**Official Mario Kart Wii** thread UPDATE

[DivideBYZero]

I shall be picking it up on launch day. Will post impressions in this thread.

I'll also be posting my friend code in here too, so you may all want to do that in this thread.

/0

UPDATE:
======

It's Mario Kart. It's intense, it's fun and the textures have been updated, but this is essentially back to the old school after DD. The single player seems pretty easy to me, but it's fun and you can use it to scope tracks for secrets, shortcuts and new techniques. This is essential for the online game.

The online component pleases from the get go with the introduction of each player with their Mii and their location. Myself and the GF have been playing all weekend in the 2P online mode, so races of 12 players have been the norm. As the weekend progressed more players turned up and games were quick to enter. Sometimes you get put into a group that is already racing, but you can watch it TV style and cameras/players can be chosen while you wait. Here is the thing:

THE RACING IS INTENSE, THERE ARE LOTS OF ITEMS, IT IS A BLAST!

If you want realistic racing pack up the Wii and fire up GT5. It's a cartoon racing game. You CAN avoid a multitude of the attacks and all other players are under the same conditions, so if you cannot deal with it this is not the game for you. End of.

The frame rate was a little slower in 2P online games that single player, but not so you would care when you are boosting around the track.

Drifting and boosting. This has Auto and manual drift mode. The Automatic mode is in no way a noob replacement for the manual. A noob will NOT be as fast Auto as a seasoned veteran with manual. Do not believe the hype that a n00b can rock up and own you all. Not going to happen. This game has the same tricks and techniques hidden away in there to give you a little edge, you just need to adjust to the new game.

All in, I love it. The new tracks are great and the classics are in there from all systems including the DS.

Ask away.

One last thing I'll say is; Remember, if you receive something of value for free it will have no value.

 

[Xavier434]

I will not be getting it on launch day but I am really looking forward to it all the same.

 

[RandomFool]

My GF pre-ordered it for me but probably won't be able to pick it up until at least a week later.

I'm really surprised this didn't get delayed for another month or so since SSBB practically just came out.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: RandomFool
My GF pre-ordered it for me but probably won't be able to pick it up until at least a week later.

I'm really surprised this didn't get delayed for another month or so since SSBB practically just came out.

Ya, that and they are going to be competing with GTA IV coming out soon afterwards.

 

[purbeast0]

a copy actually leaked yesterday online. so far i've heard mixed reviews about it. i've even heard it looks like Mario Kart 64 graphically heh.

 

[RandomFool]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
a copy actually leaked yesterday online. so far i've heard mixed reviews about it. i've even heard it looks like Mario Kart 64 graphically heh.

That'd odd, maybe it was an early version. Those English guys seem to like it.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: RandomFool

Originally posted by: purbeast0
a copy actually leaked yesterday online. so far i've heard mixed reviews about it. i've even heard it looks like Mario Kart 64 graphically heh.

That'd odd, maybe it was an early version. Those English guys seem to like it.

its the full retail PAL version.

EDIT:

oh and I lol'ed at this part ...

A fantastic racer and the best online Nintendo game ever. [Apr 2008, p.58]

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: RandomFool

Originally posted by: purbeast0
a copy actually leaked yesterday online. so far i've heard mixed reviews about it. i've even heard it looks like Mario Kart 64 graphically heh.

That'd odd, maybe it was an early version. Those English guys seem to like it.

Nah, its not odd at all. Pretty much what I expect from purbeast0 at this point.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: RandomFool

Originally posted by: purbeast0
a copy actually leaked yesterday online. so far i've heard mixed reviews about it. i've even heard it looks like Mario Kart 64 graphically heh.

That'd odd, maybe it was an early version. Those English guys seem to like it.

Nah, its not odd at all. Pretty much what I expect from purbeast0 at this point.

yes because i'm commenting on opinions that i've heard about it ... :roll:

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: RandomFool

Originally posted by: purbeast0
a copy actually leaked yesterday online. so far i've heard mixed reviews about it. i've even heard it looks like Mario Kart 64 graphically heh.

That'd odd, maybe it was an early version. Those English guys seem to like it.

Nah, its not odd at all. Pretty much what I expect from purbeast0 at this point.

yes because i'm commenting on opinions that i've heard about it ... :roll:

Anyone who thinks the game looks even remotely close to MK64 is a moron, and by quoting him, you associate yourself with said moronity.

The game looks significantly better than mario kart DD, it looks like they used the capabilities of the Wii as best they could. If youre going to compare it to a 360 game, then yes, it doesnt look good. But it looks as good as any of the upper echelon Wii games, and the new tracks are actually pretty awesome.

