Mario Kart 8 for Wii U will feature expanded item customization

Mario Kart 8 for Wii U will expand upon the item customization feature from 2011 3DS game Mario Kart 7, according to game director Kosuke Yabuki.

"There was some item customisation in Mario Kart 7, so that you could choose to have a mushroom-only race or a shell-only race. We will have that plus a little more in Mario Kart 8," Yabuki said in a roundtable interview attended by GameSpot.

Yabuki didn't say if players will be able to eliminate potentially frustrating items like the iconic Blue Shell, but made it clear that Mario Kart 8 aims to take item customization to the next level.

"I think we're going to be able to answer that feeling of wanting to change those items--so I don't want to have items? Well, OK, no items," he said. "Or I only want to have bananas. Well, OK, just bananas. I think we're going to be able to provide a system that answers that desire this time around."

Nintendo today lifted the lid on many of Mario Kart 8's features, revealing the racing game will have 32 courses (including two Rainbow Roads), 12-player online multiplayer, and impressive visuals thanks to the power of the Wii U. For more on Mario Kart 8, which launches May 30, be sure to read GameSpot's new hands-on preview.