Mario Kart 7 is almost here, and that means a lot of swearing is soon to come.

Every iteration of the arcade-racer series has brought with it a plethora of power-ups, and I expect Mario Kart 7 to be no different. Instead of waiting to see what Nintendo has in store for us, I decided to take it upon myself to come up with a few ideas of my own.

Will Nintendo use them? Well, does Nintendo ever listen to its fans?

Frog Suit

What’s it do?
Underwater track sections seem to be all the rage in Mario Kart 7. The Frog Suit would grant a large speed boost to any kart driving underwater. Outside the water, you’d be able to hop higher -- high enough to avoid banana peels and green shells, though red shells would continue to track airborne amphibians.

Complexity to implement: 3/5
Adorable frog costumes for each character would be the only new art assets required, but I’m sure the higher hop could cause some game-breaking opportunities.

Metal Box

What’s it do?
Turning you and your kart into a metal monstrosity, this item would be an easier to procure, yet weaker, invincibility star. Shells would be nullified, and larger enemy karts would not be able to bump you off the track. It’d be a great power-up for people who are trying to keep the lead.

Complexity to implement: 1/5
The only new thing to add in would be the chromed-out metal texture. All other mechanics are already in the game.

Raccoon Tail

What’s it do?
With Super Mario 3DS close on the horizon, Nintendo is back to being all about the mammal parts. With a big furry tail attached to the back of your racer, you could spin and flip combatants with the force of a shell.

Not enough for you? How about special cloud shortcuts only reachable by raccoon-tailed karts that have slowed their descent from a big jump?

Complexity to implement: 4/5
This would require a lot of effort on the level-design front. It would also be a power-up that might not be useful in every situation. (How many times did you use that feather in Super Mario Kart?)

Kuribo’s Shoe

What’s it do?
Shut your mouth. That’s what it does. Who cares! You don’t question the greatest power-up in all of gaming.

Complexity to implement: your first-born child
Not a bad deal when you think about it.

Triple Blue Shells

...God save us all.