Mario Kart Wii!

[Guitar Woman]

I got this about 30 minutes ago, guys!


THE GOOD:
Motion controls are great
Online doesn't suffer from Brawl's horrible problems, and races are huge
Lets you send friend invites over the Wii Message Board
Got rid of snaking
Mario Kart Channel

THE BAD:
Where the FUCK is Daisy >: >: >:
Sorta simplistic (although I haven't tried higher difficulties yet)
We only have one Wii wheel :(


I kept telling myself I wasn't excited for this, but I secretly was and am glad I got it!

My FC is 0430-8688-8425. Add meeeeeeee

[Phoenix Gamma]

Yea, I just picked it up too along with an extra wheel. I've already played the leak some time back, but I didn't have a wheel to try out, which I'll use tonight when I play.

Also, Baby Daisy is playable what the fuck

[Guitar Woman]

Baby Peach is cute to the point of inducing vomiting.

[Fathom Zero]

I'd just like to say the wheel is the most useless hunk of plastic ever invented, but Mario Kart will always be one of my favourite games.

[Guitar Woman]

I like the Wii wheel. It makes controlling yourself a lot easier, actually.

If you want useless, check out the tennis racket and baseball bat attachments Nerf made.

[Fathom Zero]

I like their PS2 controllers, though. Also, those cheesy sword and shield attachments suck as well.

I'm gonna have fun with this game.

[WhiteRat]

I really want to play this game but I don't know anyone that owns a Wii. Once again, another reason why I need to get a Wii.

[Dr. Boogie]

Have you tried it with a Gamecube controller at all?

[Emu]

I read the GC controller isn't that great either because it uses the D-pad.

[Schimid]

Good:

- Online is flawless.
- Unlockables are few and far between.
- Courses are genuinely cool.

Bad:

- Kinda easy. I'm actually really, really bad at Mario Kart and I just got Gold on the final cup, and I've only played the game for about an hour. Most cups I beat on my first try.
- Unlockables are few and far between.
- Motion controls never, ever respond. I do a trick about 1/20th of the time I actually try to.

I've also heard tons of shit about this game's cheap AI...at first I thought well, hey, it's Mario Kart, it's always going to have unfair AI. But after playing it...this is actually the most fair MK game I've ever played. There have been a few spots where I've been bumped all around or shot off an edge, but nothing where I'm seconds away from the finish to get hit by four items at once like in MK64.

EDIT - By the way, Bowser's level carries the torch in that it's my least favorite stage in this game, too >:

[Guitar Woman]

I have no idea how to do any tricks and just use the half pipes to boost my speed, because I'm awesome like that.

Also, are you talking about N64 Bowser's Castle? Becuase I fucking love that level :<

[Schimid]

Every MK game has a Bowser's Castle level...it's always my least favorite in the game, at least until I race on it 30 times to get the hang of it. In contrast, my favorites are always the ones with traffic (Toad's N64 level, Moonlight Highway, etc.) because I'm pretty good at navigating around it.

I don't like Rainbow Road in this one either...I can't hear the theme anywhere and they actually made it pretty hard to navigate. :(

[Phoenix Gamma]

The wheel is fucking fantastic. Turning just feels "right" to the point where I started it up and said "ok, I totally already know how to play." Plus it feels more precise than the other options.

Sadly, the game doesn't offer much else that's "new" aside from an almost great WiFi function.

Also, fuck the bikes. Hard to handle and they bounce like motherfuckers. I hate getting bumped a mile away on that lava stage where everything crumbles. I always fall. I'll stick with the Karts, thanks. I don't care for the new drifting system, because I think a lot of skill is removed from the game now. I know people hate snakers (I was one myself) but I still wish there was more skill involved in this game. It feels kinda stripped down, and had the wheel not be a huge focus, the game would be a huge downgrade.

However, I enjoy looking senile in front of the TV with my silly white wheel.

[MetalMilitia]

The wheel is fucking fantastic. Turning just feels "right" to the point where I started it up and said "ok, I totally already know how to play."

Yeah it's weird. I find that a lot with Nintendo games though.
It's like a feeling that I've already played the game before... on every other console they've made in the last 18 years.

[Phoenix Gamma]

Yeah it's weird. I find that a lot with Nintendo games though.
It's like a feeling that I've already played the game before... on every other console they've made in the last 18 years.

Point taken, but I'm talking about the feeling of turning. It wasn't like, say, Sonic and the Secret Rings, where using the remote to steer felt awkward.

Also, 22 years.

[Zomboid]

THINK HE MEANS HOW LONG HE'S BEEN PLAYING NINTENDO, RETARD

[MarioRPG]

I'll be getting this in prolly a day or two (more like two). If there's one issue I've had with Double Dash, it's that it was just too easy for 90% of the game, getting that gold car was sorta hard. What's the best control scheme?

[Guitar Woman]

Wii Wheel, hands down.

Also, I like the bikes.

[Chojin]

0044-3232-0679

The wheel works WAY better than I thought it could; I didn't think the Wii remote's accelerometers were that precise.

