Mario Kart Wii is big let down.

[MCSMstudios]

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say the latest Mario Kart game is dissapointing. The Wii wheel works great (at least on manual), the online is awesome, but the basic gameplay itself doesn't measure up. Keep in mind I haven't owned a Mario Kart game since N64, and I've had this game for more than a day.

So many complaints. First, the items are ridiculous. We don't need pow blocks, lightning bolts and bullets bills. One of them is enough, or better all 3 with the frequency of just one. And everything makes you lose your item, so annoying. You get hit, but you think "lucky I have a mushroom" then you realise it's gone, and you're screwed. And who else gets nailed by a blue shell after they've been winning the race by half a lap for the whole game, and then come in 5th?

I also find that one minor mistake on the last lap will screw you over entirely. Falling off the course is pretty much a guaranteed loss, unless you're lucky enough to get a bullet bill right after. It's frustrating. It takes so long to get back to driving when you get knocked up in the air.

Then there's the offroad slowdown. The physics of it just dion't make sense. One minor deviation from the road and your speed is immediately cut in half. That's not how it works in real life; in real life (and in previous Mario Kart games) you'd decellerate until you reached the lower speed, you wouldn't slow down immediately.

Changing weight classes or vehicles makes it almost impossible for a beginner to play. When I started I played as Bowser for a few races then changed to Toad and I couldn't keep him on the road.

I just don't understand how the game could be so much worse than the first 2. It's like they tested the game on people who've never heard of video games and didn't let anyone with Mario Kart experience near it. A friend of mine who never owned a Mario Kart game, and who sucks big time at most video games, loves the game. But I, who have spent hundreds of hours on the classic Mario Kart games, am constantly frustrated by the emphasis on item use over skill.

Positive points: the computer controlled racers don't magically get faster when you're ahead. All the crazy items allow for differently skilled people to play together. Team races cut in half the number of times you get zapped by an item form halfway across the track.

What are your thoughts? I especially want to hear from Mario Kart veterans.

[DaveMan-CI]

At 5/9/08 02:23 AM, MCSMstudios wrote: who else gets nailed by a blue shell after they've been winning the race by half a lap for the whole game, and then come in 5th?

Granted, the blue shell is an annoying part of the game, but if you were winning by half a lap and come in fifth after getting hit then you need to recover better. It shouldn't do too much damage to your lead.

[Arcbound22]

so is it a "get" or "no get"

[Koogan]

Positive points: the computer controlled racers don't magically get faster when you're ahead.

lol Double Dash...

[Cyberdevil]

At 5/9/08 02:23 AM, MCSMstudios wrote: What are your thoughts? I especially want to hear from Mario Kart veterans.

The speed deviations you mention can be a bit annoying, but other than that I have no trouble with the game. I like the new levels, the new vehicles and the as always smooth graphics and gameplay. I don't have anything against the new items either, a little newness is always good. :P

[MCSMstudios]

At 5/9/08 02:57 AM, DaveMan-CI wrote: Granted, the blue shell is an annoying part of the game, but if you were winning by half a lap and come in fifth after getting hit then you need to recover better. It shouldn't do too much damage to your lead.

I may have exaggerated the lead a bit. But it's also usually a bit of a chain reaction. Blue shell, red shell. green shell, etc. I once got hit five times in a row.

[DaveMan-CI]

At 5/9/08 03:04 AM, MCSMstudios wrote: But it's also usually a bit of a chain reaction. Blue shell, red shell. green shell, etc. I once got hit five times in a row.

ouch! bad times man, bad times.

[Koogan]

At 5/9/08 03:04 AM, MCSMstudios wrote:

At 5/9/08 02:57 AM, DaveMan-CI wrote: Granted, the blue shell is an annoying part of the game, but if you were winning by half a lap and come in fifth after getting hit then you need to recover better. It shouldn't do too much damage to your lead.

I may have exaggerated the lead a bit. But it's also usually a bit of a chain reaction. Blue shell, red shell. green shell, etc. I once got hit five times in a row.

