Wii U eShop updates - 11/13/14 (North America)

Mario Kart 8 just got better!

There's some activity on the North American Wii U eShop this week. There are three new indie games, a classic Mario Kart title has made its way to the Virtual Console, Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric has arrived, and LEGO Batman 2 is now available on Nintendo's digital store. There are also some discounts worth noting, but the biggest news is undoubtedly the new Mario Kart 8 DLC. Details and links to videos after the break.

Mario Kart 8 - Video Review by IGN

Mario Kart 8 has officially launched in North America, and is now available to purchase in stores, or in digital form on the Wii U eShop. The latest entry in the series is priced at $59.99, and those who purchase it will have the chance to get another game completely free. All you have to do is register the racer with Club Nintendo sometime between May 30th and July 31st of this year. After doing so you will receive a code to download a digital version of one of four Wii U games. Choices include: New Super Mario Bros. U, Pikmin 3, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, and Wii Party U. Click here for the details on Nintendo's official website.

If you aren't already aware, the big feature of Mario Kart 8 is anti-gravity, which allows the karts and bikes to drive on walls and ceilings. The track design is as clever as ever, and the graphics are arguably the best on Nintendo's HD console.

The game has plenty to offer, and here are the highlights.

• Eight cups to compete in, four of which include gorgeous remakes of retro courses.
• A number of items to use, including the new Super Horn which can destroy projectiles, including the blue spiny shell.
• A host of playable characters to use, including Miis
• Customizable vehicles which allow you to mix and match parts.
• Multiple control schemes including the Wii U GamePad, Wii Remote (and Wheel), Wii Remote and Nunchuk, or Wii U Pro Controller.
• A few multiplayer modes, allowing you to play with friends online or locally. Gamers can race each other, or duke it out in Battle Mode.

So how does Mario Kart 8 stack up? Very well! The game currently has a Metacritic average of 89 based on 62 reviews by professional critics. If you don't trust critics, you can read some customer reviews on Amazon here. As of this writing, it has an average of four and a half stars out of five on the online retailer's website.

Jose Otero of IGN has released his video review of the game, and he absolutely loves it, giving it a solid 9, earning it the distinction of "Amazing." You can watch the video review after the break.

Nintendo confirms Mario Kart 8 Wii U Bundle for North America

Earlier today, the Big N released a special Mario Kart 8 Nintendo Direct which revealed a lot of new details about the upcoming racer. Perhaps the most important piece of info is that the Mario Kart 8 Wii U Bundle has been confirmed for North America. The bundle includes the Deluxe version of the console, a GamePad, a red Wii Remote Plus, a red steering wheel, and a physical copy of the latest game in the series. The package will launch on May 30th with a suggested retail price of $329.99.

If you purchase this bundle, or buy the standalone physical or digital version of Mario Kart 8, there's an additional perk. If you register your copy with Club Nintendo before July 31st, you will receive a code to download a free digital version of one of four Wii U games. You can take your pick from New Super Mario Bros. U, Pikmin 3, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, or Wii Party U. If you want to pre-order the standalone version of the game, here's the detail page for Mario Kart 8 on Amazon.

As for the Nintendo Direct presentation, it was over thirty minutes long, and there was a lot to see. You can watch it after the break.

Mario Kart 8 - Two new gorgeous gameplay videos

Mario Kart 8 is sure to be one of the best-selling Wii U titles of all time, and if the latest videos are anything to go by, it will also be one of the best-looking games on the console. Nintendo has released a new trailer showing off the gorgeous visuals of the many tracks, and the company has confirmed that there will be a number of retro tracks thrown in the mix as well.

Eurogamer has put together a comparison video which shows the original versions of the retro tracks side-by-side with their HD remakes and there is no comparison. Even the tracks from the original SNES game that kicked off the franchise look amazing. You've got to see these videos. You can watch them after the break.

Mario Kart 8 - New Trailer

Nintendo has released a new trailer for Mario Kart 8, which is scheduled for release in Spring 2014. The video shows plenty of new tracks including one inspired by Super Mario Sunshine, and another based on Super Mario Galaxy. The two minutes of footage also give us an extended look at the glider, propeller, and anti-gravity features of the new karts. Video after the break.

Mario Kart 8 - New gameplay footage

Mario Kart 8 is easily one of the most-anticipated Wii U games, and will surely sell quite a few consoles. So far, we haven't seen a whole lot of gameplay footage, but someone managed to capture some and upload it to YouTube. The video is just over two and a half minutes long, and features a two-player split-screen race. Unfortunately, it's all off-camera footage and not the best quality, but it's still worth watching.

As you can see from the screenshot above, player one used the tilt sensors of the GamePad while player two stuck with the Wii Wheel. Just a reminder: the game also supports the analog sticks on the GamePad, the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, as well as the Pro Controller and Wii Classic Controller, so there are plenty of control schemes to choose from. Video after the break.

Mario Kart 8 - Video Walkthrough with Hideki Konno

Mario Kart 8 is sure to be a system seller when it is released in the spring of 2014, and Nintendo has released a new video featuring Hideki Konno, the producer of the best-selling series. Konno explains how players will be able to race on walls and ceilings via the anti-gravity capabilities of their new karts, which introduces something new while still retaining the familiar gameplay everyone loves. He confirms that online play will be featured prominently, allowing players to meet up and race other gamers from all around the world.

In addition, Miiverse will be integrated to enhance the experience by allowing players to share screenshots and videos via Nintendo's new social network. Supported controllers include the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, Wii Remote by itself or with the Wii Wheel, and of course the Wii U GamePad. Video after the break.

Mario Kart 8 coming to Wii U in Spring 2014

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has confirmed that Mario Kart 8 is scheduled for release on the Wii U in Spring 2014. The latest entry uses ideas from Mario Kart Wii and Mario Kart 7 such as bikes and gliders, respectively. The innovative idea this time is anti-gravity - vehicles can cling to surfaces allowing players to drive on walls and even upside-down. Miiverse integration and online play will feature prominently as well, and the game will run at a solid 60 frames per second. Trailer after the break.