Mario Kart 8 adds player-chomping Piranha Plants and Boomerang Flowers

In addition to the familiar Banana Peels and Blue Shells, Mario Kart 8 will feature two new items for players to deviously use against each other on the race track — a chomping Piranha Plant and a Boomerang Flower, Nintendo revealed this morning.

The Piranha Plant attaches itself to the front of players' karts and will reach out to chomp anything in its path — banana peels, thrown shells and even other players. When it reaches forward to bite, it grants players' karts a temporary speed boost. Meanwhile the Boomerang Flower can be thrown forward or backward a total of three times before being used up. The flower stuns other players and can hit multiple characters in a single throw.

Additionally, players can earn an extra Spin Boost when racing upside down or sideways on walls by bumping into other players. Confirmed racing characters returning for Mario Kart 8 also include Metal Mario, Lakitu and Shy Guy, who will battle it out alongside series familiars and all seven of Bowser's Koopalings. Race courses from previous Mario Kart games have also been remixed for Mario Kart 8, including Mario Kart Wii's Moo Moo Meadows and Mario Kart 64's Toad's Turnpike. In total, the game will have 16 new courses and 16 remixed classic courses.

Also returning is 12-player online play and four-player local multiplayer. As for the score, however, this time around the music of Mario Kart 8 has been recorded entirely by live performers.

Mario Kart 8 will launch on May 30 for Wii U. Check out the trailer above for a look at the game's new courses in action.