• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Mario Kart 8 is really an amazing game

brickwalker0 said:
The roster was my only real complaint with the game (didn't play much online).

The Koopalings are terrible characters (in a bad Saturday morning cartoon sort of way) and the influx of "baby" characters is a lazy attempt at pandering. At this rate we're going to have more babies than legitimate Mario characters.
Click to expand...
I like the Koopalings, but the lack of Bowser Jr. and the awful babies are some of my complaints about the roster. Like, Nintendo have a huge catalog of characters in the Mario Universe (Petey Piranha, King Boo, the WarioWare characters, etc), yet they choose to put the goddamn ugly babies in Mario Kart. Why.
 
hunchback said:
I haven't picked this up yet but will be next week. Which controller do you like? I saw the wireless wheel they have. Is that any good?
Click to expand...

You wanna avoid the wheel IMO. The main gimmick behind that is using it to steer, and gyro controls can get very annoying very quickly.

You're better off using the Gamepad or a Pro Controller (I think even the choices that were in Mario Kart Wii work in MK8 as well).
 
TheMagician said:
I'm praying that they fix the item balance with the upcoming DLC. Completely ruins online for me.
Click to expand...

Yes, the balancing is terrible.

I don't understand how Nintendo messed up the balancing so badly in MK8, when they got it nearly perfect in MK7.
 
Awesome game. I don't think anything is wrong with the balance overall, but I did have a race where I was stuck in last place and got triple mushrooms three times in a row while I saw two guys ahead of me get bullet bills
 
braves01 said:
Those are pretty much my thoughts as well. It just needs some more meat for single player. Once you're racing though, it's just a fantastic experience. I also think the anti-gravity added just the right amount of additional strategy.
Click to expand...

Its got just as much content as every other mario kart game....
 
My biggest problem with Mario Mart since, like, the N64 is how well the red shell seeks its target. It should just take the shortest route, that way it takes a tiny bit of skill to use them instead of how it is now with red shells following through the air and whatnot.

Other than that it is one awesome game.
 
Griss said:
How so? It's the fairest Mario Kart ever as far as I can tell, and I've been playing them since the launch of the SNES game.
Click to expand...

As have I.

Anytime I can lead a race for 7/8th of the time, than in an instant be in 8th due to a ridiculous series of events completely out of my control is a pretty good indication of a games cheapness.

The last 15 second gang rape of shells and lighting bolts is a running gag in the Mario Kart series: until that is removed from the game every win is strictly based on luck.

Like I said - it's a fun game, and MK8 is the best in the series - but I can't get behind it any game that rewards bad players and punishes the good.

And no - the once every 10 race horn to "counter" the blue shell is not a defense.
 
I didn't like Mario Kart Wii or 7, but 8 made me like the series again. It definitely has some major flaws like no dedicated battle arenas and the item distrubution(person in 4th gets 3 mushrooms while I'm in 8th-12th place and I get one mushroom or a nerfed star? I can't catch up ), but it's actually fun to race in this game that I don't mind losing.
 
I actually like the "luck" aspect. In a small room, where I've dominated, I've still had to be on my toes at all times and race defensively with the lead. But, if the disparity in skill is high enough, you could win every time. If two people are remotely as skilled as each other, it will be an exciting race EVERY time. Few games are like that.

It can be considered a casual game with competitive spirit as well as vice versa.
 
Totally agree. It's genuinely fun and addictive. It's charming and polished as hell. Dat Nintendo EAD magic. It's an excellent experience. The soundtrack is sooooooooooooooo good as well and I can't freaking wait to listen the new tunes on the DLC tracks.
 
Heavy Mario Kart 8 is a pretty good game, but I hope you like using a Heavy Racer (of which there are 3), because all other racers completely fail to measure up to them.
 
I just wish they'd get around to including a track editor (would have been perfect for the Gamepad).I'd never be off it then.
 
The core racing is excellent, and I think it's one of the most beautiful games ever -- a combination of performance, animation, lighting, art direction and effects.

However... The game is pretty sparse outside of that core racing action. Battle Mode is a shell of its former self (though still fun in local multiplayer), and beyond Versus and Time Trials, there's not much to do. A mission mode would've been nice.
 
Ok, here is my controversial opinion after I've played more than 500 hours and also got a 9999 vr ranking (before the patch).

All in all, I think Mario Kart 7 is the better game, because:

a) - there are more "viable" vehicle (parts) & driver combinations, which allow for more gameplay variety and more experimentation and therefore more fun in the long term. The B-Dasher and Monster tyres were kind of OP, but there were still enough other combinations who could get on top, even ones with light drivers. In MK8 light and middle drivers are completely worthless unfortunately as are many vehicle parts.

b) - Item balancing was better and allowed for more competitive play, as it simply gives you more options. The inclusion of the "nothing" item box - or better, "coin" item box - in MK8 is an equvalent to "tripping" in SSBB and just sucks.

c) - The ranking system/points system is far better and more motivating in MK7. In MK8, however, how it was changed after the patch is sooo bad that it literally stopped me from playing global online anymore. The more points you have, the worse it is, as you basically lose an unproportional amount of points once you get 10th or so, more than you would get if you've gotten 1st 3 times in row. If you have 9000 vr and race against 6000vr players with a couple of 9000vr players in there - because, well, many times it happens so that you just can't find a room full of 9000+ in global online games - you are screwed. Get 1st 3 times in a row and gain like 21 points in total and then get 10th after that and lose like 40 points. But what if you get like 4th 5th or 6th? You still lose points. It is beyond ridiculous. And if you play against 6000 to 8000vr players, the difference to 9000+ in skill is super small anyway, so the races are still very hard.

