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[atr0cious]

Probably in Frantic item settings, which is a giant pile of bullshit.

Nope. I got blue shells in 2nd place while doing worldwide online racing match making.

The main problem to me seems to be player discipline. Why are you using that triple shell in 9th place? Deploy it as a defensive item, and just drive the perfect line, forcing people to move or get got. But everyone wants to shoot their shit just cause, and all it does is allow the head of the pack to separate even more.

 

[MichaelFassbender]

I would have a laugh-track play every time you got hit by a blue shell via AI. It would be extremely loud and long.

That's all.

 

[jotun?]

Get rid of the triple-red-shell entirely.
Blue shells only if the lead player is REALLY far ahead
More mushrooms (relative to weapons)


One of my biggest complaints about recent Mario Kart games is that red shells keep getting more and more powerful. In the original, you still needed a decent line of sight to fire them, they had a limit to how well they could turn, they broke if they hit a wall, and you could jump to avoid them. By the time Double Dash came around, they didn't require line of sight and were much harder to dodge, but you still COULD dodge them, and there were a good number of places where they couldn't follow. Now in MK8, they're basically guaranteed to hit their target unless blocked with an item.

 

[jblank83]

• Remove the Coin on the item roulette if you already have 10.
• Reduce the duration and top speed of the Bullet Bill.
• Increase the speed and duration of the Starman a smidge.
• Increase the likelihood of getting the Super Horn in second place slightly.
• Make it so that the Blue Shell makes more of an effort to hit every racer on the way to first.
• Reduce the frequency and duration of the lightning bolt.

Add dummy block

I'd be happy.

 

[Crayolan]

I wouldn't, it's already perfect how it is. People who whine about MK8's item distribution must have forgotten how bad MKWii's was where anyone above 3rd place ONLY got bananas and green shells and people below 9th ONLY got Bullet Bills, Lightning, and Stars. Now it's still balanced towards that approach but people in the back don't always get gold and people in the front don't always get shit. No more dumb matches where literally everything behind you in 6th place is a fucking bullet bill.

Edit: And super horn fixes any problems I had with the blue shell.

 

[prag16]

Coins: Reduce frequency across the board, and make them IMPOSSIBLE to get if back in the pack (I've gotten them in around 8th various times; sucks).

Trip reds: This is my single biggest issue. The 2nd place driver SHOULD NOT be able to pull triple red shells. It's absolutely absurd, and there's literally ZERO the leader can do, ever. 1st shot strips protection. 2nd shot brings the attacker right to them. And 3rd shot, as they're sitting there helpless, gives the attacker a healthy lead, as well as possibly losing the former leader a few more spots.

Those are the major ones, but I will always rage when I'm in 3rd or so, get a single banana, while 4th through 9th get speed items and cut across a big shortcut at the end dropping me several spots. I think my worst ever was 3rd to 9th at the last turn of gamecube desert. Everybody got speed items plus I got hit with a backward green shell from someone just ahead of me.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

I'd let green shells bounce around on the track wayyyy more. And bring back the multiple banana peel item. There just needs to be more item chaos out on the track in my opinion.

I'd remove coins from the item box altogether. Just leave them on the track to find.

 

[jotun?]

I'd let green shells bounce around on the track wayyyy more. And bring back the multiple banana peel item. There just needs to be more item chaos out on the track in my opinion.

In Double Dash I always used Diddy Kong and Baby Bowser for their special items, a giant banana and a giant shell, very useful for staying in the lead.

 

[Dereck]

If I get a triple red or green, when I only have one green or red left, let me hold it in the back, same thing with triple nanners.

People in second place shouldn't be getting triple reds though, why

 

[IntelliHeath]

I found it very interesting that people gave out the feedbacks about the system itself but I don't even remember to play with most of you lately. Is it safe to presume that most of you quit right before first DLC or what?

Anyway, my feedback is that they should nerf bullet bill just little and buff star man. Bullet Bill are immune to almost everything and could lasted for long distance. I got a lot of stars when I was last 3 positions and you can tell that it's not helpful because it's not even that good.

