Yep it's true! Even has similar timing to MK7! See for yourself below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9yPd2kQylA

So with that on top of the shorter hitstun, travels along ground, keeps you in place, lets you keep your reserve item, plus there being an item that easily counters it, the Blue Shell has been balanced out so much compared to previous incarnations, so can anyone really still complain about it? xP

*BONUS: 30 minutes of Gameplay!*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mE5MOibEbY

EDIT: Oops, forgot to put this in Nintendo discussion. Ahwells!

Blue Shells have ruined so many of my races... I will never be okay with them again.

*Of course it's a good addition that we can now dogde these more easily.

That's good to know.

That's a good thing, not so unfair^^
But I want to be honest: A Mario Kart without blue shells wouldn't be the same. They shouldn't be used for rankings or so but you only have the true Mario Kart experience if there are blue shells.

I love blue shells.

Mario Kart 8 keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?

whatever they do whatever you guys say Mario Kart will always be unfair but thats the fun part right ? :))

I never managed to pull it off in MK7.

Everyone who votes "Naw mawn..." simply lacks the skill to shroom dodge =P

Blue shells need to be unfair, because being in first place is so unfair.

First place only has to worry about attacks from second place, while somebody in say, sixth place needs to worry about attacks from several players.

First place will rarely get crushed by a giant mushroom, star, or bullet bill, and instead mostly faces easily defended green and red koopa shells.

First place doesn't have to worry about being rammed off the road, and so is always free to race the cleanest lines and get maximum boosts.

First place always gets a question block, while players farther back often find none left to take or need to drive out of their way to get one.

It seems the reason so many players find the blue shell objectionable is that it's one of very few things not stacked in the leader's favour.