibles to discover, and quests to complete. If you’re looking for a Zelda game to play on the Wii? U, then this would definitely be my first recom??mendation. 

Xenoblade Chronicles X

If you’re struggling to wait for the release of Xenoblade Chronicles X on Nintendo Switch next year, then you can fork out for a Wii U (unless you already have your old one; how very forward-thinking of you) and play Xenoblade Chronicles X on it. 

Xenoblade Chronicles X allows you to explore the expansive open world of Mira, consisting of five wildly different continents that are unlocked as you progress and complete quests alongside a party of fellow BLADE members. And, if exploration and quest completion weren’t enough to make you want to play, there’s also a number of Skell mechs that can be purchase??d and upgraded in the latter half of a playthrough. 

Mario Kart 8

Mario Kart 8 is either a fond memory or a frustrating experience that you never want to repeat again, depending on your skill level and whether or n?ot you chose to play with the people who claim to love you yet throw every power-up possible in your direction. As you can tell, I fall into the “frustrating experie??nce�camp on this one. 

With that said, there’s no denying that Mario Kart 8 is incredibly fun to play solo or with friends who might go a little easier on you than mine did. You can choose your difficulty, pick your driver and vehicle, and then try to come first. It’s not limited to characters from just the Mario universe, either. You can race as characters from other franchises like The Legend of Zelda or Splatoon or even go in as your own Mii. 

Assassin’s Creed III

Assassin’s Creed III was released on multiple platforms back in 2012, including the Wii U. It centered around Ratonhnaké ton (or Connor, if you want to make things easier on yourself), an assassin in Colonial America at around the time of the American Revolution. As a bit of a history nerd, this is the kind of Assassin’s Creed that sparks a huge amount of joy in me. 

Of course, Assassin’s Creed III was filled with freerunning and parkour adventures, but it also introduced something new �naval gameplay. Connor becomes the captain of the Aquila, and it can be upgraded and improved with new weapons, armor, and crew. Admittedly, the ship part of Assassin’s Creed III was my least favorite part of the game, b??ut I’ve come to learn that I might be in the minority on that front. 

Pikmin 3

As with all Pikmin games, the third in the? series is filled with fights, puzzles, and an endless grind of resource gathering. The cuteness of the Pikmin is ever-present, and there’s something? incredibly addictive about this one, which would explain why I’ve replayed it about five times in the last decade. 

Along with the well-loved Red, Yellow, and Blue Pikmins, Pikmin 3 introduces a couple of new colors with their own skills - Grey Pikmin, which can destroy barriers and are immune to crush damage, and pink Winged Pikmin, whic?h can attack from the skies and also soar through them over obstacles that would otherwise be impass?able. 

Super Smash Bros. 

There are two types of people when it comes to playing Super Smash Bros. - those who memorize the combinations and inevitably win every battle, and those who button mash as if their life depends on it and while they may lose the battle, they enjoy the therapeutic process of t??rying to stay on the platforms. 

One of the best things about Super Smash Bros. is the number of characters from different franchises. There are playable characters from Pokémon, Animal Crossing, Xenoblade Chronicles, Duck Hunt, and even Wii Fit of all things. And these are just in the base game, never mind downloadable characters like Cloud Strife and Sega from Bayonetta. There’s endless fun to be had with Super Smash Bros., and possibl??y some arguments, so try not to take it too seriously. 

Rayman Legends

Rayman Legends is another title that has been released on various platforms, including the Wii U. It’s a local co-op platformer that is capable of inciting a huge amount of frustration. However, regardless of how frustrated it might make you, you forgive it because it’s addictive, and getting through each level leaves ?you feeling accomplished. 

Events in Rayman Legends take place a whole century after those of Rayman Origins, and you’ll need to travel across worlds and defeat world bosses in order to complete the story. Collecting Teensies unlocks new worlds, and there are new playable characters to unlock alo??ng the way, such as Barbara the Barbarian Princess and her various family members.

The post 10 Best Wii U Games appeared first on Destructoid.

Getting lost in Hyrule Field all over again

Modder RiazorMC is at it again, and their latest fan-created track happens to be the "Ocarina of Time Circuit" for Mario Kart 8. Note that yes, Mario Kart 8 has gotten official Zelda DLC in the past with Hyrule Circuit: but not necessarily in a purely retro format. This track aims to bring back the 1998 Nintendo 64 classic in full force, steering through a big chunk of the overworld. Like several other Mario Kart tracks that shift zones across multiple laps, this track zooms across multiple major areas of Ocarina of Time, and hits many of the bigger notes.

Here's how the track plays out:

• Lap 1: Gerudo's Fortress (also the Kokiri Forest)
• Lap 2: Lake Hylia
• Lap 3: Death Mountain (across Hyrule Field)

The course takes you through pretty much all of Hyrule Field, and has a pretty intense/semi-confusing layout to boot. It would take multiple attempts to really figure out ?wh??ere to go since the signs aren't very pronounced, and several of the locations (including riding up the narrow ascent of Death Mountain, as well as navigating the depths of Lake Hylia) are tricky.

With some refinement, this could be a legit course I would definitely play. Hopefully Nintendo has more crossovers in the works for their Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC tracks (and beyond, on whatever inevitable next series entry is being worked on now). I've said this for years, but I can see Nintendo doing a Mario Kart All-Stars game at some point, especially once the?? franc?hise hits critical mass.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAbiHtV7A0g

[Thanks Rich!]

The post This fan-created Zelda: Oca??rina of Time Mario Kart 8 track i??s a trip down memory lane appeared first on Destructoid.

