Mario Kart Wii?

[Gadfly2317]

Is this game coming out next month? I had no idea the game had even gotten a release date, but I just saw at Gamerankings there were some reviews up already. I still haven't bothered to read anything about the game. If any of you have, is this going to be great?

For whatever reason, I have no excitement about Mario Kart games. Same as for the DS version, which I hadn't initially planned on buying. But then it came out, I got it, and the DS version was the best one yet, and as fun a racing game as there is. I wonder if the Wii version will pull that off. I'm not sure what it can offer since graphically it's not going to be possible to be much more than the GC, and the Wii control doesn't seem like it has much to offer for the racing genre.

Online? The DS online works great, but if the Wii version is anything like what I've experienced with SSBB. . . YAWN.

Still, here's to hoping Nintendo can keep this game somewhat fresh, and offer a competent enough online mode that maybe we can actually get some VGR matches going.

March/April are turning out to be hopelessly expensive and too much. Little Big Planet. Gran Turismo Prologue. Mario Kart. Ninja Gaiden DS. Super Smash Brothers Brawl. Hot Shots Golf. And isn't GTA 4 coming too? And I'm just playing Wii, DS and Ps3. I have no idea what's going on with 360, but if its anything like the other consoles, those owning all three just aren't going to have time to keep with this crazy off-season gaming flood.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

March/April is definitely getting expensive. God of War PSP, Army of Two, SSBB and Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (now with 3rd person view). I had to get out a gift card I was holding onto for Dark Sector, and Viking is a pre-ordered trade in credits pick up.

I've been thinking about Kart, and whether it would be best if I pick it up when released or later on. I plan on getting GT5 Prologue and GTA4, and that's a lot of driving in those two games. Kart is a different game all together, but it isn't really going anywhere. Plus, I have a hard time playing the Wii on days other than Saturday, Sunday, and Monday for some reason. And that's after moving the Wii to a standard tv so I could get a clear picture (Wii + HDTV doesn't go well together.

I just remembered. The release date for Kart is around the same time as GTA4, or a week earlier.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

Mario Kart is set to be released this Sunday. Is anyone even getting it?

I was going to hold off on it, but after watching some gameplay video, I may have to pick it up.

I have had Nintendo systems from the NES up to the Wii (only the DS in handhelds), and I have yet to play a Mario Kart game.

[Gadfly2317]

Trebor,

I'm going to try and get this game today. If I do, I will be able to play aorund 5pm my time (which I believe is 7pm your time.) Would you be able to get on at that time?

[trebor]

Sorry Gad - I didn't see your post in time, otherwise I would have been all over it.

I have to say, this is probably the best Mario Kart ever. The DS version is still amazing, but I think the Wii's online portion blows away the DS, which it should. So far getting into matches is quick and easy, nothing compared to how horrible SSBB's online worked. No lag, no waiting, and no getting booted off the server.

The addition of bikes, while not fundamentally changing the course of mario kart history, is actually pretty cool. They are far more maneuverable, but so light that they get knocked off the track pretty easily.

Plus, I love the fact that there are multiple control schemes to choose from. My favorite is the wiimote/nunchuck combination.

[Gadfly2317]

Well, Treb, maybe monday evening. We'll get it together sometime. And, frankly, ALL the Wii owners here NEED to get this and get some VGR gaming going on this. Renz? CK? TMG?

I agree, the online here has been flawless for me so far. 12 players, no stuttering, no significant waiting to get into a game. Friend codes are a hassle still, but whatever. I don't mind the lack of voice chatting, it didnt' do me any good in Burnout Paradise. And I love how when you are in the lobby and the racers you are going to race are being selected, it shows their Mii and where they live on a map. It puts more of a human face on your competitors than I felt in Burnout Paradise (unless they had a camera set-up for "mugshots" when you took them out.)

The tracks are extremely creative and fun, and the old ones. . . remember the N64 ice track with the penquins? They've spiffed that up with such a glossy reflective shine on the ice, it really comes across as next-gen even if it is cartoony.

I've again gone from feeling "oh, another Mario Kart game" and then after picking it up, remembering all over again why this game is such addictive fun. All racing is really "the same old thing" so I don't see the criticisms. This is the most straight up light-hearted and fun racing series out there, and the addition of online modes may have been something Nintendo should have done years ago, but its here now finally, and a this great series is still great.

I'll have to try some of the other racing set-ups. I haven't tried the wheel yet. I noticed that online, it shows what control your competitors are using, and some people using the wheel were doing just fine, so it must work well. Myself, I've only used the Wavebird.

[trebor]

I happened to meet up with Gad in Mario Kart last night. Heh.

[Gadfly2317]

Last night was one of my first times playing the game. With the DS version, I ran through all the tracks, in all CC levels before hopping online. Some of those levels last night online was the first time I'd seen them. I will be much more formidable an opponent next time we meet!

I played through all the tracks today on 50cc mode just to open them all up. I'm VERY impressed with the track design, and I'm appalled at the tepid reviews. The imaginative, almost insane tracks. . . a lot more action going on within the tracks. And even surreal things, like coming around a corner and seeing the giant head of my mom's Mii looking down at me. Trippy stuff.

Yeah, I had the house to myself the other evening and instead of coming home from work thrilled to play GTA IV, I was way more excited about jumping online Mario Kart to see if you were on; if not, I was going to work on unlocking stuff in single player which I hadn't had a chance to do since I bought the game later in the week than when I bought GTA IV.

