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[PadWarrior]

Did I post this yet?

The performance of a vehicle seems more contingent on its own setup than the character, for example, and our limited playtime suggests that you can select a brute like Bowser or Donkey Kong but, with the right configuration, have a light and fast car rather than being slow and heavy. Like in Mario Kart 7 you select three key areas — vehicle, wheel and flying equipment — and it is that which defines your style of driver, not the mascot of choice. We'd need more hours with the full game to fully verify that's the case, but it's an attractive change that you can opt for speed at the risk of being pushed around, but still choose any character you want, or you can be a powerful brute with Toad or Baby Mario behind the wheel.

 

[MetalGearOnlineK]

Has there been any indication of how many tracks there will be? I know 32 is the standard, but man I'd love if there were more. Even 40 would make the game significantly more awesome.

 

[Interfectum]

Mario Kart 8 is now trending on twitter in the US.

Edit: Well was. Was in the 8th spot. It's gone now.

It's in the #1 spot for me on Twitter.

 

[Baleoce]

It's in the #1 spot for me on Twitter.

Probably tailored trends.

Has there been any indication of how many tracks there will be? I know 32 is the standard, but man I'd love if there were more. Even 40 would make the game significantly more awesome.

Probably 32 (might have already been confirmed, can't recall), but even so the retro cups this time around are gonna practically feel like new courses, so the mileage from the tracks should be pretty damn nice

 

[Volotaire]

It's in the #1 spot for me on Twitter.

I'm presuming you've got tailored trends set on. Unless you're in another part of the world.

 

[Neiteio]

Yeah, with the way they've retooled the retro tracks — aesthetically, structurally, mechanically — this is going to feel like 32 NEW courses. Good stuff!

 

[Tabasco]

Yeah, with the way they've retooled the retro tracks — aesthetically, structurally, mechanically — this is going to feel like 32 NEW courses. Good stuff!

I agree. They put in so much detail with every course that it doesn't matter to me if we get the default 16.

Although it's always nice if we do get more tracks.

 

[PadWarrior]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVFxN18w_Bc&feature=youtu.be&a

 

[TheSlySoul]

So watching the track videos, I have to give positives and negatives.

+ They fixed the glider issues and made them fit better in levels
+ Anti-gravity is actually a really neat gimmick
+ The items introduced are actually cool
+ The art is really colorful
+ Waluigi is back
- The sea gimmick from MK7 is the same
- No Koopa driver it seems
- Brought back the overpowered 7 in the form of 8 due to the new powers.

So overall positive. This looks to improve from the bland 7.

 

[Volotaire]

So watching the track videos, I have to give positives and negatives.

+ They fixed the glider issues and made them fit better in levels
+ Anti-gravity is actually a really neat gimmick
+ The items introduced are actually cool
+ The art is really colorful
+ Waluigi is back
- The sea gimmick from MK7 is the same
- No Koopa driver it seems
- Brought back the overpowered 7 in the form of 8 due to the new powers.

So overall positive. This looks to improve from the bland 7.

I don't mind the sea 'gimmick' at all, in my mind, it translates to increased branched path potential on tracks, especially on the retro recreated courses such as Donut Plains.

 

[PadWarrior]

Even Eonline has a piece on this:

http://www.eonline.com/news/528104/...seriously-geeking-out-over?cmpid=tweol-manual

 

[TheSlySoul]

I don't mind the sea 'gimmick' at all, in my mind, it translates to increased branched path potential on tracks, especially on the retro recreated courses such as Donut Plains.

I would have not mind it so if they improved upon it. I am disappointing it seems to just be another way to go through a track.

 

[Roo]

So watching the track videos, I have to give positives and negatives.

+ They fixed the glider issues and made them fit better in levels
+ Anti-gravity is actually a really neat gimmick
+ The items introduced are actually cool
+ The art is really colorful
+ Waluigi is back
- The sea gimmick from MK7 is the same
- No Koopa driver it seems
- Brought back the overpowered 7 in the form of 8 due to the new powers.