The money makers

Video games are a pretty darn profitable industry. As it turns out, a lot of people are willing to pay a lot of money to press little buttons. But only a select few button-pressing facilitators can claim to have made the most ??money. And only?? an even more select few can claim to actually be good.

High sales don't always translate into high quality. That's not a secret �there's a reason the fine folks at the British Film Institute don't factor box office take into the Sight & Sound poll (I like Avengers: Endgame, but it's not standing side-by-side with 2001: A Space Odyssey).?? Still, the Top 10 best-selling games in history have turned a lot of copies, and there's got to be some reason they connect with so many players.

So let's look at that Top 10 list and see which of these games are worth playing, and which are collecting dust on many millions of shelves. Before we get started, I'd like to clarify �there are a lot of different metrics by which one can measure the "best-selling games of all time," but for the purposes of this ranking, I'll be borrowing IGN's rigorously maintained top 10 list and backlinking to original sources.

[caption id="attachment_358334" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Blizzard Entertainment[/caption]

10. Overwatch

Per Bloomberg, Blizzard Entertainment's hero shooter Overwatch sol??d somewhere around 50? million units during its time on the market. By IGN's estimation, that makes it the seventh highest-selling game of all time. It's also tough to recommend, given that you can't actually play it right now.

Overwatch might be a little higher on this list if it was still playable. Unfortunately, it's been replaced by a free-to-play sequel, Overwatch 2. While the second game isn't dramatically different from the first, most of the changes made to the formula have made the game less entertaining. Pay-to-win battle pass progression, heroes locked behind heavy grinding, a team comp overhaul that feels more like a downgrade, making Overwatch 2, in its current state, less than pleasant.

[caption id="attachment_358335" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via KRAFTON, Inc.[/caption]

9. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

According to The Verge, PUBG sold about 75 million units before going free-to-play, making it the fifth best-selling game ever. There's a good reason for that: when it came out, PUBG was a bit of a revelation. There had been battle royale mods and modes for various other games before, but a game designed from the ground up with 100-person death matches in mind was an uncommon sight. And PUBG was a solid first foray into a budding genre.

In 2023, you can't toss a twig without hitting a battle royale. They aren't all as good as PUBG, but, well, free-to-play PUBG isn't quite as good as 2017 PUBG either. If you really want to play a battle royale game, you're pretty spoiled for choice, and while PUBG isn't the worst option, it is a bit stale.

[caption id="attachment_358336" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Rockstar Games[/caption]

8. Grand Theft Auto V

Publisher Take-Two Interactive says Grand Theft Auto V has sold more than 170 million copies as of September 2022. That's a pretty hefty figure, one that makes it the third third-highest seller in the medium. To be completely fair, though, it's not like GTA fans are spoiled for choice. There hasn't been a fully new GTA game in nearly a decade, and Rockstar just keeps porting GTA V.

The game is solid! It's a Grand Theft Auto game. It's a pretty incremental series, and the incremental improvements made in V are good. The writing is decent (if a little cynical for my taste), the open world is fairly compelling, and the primal joy of ramming cars into civilians has remained potent for many years. But, well... it's not really special at this point. Once again, we've seen an awful lot of great open-world games in the last nine years, and GTA V is getting a little long in the tooth.

Let's hope the next g??ame is worth the long, long wait.

[caption id="attachment_358337" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

7. Pokémon Red/Green(/Yellow/Blue)

The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA), a Japanese publication that tracks the games industry, claims that the four original releases of the first Pokémon generation have sold somewhere around 45 million units, and Nintendo says we can add 1.5 million units to that figure for the 3DS re-releases. That makes the original Pokémon the nin??th highest-selling game in history (even if it had to be four games to earn that spot).

I think most video game fans have at least a small soft spot for Pokémon, and the first generation is undeniably lovable. There are better JRPGs out there �hell, there are better Pokémon games o?ut t??here �but you can't discount the raw charm of the classics.

[caption id="attachment_358338" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

6. Super Mario Bros.

Turning once more to CESA's 2021 White Papers, Super Mario Bros. has reportedly sold around 48 million units ac??ross various platforms. That makes it the eighth best-selling game of all time. It's an undeniable platforming classic, genr?e-defining title that somehow still feels fresh.

When a game has been so foundational to a genre, going back to it can feel like visiting a museum �it's interesting, sure, but there's other, more fun stuff you could do. That's not the case with Super Mario Bros. ?The game may have laid the groundwork for 2D platformers to come, but it also mastered its own mechanics, with level layouts that are still fun and clever nearly ?40 years later.

[caption id="attachment_358339" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

5. Wii Sports

Wii Sports was bundled with the Nintendo Wii at launch in all territories except Japan, which certainly helps its incredible Nintendo-reported 82.9 million unit sales. That figure makes it the fourth highest-selling game of all time. Honestly, though, I have a feeling that even without the pack-in numbers, Wii Sports could've made this list.

There's simply no better proof-of-concept for the Wii than Wii Sports. Every included sport demonstrates a different use for the Wiimote, and while no other game really found the same level of versatility in the device, Wii Sports was a shining reminder of what motion controls could be. It was the perfect pack-in game, ?yes, but it was also an excellent game in its own right.

[caption id="attachment_358340" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Microsoft[/caption]

4. Minecraft

The first time I played Minecraft, I probably wouldn't have guessed that it was fated to become the second highest-selling game of all time. And yet, according to Microsoft, this unassuming survival sandbox turned proto-Metaverse has sold a staggering 238 million units.

In some ways, calling Minecraft one video game is a little unfair. In addition to having nearly two dozen editions across ??different platforms, it's also more of a host for games than anything else. The single-player survival mode is still a lot of fun, and creative mode is a good way to bang out some architectural concepts, but multiplayer servers and mods are where the real party is at.

