**Official Mario Kart Wii** thread UPDATE

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: 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.

i see what you are saying, but i think i feel the way I do cause i played SNES one so faithfully and was one of the best at it. not tryin to brag or anything, but one of my friends buddies used to play it on Xband online and was ranked 2nd in the world. well i played that guy locally and i smashed him. he was pretty surprised.

the thing is on SNES the elite could hit a truly higher level than veterans/advanced players. in mario kart 64, you could peak pretty easily as far as getting good at that game.

that was probably my main gripe with that game was that i got as good as i ever wuold probably in less than a week of it coming out, and that just ruined it for me. and as the versions came out more and more, this skill gap got smaller and smaller, and now like you said, it's just more of a party game than a game of skill.

granted i know it's nintendo and they are catering to little kids and mom/dads to play, however back when i got good at mario kart on SNES i was a little kid too. but to this day i will play that game and retain most of my skill.

yes i'm a mario kart SNES snob and yes i'm basically now a mario kart anti-fanboy (other than SNES one of course) and i'm going into this one w/a huge bias that i won't like it even if i play it, which i honestly doubt i ever will heh. there just isn't 1 thing i've seen or heard about this game that makes me care to try it.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: 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.

DS one was pretty fun for a lil bit, but then snaking ruined that game, as well as the weapons such as the blue shell and bullet bill. i still had a pretty good time playing that online against some buddies though.

in general too mario kart lacks sense of speed now as well which bugs me.

 

[warcrow]

Man, I just cannoted wait for Mario: Paradise! It's going to be awesome...

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: warcrow
Man, I just cannoted wait for Mario: Paradise! It's going to be awesome...

?

 

[warcrow]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: warcrow
Man, I just cannoted wait for Mario: Paradise! It's going to be awesome...

?

Joke.

 

[torpid]

BD2003, sorry if you've already answered this in another thread, but how did you get a hold of the game and official controller? At first I assumed you were playing the leaked version, but then you wouldn't have a wheel. Are you a tester?

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: torpid
BD2003, sorry if you've already answered this in another thread, but how did you get a hold of the game and official controller? At first I assumed you were playing the leaked version, but then you wouldn't have a wheel. Are you a tester?

the wheel is nothing more than a casing which has been around since launch.

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: torpid
BD2003, sorry if you've already answered this in another thread, but how did you get a hold of the game and official controller?

He's a dirty stinking thief of course.

 

[mugs]

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.

Why would you even bother posting this crap?

http://freakdave.xbox-scene.co.../images/MK64_point.jpg
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/E...ges/pj64_mariokart.gif

http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20070711052842751.jpg
http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20071010082404344.jpg

 

[Modeps]

Originally posted by: mugs

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.

Why would you even bother posting this crap?

http://freakdave.xbox-scene.co.../images/MK64_point.jpg
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/E...ges/pj64_mariokart.gif

http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20070711052842751.jpg
http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20071010082404344.jpg

I see significant similarities between the two version, in fact, they look like they even use the same characters. Therefore, I conclude Kart Wii == Kart 64

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: mugs

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.

Why would you even bother posting this crap?

http://freakdave.xbox-scene.co.../images/MK64_point.jpg
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/E...ges/pj64_mariokart.gif

http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20070711052842751.jpg
http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20071010082404344.jpg

because that's what someone who played it told me?

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: torpid
BD2003, sorry if you've already answered this in another thread, but how did you get a hold of the game and official controller? At first I assumed you were playing the leaked version, but then you wouldn't have a wheel. Are you a tester?

the wheel is nothing more than a casing which has been around since launch.

Ah... ok, the official nintendo one isn't out yet. Didn't realize other vendors had one.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: mugs

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.

Why would you even bother posting this crap?

http://freakdave.xbox-scene.co.../images/MK64_point.jpg
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/E...ges/pj64_mariokart.gif

http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20070711052842751.jpg
http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20071010082404344.jpg

because that's what someone who played it told me?

And you're really that gullible and clueless?

I heard Halo 3 was being ported to the PS3. Go spread the word.

 

[Auryg]

Dang, it sounds like this Mario Kart suffers the same flaws as Double Dash. That was 50 dollars wasted, for sure. Too many items zipping around, and no skill in using them or driving. At least you could miss with red shells in 64 - in DD it was impossible. They moved like blue shells did - right in the middle of the track until they hit the person. Is it the same in the new one?

