Mario Kart 8 is less than 3 weeks away from release, and the first solid bits of information are beginning to emerge from various previews. A recent preview from NintendoWorldReport revealed a bunch of new details about the game.
As expected, the standard game mode is Grand Prix. By playing the Grand Prix mode, players unlock new tracks as the campaign progresses. There are a total of 32 race tracks in the game (check out the soundtrack for every track).
After each race, players will be rewarded 1 to 3 stars for their performance in the race, and coins will be earned as well in each race. Players will be able to spend the coins on buying new gear such as tires, bodies, etc. The gear isn’t just cosmetic — it will affect the performance of the kart.
As for online modes, many of the offline game modes will be available online. Players will also be able to create tournaments, which can even be set to be held weekly or every set number of days. Mario Kart 8 will also support private lobbies for your friends.
Players will be able to watch the best moments of each race via the new Mario Kart TV feature, where players can view and adjust the highlights of each game. It will also be possible to watch a replay of the whole race, and videos can be uploaded to YouTube and Miiverse.
Other Mario Kart 8 Wii U features include a new Miiverse stamp that is awarded for beating Nintendo staff in a race, and you can even race against Nintendo staff members’ ghosts in time trial.
You can check out the full Mario Kart 8 preview here.
For good measure, we’ve added some new Mario Kart 8 videos as well, including a walkthrough of the menus and tournament settings in the game. Enjoy!