There are so many different things that can be done with the foundations of Minecraft, and that adaptability is the game's greatest st?rength.

[caption id="attachment_358341" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

3. Mario Kart 8

Nintendo's financial reports put Mario Kart 8, across its two editions, at about 57 million units sold, making it the sixth highest-selling game of all time. It seems pretty staggering that a Wi??i U game, of all things, could climb so high in the rankings, but I guess that's the power of the Nintendo Switch port.

Mario Kart rules. It's a simple fact of life that everyone on earth likes playing Mario Kart, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is probably the best entry in the franchise, period. That's really all there ??is to say.

[caption id="attachment_358342" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Rockstar Games[/caption]

2. Red Dead Redemption 2

According to Take-Two Interactive's August 202?2 financial repo??rt, Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 45 million units (not counting individual copies of Red Dead Online). That makes? it?? the 10th highest-selling game of all time, but it's number two in the quality rankings.

Red Dead Redemption 2 can be slow, monotonous, and long, even by AAA game standards. But that meditative quiet is in service of one of the best narratives in high-budget gaming history. Red Dead Redemption 2 is ponderous and quiet, which has left it saddled with the?? descriptor of "boring" by folks who prefer their action a little hotter and heavier. Regardless, it's an uncommonly thoughtful game in a field often dominated by bright lights and flashing colors.

[caption id="attachment_358343" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via The Tetris Company[/caption]

1. Tetris

Sometimes bright lights and flashing colors are good. Quickly, throw a stick somewhere in your room. Good money says you just hit a copy of Tetris. According to The Tetris Company, somewhere in the area of 520 million copies of Tetris have been ?sold, ma??king it the highest-selling video game in history. It might also be the single best video game in history.

Tetris is one of those concepts that just works. Trying to fit things together in a tight space is satisfying on a primal level, and Tetris is a masterful piece of design work. It's almost silly to praise Tetris. Because everyone already k??????????????????????????n?ows it's great. Because everyone has already bought it.

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Looking in the rearview mirror

This year, Mario Kart hit one of those milestones that just doesn't seem right. Have we really been slinging shells between go-karts for 30 years? As it turns out, we have (at least "we" have in the broader cultural sense �I am a few years younger than Mario Kart).

For the last 30 years, it's been seemingly impossible to unseat Mario Kart as the multiplayer game of choice for many. It doesn't have the thriving competitive scene of your average fighting game, but if you put 10 people from any walk of life in a room and ask what game they want to play, nine of them will say Mario Kart. One asshole will say Towerfall, and that asshole is me, but tha??t's not relevant.

Where we've been

It's often been said that your favorite Mario Kart is either the first one you played or the newest one. Because of the iterative nature of the series, the latest title is usually "the best," but it's hard to shake off nostalgia. Sure enough, I've always been very fond of Mario Kart Wii. I played it when I was young, and because my family did the same thing everyone else did and refused to buy a Wii U, I kept playi?ng it right up ??until the Switch arrived.

The motion controls, the little plastic wheel, the fact that it was on the Wii and therefore accessible at all my friends' houses �Mario Kart Wii had it all. It remains one of three or four video games that my mom earnestly enjoys, and fo?r that, I must give it high marks.

During the wait between Wii and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, I dabbled in some other Mario Karts. I got a Game Boy Advance after I got a Wii (my choice, I was a weird kid), so I played a good bit of Mario Kart: Super Circuit on my own. As the only person who still had a GBA in a post-DS world, I gained a healthy appreciation for single-player Mario Kart, which I carry with me to this day. I eventually snagged a 2DS and played a good bit of Mario Kart 7 there - that game is lovely, but, in true Mario Kart fashion, it's basically a lesser version of the next entry, whi??ch makes it mostl?y unnecessary to return to.

I've dabbled in the other Mario Kart games, but I wasn't around to play them when people actually cared about them, so I can't say too much about that experience. I quite like Mario Kart: Double Dash, I kind of hate Super, and I am utterly neutral on Mario Kart 64.

Where we're heading

Naturally, Mario Kart shows no sign of slowing down. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the best-selling Nintendo Switch game by a pretty dramatic margin, and the ridiculously expensive peripheral-based spinoff Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is somehow in the top 100. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe continues to receive DLC tracks, and the mobile game Mario Kart Tour has be??en active and relatively successful for a few years now.

I still play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe whenever I get the chance, and I dabble in Mario Kart Wii when I'm at my family's house (they're purists). I wouldn't say Mario Kart is a favorite franchise of mine, but it's pretty undeniable ??that it brings folks together.

It'll take some time, I expect, for Nintendo to bless us with another full-fledged Mario Kart entry. Thankfully, it's still pretty easy to get a group together to play Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and the Switch's handheld nature makes it easy to nurture my love for single-player Mario Kart, so I'm alright for now.

We'd love to hear about your history with Mario Kart �what's your favorite entry? Does the age-old first-game/newest-game doctrine hold true for you? Do you ever play the game on your own, or is it strictly a multiplayer experience for you? Fill those comments with Mario Kart stories, if you'd be so kind.

The post As the franchise hits 30, everyone’s got some Mario Kart memories appeared first on Destructoid.

Yet another update to the eight-year-old game

Fans have been holding out hope for news on the next installment in the Mario Kart franchise for a while now, and unfortunately we're going to have to wait a bit longer for that. The good news is, though, that Mario Kart 8 is getting paid DLC, which will be rereleases of classic courses from the other games in the series.

