Anti-gravity isn’t the only new thing Mario Kart 8 is bringing to the decades-old franchise. The game will allow you to upload and share race highlights via its Mario Kart TV feature; use the Wii U gamepad as a map while using another controller to drive; feature two new items (a piranha plant and a boomerang); customise which items appear (or don’t) in races; and more. Of course, there are also the cosmetic changes. And what impressive changes they are, especially compared to the series' last home console appearance on the Wii almost six years ago. Mario Kart 8 looks gorgeous, showcasing impressive details in both the racers and the tracks. For Yabuki and Konno, these good looks are all thanks to the Wii U’s extra grunt.
“We were able to harness the power of the Wii U to get a huge polygon count, and we were able to make courses that involved a lot of undulating, moving surfaces,” Yabuki said. “We’ve also done a lot of work with the character animations. If you look at Mario and the Koopalings and all the characters, you’re seeing a level and range of animation that you’ve never seen before.”