On the other hand, the fact that theres 12 players instead of 8, and the items are more insidious than ever really detracts from the game. Its like the first two laps are meaningless, and the last lap decides the race by a mixture of 90% luck and 10% skill. Getting into first place should please you, but it draws more sighs than smiles because you know that actually trying to win = you will get blue shelled to 12th place within seconds.

If you could turn off some of the items or tone it down it would be a lot more fun IMO. Its not like SSBB where all the items are placed for everyone to get, and you have to work hard for that smash ball. In MK, you get "I win buttons" merely by racing terribly, and actually trying to win will almost certainly assure you that you wont.

The fact that there's leaderboards is rather ironic, as a 3-year old stands as much chance of being on top as a pro gamer. Still, despite the fact that its a lot less racing and a lot more mario party on wheels, the game is fun, and controls surprisingly well with the wiimote motion controls.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: RandomFool

Originally posted by: purbeast0
a copy actually leaked yesterday online. so far i've heard mixed reviews about it. i've even heard it looks like Mario Kart 64 graphically heh.

That'd odd, maybe it was an early version. Those English guys seem to like it.

Nah, its not odd at all. Pretty much what I expect from purbeast0 at this point.

yes because i'm commenting on opinions that i've heard about it ... :roll:

Anyone who thinks the game looks even remotely close to MK64 is a moron, and by quoting him, you associate yourself with said moronity.

The game looks significantly better than mario kart DD, it looks like they used the capabilities of the Wii as best they could. If youre going to compare it to a 360 game, then yes, it doesnt look good. But it looks as good as any of the upper echelon Wii games, and the new tracks are actually pretty awesome.

On the other hand, the fact that theres 12 players instead of 8, and the items are more insidious than ever really detracts from the game. Its like the first two laps are meaningless, and the last lap decides the race by a mixture of 90% luck and 10% skill. Getting into first place should please you, but it draws more sighs than smiles because you know that actually trying to win = you will get blue shelled to 12th place within seconds.

If you could turn off some of the items or tone it down it would be a lot more fun IMO. Its not like SSBB where all the items are placed for everyone to get, and you have to work hard for that smash ball. In MK, you get "I win buttons" merely by racing terribly, and actually trying to win will almost certainly assure you that you wont.

The fact that there's leaderboards is rather ironic, as a 3-year old stands as much chance of being on top as a pro gamer. Still, despite the fact that its a lot less racing and a lot more mario party on wheels, the game is fun, and controls surprisingly well with the wiimote motion controls.

thats good. i havent played it yet and probably never will, so i'm not giving my opinions on it unless i actually play it.

 

[ed21x]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
a copy actually leaked yesterday online. so far i've heard mixed reviews about it. i've even heard it looks like Mario Kart 64 graphically heh.

alright, we get it, you hate your wii.


as for MK Wii, they are bringing back some of battle stages from the SNES game (best imho). That alone will make this game a good time

 

[Baked]

I'll get it when it's available at Costco. If Costco doesn't carry it, I'll get it from Amazon.com or EB. Having Miis in the game alone would be hilarious.

 

[eelw]

I'm having fun playing worldwide online.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: eelw
I'm having fun playing worldwide online.

Indeed. The online game is much tamer since most games I've played have had no more than 6 people, which really cuts down the item nonsense to a somewhat tolerable level. I still think the over-devastating items really detract from the game. I'm not entirely opposed to the mechanic, as a blue shell every now and then never ruined a game, but whereas the items and chaos were just an element of the game in every other mario kart, it really completely dominates this one.

Plain and simple, the single player is just not fun at all. Zero. It irritates me that I'll actually have to play through that mess to unlock tracks and characters. Despite your best efforts, whether or not you win or lose is almost entirely up to the luck of the draw, unless you purposefully try not to race hard and wait to get an easy button thatll see you through the last ten defining seconds. Thats just not what a racing game should be about.

Local mulitplayer is reasonably fun, but I expect my circle to stop playing after a week or two. The game is nothing but a spectacle, and I'm sure we'll get tired of lightning bolting and pow blocking each other every ten seconds. There is a difference between chaos and random, and this falls so far towards random that I'm not sure who will actually like it.

Well, at least there's battle mode, right? Meh. Having no free for all battle mode is stupid, and teams just arent the same.

I lack the words to describe the feeling knowing that greatness was a simple options screen away, and they just decided not to bother. The graphics are great, the controls are great, the sounds, the music, the track, the design - everything is great, and it really would be the best mario kart ever if you had some say over how absurdly random it is.