This should tide us over, at least for a little bit lo?nger.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z0XbAj2v1c

It's called the Booster Course Pass, and the plan is for Nintendo to release the remastered courses in six waves, eight at a time. Some of the courses that will be included are fan favorites like Mario Kart Wii's Coconut Mall, Mario Kart 64's Choco Mountain, and Mario Kart Tour Tokyo Blur, just to name a few.

The first wave of DLC courses drops on March 18, with the rest releasing over the course of this year and through 2023. The expansion will retail for $24.99, but will be free with the Ninten??do Online Expansion Pack.

Pre-?order?s for the DLC are available starting today.

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Could the rumors be true?

Mario Kart is one of the most beloved gaming franchises of all time, even to those who don't consider themselves "gamers." The series has a rich history, going all the way back to 1992 with Super Mario Kart, so naturally the game has had to reinvent itself a few times. We've had the two-character carts that were introduced in Double Dash, bikes that came in during the Mario Kart Wii era, and most recently, the anti-gravity sections in Mario Kart 8. It sounds like we might be looking at yet another reimagining of the classic racing mechanics, because industry analyst Dr. Serkan Toto recently stated that Mario Kart 9 is currently in developme??nt, and moreover, may ??include a "new twist."

Fans have been celebrating the alleged confirmation of the sequel's mere existence online, but many have already begun speculation on just what this new twist could be. Theories have already started cropping up on Twitter that it might be a Formula 1-themed addition, likely due to the sport's more mainstream popularity this year after the release of the Netflix documentary series Formula One: Drive to Survive.

On the other hand, some fans aren't so sure that Nintendo would be ready for another mainline entry to the series quite yet, as Mario Kart 8 has continued to sell exceptionally well on the Switch. Toto himself acknowledged the game's sales numbers, which surpassed 40 million combined units last April, making it the best-selling game in the series.

While it's easy to get excited about Mario Kart 9 and the future of the series, we kind of have to take all this news with a grain of salt �after all, there hasn't been any official statement from Nintendo as of yet. It is fun to speculate, though, because it's pretty likely that the series will continue to evolve to stay fresh. Just look at the changes we've seen from the Mario Party series in recent years.

So, what do you think this twist could be, assuming that it is indeed in the works? How would you like to see a new spin on the classic mechanics? Let's ??discuss? below.

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Paper Mario Kart

A few months ago, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe got a surprise update that allowed for compatibility with the motorcycle accessory from Labo's "Variety Kit." With a third kit soon to hit store shelves, Nintendo is looking to further support Mario Kart 8 with more papercraft accessories. Those of us with children (or who are children at heart) will be happy to learn that the crazy transforming steering wheel and pedal won't simply collect dust after a weekend since it will have full support for Mario Kart 8.

You can even catch a glimpse of it in action below. I'm not sure I would find that comfortable to use for extended periods of time, but it is a real treat to see Nintendo extend Labo support beyond the software it was intended for. There isn't a date for the pat??ch, but it is likely to launch alo??ngside Toy-Con 3 in September.

Nintendo of America [Twitter]

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If you don't feel anything, you're dead inside

For a lot of elitist gamers, the worst "change" in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is the introduction of "Sm??art Steering" and "Auto Accelerate". The two options are pretty self explanatory, but they allow you to either have the game auto steer or leave the gas pedal down. It lowers the skill ceiling for new players by letting them focus more on learning the courses or using items with??out having to fiddle with anything else. It can definitely automate the experience a bit, but it hardly ruins it for "expert" players.

What most people fail to realize is that these options can be used as accessibility features for disabled gamers. One such example comes from Reddit where a man named Keith has described how his young daughter, Molly, is now finally able to play Mario Kart with her siblings thanks to these new features. Molly is four years old, but she had suffered a stroke just after being born. It has left her with limited mobility in her right hand, hence how these new features have helped her play Mario Kart.

"Thanks to Mario Kart’s new Auto Drive feature," Keith explains, "she can now steer with her left hand and let the game drive for her or vice versa. I’m sure this feature will be an annoyance to many, but for my daughter, who would otherwise not really be able to participate, it is the best feature ever added to a Mario Kart game. She is currently sitting in my living with my other 2 kids and my wife and all of them are playing Mario Kart and la?ug??hing their heads off. This is truly a day I won’t forget thanks to Nintendo."

That is a very touching story made possible because Nintendo's approach to gaming is more about being inclusive rather than pushing people away. I'm not sure why we keep having discussions about "casual" games or "hardcore" games when one of the main objectives with gaming should be having fun. Does someone else having an easier time really hurt "hardcore" ??players that much?

To make matters worse, these new options don't break Mario Kart 8 Deluxe in any way. Using both options at once, you still need to know what each item does, when to use it, how to properly time jumps off ramps for small boosts, how and when to ??drift and even potentially break if playin??g on 200cc.

Knowing that more people can finally experience Mario Kart 8 is a good thing. I don't know how anyone can be upset with this. If you'd like to read more about the story, you can check out the Reddit post or Kotaku's great write-up about Molly and her newfound hobby.

Little Girl Finally Gets To Play Mario Kart 8 Thanks To Smart Steering [Kotaku]

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Forget DMCA takedowns

Apparently racing your very own Mario Kart is a booming business over in Japan, because this is the second time I'm posting about a company offering such a thing. It looks like the Marika Company didn't get clearance from Nintendo, because the Big N is now suing them for infringing on their intellectual prop??erty.

Announced via a press release from Nintendo of Japan, Ninte?ndo insists that, "They [Marika] use it for publicity and sales without obtaining our permission, and we insist that such an act falls under unfair competition and copyright infringement acts against us." That is fai??r enough, I suppose.

