Mario Kart 8 DLC Pitch

The topic of DLC seems to get mixed reactions when coming from the Nintendo customer and both sides have a point. Con DLC arguers can say that they are paying full price and want the full game. They do not want to be nickel and dimed to get more of what they already feel entitled to, a complete package. On the other side, DLC can lengthen the game lifespan and also give an already released game a new reason for players who haven’t picked up a copy a reason to do so.

With that being said my personal feelings are that DLC that does nothing for the story or the balance of a game is great for both the developers and the gamers. Currently there has been no official confirmation whether there will or will not be DLC in Mario Kart 8, but after seeing the trailers and impressions of Mario Kart 8 over the past couple of months I truly feel like we are already getting a complete package. Adding courses will not do anything but keep players racing longer. My only gripe with the game is the roster of characters.

There are currently 30 characters on the roster which may seem like a lot on paper but when looking at the actual list of who made the cut, the roster seems to be on the dull side. When you break it down there is just the lack of variety that we have seen in the past games. Koopalings were a unique choice solidifying their come back but the problem is that there are seven of them, that is over 1/5th of the roster. Babies never really make sense to me, outside of Baby Mario, they do not play any significant role in the Mario Universe. So why does the roster need a Baby Daisy or Baby Rosalina? These two characters were made specifically for Mario Kart. They have never made any other kind of appearance in any games before getting their license to race. In any case there are five different babies, 1/6th of the roster. Not to mention the disappointing choice to return and add Metal Mario and Pink Gold Peach respectively. They are skins of characters that are already in the game. If they really wanted to include things like this there should be an alternative skin for everyone as they do with Super Smash Brothers.

When you add all of those three categories of Koopalings, Babies, Metals, and the return of Toadette(sorry for hating), that is 15 characters, one half of the roster. Where is the variety? That is why, as I did with Mario Golf earlier this month I am pithing my suggestions on what Mario Kart 8 DLC should look like.

Mario Kart releases just a bout a week before E3, I would be shocked if they didn’t talk about their newest kart racer at the event. But rather than just telling people it is out there they need to have something new, it is E3, it is all about new and upcoming games. So announce the packs and season pass there, keep it a surprise and then release this first pack immediate after the event.

The season pass model of Mario Golf would work great here again. Give us three packs(or cups) that we can buy for $5.99 each or $14.99 season pass. Each pack gives you four courses(2 new and 2 retro) and two playable characters. The season pass would also include playable character Nabbit. Nabbit has become a favorite and has been two for three on major Mario DLC(Mario Golf, New Super Luigi Bros).

Pack 1 : Boo Cup- King Boo and E. Gadd

Battle Mode Courses

Released After E3, June 10th

Mario Kart releases just a bout a week before E3, I would be shocked if they didn’t talk about their newest kart racer at the event. But rather than just telling people it is out there they need to have something new, it is E3, it is all about new and upcoming games. So announce the packs and season pass there, keep it a surprise and then release this first pack immediate after the event. There have been rumors and listings on retailer’s websites about Luigi’s Mansion 2 being ported to the Wii U in HD and if they were to officially announce that, this pack would be a great transition to Mario Kart. And with the likely hood of there being online multiplayer in said Luigi’s Mansion, they would be perfect candidates to fix the Battle Mode issue Mario Kart 8 seems to have. Fans may be over reacting to Nintendo trying something new, but it just seems odd with all of the inclusions of retro courses in the past for them to leave out retro battle stages. Giving us 4-6 retro stadiums would make a lot of people happy. Not to mention that they could have made some really creative stadiums that took advantage of anti gravity. But my four retro courses are, Luigi’s Mansion(GC), Twilight House(DS), Wuhu Town(3DS), and Big Donut(N64). As for the characters, King Boo is one character that arguably should not have left the roster in the first place and just as I have stated before E. Gadd is such a unique character in the Mario Universe. These two would certainly add to the variety problem that the game seems to have right now.

Available after the E3 Digital Event

Pack 2: Fire Cup- Kamek and Dry Bones

Bowser’s Castle Wii and Banshee Boardwalk N64

Released Early July

This is the one pack I personally hope Nintendo puts out over anything else. It may be biased but Dry Bones needs to return. The enemy that just does not die from a bonk on the head should be resurrecting himself on the track. And as I brushed upon last week Kamek is a character that was originally planned to be in Mario Kart 64 but was later replaced with Donkey Kong. This move is not surprising. Donkey Kong is a higher caliber choice in that he has his own games. But my problem is that he should have gotten his time to shine the next time around. Imagine these two as a team in Duel Dash, it just feels right. But then they go on to create new useless characters that have never been in a Mario game prior to their inclusion. Nintendo needs to do the right thing by this mistreated character and let the guy race. As for courses, put them in their home field of creepy courses. Bowser’s Castle for the Wii and Banshee Boardwalk for the N64 being put along side two courses that are specific to the two characters, maybe a Dry Bones Castle? Did you see what I did there?

Pack 3: Freeze Cup- Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong

DK Pass DS and DK Summit Wii

Released Early August

Lastly this is pretty straight forward, of the list of cut characters Diddy should be at the top of their list to bring back. There was even an article in the Official Spanish Nintendo Magazine that showed Diddy was supposed to be included, they may have jumped the gun by putting him in without confirmation but this was one I would have assumed would have returned as well. Dixie is his partner in crime and Nintendo seems to always like to keep the gender mix fairly diverse so Dixie jut feels like a no brainer. Pair them with two frozen Donkey Kong themed retro courses in DK Pass and DK Summit and two new courses of the frozen or Donkey Kong nature and you have an amazing end to a great Season Pass of Mario Kart 8.