Basically, theres 99 reasons why it's the best mario kart ever, but unfortunately, theres a single glaring flaw that makes it the worst. After a few play sessions, it just ceases to be fun. Such a shame.

 

[Slew Foot]

I didnt really have high expectations for this one. The last couple I played were way too heavy on luck and the rubber band AI was atrocious. It looks like Ill skip this iteration over.

 

[Blayze]

I'm looking forward to picking this up.

One question. For the people that have played online is it as bad as Brawl? Random matches take forever to get started in Brawl, while ones with Friend Codes go pretty quick.

 

[Xylitol]

60
Edge Magazine
Having sacrificed racing integrity in "Double Dash" to side with social silliness, Nintendo has turned 180 degrees into an awkward halfway house. [May 2008, p.86]

Are they stupid? There's always been silliness in mario kart and Nintendo has never been serious with their games (kids don't really find straight-out racing as fun)

I'm definitely picking this up

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Blayze
I'm looking forward to picking this up.

One question. For the people that have played online is it as bad as Brawl? Random matches take forever to get started in Brawl, while ones with Friend Codes go pretty quick.

Its the total polar opposite - worldwide matches started fairly quickly, and it was lag free and playable.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Xylitol

60
Edge Magazine
Having sacrificed racing integrity in "Double Dash" to side with social silliness, Nintendo has turned 180 degrees into an awkward halfway house. [May 2008, p.86]

Are they stupid? There's always been silliness in mario kart and Nintendo has never been serious with their games (kids don't really find straight-out racing as fun)

If theyre stupid, then I'm stupid too. The game has crossed the line from being a somewhat silly racer to mario party on wheels. I even hesitate to call it a racer because you're simply not going to win by actually racing. Seriously, I really wish I didnt have to say that about the game, but its most definitely crossed a threshold where how you play the game almost completely doesnt matter. There will be a lot of OHHH!! moments when victory is stolen from the leader at the last moment, but that will happen so often its far more of an annoyance and a detraction from the fun of the game than anything else. No one expects gran turismo, but if the randomness of all the other mario karts was a 5, this one is a 9. Why would anyone want to continue to play a game that rewards bad playing and punishes skill?

Having somehow managed to nearly grab a gold medal in one of the final cups, within sight of the goal line I was unceremoniously blue shelled, then lightning bolted, then red shelled in succession. Finished in last. Not that such an occurrence had surprised me after playing for a while, but having it happen then and there made me want to throw the controller against the wall. Its very, very, very rare that a game frustrates me to that point, but MK has managed to do it several times. You'll be lucky to drive for 20 seconds without getting hammered by one thing or another.

I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but I'm really upset that they completely ruined the game by overdoing the items, and not giving you *any* leeway to change it. Seriously, thats all they'd have had to do, and this would easily be the best MK ever, rather than the worst.

 

[Blayze]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: Blayze
I'm looking forward to picking this up.

One question. For the people that have played online is it as bad as Brawl? Random matches take forever to get started in Brawl, while ones with Friend Codes go pretty quick.

Its the total polar opposite - worldwide matches started fairly quickly, and it was lag free and playable.

Thanks.

I'm glad its a big improvement over Brawl's online.

Is the Wheel any good? Or like Brawl is the Gamecube/Classic Controller(s) better?

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Blayze

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: Blayze
I'm looking forward to picking this up.

One question. For the people that have played online is it as bad as Brawl? Random matches take forever to get started in Brawl, while ones with Friend Codes go pretty quick.

Its the total polar opposite - worldwide matches started fairly quickly, and it was lag free and playable.

Thanks.

I'm glad its a big improvement over Brawl's online.

Is the Wheel any good? Or like Brawl is the Gamecube/Classic Controller(s) better?

The wheel is better IMO. MK is about finesse, not quick jerking back and forth. You have much more subtle control with the wiimote than with the stick, and its responsive, the range is much better than excitetruck, and you dont have that issue with oversteering and the game not recognizing your turn anymore. It works perfectly, I never even considered plugging in a wavebird at any point, unlike SSBB, where I outright refuse to use anything but one.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: Xylitol

60
Edge Magazine
Having sacrificed racing integrity in "Double Dash" to side with social silliness, Nintendo has turned 180 degrees into an awkward halfway house. [May 2008, p.86]

Are they stupid? There's always been silliness in mario kart and Nintendo has never been serious with their games (kids don't really find straight-out racing as fun)

If theyre stupid, then I'm stupid too. The game has crossed the line from being a somewhat silly racer to mario party on wheels. I even hesitate to call it a racer because you're simply not going to win by actually racing. Seriously, I really wish I didnt have to say that about the game, but its most definitely crossed a threshold where how you play the game almost completely doesnt matter. There will be a lot of OHHH!! moments when victory is stolen from the leader at the last moment, but that will happen so often its far more of an annoyance and a detraction from the fun of the game than anything else. No one expects gran turismo, but if the randomness of all the other mario karts was a 5, this one is a 9. Why would anyone want to continue to play a game that rewards bad playing and punishes skill?