"In addition, when the defendant com??pany rents a public road ?cart to that customer, they lend a costume of a famous character such as our 'Mario', etc., and the image and the video of the costume are displayed," the press release continues. As you can see in the image gallery, that claim certainly can't be refuted.

Marika's website is currently offline, so that probably doesn't bode well for the company. I would try to settle for something out of court, because not getting permission from the original copyright holder is basically an open and shut case. I'm mostly surprised that real life Mario Kart is so prevalent in Japan. Where is that in Yakuza 6?

Nintendo sues company that let you race Mario Karts in real life [Eurogamer]

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I'd throw shells at cars

I'm sure many of us have fantasized about driving in a real life Mario Kart race. The joy of whisking past players you've toppled with a red shell while casually dodging a Bob-omb would be a real treat for anyone. According to Good Morning America (of all sources), you can just about replicate the experience in the Akih?abara district of Tokyo.

Those who are lucky enough to live on the other side of the world can head on over to Akiba Kart and rent out a go-kart fashioned after everyone's favorite plumber. All of the karts for rent are at the 50cc class, which means even the most novice of drivers should be able to avoid accidents. The cost is $25 an hour, so even $100 could get you a fairly large chunk of the day on these ??machines.

The shops owner, Daisaku Koyama, has a warning for any speed demons among us. "Be careful while driving. Japanese police can get very angry." Seeing as how crime rates are exceptionally low, I'm sure the cops are just itching to find any? trouble?makers and serve them justice.

Driving a Real-Life Mario Kart in the Streets of Tokyo [Yahoo News]

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It's so obscure and reversed, but it's there

I ?know a lot of you would kill to have the time to do what YouTube user Harm has done here, but it's still an interesting discovery nonetheless.

Working on a hunch, Harm decided that since the Mii chatter for the Mario Kart 8 TV menu sounded like real people talking, he'd manipulate the sound files until he found out w?hat they were actually saying. He was right of course -- Nintendo simply recorded chatter, possibly at a cafe, then distorted it and played it backwards so it would sound like gibberish.

Well, Harm reversed that, and found a particular phrase that Nintendo clearly missed --"How the fuck does she know?" A clear oversigh??t, but an example of something that can ?happen when you have a lot of unknown variables at play.

The post Intrepid YouTu?ber finds hidden swear word in Mario Kart 8 appeared first on Destructoid.

Why did it have to suck

After following up 7, Mario Kart 8 was a breath of fresh air. I loved playing it for months on end, there was just one major problem -- the "battle mode" sucked. I called Nintendo "o??ut of their mind" back in 2014, and I stand by that statement to this day. I can't believe they never patche?d arenas in!

Well, the folks over at TheBitBlock have created what's called a "Make Believe Digital Event," in which they mock-up their dream content for big Nintendo games. This episode features Animal Crossing, Mario Party, and most importantly, Mario Kart 8. They envision a&??nbsp;Delfino Plaza battle stage that takes place in an actual arena (it starts at? 8:40).

What a cute mockup!

The post This ??fan-made video has me pining for a real Mario Kart 8 battle mode appeared first on Destructoid.

Just in time for Christmas

Missed out on Black Friday or even last week's $50 drop on the Wii U from Toys"R"Us? No problemo, the $50 discount has been extended on the Wii U Mario Kart 8 bundle through Best Buy, which has it as a part of its weekly sale (but ?strangely didn't really make too much of a fuss on its website about i??t).

• Wii U Console 32GB Deluxe Set + Mario Kart 8 — $249.99  (list price $300)
• Free ship or store pick up
• Deal expires Saturday, December 12

This is the best deal post-Cyber Monday for ?the Wii U from a mainline retailer. The highly in-demand Wii U Super Smash Bros. + Splatoon bundle did hit this same $249.99 price for a short time on Thanksgiving Thursday until it quickly sold out at that price. We don't see the bundle available online anymore anywhere legitimate, but you may still be able to find it for $279.99 at select GameStop (in fact, some sellers on Amazon Marketplace even have it above the holiday list price).

Note for the physical package and disc lovers, Mario Kart 8 comes pre-installed digitally, so if you want to add to your shelf collection - this wouldn't really do the trick (the aforementioned Smash + Splatoon bundle?? is also the same situation).

While this is an older bundle, Mario Kart 8 is the quintessential title for the Wii U, so you really can't go wrong with picking this up if you must have it for Christmas?. Shipping time frame is Dec 16 to 23, and you'll also earn $5 ??in eBay bucks (good for an accessory in the future?).

Deals from Dealzon. Sales help support Destructoid.

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Haha what

Mario Kart 8 came in with a bang, and ended up lasting quite a while with its two a?mazing DLC packs. While I still play it on occasion, its fire has unfortunately ?died down a bit, partially due to the horrible battle mode that still hasn't been patched or addressed. When it comes to my household, I know for a fact that a real battle gametype would keep people interested for longer.

Alas, over a yea??r after launch, Nintendo has announced a brand new TV special for the game, which will air on December 5 at 8PM ET on Disney XD. It features YouTube personalities and "eight of America's best young gamers," whatever that last bit means.

The post Mario Kart 8 is g??etting a TV?? special on Disney XD this week appeared first on Destructoid.

Of course it starts on a Saturday

Update: Cyber Monday is over and thus only two deals remain. Listed below.