So overall positive. This looks to improve from the bland 7.

Do you mean Koopa Troopa?
cuz I've got news for ya...

 

[BigEvilTurtle]

So watching the track videos, I have to give positives and negatives.

+ They fixed the glider issues and made them fit better in levels
+ Anti-gravity is actually a really neat gimmick
+ The items introduced are actually cool
+ The art is really colorful
+ Waluigi is back
- The sea gimmick from MK7 is the same
- No Koopa driver it seems
- Brought back the overpowered 7 in the form of 8 due to the new powers.

So overall positive. This looks to improve from the bland 7.

There are 9 Koopas. Koopa Troopa, Bowser, and the 7 Koopalings.

 

[Neiteio]

The sea gimmick was great in MK7 and it's great in MK8. It provides for alternate routes, and it exaggerates all of the driving physics so that turns are wider, falling is slower, etc. It's subtle but effective.

 

[Loco4Coco]

After catching up on all these Mario Kart 8 vids I guess I'll be getting a WiiU sooner than I thought. Dat Lakitu thought <3!

 

[Sir Alemeth]

Wait are we SURE that Yoshi Valley is in the game??
If so then it's time to celebrate!!!!

 

[PotionBleue]

- Brought back the overpowered 7 in the form of 8 due to the new powers.

Excuse me, but where did you learn that the 8 worked like a 7 as the item was not usable in the demo?

 

[Baleoce]

Wait are we SURE that Yoshi Valley is in the game??
If so then it's time to celebrate!!!!

I was really glad that Donut Plains (3 I think it is?) has made a comeback. But just that level in general. Couldn't tell too well from YouTube footage, but I think the reflections in the puddles is going to be a nice effect.

 

[DaBoss]

I keep on saying this, but that Pirahna Plant item looks like it will be too good. With other items that "attack" other races, you need to actually touch them or aim properly or just use a red/blue shell. With this, you've got big reach and you only have to get close.

Combine that with 12 racers and it will bound to be a mess.

Excuse me, but where did you learn that the 8 worked like a 7 as the item was not usable in the demo?

I think it is safe to assume that it will work like the 7.

 

[Freezie KO]

I keep on saying this, but that Pirahna Plant item looks like it will be too good. With other items that "attack" other races, you need to actually touch them or aim properly or just use a red/blue shell. With this, you've got big reach and you only have to get close.

Combine that with 12 racers and it will bound to be a mess.

It's no worse than an invincibility star. Those gave you increased speed, let you run into anyone, and made you immune to any environmental hazards.

Let's wait to see how the Piranha Plants are distributed and how they end up working in play before we judge them as broken.

 

[DaBoss]

It's no worse than an invincibility star. Those gave you increased speed, let you run into anyone, and made you immune to any environmental hazards.

Let's wait to see how the Piranha Plants are distributed and how they end up working in play before we judge them as broken.

But unlike the star, this thing has reach, that's what I just said in my post that is the problem. Here is a video of it: http://youtu.be/uP0herNhxwA?t=4m31s

Gotten at 6th place. Can't tell if there is a timer to it or not.

With the star, you're likely to be in the last half in terms of position. It can be avoided by racers more easily since there isn't much reach.

 

[ciD_Vain]

No Koopa Troopa?

 

[Baleoce]

I keep on saying this, but that Pirahna Plant item looks like it will be too good. With other items that "attack" other races, you need to actually touch them or aim properly or just use a red/blue shell. With this, you've got big reach and you only have to get close.

Combine that with 12 racers and it will bound to be a mess.

Well I guess it's a back-marker item, most of those are pretty overpowered. Lightning bolt takes no prisoners and it doesn't matter where you are on the track. But I do get exactly what you're saying, if it turns out to be a really common back-marker item then it could have an unfortunate effect of making all the other back-markers fall further and further behind the lead as that gap widens. Tbh though, I think they spend a ton of hours testing the balance with things like this. I'd expect it to be a less common back marker item compared to something like invincibility or even bullet bill. Ie, things that give you a great advantage, but give the others around you a fighting chance (with notifications and sounds), or items that aren't offensive like super mushroom. They'll get the balance right I'm sure.

