10 Overpowered Items That Broke Video Games
1. The Blue Shell - Mario Kart
![Oddjob Hat](https://d2thvodm3xyo6j.cloudfront.net/media/2016/05/aa3d678d0e00459d-600x338.png)
It’s not a rocket launcher or a nuke. It’s not a magical sword or spell. It’s a shell.
A blue shell.
Nothing stings quite like this bothersome blue bugger, since it only targets the player who’s currently winning in a given race. In theory, the blue shell is a neat idea, since it allows racers at the back to get a boost forward and dramatically increase their chances of winning. But in practice, it’s a glorified low blow that punishes people for being good at the game.
The blue shell seeks out the leading racer and blows them up, rendering them immobile for vital seconds. On a lengthy course, you might be able to shake off the effects of a blue shell (also known by its official name ‘Spiny Shell’) if you’ve made enough space between your cart and the second place player. On shorter courses with tighter margins of error, a blue shell can see you drift from first place to last place, even if you’d proven yourself to be to the best driver for 95% of the course.
It’s dramatic, near-unavoidable, and has the potential to turn a joyful and light-hearted game of Mario Kart into an intense screaming match.