Mario Kart 8 Deluxehas just released wave 5 of its Booster Course Pass, introducing another eight courses and three new playable characters, as Petey Piranha, Wiggler, and Kamek have all joined the cast.Mario Kart 8 Deluxestill has one final DLC wave planned for later this year, and while the contents of it are a mystery, speculation around who the last new characters may be will no doubt dominate the conversation for fans of the Kart racing franchise. While there are several characters that may appear, some would make more sense than others.
Having initially launched in 2014,Mario Kart 8has proved to have an impressive shelf life, thanks to consistent updates including theDeluxeedition and DLC packages that have kept the game’s content fresh, eliminating the need for aMario Kart 9. With no news of a true sequel anywhere to be seen,Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Booster Course Passis breathing new life into the game, with a steady stream of new courses and characters released over the past 18 months. By the end of the final wave, a total of 24 courses and at least six new characters will have been introduced.
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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe’s Final Batch of New Characters Will Likely Be Familiar Faces
When attempting to figure out which characters may be coming next, it’s worth knowing that so far, each of the new characters introduced has been returning cast members from previous installments. With this in mind, it could be time for one of the most high-profile absentees to join the playable cast: Diddy Kong. Donkey Kong’s best friend and sidekick, sometimes referred to as Donkey Kong’s nephew, Diddy has starred in multiple Nintendo games over the years, ranging from the 2D side-scrollingDonkey Kong Countryseries, to his very ownkart racing game on the N64,Diddy Kong Racing.
Despite appearing in multipleMario Kartgames over the years,Diddy Kong has been strangely absent fromMario Kart 8 Deluxeso far, and Wave 6 could serve as the perfect opportunity to bring him into the fold. A versatile, lightweight racer, Diddy Kong is a popular character who deserves a place on the roster. Another Kong that could yet return to the franchise is Funky Kong. Having previously appeared inMario Kart WiiandMario Kart Tour, the easy-going mechanic would fit in perfectly.
The Super Mario Bros Moviewas a massive successwhen it was released earlier this year. Despite a lukewarm reception from critics, the film proved to be incredibly popular among Mario’s millions of fans, and it was littered with dozens of references to the video game series throughout its runtime. While almost all the characters in the movie were already known to fans, it also introduced a character that had never been seen before. A new henchman of Bowser’s, clad in spikey blue armor, the character known as the Blue Shell Koopa proved to be a constant thorn in Mario’s side throughout the movie. Driving in a striking blue monster truck, he would seemingly make a great new addition to the cast while also lending credence to the movie’s canonicity.
Whoever joins the cast ofMario Kart 8 Deluxenext, the Booster Course Pass has provided excellent value for money overall.TheMario Kartfranchise is one of the most popular of all time, appealing to a large demographic of all ages and skill levels, and its huge roster of some of Nintendo’s most beloved characters ensures there is plenty of variety to keep fans engaged.