 

[PotionBleue]

I think it is safe to assume that it will work like the 7.

And the 8th item would be?

 

[BigEvilTurtle]

No Koopa Troopa?

There are 9 different Koopas, Koopa Troopa being one of them.

 

[DaBoss]

Well I guess it's a back-marker item, most of those are pretty overpowered. Lightning bolt takes no prisoners and it doesn't matter where you are on the track. But I do get exactly what you're saying, if it turns out to be a really common back-marker item then it could have an unfortunate effect of making all the other back-markers fall further and further behind the lead as that gap widens. Tbh though, I think they spend a ton of hours testing the balance with things like this. I'd expect it to be a less common back marker item compared to something like invincibility or even bullet bill. Ie, things that give you a great advantage, but give the others around you a fighting chance (with notifications and sounds), or items that aren't offensive like super mushroom. They'll get the balance right I'm sure.

It doesn't seem like a back-marker item though. The benefits don't seem to be there for it to be used in the back positions. It seems more like something that would be gotten in the middle positions.

The two items introduced so far have both been items with range that can be used over a period of time (more than once). I hope they can balance it since both items are pretty interesting.

And the 8th item would be?

Not sure what you're asking, but here is an image:

From IGN.

 

[Outtrigger888]

Not sure what you're asking, but here is an image:

From IGN.

Has anyone been able to pinpoint what the block item is suppose to be?

It kind of looks like a mega phone/horn to me.

Maybe its a super horn, that goes on the front of your car, that sets off a sound wave that interrupts drivers in some way.

 

[Freezie KO]

But unlike the star, this thing has reach, that's what I just said in my post that is the problem. Here is a video of it: http://youtu.be/uP0herNhxwA?t=4m31s

Gotten at 6th place. Can't tell if there is a timer to it or not.

With the star, you're likely to be in the last half in terms of position. It can be avoided by racers more easily since there isn't much reach.

Yes, it has reach, but lots of the benefits of the star don't necessitate reach. By giving you a speed boost and removing all terrain penalties, it's very easy to ram people with the star. The star lets you take a straight path to any target, regardless of sand or certain obstacles in your way.

By contrast, the Piranha Plant gives you no benefit if the other players are not within that surrounding radius of your car. I just don't see it as being more powerful than the star. 6th place is middle of the pack (for MK8), and they've certainly distributed invincibility stars occasionally to that area of the pack. So if it's given out like stars, I just don't see the problem. Of course, there's only one way to tell.

 

[DaBoss]

Has anyone been able to pinpoint what the block item is suppose to be?

It kind of looks like a mega phone/horn to me.

Maybe its a super horn, that goes on the front of your car, that sets off a sound wave that interrupts drivers in some way.

Could work like the horn from Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing.

 

[WiiRevolution1]

Here's a list of characters that appeared in either Kart Wii or Kart 7 that haven't been confirmed yet:

Dry Bones
Birdo
Diddy Kong
Bowser Jr.
King Boo
Funky Kong
Dry Bowser
Honey Queen
Wiggler
Mii

Dry Bones if my favorite character so he better be in after the mistake of him not being in MK7.

I really hope Funky and Dry Bowser are in since I could never unlock them due to the horrendous conditions to unlock them in MKW. I hope I don't have to touch the awful single player to unlock characters and can get them all by playing online.

 

[llehuty]

Has anyone been able to pinpoint what the block item is suppose to be?

It kind of looks like a mega phone/horn to me.

Maybe its a super horn, that goes on the front of your car, that sets off a sound wave that interrupts drivers in some way.

Maybe it causes a temporary mute effect? (No using objects for a limited time? Actual sound mute?)

 

[PotionBleue]

Not sure what you're asking, but here is an image:

From IGN.