Even though we have one of those Intec 3rd party wheels for the 2nd wheel, we're gonna go pick up a 2nd official wheel today. I really like the way it's weighted and feels somewhat sturdy and the way the trigger is a separate button that sticks out.

Also, don't mind Zomboid. The very mention of Nintendo fills him with a blind rage that only subsides after a night of binge drinking at his fraternity.

[Fathom Zero]

Me too! :)

[Chojin]

schimid you forgot to leave your friend code

[Mockery]

I'm gonna be picking this one up soon as well. Looking forward to playing you guys online... and losing. :(

[Guitar Woman]

is it just me or is it impossible to turn worth a shit

I'm also bored of this game already :<

I think that's some kind of record!

[Phoenix Gamma]

Depends. Karts don't turn tight enough, Bikes turn too much. I end up drifting way before turns just so I can get boosts.

Also, I'm sure playing online would make it more interesting, though I'd rather have a bunch of friends over instead so we can get rowdy. Mario Kart isn't much fun when you play alone because the AI is a cunt.

[Guitar Woman]

I always use Baby Peach's Bit Bike so I should be turning fine

Also I haven't played anything but online yet, and every race consists of me coasting through and finishing in 5th to 3rd after a completely uneventful race. The most exciting thing that happens is I get that faggoty stormcloud and then have to catch up to my mediocre position for a little bit.

[Phoenix Gamma]

Bleh. Hate light bikers. I prefer Peach with that third bike, whatever it's called. (That's another thing. I want 30+ cars like on the DS.) It steers more like a kart, so that's probably why I like it.

As for uneventful races, I dunno. I've played mostly Grand Prix to unlock shit, then I'd play with a few buddies a bit. The AI puts up a hell of a fight, so I usually have to claw my way to first place. With friends it's a little less...annoying. It's not like when I'm in first and get hit by five different things at once, but I'm not miles ahead either.

I do love playing as my Mii, though. The voice is so funny and annoying. In fact, Hitler and Sean Connery are plastered all over the mall in my mall stage. The Miis in this game are fuckwin.

[Chojin]

gw have you tried not being terrible at video games? i ask because you have to be missing several vital limbs to not get at least 3rd in these cups.

Getting a good rating is a different story altogether, though, and I really don't like how manual mode - being able to jump & spark - doesn't work at all with the wheel (it theoretically does, but it just seems silly trying it after the steering was working so well on automatic). It seems like all the big Wii games are forcing you to use a gamecube controller to get the best controls, and here it's only because you get bonus turbos as a reward for doing it.

I also don't appreciate how GameFAQs is a huge liar about the unlocks.

The game is still pretty fun, though. :sunglasses

[Phoenix Gamma]

Liar about unlocks? If getting all Stars in 50cc doesn't net me Baby Daisy, tell me now; I'm halfway through replaying.

Also, I think manual works fine. I can direct the drift just fine, and I've gotten used to turning one way and hopping the other. Once I realized I was basically holding a giant joystick (lolinnovation) I was able to handle it fine.

[Chojin]

It just seems like manual is a huge step backward from the normal controls, yet you get punished for not using it.

And so far GameFAQs has been a liar about when you unlock daisy ;< I've beaten everything on 150cc and still don't have her.

[Guitar Woman]

I haven't tried any of the cups yet, you ding dong

also I figured Manual mode was for real men and have been using that; would Automatic make turning less retarded

[Phoenix Gamma]

Well, drifting IS a huge step backward. Sadly, they couldn't think of any other way to remedy snaking other than to change how sparks worked. I think they could have tried something else, just because there's more skill involved in the old games. Automatic makes turning easier I guess, but not being able to boost really puts you at a disadvantage.

One thing I notice in terms of items is that POW Block throws things off balance. It's just way too common to get hit by something. Throwing another item that hits everyone just makes matters worse. And since there's no way to avoid not getting hit by the block (aside from going off a jump), it feels almost broken.

I think that's probably my biggest gripe, since I kinda like not having to always snake now. Snaking isn't a whole lot of fun.

[Chojin]

I have noticed that if you ever fall off the course, you get shunted to 12th place immediately. Also with 12 racers, you're going to have 12 people throwing shit at you, and the POW block and lightning hit everyone, so you're going to constantly be mangled by those.

At first I was flipping out after getting hit by lightning 4 or 5 times in the same race, and then I noticed that I never lost my place as a result. Thinking about it, if you want to give a newbie a chance to catch up, just making them faster isn't gonna help because they won't know how to control it. Making everyone else slower is probably best. It just takes getting used to.

Still hate the blue shells, but it seems like you recover faster from them now.

And yes GW, automatic makes turning actually turn.

[Schimid]

I roll automatic. Wii wheel with manual is absolutely ridiculous.

I went online last night and picked Rainbow Road while everyone else picked stuff like Moonview Highway and Coconut Mall. Rainbow Road got picked and I beat the next-fastest time by 53 seconds. It's hilarious watching everyone drop off at the center part.

