Blue shell

The spiny shell,[1][2][3] commonly referred to as the blue shell,[4] is a power-up item in the Mario Kart video game series. Originating in 1996's Mario Kart 64 and featured in every main entry of the series since then, the blue shell, when used, aims directly at the racer in first place, stopping them on impact. The blue shell acts as a "catch-up" mechanic, with racers ranked towards the bottom having a better chance of it spawning when driving into item boxes, giving them a better chance at diminishing the lead of the racer in top position.[5][6][7] In addition to the Mario Kart series, the blue shell appeared in the Super Smash Bros. series from 2001's Melee onwards (it has been directly featured as a power-up item from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U onwards), and in Mario Hoops 3-on-3.[8][9]

A spiny shell, commonly called the blue shell.

The blue shell was originally impossible to stop or dodge once fired, until 2008's Mario Kart Wii and subsequent games allowed ways for the targeted racer to do so, albeit only with combinations of precise timing and specific items. As it is likely to spawn at least once during a race, the power-up item has earned a reputation of frequently destroying a player's lead, or suddenly ruining their chances of winning.[10] Because of this, the blue shell has largely come to be seen as one of the best and most famous, yet also one of the most enraging items in video game history.

History

The Mario series features some visually similar figures which predate the blue shell, such as the red Spinies from the original Super Mario Bros. (1985) and blue Koopa Troopas of Super Mario World (1990).[4]

In Mario Kart 64, only the last place racer can obtain the blue shell. Since the release of Mario Kart: Double Dash!!, the series sees the blue shell being more common to characters closer to the lead, and in all releases prior to Mario Kart 7, it is unable to hit characters on its way to the lead, as it flies above the track using wings rather than gliding upon its surface.[4]

There are few techniques possible in some Mario Kart games to evade a blue shell, such as using a timed boost from a Mushroom item in Mario Kart Wii onwards. In Mario Kart 8, it is possible to use a Super Horn to destroy blue shells.[7][11][12] A toy model of the blue shell is included in the limited edition package of Mario Kart 8.[13][14]

In the mobile phone game Mario Kart Tour, the Super Horn returns; however, with the introduction of item "frenzies", it is indeed possible to get a blue shell frenzy. The shell also glides along the ground in this title.

Reception

The blue shell is known as a random element with harsh consequences, which is difficult to evade. As a "hazard that strips certainty and authority", Ian Bogost of Gamasutra called Mario Kart's blue shell the "most profoundly existentialist element of the Mario canon", disruptive to "the entire logic of this familiar fantasy universe."[4] Alex Langley's The Geek Handbook names as one of Mario Kart 8's greatest frustrations, to be hit by a blue shell shortly before reaching the finish line.[7][15] Maxwell McGee of GameSpot considered the ability to destroy the "dreaded" blue shells with a new item, the Super Horn, to be a particularly exciting feature of Mario Kart 8.[11]

Nintendo Power called the use of a Mushroom to dodge a blue shell a "defining moment" of gameplay in Mario Kart Wii.[16]

Calling it "The Great Equalizer" for its enhancement of the elements of struggle and luck, Kotaku's Nathan Grayson considered the blue shell to be the most despised, and best, item of the Mario Kart series.[17] Kotaku's Yannick Le Jacq considered the blue shell to be the most notable and game-changing among Mario Kart's "most notorious" items, adding that this made it "a lot more fun" to use in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and Wii U.[8]

In July 2017, Keith Stuart of The Guardian included the blue shell as one of the "11 greatest video game objects" in history, stating: "The most controversial item in the Mario universe, the blue shell [...] has brought frustration, recrimination and anger to living rooms everywhere.[18]

References
  1. "Mario Kart 64 Operation Card" (PDF). Nintendo of America. Retrieved 2014-11-28. Spiny shells will chase the Kart in the lead. Along the way, if there are other Karts in its path, they will suffer the consequences.
  2. Mario Kart 7 (PDF) (game manual). Nintendo. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  3. Mario Kart DS instruction booklet (PDF). Nintendo. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  4. Bogost, Ian (2014-05-30). "The Blue Shell and its Discontents". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2014-11-28.
  5. Elias, George Skaff; Garfield, Richard; Gutschera, K. Robert (2012-08-24). Characteristics of Games. MIT Press. p. 109. ISBN 978-0262017138. Retrieved 2014-11-28. There are countless of examples of deliberately added catch-up features in games. The shells in Mario kart fire forward, so the person in the lead can't make use of them, but people who are behind can fire on those ahead of them. And the Spiny Shell specifically homes in on the person in first place.
  6. Totilo, Stephen (March 9, 2011). "The Maker Of Mario Kart Justifies The Blue Shell". Kotaku. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  7. Reinhardt, Ciaran (2014-10-18). "Mario Kart's Blue Shell: An Analysis". Pop Culture Monster. Retrieved 2014-11-28.
  8. Le Jacq, Yannick (January 21, 2015). "Smash Bros. Makes Mario Kart's Most Notorious Items A Lot More Fun". Kotaku. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  9. Mario Hoops 3 on 3 (PDF) (game manual). Nintendo. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  10. Despain, Wendy (2012-12-18). "Feedback Loops". 100 Principles of Game Design. New Riders. ISBN 978-0133362749. Retrieved 2014-11-28. In Mario Kart, the blue shell targets only the leader of the race. Being in first means that player is likely to be hit with the shell, which may cause them to fall out first.
  11. McGee, Maxwell (2014-04-30). "Blue Shell's Tyranny Ends in Mario Kart 8". GameSpot. Retrieved 2014-11-28. What excites me the most is the Super Horn, a new item that can destroy incoming items--including the dreaded blue shells ...
  12. Hernandez, Patricia (2014-06-24). "Reminder: You Can Totally Dodge The Blue Shell In Mario Kart". Kotaku. Retrieved 2014-11-28.
  13. Little, Riley (2014). "'Mario Kart 8' Limited Edition Comes With Replica Blue Shell". Game Rant. Retrieved 2014-11-28.
  14. Yin-Poole, Wesley (2014-06-03). "Mario Kart 8 Limited Edition comes with a real life Spiny Shell". Eurogamer.net. Retrieved 2014-11-28.
  15. Langley, Alex (2012-11-21). The Geek Handbook: Practical Skills and Advice for the Likeable Modern Geek. Krause Publications. p. 66. ISBN 978-1440232886. Retrieved 2014-11-28. Because there are few things more frustrating than being in first place for an entire race, only to fall to eighth at the last moment because of a well-timed blue shell smacking you right in the noggin.
  16. "Mario Kart Wii (Wii)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 252–254. Nintendo of America. 2010. p. 69. Retrieved 28 November 2014. Defining moment: When you've used a mushroom to dodge an incoming spiny shell.
  17. Grayson, Nathan (August 28, 2014). "Mario Kart's Most Hated Item Is Actually Its Best". Kotaku. Retrieved June 20, 2015.
  18. Stuart, Keith (July 12, 2018). "The 11 greatest video game objects – in pictures". The Guardian. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
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