Love it or hate it, it sounds like Mario Kart's Blue Shell is here to stay

It is, almost without doubt, one of the most infuriating things that can happen to you in games.

[hengst2404]

Never been a fan of something that seeks to punish somebody for winning. Seems like a 9th place trophy to me.

[Michiel1989]

There are various ways to dodge it. Learn them and you have a decent chance of not getting hit.
(not sure if they changed that on the Switch version)

[ninsigma]

Various?? I'm only aware of one. Teach me! XD

[Michiel1989]

perfectly timedMushroom, some boost/jump pads on some maps. The horn obv. U can go drive 2nd and let the other guy take the hit (this strategy is higly underrated imo, saved my ass many times).

Not sure if firehopping can dodge it for u, dont think so.

[Nintendew]

Slamming on breaks is a great way to dodge a blue shell, except when the 2nd place person does it as well.....
If so, I drive into them so blue shell hits them as well.

Mushrooms sometimes I can dodge blue shell IF I have a mushroom to use.

1more, get hit by item just before blue shell hits you, cancels out blue shell blast. Had it happen to me couple times last week. ( switch version )

Miss fake cube still......

[Uken12]

Honestly people need to stop complaining about this item. It isn't the problem with MK8 by any means. 1st player always pulls off, not because they are better than everyone else.

It stalls 1st place as much as a red/green shell does, they made it so you can try to hit the player behind you as you get hit. It happens often.

What sucks is getting caught in the middle mayhem, it makes it annoying and not based on skill. Middle players are getting hammered with shells while 1st place is getting banana's tossed at them. That isn't skill based.

The blue shell isn't nearly as bad as lightning btw.

[TheFirstClassic]

Mario Kart isn't really meant to be a balanced competitive game. Its just fun and wacky mostly.

[MrBrofist]

As long as they keep the Super Horn as a way to counter,I'm good

[Mr Marvel]

There needs to be an option to turn it off.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

IIRC, you can turn items off completely in friend lobbies. or even limit items to shells, bombs, or bananas only...

[Michiel1989]

on the wii u it was only preset items, so you couldnt customize it. u had bomb and banana mode and 2 more or something

[ninsigma]

I don't mind it but it should be limited to racers who are in a position to capitalise on it. What's the point in the guy in last place using it?? It won't make a difference to them. Guys in 4th and 5th however would be in a good position to make use of it, especially if the first few guys are bunched together.

[MrBrofist]

If anything the Lightning bolt pisses me off more.
MK8 making good jumps then getting zapped and falling into a pit loosing my place made me rage so many damn times till it's not even funny

[ninsigma]

Yeah that can be a real pain, right when you're gaining momentum 😂

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Eh, it only pissed me off right up until the moment it was my turn to do the zapping...XD

[Nintendew]

Blue shells are fiends!
That's why I always drive with a spare noise block in glove compartment.

Honestly have more trouble with someone getting triple red shells in second place more then a blue shell.

[StuffAndThings]

Why do people hate the Blue Shell ? At least you can defend yourself from it. The Lightning Bolt however

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Star Power!
Or, if you happen to know the bolt is coming or just get lucky, I believe you can dodge the shrink effect by driving off the side of the track, because it can't affect you when you're being towed by Lakitu...

Anyways, I think people hate the blue shell more because it singles someone out.
At least the lightning bolt treats everyone aside from the caster with equal cruelty.XD

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

All hail the great equalizer!
GET MARIO KARTED!XD

Honestly, I like that using a mushroom to boost away from it at the last second is still a thing, and purposefully braking to catch others in the explosion is always good for an evil chuckle or two.

I've learned not to mind it; it's the craziness that makes Mario Kart so fun and popular.

[Nintendew]

Blue shell, your friend when not in first, hate it when in first.

Don't mind the blue shell.
Do mind a banana coming around the corner, more insault to injury, hitting my banana just layed a lap ago around the corner!

[Simmo3D]

Its so frickin annoying getting 1m from the finish line and having this put you in last spot. I love/hate Mario kart lol.

[segamaniaco]

If you can get a good distance from the second place, you can take the blue shell and still win the race

[segamaniaco]

With the right conditions i think its fun
50% chances of getting 1 per racing
Only the last place can get one
It runs on the ground hitting the other players
It explodes big
You may have a few and skilled ways to dodge it
This way i think its perfect
It creates tension for the first place racer adding strategy, and a chance for the last place to shake up things