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: mugs

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.

Why would you even bother posting this crap?

http://freakdave.xbox-scene.co.../images/MK64_point.jpg
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/E...ges/pj64_mariokart.gif

http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20070711052842751.jpg
http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20071010082404344.jpg

because that's what someone who played it told me?

And you're really that gullible and clueless?

I heard Halo 3 was being ported to the PS3. Go spread the word.

nintendo fanboys take stuff to seroius.

 

[Crafty35a]

Originally posted by: Auryg
At least you could miss with red shells in 64 - in DD it was impossible. They moved like blue shells did - right in the middle of the track until they hit the person. Is it the same in the new one?

Really? I didn't play a whole lot of DD, but I don't remember this. Hopefully this is not the case in the Wii game.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: mugs

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.

Why would you even bother posting this crap?

http://freakdave.xbox-scene.co.../images/MK64_point.jpg
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/E...ges/pj64_mariokart.gif

http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20070711052842751.jpg
http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20071010082404344.jpg

because that's what someone who played it told me?

And you're really that gullible and clueless?

I heard Halo 3 was being ported to the PS3. Go spread the word.

nintendo fanboys take stuff to seroius.

Hah... ok. I'm merely pointing out the idiocy of posting such obviously false information in a thread, and that makes me a fanboy?

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Auryg
Dang, it sounds like this Mario Kart suffers the same flaws as Double Dash. That was 50 dollars wasted, for sure. Too many items zipping around, and no skill in using them or driving. At least you could miss with red shells in 64 - in DD it was impossible. They moved like blue shells did - right in the middle of the track until they hit the person. Is it the same in the new one?

Dodging red shells is very difficult, they're like homing missles more than ever. You have to cut a corner *really* hard or time your banana drop juuuust right. I've dodged maybe 10-20%. But the red shells arent the issue, its the overabundance of items that affect everyone but the user.

Pow blocks are like timed red shells that will hit everyone unless you time a jump just right, and even if you do, you'll still pin out and lose control, but at least you'll maintain your speed. They seem to occur fairly often.

The blue shell is like a megaton bomb now, the explosion takes up nearly the entire width of the track, even on the larger tracks. The bomb-omb is also like a mini nuke that you can toss. I've yet to see a race where there wasnt at least 2-3 blue shells flying.

The lightning bolt is as devastating as ever, and you see it quite often.

The ink squirt also nails everyone but you, but it's still pretty easy to drive with the screen inked.

The star and super mushroom are basically the same thing, super speed, super control, and destroys everyone in your path.

The bullet bill is like a chain chomp on crack, its HUGE, and will take you from last to first or near most of the time, obliterating everyone in it's path.

Bananas and green shells are pretty much the same.

On top of all of that, bumping another car really knocks them around, like several kart widths. Its more than enough to nail someone off a track or into an obstacle if used at the right time.

I'd personally be *very* impressed if someone could actually manage to stay in 1st an entire race, no matter how good a driver they are.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: torpid
BD2003, sorry if you've already answered this in another thread, but how did you get a hold of the game and official controller? At first I assumed you were playing the leaked version, but then you wouldn't have a wheel. Are you a tester?

One of my friends "acquired" it through "unsavory" means. What was I gonna do, not play it out of moral outrage?

We didnt have the official wheel, it was one of the 3rd party ones, but a plastic wheel is a plastic wheel. I really enjoyed using it, although I could see how diehard fans would shun it. Wiimote alone was just fine, even holding it with the buttons facing up like excite truck, you dont have to hold it with buttons facing you like with the wheel. In fact, wiimote alone was preferable for the bikes, it just felt more natural that way.

I also found the automatic boost when holding a slide to be much more natural than the contrived whipping back and forth from previous games. You'll still be countersteering through slides to control your path, but you're not forced to do so just to boost. Theres an option to have it automatically powerslide instead of pressing a button for the real noobs, but you cant get a boost that way so no one bothered trying it.

Its an improved game in so many ways that it really kills me that they ruined it with the items that you cant tone down. Theres so much to like about the game, even the remade tracks look fantastic remodeled and retextured, bloom lighting and all - even the music is redone for them, and even though all the music is apparently midi as far as I can tell, it of pretty high quality.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: mugs

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.