Its not quite Monday yet but eBay deals are flooding with various Cyber Monday deals on Wii U, Xbox One, and PS4 console bundles. If you slept pass Black Friday ?and have decided now that an 8th gen console needs to be in your life (and you're glued to your laptop looking for deals), then you're in luck as the deals are starting as early as Saturday night.

eBay 8th Gen Console Cyber Monday Deals

• Wii U Console 32GB Deluxe Set + Mario Kart 8 — $249.99
• PlayStation 4 500GB Star Wars Battlefront Bundle — $299.99
• Xbox One The LEGO Movie Videogame Bundle — $284.99
• Xbox One Fallout 4 1TB Bundle — $329.99=

Big Box Retailer Cyber Monday Deals

• Xbox One W??hite Gears of War Bundle + Extra Controller — $349
• Xbox One Gears ??of War Bundle + $60 Xbox Gift Code + Free Game — $299
• ?Xbox One Rise of Tomb Raider 1TB Bundle + $60 Gift Code + Free Game — $349
• PlayStation 4 Uncharted Collection Bundle — $299.99<- back to $349 at most place
• Wii U Deluxe Set Super Smash Bros. + Splatoon — $279.99<- OOS online

From T?oys R Us, they're offering the Wii U Deluxe Mario Kart 8 bundle for only $249.9??????????????????????????9 with free ship. Over at Antonline, they have both the Xbox One Lego Movie bundle for $289.99 and a PS4 Battlefront bundle for $329.

In fac??t, Antonline actually has the same Mario Kart 8 bundle b?ut at a higher $279.99 price tag, so there's little point grabbing from them tonight. For the PS4, the deal won't start until Sunday morning at 8AM Pacific.

We don't expect any other surprise deals for these consoles (at least not on eBay) through the rest of the weekend, but if a major retailer discount their inventory on their own store fro??nt, you might see the similar discount appear on eBay - which has the benefit of earning you a little bit of eBay cash backs -- plus lots of savvy shopper simply stock up on eBay gift card deals to stack the savings.

Update: We've added some regular o' brick & mortar Cyber Monday deals on the Wii U, Xbox One, and PS4. At this point the Microsoft Store's deal of free $60 gift code plus choice of free game is still edging out all other deals. If you want an Xbox, this promotion is the way to go.

Cyber Monday deals from Dealzon. Sales help support Destructoid.

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Is that a kid or a squid in that kart?

Mario Kart 8 and Splatoon are both pretty good games that came exclusively to the Wii U. ?The Wii U is a pretty nice console that's not selling very well. Nintendo's solution? A 32GB Wii U bundled with digital copies of our favorite kart racer and s??quid kid shooter.

Mario Kart 8 will come pre-installed on the console. Splatoon will come in the fo??rm of a download code in the box.

According to MCV, the bundle will cost £239.99 and re?lease in the UK on October 30.

So, has this pushed you to finally buy a Wii U?

The post There’s a new Wii U bundle coming to the UK, and it’s good appeared first on Destructoid.

'New configuration'

Along with both DLC packs, Mario Kart 8 is still trucking in my home.

If you haven't played it yet, this new Wii U bundle, announced by Nintendo today, may entice you. It's $299.99, and comes with a pre-installed Mario Kart 8, along with both DLCs. Nintendo is also launching its Super Mario Maker console this Friday in certain regions.

Right now the biggest bundle in the US is the Super Mario 3D World and Nintendo Land pack for $299.99, which is also a good deal, as 3D World is still at a $50 at retail.

The post Nintendo announ??ces new? US Wii U bundle, with Mario Kart 8 + DLC appeared first on Destructoid.

Link's sponsored by the Big Tymers

Somewhere along the way, Link traded Epona for a sleek sportbike. It's unconventional, but probably necessary in the high-octane world of Mario Kart 8. I mea??n, Epona is literally one horsepower. That doe?sn't quite cut it.

Link upgraded to something a little more stylish, and you can too. Now there's an officially-licensed Triforce-gold Mario Kart 8 wheel, and it seems to be priced pretty reasonably. It runs $15 and releases on? July 6. Of course, it'll require a Wiimote to function.

If that's a bit gaudy to you, a Toad-themed blue wheel is available on the same day. For some reason, that one's only $12. That extra three dollars is th??e price you pay for decadence, I guess.

Link Mario Kart 8 wheel, Toad Mario Kart 8 wheel [Amazon]

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PlayStation 4 tops hardware charts

Square Enix's somewhat screwy PS4 release of the previously release Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster topped Japanese sales charts for the week ending on May 17 (it was released in Japan May 14), according to Gematsu's report of Media Creates charts.

The remaster (15,913) edged out previous week leader Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition (13,844). Minecraft on Vita came in third and fellow new PS4 release Borderlands: The Handsome Collection (6,922) rounded out the top 5. The two are the only new releases to make the top 20 chart. Mario Kart 8 is also creeping cl??ose to 1 million sold in J?apan.

Also Xbox One sold 187 last week, the murd??er numb??er.

The post Re-re-release: Final ?Fantasy X/X-2 PS4 tops?? Japan sales appeared first on Destructoid.

There's free Wi-Fi too

Looking for a ga???me-flavoured place to stay the next time you're in Tokyo? 

This Mario-inspired apartment in Meguro, Tokyo - nicknamed (unsurprisingly) 'Mari??o World' - is stuffed with a veritable smorgsbord of Mario-related items??.

It's not jus??t the decor, either. Every inch of the place is crammed with familiar icons and motifs, including the light fixtures, flatware, furniture, ornaments and, er, tissue boxes.

"This apartment embodies the spirit of an iconic Japanese video-game character with geek chic without falling into a 'kids bedroom' cliché," writes the owner on the Airbnb website. 

