Mario Kart 8 Introduces a Way to Defend Against the Blue Shell

Throughout any iteration of the Mario Kart series on any Nintendo console, the most coveted and yet most hated power-up has always been that spiky blue shell.

If you’ve played the game, I shouldn’t have to explain. It’s haunted your nightmares. Admit it. But for those who haven’t played in awhile, here’s the skinny: Made to take out the lead car, a blue shell unleashed upon the track can upset the balance of any game, not only taking out the leader, but anyone in proximity to the 1st place slot holder. If you’ve ever been one of the lucky ones at the front of the pack who was also unlucky enough to get hit with a blue shell, you know there’s never been a way to defend yourself against its wrath. Until now.

Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U is introducing the Super Horn. This supposedly rare item can be used to blast away anyone near you or defend yourself from an impending attack from any color of shell – red, green, or even the notorious flying blue. But once you have the Super Horn, you only get one toot out of it (see it in action around the :40 mark in the video above). Use it too soon and it could leave you open to blue attack from above. For racers able to hold onto first place for a majority of the game, don’t expect the Super Horn to take the place of those bananas you keep getting in the power-up lottery every time you smash through a cube.

So if you get your hands on one, be sure to use it wisely, kart racers. This bit of news will come in handy when you grab your copy of Mario Kart 8, exclusively for the Wii U, on May 30th.

Images: Nintendo