Mario Kart 8 Trailer Rivals Sonic All-Stars Racing Transformed

Earlier today Nintendo rolled out some new content and media for games planned to release on their upcoming platforms, including games like Dr. Luigi and The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Warriors. Well, not to be forgotten in the mix is one of the more highly anticipated games set for release in 2014 for the Wii U and it's Mario Kart 8.

The newest trailer for the game showcases some brand new levels, new stunts, some specials and the amazing graphics for the game.

No, Nintendo isn't pushing for super-ultra-realistic-stubble-on-the-chin graphics fidelity, but the game world, character and vehicle designs, as well as the environments all look crisp and visually inviting. There's a nice use of the system's color rendering to ensure that everything just pops in all the right ways.

While the common thing is to beleaguer the Wii U and Nintendo with criticisms of not using advanced enough hardware, a game like Mario Kart 8 lends itself well to the argument as a game that makes perfect use of the Wii U's capabilities and showcases that the Wii U is not under-powered, as far as delivering graphically striking games go.

But beyond the visuals, it appears as if Nintendo is actually acknowledging the competition with their latest game, taking a strong page out of Sega's book as far as gameplay mechanics go from their latest racer, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed. The latter game affords for some transforming segments where players will go from kart racing to flying or from flying to boats or from boats to karts. It's nice to see Nintendo iterating on that feature in Mario Kart 8.

Now if I did have a criticism about the game – something I noticed in the trailer – the game still seems to lack a sense of speed. I know, I know... Mario Kart games have never been about speed. It's just that when you play Sonic All-Stars Transformed and you're doing the Carrier Zone boost race stage, there's an intense feeling of competition that sort of makes you crave that level of speed and intensity out of other racing games. It does seem disappointing that Mario Kart still isn't quite that fast yet... or doesn't appear to be offering that level of speed.

I suppose the common retort would be “Mario Kart isn't F-Zero” and in that regard, it becomes obvious that Nintendo really needs to bring back F-Zero for the people who really want to embrace that level of unfiltered, unadulterated, uncompromising speed.

Still, we can settle for Mario Kart 8 – which will be available at an undisclosed time in spring 2014, according to Eurogamer – and hopefully we'll receive an announcement from Nintendo sometime within the lifespan of the Wii U for something that quenches the thirst for us speed fanatics. Heck, an HD re-release of F-Zero GX with online multiplayer support would be perfect... I'd even throw $60 at it Nintendo... do you hear me, $60! Take my money!!!