Why would you even bother posting this crap?

http://freakdave.xbox-scene.co.../images/MK64_point.jpg
http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/E...ges/pj64_mariokart.gif

http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20070711052842751.jpg
http://wiimedia.ign.com/wii/im...-20071010082404344.jpg

because that's what someone who played it told me?

And you're really that gullible and clueless?

I heard Halo 3 was being ported to the PS3. Go spread the word.

nintendo fanboys take stuff to seroius.

Hah... ok. I'm merely pointing out the idiocy of posting such obviously false information in a thread, and that makes me a fanboy?

Trolling Wii threads is his M.O.

 

[Dangerer]

likes like MKW suffers from the same failure that SSB did. I can't tell you how much I hate tripping directly in front of Ike's forward smash

 

[RandomFool]

I hate to say it but the overpowered items and easy catchups will probably help my GF to enjoy the game more. She gets a kick out of trampling me with the super mushroom in New Super Mario Bros battlemode so I'm sure she'll enjoy blowing me up repeatedly with blue shells.

 

[BD2003]

I could also be mistaken, but it appears that racers who have higher ratings are also gimped during a race. You can win or lose up to 100 points on each race, and you start out with 5000. I've yet to see anyone in the 6000s, or the 3000s, and it doesnt seem to be because you get significantly less points if your score is already high. After getting to about 5500, I could have swore my speed boosts were gimped and my items werent nearly as good.

 

[Indolent]

Originally posted by: BD2003
I could also be mistaken, but it appears that racers who have higher ratings are also gimped during a race. You can win or lose up to 100 points on each race, and you start out with 5000. I've yet to see anyone in the 6000s, or the 3000s, and it doesnt seem to be because you get significantly less points if your score is already high. After getting to about 5500, I could have swore my speed boosts were gimped and my items werent nearly as good.

If this is true, it seems like nintendo is just screwing everyone over that liked and was good at the previous games just to win over a more casual audience.

I was afraid that there was going to be too much randomness when Reggie said at e3 that it will be the first time a novice can keep up with an expert.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Indolent

Originally posted by: BD2003
I could also be mistaken, but it appears that racers who have higher ratings are also gimped during a race. You can win or lose up to 100 points on each race, and you start out with 5000. I've yet to see anyone in the 6000s, or the 3000s, and it doesnt seem to be because you get significantly less points if your score is already high. After getting to about 5500, I could have swore my speed boosts were gimped and my items werent nearly as good.

If this is true, it seems like nintendo is just screwing everyone over that liked and was good at the previous games just to win over a more casual audience.

I was afraid that there was going to be too much randomness when Reggie said at e3 that it will be the first time a novice can keep up with an expert.

I'm about 90% sure of it, I'll give it a whirl later tonight to make double sure.

Really though, its not that big of a deal because the online mode is pointless unless you're playing with friends. I was actually playing a bit of single player after playing a few rounds of worldwide multi, and it wasnt until the third race of the GP that I actually realized I wasnt still playing online. Theres no communication whatsoever, and its such a simple game thats defined so completely by luck that humans are indistinguishable from the AI.

You'll know you're playing online when no one boosts at the start because they dont actually want to be in front, and when people mysteriously warp around the track. Having people warp around isnt a big deal though, because if thats what it takes for there to be absolutely zero control lag, then so be it.

The online portion is pretty well presented, but there was one time where the connection with other players seemed to have gone downhill between races, and we were stuck on a 5 minute "please wait" screen, where your only option was to turn the wii off entirely. We couldnt even hit the home button, but it eventually snapped back (with 8 less players) a few minutes later. And once you start a race, you also can't gracefully exit until its over - you have to turn the wii completely off.

It's pretty mind boggling how you can toggle between noob and standard drifting, but you cant toggle between noob and standard gameplay. wtf. I'd actually enjoy the casual style with noobs like my GF, knowing the game would be absolutely awesome with people who wanted to play "for real". I dunno why they even bothered with online leaderboards with a game like this.

MK Wii = utter failure. It doesnt matter how good the game looks, sounds or controls if the gameplay is entirely pointless.