"This is not a che??ap, s??econd-hand apartment made for cynical reasons, it's a piece of art from the heart. I made a lot of the items you see by hand, and painted quite a few, too."

But it's not all just eye-candy. For the modest sum of $77/£50 a night for up to four guests, you can also use the Retron 5 console and take your pick from a?? selection of classic games from NES, SNES, Gameboy and M??egadrive/Genesis. 

Looks great, right? Besides that "About to Hatch" sign in the bathroom. T??hat is just gross. 

The post Who?? ?wants to stay in this Super Mario-inspired apartment? appeared first on Destructoid.

Ninty's rolling in dough again

Earlier this morning Ninten??do released its results for the last financial year, ending May 31 2015, and we ?have good news. Nintendo is back to profitability! After several fiscal years of losses Nintendo is climbing back up again.

Right, let's start digging into some of these cool sales figures we got alo?ng with the news.

While the Wii U has yet to break ten million units sold worldwide, the 3DS family (3DS, 2DS, New? 3DS, 3DS XL, any other stuff that is basically a 3DS) has sold over 52 million units. 

The Wii U has currently sold 9,540,000 units worldwide, which is under half of the 21 million lifetimes sales of the ?GameCube. While the console has suffered poor ha?rdware sales numbers, the attach rate for games is currently sitting at a fairly impressive 5.94 games per console. 

We also know that Mario Kart 8 has sold 5.11 million copies worldwide and Smash Bros. sold 3.65 million copies.

Lastly, Nintendo apparently are planning to take a "more active approach" to character merchandising going forward outside of games. Hmmm, could that Zelda Netflix show be real after all?

Honestly, I'm just glad to know Nintendo is doing slightly better than it was last year. As m??any silly decisions as it makes I can't help but love the company.

The post Nintendo is back to making a profit appeared first on Destructoid.

The ride never ends

In a move that will annoy some and please others, Nintendo has issued an update for Mario Kart 8 that unlocks the new, fast-as-hell 200cc class as well as the track??-reversing Mirror Mode. Just boot up the game and you'll see a software update prompt for version 4.1.

If you were putting off clearing Grand Prix cups on 150cc ?to unlock this stuff, you're in luck -- no more stressing over last-second losses against the conniving AI racers.

Now you can stress over the ridi??culous 200cc class like the rest? of us!

The post Mari??o Kart 8 update unlock??s 200cc and Mirror Mode for everyone appeared first on Destructoid.

Competitive play at 200CC renders technique ineffective

Firehopping has essentially been killed off in competetive Mario Kart 8, thanks to the recent addition of 200cc mode to the game. While adding 200cc mode doesn't patch out the ability to firehop, the alterations that have surfaced in the metagame of hi??gh level competetive play have rendered the ability all but useless.

For the uninitiated, firehopping was a technique where players could extend their boosts indefini?tely by switching quickly between jumps left and right. Before the introduction of 200cc mode, heavy characters were generally favoured by the competitive scene because even at their highest speed, the lost drifting and handling abilities were insignificant. 

Following the introduction of 200cc, players are now finding that even light characters are fast enough in straight lines that their increased handling is a huge advantage. Basically, it's now far more important that players be able to effectively turn than it is?? they be able to squeeze their top speed a little higher.

As to how this will effect the competitive Mario Kart 8 scene, we will likely have t??o wait and see. Many high level players disliked firehopping on principle and it will be interesting to see how the scene rea??cts to it being rendered ineffective.

The post Firehopping dead in Mario Kart 8 appeared first on Destructoid.

More crossovers and a real battle mode

When Nintendo announced its DLC plans for Mario Kart 8, there was a combination of collective groans and cheers across the internet. The latter group was on the right side of history, it seems. When the first DLC Pack dropped in November, pretty much everyone agreed that it was fantastic. A few days ago, the second DLC pack dropped -- also fantastic.

But Nintendo? could go a lot further, ensuring that everyone keeps on karting well into ??the release of the next major console.

New crossovers:

The sky really is the limit for new franchises. While I initially wanted a full-on "Mario Kart All-Stars" for the next game, I soon realized after playing the Animal Crossing pack that Nintendo could just keep supporting 8, and it would be more than good enough. With a real online infrastructure and a visual style gorgeous enough?? to withstand the test of time, we don't have to wait years until a new console iteration.

Keep the crossovers coming. Samus, Fox McCloud, Kirby (with his Warpstar) -- all of them would fit perfectly into the Mario Kart universe, and I can see some really ingenious tracks down the road due to Nintendo's rich history as a character factory. One request is to just go all-out for the new characters though -- no "half Mario half new" -- just go all-new.

Just inject F-Zero into the game already:

We've seen the Mute City and Big Blue homages, but really, with F-Zero considered by many to be the definitive racing experience over Mario Kart, that's a huge market ready to be tapped. I'm not even talking about a "Pack" here -- more like a full-on expansion in 2016 featuring cast members from F-Zero, at least 10 tracks from the series, and extra elem?ents like new char??acters and planets.

Use that as a barometer for gauging interest in a new F-Zero game. Miyamoto himself said last year that "the struggle is that I don't really have a good idea for what's new that we could bring to F-Zero that would really turn it into a great game again." I have an idea -- fans already like what you've done with the franchise in Mario Kart 8, so think about expanding on it.

A real battle mode:

Finally, we come to my one big problem with Mario Kart 8 -- a lack of a real battle mode. No, that sorry excuse of "racing with balloons" doesn't cut it. I want real, tiered arenas that are all-new. Although I loved the core game as a racer, it really loses a lot of its spark due to the fact that so many fans grew up only playing the battle minigame. It cuts down on the replay value for fans as well, as I remember plenty of Mario Kart ?marathons that would have ended after a few hours if it wasn't for someone suggesting that we play "just a bit more" within the confines of the arena.