The 8th item that would be in an hypothetical “Lucky 8”. Because so far, all “simple” unique items have been used in the 7.

 

[TheBaldEmperor]

Hopefully the intro opens like this: Bowser Jr. is leisurely walking across the road. Engines running and tires squealing can be heard in the distance. Bowser Jr. turns to look as Bowser's real children come racing around a turn headed directly for him. He begins to run away but it is too late. The original Koopa kids run him over one after another as Bowser Jr. bounces off the pavement. The camera focuses on his face as his eyes close forever. Logo fades in as the camera pans out to a bird's eye view of the course.

 

[Muzy72]

I feel like if Honey Queen and Wiggler were playable they would have been in this past trailer. Because if you notice all the post E3 trailers have had a theme when it comes to character reveals. The first one was all the babies and Rosalina, the second one was the Koopalings, and this last one was the newcomers from MK7.

 

[Caladrius]

I feel like if Honey Queen and Wiggler were playable they would have been in this past trailer. Because if you notice all the post E3 trailers have had a theme when it comes to character reveals. The first one was all the babies and Rosalina, the second one was the Koopalings, and this last one was the newcomers from MK7.

They could be unlockables.

Mario Kart 7 is the only game to date where they've blown their load on all the characters pre-release.

 

[Gonzo The Great]

Guuuuuuuuys, I found Birdo.

 

[PadWarrior]

How big do you guys think the roster will be?

 

[Gonzo The Great]

How big do you guys think the roster will be?

I'm guessing there will be 36 characters in total so the roster is divisible by 12. To put this into perspective, Mario Kart Wii had 24.

 

[?oe?oe]

I haven't seen a Kamek bike yet. So Kamek confirmed.

 

[PadWarrior]

I'm guessing there will be 36 characters in total so the roster is divisible by 12. To put this into perspective, Mario Kart Wii had 24.

That'd be a good solid number.

 

[Battle Born]

I think the boomerang is going to be my favorite new item of the game. It's going to be very useful especially in battle mode. And I barely recognized the MK 64 tracks. They're not only gorgeous but they look more fun now especially Rainbow Road. I can't even imagine how insane MK 8's Rainbow Road will be.

 

[TreIII]

Guuuuuuuuys, I found Birdo.

Good find. And there hasn't been a precedent of a character advertised on signs that wasn't a playable character, right?

 

[Roo]

Good find. And there hasn't been a precedent of a character advertised on signs that wasn't a playable character, right?

Well, there a Dry Bowser ad in Twisted Mansion.. not sure if that counts

 

[Hip Hop]

Anti-Gravity = No F-Zero anytime soon

 

[PotionBleue]

Good find. And there hasn't been a precedent of a character advertised on signs that wasn't a playable character, right?

It has happened multiple times. MKWii had GBA Shy Guy Beach without Shy Guy, MK7 had DS Waluigi Pinball without Waluigi, etc.

 

[TreIII]

It has happened multiple times. MKWii had GBA Shy Guy Beach without Shy Guy, MK7 had DS Waluigi Pinball without Waluigi, etc.

Ah, you're right. For some reason I was thinking of Shy Guy appearing more, then I remember he was a Download Play character in DS.

 

[Mysterious]

I'm guessing there will be 36 characters in total so the roster is divisible by 12. To put this into perspective, Mario Kart Wii had 24.

7 of those would be Koopalings right?

 

[PotionBleue]

7 of those would be Koopalings right?

Yes each one counts as an individual character.


BTW- After seeing Super Mario 3D World's neon Bowser park, I can't help but think about a new twist for Mario Kart 8: Bowser's Castle and Rainbow Road are combined into a Rainbow Bowser Castle.

 

[DrWong]

Yes each one counts as an individual character.


BTW- After seeing Super Mario 3D World's neon Bowser park, I can't help but think about a new twist for Mario Kart 8: Bowser's Castle and Rainbow Road are combined into a Rainbow Bowser Castle.

Now if we don't get that I'll be disappointed.