PSA: Lightning No Longer Cancels Your Glider In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

There’s not a star in heaven that we can’t reeeeach

Sorry

They should make it so getting struck by lightning or hit by some other item no longer makes it impossible to drift or do ramp tricks until you gain back a certain amount of speed. It's such an annoying feature that's only in 8. Mario Kart 7 still lets you drift and do stunts while you're mini, no problem.

It was this way in Mario Kart Tour I'm pretty sure and it's probably a carry over idea from there honestly.

I’m definitely going to love this for when I play online myself as it just made the game slower paced. When I’m playing locally with my friends, though, we might miss the old way since we like the game to be as ruthless as possible haha.

Honestly there should be a mini-driver mode in the game where you play as your driver in mini size all the time just like in the original Super Mario Kart for Super NES. That would add some sort of challenge and variety to the game. That and Double Dash mode.

Now THIS is probably the best update EVER. The tracks, item mode (will make for fun challenges), and now this???

diddy kong could return as a playable character

Meanwhile, I just want Nintendo to count to 9

I had this happen to me right before I hit the ground, and I thought it was weird that I didn't lose much speed, if any. This is a very welcome update!

That's quite the balance change. I wonder why they made the change now of all times.

Thank god for that. just remove the lightning all together.

The item selection has renewed my interest in this game. I played the battle mode for the first time and really enjoyed it.

@Type_Trubbish just uhh boot up a VS race and deselect lightning items. Dillema solved

Let it sink in that it took them 11 years to make this change...

@treechenho that doesn't solve the problem of playing online which is what I do

@Type_Trubbish sounds to me your just salty getting owned by people using lightning its fair game man.

@ModdedInkling @Mr_Gamecube @MS7000 Just latching on to your comments. This isn't a particularly controversial change, but it does irk me that they've forced it upon everyone. For such an established game, it would have been nice to leave the original version intact and just add it as a user option.

@ModdedInkling If you are talking about Mario Kart 8, it's 8 years.

If including Mario Kart 7, yeah, 11 years.

I welcome the change. It really feels like Mario Kart 8 has gotten a second wind with the Booster Course, and it's nice to see Nintendo is also updating the core game as well.

@RiasGremory Not really. If anything I've definitely won more matches through benefitting from lightning than I've lost, it's just annoying alltogether

hip hip horrayy

@gcunit Definitely agree. I mean they added the ability to disable specific items, why not add an additional option for item behaviours?

Now get rid of Blue Shells on the 3rd lap... And 3 Red Shells should probably not exist. Then remove the Blooper and the Plant and the game may be about perfect!

The only other change I have always thought would be good... if you have 10 coins, you can't get a coin from the Item Box, guarantee at least a banana.

@sleepinglion They did. They just called it Tour instead.

Thank goodness, it was so freakin annoying!

@HolyGeez03

They added item selections so we get to pick which items appear in most modes now.

"all-Blue Shell races, here we come!" I hope I am not the only one who read that part in Chris Pratt Mario's voice

@HolyGeez03 at least a coin still gives a slight temporary speed boost, even when at ten coins.

Honestly, I don't like this change... it makes absolutely no sense to be why a powerful lightning strike would not know you down from the air, that just feels wrong like is defying the laws of physics in some way, it just doesn't make sense imo... I much prefer it the way it was before. As for any gaps that may be "impossible" is not really true that you wouldn't be able to progress because in huge gapped areas like the tracks mentioned in this article, Lakitu always carries you forward to the other end for you anyways which guarantees that the game aleays keeps players from getting stuck or from falling to far behind the other players.

I'm asking for clarification: does this mean I can (FINALLY) turn off blue shells, lightning, ghosts, and squids? and turn this game into a real racing game?

can I do this in GP mode and still get trophies?
can I turn off all weapons in gp mode?

thanks!

@Chibi_Manny

I actually had the same thought. it should be a switchable option, as should any other change they might make 7+ YEARS after a popular game is released. 🙄

overall though, I'm very pleased with this update for other reasons!

@-wc- You can turn off any individual items in VS mode.

@lighteningbolt79 That doesn't help with basic online play.

@Chibi_Manny Mario Kart has always had a very, very accurate representation of physics after all

@Olmectron
Definitely forgot to specify, but yeah. Mario Kart 7.

@gcunit
There are many changes to Mario Kart 8 that I do think it's rather shameful the level of skill required is dwindling. First-hand, I've seen the effects of smart steering and auto acceleration being out on default leave a negative impact on learning the simple basics of this game.

@Paddle1

are you saying that I cannot do so in Grand Prix, even after the update? I'm mostly not interested in vs mode frankly.

@-wc- Grand Prix has no options so no. Is there any particular reason you don't want to play VS?

@Paddle1

um no but aren't they like for different things?
I play generally by myself, and I generally enjoy playing through a cup at a time, with a full roster of CPU opponents. so, grandprix haha.

edit - I'm so frustrated that I can't just set the damn game up the way I want to. if the point of the blue shell is to help out children who are lagging in races, then let parents turn that feature on for their kids if they need it. as a 10 y.o playing mk64 I found the feature incredibly frustrating and I continue to 27 years later as an adult.

I feel like it frustrates more people than it possibly helps, is my point. just let me turn it off!

In all the years I've been playing MK8, I've only ever had a lightning bolt once. It was a few weeks ago playing online and I finally got my revenge.

@-wc- VS is also single player. It’s the custom mode. You can play full cpu and pick items.

@-wc- VS is basically Grand Prix but with more options. (CPU difficulty, number/order of courses, items) You can definitely play it alone with CPU. I only play Grand Prix to 3 Star each trophy and then never touch it again.

Considering you only get the blue shell when you're absolutely lagging behind the rest, it doesn't really benefit you to hit the person in first place.

In other words, the blue shell's purpose is to just be a last-place dick.

@Ability-King-KK You're right! I'm an old school gaming snob. I consider mobile entries entertaining diversions, but not full-on sequels

@Paddle1 @Ryu_Niiyama

you know, I never thought to even try VS mode 1p >< thanks!

@calbeau

LOL I've had this thought before. it was actually a much better item when it had the chance to smack everyone in line running along the ground.

you're right, as it is it just functions as a spoil for whoever is winning, and gives advantage to 2nd place.

worst item ever!

@-wc- I agree. Mario Kart 64 was the first game in the series I really got into (hated the original on the SNES), and the blue shell ran along the track in that game, hitting everyone in its path, making it very useful for last-placers.