The tanooki tail returns in two games this year, including the Mario Kart series for the first time.

The tanooki power-up first appeared in Super Mario Bros. 3 many years ago and we've known for months it would return in Super Mario 3D Land but now Nintendo has confirmed that it will also appear as a brand new power-up in Mario Kart 7.

The Super Leaf, the item that provides Mario with his tanooki powers, will appear alongside classic items such as mushrooms, stars and those pesky shells and give you the ability to protect yourself from incoming weapons and whip opponents off the track.

The Super Leaf power-up isn't the only new element in Mario Kart 7 of course. As well as the glider and underwater elements Mario Kart 7 will allow gamers to play as Metal Mario and Lakitu for the first time, as well as your Mii character for the first time on a handheld, and race on Wuhu Island (from Wii Sports) and a course based on Donkey Kong Country Returns.

Mario Kart 7 is due out in Europe on December 2nd across Europe. Let us know what you think of the new power-up in the comments section.