 

[jwillenn]

I wouldn't care to improve the system. I'd care to change it quite a bit.

imagine


-item blocks are now item shops

-each zone of blocks represents a different shop containing different inventory giving players a chance to access all of the same inventory

-different tracks will feature unique item block zones = unique stores = unique item inventories!

-the game could feature over 100 unique items

-a lot of items are best used against the track's obstacles rather than other players

-items cost coins

-coins are also spent to boost a kart's stats

-items can be stored in a rented item box (inspired by SMB3's Item Box) for later use in different races, but coins will continuously be withdrawn from your S account as long as an item is kept in the item box.

-coin bleeding rates from storing items vary from item to item, and the overall rate is higher the more items you're storing at once!

-because items can be stored, players can potentially use items on tracks that did not feature stores containing those items. In fact, the way all tracks would be designed, players will want to do this quite often (especially for access to special routes that are faster but significantly more challenging)! Reminder. Players bleed coins from their S accounts as long as they are storing items!

-cost scaling says race position and S account balance affects prices of items

-about C vs S accounts

-the C account is for coins to be spent during a race

-the S account is for the total amount of coins you have earned. Most of it comes from completing tough single player challenges that are distributed weekly by Nintendo (like Ubisoft's RL Challenges), but you can also build your S account by performing exceptionally well in online races (so much more to it than simply finishing 1st)

-when your S account balance crosses certain lines, you gain access to more of the ABSURD amount of customization options, which have no affect on gameplay (all cosmetic)

-of course, by losing and over spending for the race, you can cross back over the line, losing your access to the spoils... Oh well, time to do some more Weekly Challenges!

-there is a limit for C that changes from course to course, and all players have that limit

-C is ALWAYS built prior to a race by transferring funds from S

-when a race is completed, calculations are made and coins are deposited back into S



Of course, I've not thought this through thoroughly to cover balancing issues, but the point is I'm ready for a new item system. lol!

 

[CorvoSol]

Take the coin and remove it from any position lower than first.

Like what the hell am I gonna do with a coin in second.

 

[MannyToons]

- Remove coins entirely.

- Give the Starman its speed boost back.

- Decrease the size/hitbox of Green Shells. OR get rid of smart-bouncing.

- Decrease the hitbox of dragged items (they are blatantly larger than the item themselves).

- Give 1st place a chance of triple items (Greens and Bananas).

- Decrease the amount of Triple Red Shells/Triple Mushrooms (there are times where there can be around 7 people all with the same item).

- Give the Blue Shell a longer hitstun, as well as make it remove the player's item no matter what.

- No longer have triple items automatically activate.

The game would be SO MUCH MORE enjoyable for me if these ideas were established.

 

[Wowfunhappy]

Honestly, I think the item distribution in Mario Kart 8 is almost perfect. I do wish a couple items had better counterplay, but I'm not sure how it would work.

And they can't just get rid of the blue shell. It has a very specific purpose.

 

[Tuck]

Nerf frequency of coins in higher positions. That's about all really.

If we're going to talk about the item balance itself though, nerf duration of Bullet Bills and buff the goddamn starman's max speed again.

Coins should not be an item, period.

Add back the mega-mushroom, fake power up block, and anything else thats been cut.

And most importantly, let us keep items behind out backs like in past games to defend from oncoming fire (and allowing us to queue a second item). The three items spinning around you helps to defend IF you have three items, but if complete garbage if you only have two or one spinning.

EDIT: NOPE, I have one more. Give invincibility frames after you get hit. This should have been added games ago - getting hit so many times in a row is infuriating..

 

[Exentryk]

Give items based on rankings rather than distance. Tell us the probabilities of getting items in those rankings.

 

[Blackquill]

REMOVE THESE FUCKING TRIPLE RED SHELLS

A player hit by consecutive items should build damage tolerance so that the poor guy doesn't get combo'd from first to last place.

Also this because MK8 is probably the MK where you take the most hits in a row, not too frequent to lost 10 pieces in a matter of seconds with the Fire Flower, boomerang, pirhana and super horn which all ignore your defences.

And I don't understand people who wants to nerf blue shell, it's already nerfed ! There are like one or two blue shells in a race where the triple red shells are even more dangerous for the first place.