[Phoenix Gamma]

I hate that the blue shell is broken now. In DS, you could slow down and let the 2nd place guy get it before it explodes. But just now I watched the first place guy zoom ahead while the shell flickered on the bottom of my screen. Totally fair.

At least in DD and DS you could manage to ditch it by timing your boost :(

[Fathom Zero]

Last night while I was waiting in line for GTA IV, I was playing this against people and schooling everybody, including most of the employees. Toad wins every time, baby.

and I took the controller out of the wheel. It just didn't feel right. It felt small in my hands. So I just used the remote. And kicked ass.

[MLE]

The wheel makes it way easier for me to play. If I don't use the wheel, I'll be using the remote/nunchuck controls. Also, I really really love the quacker bike.

[MarioRPG]

2535-4160-0432

Got it just a short while ago!

[Chojin]

Blue glowy light told me that there was a tournament running today. So I try it out, only to find that they changed the mario circuit map so that the chain chomp is loose and running the opposite way on the course :o

I wonder if they're going to change all the levels that they have tournaments on?

[Phoenix Gamma]

I dunno, but I wish they had chosen live races over "who can beat the stage fastest if we change....THIS?".

Also, unlocking shit seems to be random. I replayed one of the 100cc cups to get a star rank, and ended up unlocking Baby Luigi and Funky Kong (lolwut).

I like Daisy the best, because she's so goshdarn annoying. Lack of "HII'MDAISY" makes me a sad panda.

[bigtimecow]

getting this tomorrow. trading in wack and sticky, new super mario bros, viewtiful joe, and metal gear solid twin snakes. hopefully won't have to pay toooooooooooo much

[MLE]

My online rank just broke 6000!

[MarioRPG]

The levels are neat, this is the first time I've had trouble with Rainbow Road. Fucking speed-up spots send me off the edge of that one turn...

[Schimid]

I felt the exact same way! I always thought Rainbow Road was supposed to be a send-off, a "victory lap" of sorts, not an intense test of mettle. I got gold on the Special Cup--first in all races except RR, in which Baby Mario shoved me off numerous times.

I came in eigth, and my ranking overall was a B because of it. :|

[Phoenix Gamma]

What? Rainbow Road was always a bitch an a half. SNES was all over the place if I recall correctly, and Double Dash had some absurd spirals that were impossible to pull off 100% of the time during a race. 64 was the only one that was easy since they walled off the whole course. DS one was about average.

This time, it's got less spiral bullshit and more boosts everywhere. I hate getting Golden Mushrooms on that stage, because I will fall off the stage. I never get Bullet Bills in that stage.

[MarioRPG]

What? Rainbow Road was always a bitch an a half.

The only one I remember being hard was the SNES one, I've never tried the DS game (at all) though. I agree completely with the Golden Mushroom comment, while I've yet to get one, I can see it being damn near impossible to make a decent gain on 80% of that course with one.

I decided to try a time trial (Sherbet Land) and was delighted to see a ghost challenger. I like this inclusion, it was decently hard if you don't know exactly how the course works. Or in my case, how to get the boost off the line. However, I'm proud to say I eventually bested the ghost, and was most pleased with myself. :posh

[MLE]

I bested Nin.pico's ghost on Maple Treeway first try, suckas :posh

[Phoenix Gamma]

The first ghost or the unlockable ghost?

The first ghosts are all piss easy. The unlockable ones are the toughies.

[MarioRPG]

I'm talking first ghost.

Oh, and since I never said, I've only used the nunchuck config with manual.

[Phoenix Gamma]

Beat the second ghost and get back to me :posh

[Fathom Zero]

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/846/ghostsht7.jpg

GOHSTS!

[Zomboid]

:eek

[Phoenix Gamma]

So the new Nintendo tourney has a new stage and boss fight (!)

http://www.destructoid.com/elephant/ul/45155-468x-MKWiitourney-ready.jpg

I'm about to boot it up and try for myself

[MarioRPG]

Awesome, tell me what you think, and I'll see if I can find time.

[Mockery]

So the new Nintendo tourney has a new stage and boss fight (!)

Wait, there are downloadable stages in Mario Kart now? I've only played a few online games against friends but didn't see any mention of that sort o' thing. o.O

Also, I've heard a lot about beating particular ghosts in the game... can somebody explain that to me? Are there special ghost challenges or something that enable you to unlock certain characters?

[Phoenix Gamma]

Yea, it's pseudo-downloadable. It's a temporary thing, like the demos you download on the DS at stores or on the Nintendo Channel, or the stuff you get from Brawl's wifi service. This is the first they've done anything like this for MK, though.

As for ghosts:

There are two ghosts per stage, and when you do time trial, you pick a ghost to race against, or one of your own. If you beat it by a lot, you get a faster ghost to race against. They know all the shortcuts and usually make perfect turns, so you need to be really skilled to beat them. It doesn't matter who you are when you race, though the ghost usually matches the stage, like Luigi at Luigi Circuit or whatever.