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While Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. has been hogging a lot of the attention lately with a constant stream of roster updates, there's still an ample amount of anticipation for the next iteration of the beloved Mario Kart franchise. Mario Kart 8 looks to be the best installment in the series yet, with significantly enhanced visuals, gravity-defying tracks, and a hodgepodge of new vehicles. Not to mention the inclusion of the Koopa Kids, which is more or less reason enough to invest in a Wii U.

All of these factors help to separate the game from previous entries, and Nintendo has now ensured that Mario Kart 8 will break ground in yet another fashion. Today, the Big N confirmed that it will be launching a Limited Edition of the forthcoming kart racer in Europe, with plans on a North American release still unconfirmed.

Now, those who haven't watched the newly released trailer depicting the difference between the standard and Limited Edition of Mario Kart 8 are likely wondering what's so special about it. As Nintendo points out, those interested enough to pickup the very limited SKU will receive a replica of the infamous Blue Shell of Mario Kart fame. Often the source of mass amounts of frustration, not to mention broken controllers, the Blue Shell has become an iconic weapon in the franchise.

Mario Kart 8 Special Edition

The collector's item itself may not be as cool as the Ganondorf statue that accompanied certain copies of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, but it's a sign that Nintendo may begin offering its fans Limited Edition versions for various big-name titles. With a number of blockbuster games scheduled to arrive for the Wii U later this year, it'll be interesting to see if Ninty will begin catering to its current install base more thoroughly with additional Limited Editions in the future.

First and foremost, however, this package needs to be confirmed for North America. As for pricing, the collector-preferred bundle is still sans tag, but that should be rectified sooner rather than later.

Would you invest in the Limited Edition of Mario Kart 8? Do you think Nintendo should make Limited Edition variants for more of its games?

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Mario Kart 8 races onto the Wii U in North America and Europe on May 30th.

Follow Riley on Twitter @TheRileyLittle.

Source: YouTube