There's not much point in comparing the two games, but we live in a world where one is obviously more popular, and while I like both, I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds Mario Kart more fun.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

One thing that a reviewer mentioned that I kind of agree with: Items sometimes have more to do with winning or losing than skills. I'm on the low level Grand Prix (50 cc, I think) and since I always get crappy items, I let the driving skills do the talking. A lo of times when I'm leading a race, I can get hit with a shell, one of those storm clouds (or whatever it is) will shrink my character, or something in order for me not to win races. Too bad for them, because my character (either Donkey Kong or Peach...they have the best rides so far) can overcome it and still place high. On my last race, the Flower Cup (?) 4th race, I was hit about 4 or 5 times straight with items, ranging from shells, POW boxes, shrinking, and whatever else they can throw at me just so I wouldn't win the 4 race championship. The other drivers were so far back, I still won, but I can see at the higher levels, a bit of frustration can set in.

I haven't played it in a few days, but does anyone know if there's a way to turn the items off? I can enjoy the game even more if it was more about driving skills.

[trebor]

There is a way to turn items off, in local multiplayer at least - you need to adjust the options.

Even though there is a lot of luck involved, I think there is a lot of strategy involved too. For instance, even crappy items (like a single banana) have a strategic use - they can be dragged behind you and used as a shield against red shells. Very useful. Knowing when to use an items is very important. Also, if anything, I've noticed that this version is far more generous with items when you're in 1st that previous versions. I often get red shells when I'm in first, which is one of the ultimate prizes to hold on to while in first.

In my opinion, this version of Mario Kart defines everything that is wrong with mainstream videogame journalism. The assumption that everything Wii is "casual" and "not hardcore" is asinine - MK Wii is difficult, brutally difficult on higher speeds. It takes a lot of dedication and practice - if that isn't hardcore, just because there isn't hyper-realism, boobs, blood, and a drab color palette, then nothing is hardcore. It is a myth, or another word for "snobbery".

[Gadfly2317]

One thing that a reviewer mentioned that I kind of agree with: Items sometimes have more to do with winning or losing than skills. I'm on the low level Grand Prix (50 cc, I think) and since I always get crappy items, I let the driving skills do the talking. A lo of times when I'm leading a race, I can get hit with a shell, one of those storm clouds (or whatever it is) will shrink my character, or something in order for me not to win races. Too bad for them, because my character (either Donkey Kong or Peach...they have the best rides so far) can overcome it and still place high. On my last race, the Flower Cup (?) 4th race, I was hit about 4 or 5 times straight with items, ranging from shells, POW boxes, shrinking, and whatever else they can throw at me just so I wouldn't win the 4 race championship. The other drivers were so far back, I still won, but I can see at the higher levels, a bit of frustration can set in.

I haven't played it in a few days, but does anyone know if there's a way to turn the items off? I can enjoy the game even more if it was more about driving skills.

I had this discussion with someone at work the other day. Here's the thing, when you're competiting, you'll some some drivers continually coming in top 3, and other drivers that never do.

To me, if I were gonna turn the items off, i'd just go play Gran Turismo. The items make Mario Kart. What I love about it is that it stays tight and competitive even with the lousier players. Yes, the further you are behind the better the items you get, and they can keep you in the race, like the bullet, or the invincibility star. And yet, I consider myself a decent player, and sometimes I fall behind do a string of bad luck, and getting better items while further back help keep me in it.

I have screamed "efff you" at the top of my longs at the tv more in the last couple days than in the last year combined; yes, its frustrating. But like treb says, its strategic too. When you are out front, you get crap items, but if you are a good driver in a fast kart, unless its the blue turtle shell hitting you, you can pretty much fend off the red turtle shells by dragging a banana behind you, and there aren't generally enough blue turtle shells out there to be unfair to a really good driver.

I do find it irritating that there are so many items that cause all players to lose their items. It's bad enough that the lightening shrinks everyone, or the ground pound spins you out, but does it have to make everyone lose their items? It hurts the strategy of holding on to certain items to use at key points in the game, and makes it more of a "use the item as soon as you get it before someone takes it away" situation, and that is probably my only real gripe with mario kart.

[trebor]

What is up with the pantywaists around here? Only Gadfly has gotten online and traded codes with me.

I know there are other Wii-nners around here who own Mario Kart, so get to work people!

[Fivespot]

I picked up a Wii and Mario Kart. Let's trade codes and play. Once you both add my new friend number, I can send you my Mario Kart code (via messenger in Wii).

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

Five, there's a sale going on at Circuit City for Wii games (the good ones). Buy 1 get one 50% off. Glock posted the details in General Discussion: Bargain Hunters Thread.

[Fivespot]

Thanks. I saw that in Glock's post and think it's a good deal. I'm going to trade a bunch of DVD's and CD's at a local media exchange place instead. I can then pick up a couple used games at a reasonable price without taking extra money out of my pocket.

Mario Kart Wii is excellent btw. Played some online last night and it ran smooth as butter. I like the way it shows you a map at the beginning of a race with the location for each Mii. Nice touch!

[trebor]

Fiveski - I added your Wii # to my Wii's address book. Do you still have the number to mine? I would like to get you added to my Mario Kart list...

[Fivespot]

Yes, I added you over the weekend after finding your number in the applicable VGR thread. Haven't added the specific Mario Kart number yet however. Here's my MK number 1848 2428 8898.

Can I get your Mii's again specifically Mr. Zappa? Tried making him myself but he didn't turn out near as well as yours. :)

[trebor]

Sure, no problem :)

[Gadfly2317]

Five, I've registered your MK info and given you mine, but it still doesn't show you as a friend yet.

And Tashi, got your message. Give me your MK info; if you don't have mine from somewhere in this thread or wherever, let me know and I'll send it. That makes four of us; now if we can just all get together at the same time!

[Fivespot]

Five, I've registered your MK info and given you mine, but it still doesn't show you as a friend yet.

I never received your MK number so I've yet to register you. Can you pm me that info or something so that I can add you?