Being curious, what do some people want out of item balancing?
What
I've been wanting from MK8 item balance-wise, is for certain items to be buffed/nerfed. A lot of people by now have come to the conclusion that the Blue Shell is a joke. It doesn't take away the item of the person it hits and has a shorter hitstun than a
banana.
Triple Red Shells in 2nd are more horrifying than it, as it's essentially the equivalent of taking three Blue Shells in a row. It needs to return to its MKW glory. But of course not with the same level of frequency, lol. There's nothing wrong with 1st being able to "drive off with a banana in hand" if the buffed Blue Shell were to come around. And speaking of Red Shells, they seriously need to be nerfed a bit. Get rid of their flying mechanics, as it makes no damn sense for someone to be able to get shot out of the sky and lose 6 coins total over something practically unavoidable. I think that one change would make them a lot less overpowered. Though they should also be made a bit less common.
- The Piranha Plant should be able to bite oncoming Red Shells, as your backside is endlessly exposed when this item is activated, making you too big of a target. It also should have a more delayed time between the user being hit and it being able to start chomping again. Makes passing anyone with a Piranha Plant, even after hitting them, a hassle.
- Coin item frequency should be significantly lower the higher your coin count is (I'm talking about a 0-10% chance of getting one when maxed), because as we all know, getting nothing but coins in 1st even after maxing out is flat out unfair and simply chips out the leader in anticipation of Red Shells.
- Get rid of smart-bouncing Green Shells. Their hitbox was already increased, now they track racers too? It's ridiculously hard to avoid the majority of the time, and only adds to what makes this game so overly hectic.
- Triple items should be able to be activated by choice, not by default. You have any idea how shitty it is when you pick up some Triple Bananas only for them to all immediately vanish because the dude behind you is spraying and praying with their Fire Flower? Scenarios like that could all be avoided if Nintendo would allow us to be a bit more strategic with our triple items. (Triple Mushrooms not counted here)
- Starman should give you a speed boost. There was no reason to remove that. Getting a Starman nowadays means absolutely nothing unless if there's a shortcut nearby or a Thunderbolt on the horizon. Worst feeling ever; getting a goddamn Starman as your last item on the final stretch. Unless if the race is still a clusterfuck with people left and right getting hit with you being able to breeze by them because lolinvincibility, you're screwed. It's become a pretty... situational item, rather than an "ultimate" one.
- Fire Flower should have a little less... ammo. Though it was likely due to limitations in MK7, having less fireballs bouncing around would make things a bit less chaotic. Perhaps increase the size of the fireballs and their hitbox, and decrease the amount of fireballs able to be thrown at once. Maybe around 4-6 max.
- And finally, lower the frequency of the Triple Mushroom item. I have legitimately seen
seven people holding this item at once. What difference does it make to even get the item if EVERYONE has it? You're not going to pass anyone now. Hell, chances are you'll stay right where you are. 3 people with Triple Mushrooms max please.
Of course there's the necessary modifications of
where people can get items, since 2nd place getting a Crazy 8 is insane, but anyone could easily decide a more appropriate position for these items to be distributed. Distance-based distribution doesn't work. It should be changed. But I doubt Nintendo will be willing to. =/
So, everyone wants the strong items to be weaker, and the weak items to be stronger. But they also want things to be harder for the front of the pack, and easier for the back. Does not compute....
Honestly, this is how Mario Kart should always work. Those that get into higher positions should have to put in actual effort to stay up there, with those in the back being given a chance to overtake those in the front. It's really stupid for the whole back of the pack to constantly be screwed over by the uncontrollable carnage, while one or two other racers go home free. There needs to be some level of control to keeping yourself from getting screwed over in this game. A little more of a skill ceiling I suppose. It'd be nice to get first and actually feel like you deserved it because you played well. Not because your RNG luck smiled your way and protected you from 2nd place Triple Reds and Blue Shells.