Yeah that's really annoying. Just cruisin' along, then suddenly Blue shell-red shell-green shell-Bullet Bill ownage.

[ParadoxVoid]

At 5/9/08 03:13 AM, Koogan wrote: Yeah that's really annoying. Just cruisin' along, then suddenly Blue shell-red shell-green shell-Bullet Bill ownage.

How about Blue Shell, Red shell, Lightning, Ink, and then get knocked off the stage. Seriously, it has happened to me.
But I believe all the shortfalls of the game are made up for it by the online mode. And the whole "tricks" business, while seeming gimmicky at first, really do add to the gameplay value, and increase the fun of certain stages exponentially. Waluigi Stadium is a clear example of this, for in MK Wii it is heaps more fun to play than it ever was in MKDD.

[CyprusX]

I love the n64 , and this post is turning me off about buying the wii version.

[ShadowWest]

Regardless of what you say, the Wii version is an instant classic.

The only complaint I have is that there isn't enough new tracks, although it was nice of Nintendo to stick in some retro tracks.

[deckheadtottie]

I do agree, there's nothing worse than getting blue shelled, then red shelled, then Pow'd then struck by lightening. However, I still think your comments are just angst filled and slightly unfair.

Anyway, if you're online, and fancy a true game of chance and blind luck, feel free to add your code here.

[MeatMachine]

You're not the only one I've heard this complaint from. I guess it's true that it's more of a fight and a rebellion against the 1st place racer than an actual race.

Also, who the fuck wants to race as a baby character in a giant stroller, let alone 4 of them?

[Kart-Man]

At 5/9/08 02:23 AM, MCSMstudios wrote: And who else gets nailed by a blue shell after they've been winning the race by half a lap for the whole game, and then come in 5th?

I'm not sure how well this will work in Mario Kart Wii due to the new powersliding and mini-turbo techniques, but it works in all of the other games.

The trick is to let the computer-controlled opponent with the greatest chance of winning (usually the person in 2nd if you were 1st) go ahead of you for the majority of the race. However, keep him in your sights -- try to be neck-and-neck the whole way through. If a shell comes careening toward you and you're in second, either plant an item to destroy it, or try and speed up so that the leader takes the hit for you, thus making you in first. If a blue shell comes toward you, brake so that you stop, and back up enough so that you won't get caught in the blast. Once the leader has been momentarily incapacitated by the blue shell, gun it.

[lolomfgisuck]

So basically, you're pissed off at the fact that everybody (and not just you) has the ability to use items... most of which you hate. So, in all reality, you're just pissed off at the fact that there are special items in the game to use.

The solution is simple, turn off Mario Kart and go play a more "realistic" racing game that doesn't require you to shoot your oponents with turtle shells.

[DarkSytze]

At 5/9/08 02:23 AM, MCSMstudios wrote: And who else gets nailed by a blue shell after they've been winning the race by half a lap for the whole game, and then come in 5th?

suck it up bitch, the game has nothing to do with skill, everybody can win the game. If you were a so-called ''Mario Kart veteran'' you would've known that with skill alone, you won't win the game.

[MAYORMCHEESE]

My complaint: What's the fucking point of mushrooms in Battle Mode? Not the giant ones, the speed based ones. It's fucking useless. It's even more useless in the Twilight House cause you'll just rocket off the ledge anyways.

[ParadoxVoid]

At 5/9/08 04:32 PM, MAYORMCHEESE wrote: My complaint: What's the fucking point of mushrooms in Battle Mode? Not the giant ones, the speed based ones. It's fucking useless. It's even more useless in the Twilight House cause you'll just rocket off the ledge anyways.

If you ram into someone it will let you knick off with one of their balloons. lol. I'm not sure if it works in Coin Runners mode though. The first time I did an online battle I was in coin mode and didn't get ANYTHING but Mushrooms...and the occasional red shell, which is all but useless in online modes.
Needless to say, I lost. BADLY.

[MCSMstudios]

At 5/9/08 02:41 PM, lolomfgisuck wrote: So basically, you're pissed off at the fact that everybody (and not just you) has the ability to use items... most of which you hate. So, in all reality, you're just pissed off at the fact that there are special items in the game to use.