Actually the worst part of MK8 items distribution is that 1st turn is way too decisive. The second place is less protected than the first and IF he take only one hit, the first place will always have a large advance since he takes all the pieces without losing it.

 

[Choomp]

Item distribution is something I never really could take a position on in Mario Kart. I always find myself frustrated with it but I feel it's acceptable the way it is. I think there should be some sort of chance for each item for each place in the race, except for some of the bigger items. I'm just like that, and I think that's part of the discussion, it has to do with the type of MK player you are.

Take out coin item. Only thing I need.

Also this

 

[Blackquill]

I may be the only one (like really) but I find the items distributions in Mario Kart Wii better than the 8. Yeah, the blue shells fest is horrible but first you can regain your speed quickly with a little trick and there are not as much offensive weapons like the pirhana, the flower or the boomerang. There is also the fact that you can protect yourself better than MK8 and redshells are not as broken (what the hell, they FLY in MK8 ).

 

[Kasumin]

Make it so that you can no longer get coins from item boxes when you have 10. It's stupid that you can keep getting coins as items when you have the max amount already.

From what I hear, the Star only gives you max acceleration? Someone I know got 3 stars in a row and was only able to go up 1 or 2 places. They seem to really have nerfed the Star hard in this. Make it like past games where it actually significant increases your speed.

The coin item in general is a problem. In past games I remember getting bananas in first place. Not the best, but at least they have a use in stopping shells. Getting a coin, though? Completely useless.

And what happened to being able to have 2 items at once? Like, you've got an item behind you and you hit an item box and you get another item. I really miss that.

 

[RGamer2009]

I would remove the coin item entirely. Coins can only be gotten on the track. Give Golden Mushroom its speed boost back. Reduce triple items significantly.

However these are all minor issues.

There is one overarching problem that plagues the item system in this game. Its the hitstun from items that is the real problem. When you get hit in previous games, you could get moving again within a second. In this game, getting hit causes a 2-3 second recover period, which can be worse with bad acceleration. This delay can get you hit multiple times in the same period. Either speed up recovering, or add invincibility to allow getting back to a decent speed without getting hit immediately.

Also I feel that grass/offroad should not stop you pretty much dead when you hit it. Slow you down some, yes. Stop you, no.

 

[JCX]

Frantic is so much more fun than normal. Normal MK8 only gives good items to the last few spots and weirdly enough, the first few spots. 5-8 is tough to get ahead in.

 

[.Anema]

Most people can't get past 10K VR points or so. Did you feel your points were stagnating at that point?

Not really, as I said I'm tired of being in first place and like the 90% of the times in the third lap you are killed by a Spiny Shell.. It's not funny after 1 hour of the same thing over and over again.
Also, I'm a biker so I'm not a fan of the fire hopping (for me it's a bug) so, I'm not really "stagnated", I'm tired of the arbitrary and unbalanced system. Of course I still have fun with my family, girlfriend and friends and sometimes online, but I'm not taking it seriously.

 

[The perfect Dark]

The item distribution is fucking terrible. Worst in the series. Worse than MK Wii.
This game is still tons of fun though (probably my favorite MK game).

I would improve this:

You shouldn't get ONE FUCKING MUSHROOM in 11th place after you got hit by multiple shells, stars and ...whatever. You should get three red shells, mega-mushrooms, lightning or "Bills".

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

If people don't like the randomness of the items for competitive play then I think having items like how they are in Diddy Kong Racing would help with that a lot. Mario Kart has gained quite a lot of items over the years so for that type of system to be feasible I think some items would have to be dropped.

 

[Dr. Kitty Muffins]

In Double Dash I always used Diddy Kong and Baby Bowser for their special items, a giant banana and a giant shell, very useful for staying in the lead.

The Dinosaur track was pretty cool.

 

[Bishop89]

remove blue shell, and the games would be perfect.

 

[LegalEagleMike]

remove blue shell, and the games would be perfect.

this

 

[Mentok]

I think mk8 has done a good job with item distribution, especially over it's predecessor. Thst being said, I think you should be allowed to put triple items behind you and the blue shell needs a new approach or simply remove it.