Having somehow managed to nearly grab a gold medal in one of the final cups, within sight of the goal line I was unceremoniously blue shelled, then lightning bolted, then red shelled in succession. Finished in last. Not that such an occurrence had surprised me after playing for a while, but having it happen then and there made me want to throw the controller against the wall. Its very, very, very rare that a game frustrates me to that point, but MK has managed to do it several times. You'll be lucky to drive for 20 seconds without getting hammered by one thing or another.

I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but I'm really upset that they completely ruined the game by overdoing the items, and not giving you *any* leeway to change it. Seriously, thats all they'd have had to do, and this would easily be the best MK ever, rather than the worst.

i know you all think i hate my wii just cause i hate it, but i wanna comment on something you said here.

i was not a fan of mario kart 64, and i was not a fan of DD, but Super Mario Kart on SNES is my favorite game ever. when I played the N64 version, they basically started to noobify the system, and like you said, that is when it started to make the gap from "really good players" and "noobs" start to narrow.

what really REALLY ticked me off that I heard about Mario Kart Wii was when Nintendo THEMSELF said "we're including a wheel with Mario Kart Wii so that novices can compete with Veterans."

now something about that right there just rubs me the wrong way. first of all, playing with a wheel, in general in games, makes the game tougher than a standard controller. second, no matter WHAT game it is, novices should NOT be competing with Veterans and SHOULD be getting slaughtered by them. if they are that much better and have put that much more time into it, there is no reason a veteran should be worried about a novice beating them.

and from the descriptions i'm hearing from you, that is exactly whats happening. on SNES, the veterans in that game stood out tremendously. i would take routes and found shortcuts that most people had no clue about. it just saddens me to see my favorite game of all time ran into the ground.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

i know you all think i hate my wii just cause i hate it, but i wanna comment on something you said here.

i was not a fan of mario kart 64, and i was not a fan of DD, but Super Mario Kart on SNES is my favorite game ever. when I played the N64 version, they basically started to noobify the system, and like you said, that is when it started to make the gap from "really good players" and "noobs" start to narrow.

what really REALLY ticked me off that I heard about Mario Kart Wii was when Nintendo THEMSELF said "we're including a wheel with Mario Kart Wii so that novices can compete with Veterans."

now something about that right there just rubs me the wrong way. first of all, playing with a wheel, in general in games, makes the game tougher than a standard controller. second, no matter WHAT game it is, novices should NOT be competing with Veterans and SHOULD be getting slaughtered by them. if they are that much better and have put that much more time into it, there is no reason a veteran should be worried about a novice beating them.

and from the descriptions i'm hearing from you, that is exactly whats happening. on SNES, the veterans in that game stood out tremendously. i would take routes and found shortcuts that most people had no clue about. it just saddens me to see my favorite game of all time ran into the ground.

I agree with you mostly, but only to a point. I enjoyed all of the previous mario karts, cause despite the rubberband AI and items being given to the players in the rear, an advanced player would still win the majority of the time. At this point, an advanced player has a slight statistical edge, but no matter how well you know the track, victory will still be frequently taken away by the unbalanced items. I suppose one could achieve victory more consistently by tricking the system and hoarding the items by purposefully bringing up the rear, but that kills the spirit of a racing game IMO. Rather than that being a risk, it seems an almost surefire way to win the game.

One online match I've played had only 4 players, and towards the end of the race, we were all pretty tightly packed together. The player in 4th was gifted a lightning bolt, despite being only a few kart lengths back, and he ended up taking it. These items no longer serve to balance, only to unbalance.

I've no problem with the wheel - theres no reason the control shouldn't be friendlier, and it works very well, it doesnt detract at all, if anything, the new controls are even more fun.

But basically to sum up what I've basically beat into the ground - its not that noobs can compete, its that no one can compete. Victory means nothing when you havent actually earned it, and its pretty ironic that in a game that gives you a zillion ways to boost your speed, you don't win by actually racing.

 

[randomlinh]

Damn, I noticed some of that 'no one can compete' when I picked up the DS version. It's fun, and I hadn't played since the SNES. The blue shell really ticked me off. I started playing to get second.. and then push at the last minute from there. I already have this reserved, but if it pushes this idea beyond, I may be offloading it sooner than I thought I would.