Not at all. I'm pissed that everyone's constantly using the items that strike every other player, giving you little opportunity to actually drive.

The solution is simple, turn off Mario Kart and go play a more "realistic" racing game that doesn't require you to shoot your oponents with turtle shells

Fine I'll play a more realistic racing game, but I still want turtle shells, Mario Kart 64.

[Koogan]

:At 5/10/08 02:27 AM, MCSMstudios wrote:

Not at all. I'm pissed that everyone's constantly using the items that strike every other player, giving you little opportunity to actually drive.

Well I mean it's Mario Kart, what were you expecting. It's been like that since Super Mario Kart, and it's unlikely to ever change.

Hey does anyone have this huge lag in Battle Mode, where no matter what you hit people with, it dosen't actually hit them?

[MCSMstudios]

At 5/10/08 02:33 AM, Koogan wrote: Well I mean it's Mario Kart, what were you expecting. It's been like that since Super Mario Kart, and it's unlikely to ever change.

Naw, it's worse now. I used to get hit with a lightning bolt once every couple of races in 64, on Wii it happens about four times per race (Pow blocks included). I'm really just saying I'm disappointed, figured given a decade the games would get better, not worse.

[tigerkitty]

At 5/9/08 10:55 AM, deckheadtottie wrote: I do agree, there's nothing worse than getting blue shelled, then red shelled, then Pow'd then struck by lightening. However, I still think your comments are just angst filled and slightly unfair.

I agree. I think that's actually fairly well demonstrated by the sheer basic fact that you see the better players (ie, those who can drive along the course fast and efficiently) with the higher point scores in the online play. If the items disturbed driving play so much that you can't actually drive, then the point scores should be much more even. You wouldn't have Joe here with 8000 points and little Susie with 4000 points. There must be some skill involved or I'd actually beat Joe every once in a while >:(

Perhaps you just are too hyper-focused on the items that effect you. If you rage for a second about the POW block that just made you spin out and lose your item that can cost you a few places. You just have to keep on truckin. Also, Joe and I both found it a lot easier to use the classic controller over the Wii Wheel... I don't know if that would make any difference for you, but I think it's a bit easier to use.

[madnessdudefromhell1]

.

Most frustrating mario kart ever!! U get blue shelled 24/7 and 3 brand new power-ups are rubbish! The snes mario karts the best! This is true, i mastered the game and i beat my dad when i was 3 yers old!!! Oh by the way im Scottish! LOL! i am a vertarian by the way!

[robattle]

I learned how to best a POW Block, it is the reason I won so many cups. Too bad I don't see an all-cup this time around.

Oh and learning all the stages in time trails first = high chance of winning the grand prix. But how is this game "hard" if I can get a perfect 60 with a 1 star rank on 100cc (any cup). I just know how to do races I guess.

[Dekuboy]

I disagree. I think the items are useful and cool. However, the speed thing that you were talking about is annoying sometimes. And yes, it's aggravating when you get hit by a blue shell, but hey, that's the game. I was impressed. I've played the one for the N64 and the game cube, and I think this is the best one.

[Figikii]

At 5/9/08 11:16 AM, MeatMachine wrote: Also, who the fuck wants to race as a baby character in a giant stroller, let alone 4 of them?

My sister and all of her friends.

[LTmatt]

Mario Kart Wii is communism, basically.

[ZachMM]

That is to bad. I was planning on getting that game.

[PikaRobo]

At 5/9/08 02:23 AM, MCSMstudios wrote: Keep in mind I haven't owned a Mario Kart game since N64.

I should have stoped right there, but I read a little more THEN stoped. But still its biased towards Online players. I can't unlock 3 characters all because I don't have a router or can't hook up online.

[SapphireLight]

I personally think it's an insult to the fans of the series... something Nintendo is infamous for, unfortunately.

Putting in a trick-system for a speed boost was a cool idea. But pulling them off is damn near impossible since items knock you out of the sky! Not to mention all the "classic" courses haven't been updated any to implement this system.

That's just plain lazy.