I'm hopeful for these additions because Nintendo has shown it knows how to to DLC right. For $12 right now, you'll net seven characters (Villager counts as two!), eight vehicles, and 16 tracks. For reference, the game shipped with 32 courses. While I wouldn't trust a lot of publishers with this charge, Nintendo has the opportunity to really make Mario Kart 8 one of the longest-lasting games in the series, as th?e company has proven that it knows exa??ctly what it's doing.

The post Nintendo, your work isn’t done on Mario Kart 8 appeared first on Destructoid.

Brake drifting is our saving grace

Mario Kart 8 feels fresh again and not just because of the fabulous new tracks added in this week's Animal Crossing-themed DLC Pack 2. Nintendo also unleashed the humbling 200c??c class in a free update for the game. We saw the footage. We knew this fast, furious mode would require relearning, practice, and lots of patience.

But my goodness -- some of these courses are a real pain, even by Mario Kart standards.

Cheese Land, for instance.

The winding desert level is littered with cheesy rock ??formations and it's a treat to look at, but don't be fooled by the mirage: playing on 200cc, this is a bad place for bad people. Who designed these curved roads? Why did someone tie up their agitated Chain Chomp over here? And w??on't someone fill all of these potholes? This is a professional tournament!

In an effort to see what 200cc is supposed to look like, I found this video of YouTube user AbdallahSmash026 triple-starring the Crossing Cup (including? Cheese ??Land):

The post Mario Kart 8’s Cheese Land will crush your spirit on 200cc appeared first on Destructoid.

Eight tracks, three (four) characters, and four karts

Want more Mario Kart 8? Today is your lucky day! DLC Pack 2, otherwise known as the "Animal Crossing DLC" is out on Wii U. This follows-up the first pack from November 2014.

200cc races and eight new Mii costumes will be available for everyone regardless of whether or not you purchase the DLC, but if you do, you'l??l get eight courses (Ribbon Road GBA, Baby Park GCN, Wild Woods, Big Blue, Animal Crossing, Neo Bowser City 3DS, Cheese Land GBA, and Super Bell Subway), four characters (Villager B??oy/Girl, Isabelle, and Dry Bowser), and four vehicles (P-Wing, City Tripper, The Streetle, and Bone Rattler). Yep, I totally count male and female villager as different characters.

Expect some impressions in the future. For now, get to do??wnloading!

The post Mario Kart 8’s Animal Crossing DLC is out today appeared first on Destructoid.

F-Zero love, too

Nintendo detailed its DLC Pack 2 for Mario Kart 8 during a recent Nintendo Direct. The 200cc races are coming free for all, but you gotta pay if you want to play (the 8 new tracks). The Animal Crossing: New Leaf track is lovely. And the F-Zero track ain't bad, even if some people would just rather have, you know, more F-Zero.

Looks like old additions are Baby Park, Ribbon Road, Neo Bowser City and Cheese Land, while the new tracks are Nature Road, Big ??Blue, Lingling Metro, and Animal Crossing.

Mario Kart 8 - Baby Park and other classic t??racks on the way [GoNintendo]

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It'll be hard to go back to 150cc

We're about two weeks out from Nintendo adding the speedy new 200cc class to Mario Kart 8.

After watching a few of these side-by-side comparison videos between 200cc and 150c?c, it already feels like I'm growing accustomed to the former. It just looks right and, assuming I don't make a total fool of myself by crashing into all of the walls or flying off course, it should feel right too.

Weird thing: the course shown in this video is known as Piranha Plant Pipe??way in Europe and Australia, but over here it's called Piranha Plant Slide. I'm switching sides for that sweet alliteration.

The post Mario Kart 8’s 200cc class put to the test on Piranha Plant Pipeway appeared first on Destructoid.

I'm going to stay away from the leaderboards

After Nintendo updates Mario Kart 8 on April 23, there will be a brand new racing class available for ?free: 200cc. To give us a better sense of how quick it is, here's a side-by-side comparison of 200cc and the game's current fastest class, 150cc, on the Dolphin Shoals track. Mind your breaks!

While this isn't as ridiculous as something like F-Zero GX (wha??t is?), it's going to be weird adjusting to the new sense of speed and even weirder to go back to slower classes afterwards.

Once 200cc breaks my spirits, I'll turn to the new Animal Crossing DLC for comfort.

The post Mario Kart 8’s new 200cc class compared to 150cc appeared first on Destructoid.

Watch out for Mr. Resetti!

Oh, right, we still have more Mario Kart 8 DLC coming up. It's been so long since I locked in my pre-order that I had totally forgotten! DLC Pack 2 marks the debut of Animal Crossing's Isabelle and Villager as racers, and also adds Dry Bowser, four vehicles, and ?eig??ht courses.

Nintendo showed fresh footage of the Animal Crossing-themed track t?oday, and noted that the seasons will change each time you race. Such lovely backg??round music, too.

DLC Pack 2 launches April 23, 2015 for $7.99 and, on the same day, a free update will add the super-fast 200cc option for Mario Kart 8. This challenging new class can be sele?cted for any of the downloadable courses as well as all existing tracks in both local and online play.

Lastly, the update w?ill enable amiibo owners to generate costum??es using Mega Man, Pac-Man, Sonic, Toad, Wario, Villager, Rosalina, Bowser, and Olimar. See a few of them below.

The post Mario Kart adds 200cc class, DLC Pack 2, and mo?re c??ostumes on April 23 appeared first on Destructoid.