So all in all, while point c) is the absolut fun killer for skilled players and a death sentence to the longlivety of the game, even if c) was back to normal again, points a) and b) are still pretty big negatives.

What's the point of more characters, if most of them are not heavyweights? What is the point of new karts if their stats are the same as the karts that are "not viable" and therefore useless. People get excited because of "Omg, there will be LINK in the game", but he is gonna be a middle weight character and therefore useless. 2 or 3 weeks after the dlc comes out, no-one will drive him anyway, because the good players will stick to the driver-kart combinations that work.

The only think I'm excited about are the new tracks, as this is the only thing that will temporarily bring back the fun for me.
 
It's so good I've moved my Wii U to my work desk to play at lunch time (gotta love off screen play). I don't get much game time at home so it's the best way for me to find time to play it.
 
I want this game. I want to buy the Wii U, four pro controllers and play with friends. I want to relive the joys of previous Mario Karts.

Except I'm nearly 30, my friends don't come over much anymore and my gf hates mario kart because she sucks at it.

:(
 
It's definitely the game that had gotten me back to the series, and I can't wait for the first DLC pack. However, I wished Metal Mario, Tanooki Mario, Rose Gold Peach, & Cat Peach were just alternative costumes for Mario & Peach, rather than individual characters.
 
I'm guessing those that think the balancing is fine never played Mario Kart 7?

I have over 500 hours in MK7, the balancing in that game is a masterpiece. I have very few complaints with MK7, save bullet bill is nerfed (one of the worst items to get near the end of the pack). Some would argue that blue shells come out too frequently, but then good players know how to avoid them/use them to their advantage.

The important thing in MK7 is, no matter what place you're in, first place is always attainable... if you understand how to properly use items. In fact, 'rubber banding' is a decent strategy... intentionally dropping back a few spaces to (with a little luck) grab an item that allows you to take a shortcut and gain some ground.

In Mario Kart 8, no matter what place I'm in, it always seems like I get the item I need the least. The Super Star has also been nerfed, so it's no longer effective for gaining ground (and it was one of the best items in MK7). Nor are mushrooms, since it seems everyone around you is also getting mushrooms.

Also, the fact that you can't hold an extra item means you can't effectively lay traps anymore. At least, not without risking a loss of several positions.

In the end, I feel they've taken a lot of the strategy out of Mario Kart. MK8 is a beautiful game, and I enjoy playing local matches against family and friends, but when it comes to online matches, I'd rather play MK7.
 
Pitmonkey said:
Anytime I can lead a race for 7/8th of the time, than in an instant be in 8th due to a ridiculous series of events completely out of my control is a pretty good indication of a games cheapness.

The last 15 second gang rape of shells and lighting bolts is a running gag in the Mario Kart series: until that is removed from the game every win is strictly based on luck.

Like I said - it's a fun game, and MK8 is the best in the series - but I can't get behind it any game that rewards bad players and punishes the good.
Click to expand...

Even in the current item environment, first place has a dramatic advantage over every other place since they aren't dealing with items coming from both directions. Having a few standout items that are really effective against people in front of you (and a single item that targets only first place) is not a "punishment" for good players; it's a counterweight to the inherent imbalance of the item systems in kart racing games.

There's not much point in a race if all you need to do is get ahead of the pack in the first ten seconds and then hold a shell or banana behind yourself for the rest of the game. This is literally how most races I played in previous MKs went down if a blue shell wasn't involved--as long as you just use items as shields, the only things that can slow you down are the power items (bombs, lightning, stars, bullet bills, blue shells--literally all of which also threaten anybody nearby you) or really egregious mistakes (which, once you develop a certain level of skill, are so unlikely as to barely be worth considering).

The changes to item balance this time around are all designed to avoid this problem--coins are now an item again and don't block anything; second place has a chance to get triple reds and occasionally power items; you can no longer "stock" another shell/banana in reserve to use as soon as your current one is destroyed--with the addition of a new power item designed specifically for higher-placed players (super horn) that can negate blue shells (the only item that discriminates against first place) and/or take out anyone nearby you (keep you from getting swallowed up again by the pack).

You can't get rid of the inherent unfairness of first place without turning items completely off.

And no - the once every 10 race horn to "counter" the blue shell is not a defense.
Click to expand...

Putting more seconds between you and second place than the Blue Shell sets you back is a pretty good defense, though. And it's incredibly dependent on skill.

Ataru said:
Also, the fact that you can't hold an extra item means you can't effectively lay traps anymore. At least, not without risking a loss of several positions.

In the end, I feel they've taken a lot of the strategy out of Mario Kart. MK8 is a beautiful game, and I enjoy playing local matches against family and friends, but when it comes to online matches, I'd rather play MK7.
Click to expand...

There's an amusing irony to the fact that you're criticizing the game for adding more risk/reward elements (where there was little risk and all reward before), then criticizing the game for taking out strategic elements.
 
It's still my GOTY but Bayo2 is on the way so that could change. It's the only game in my collection that me and my non-gamer gf can play together and both have tons of fun with.
 
let people draw things inbetween matches like you can after certain levels in Super Mario Bros U, ya people will draw penises but so what
 
Ataru said:
I'm guessing those that think the balancing is fine never played Mario Kart 7?

I have over 500 hours in MK7, the balancing in that game is a masterpiece. I have very few complaints with MK7, save bullet bill is nerfed (one of the worst items to get near the end of the pack). Some would argue that blue shells come out too frequently, but then good players know how to avoid them/use them to their advantage.

The important thing in MK7 is, no matter what place you're in, first place is always attainable... if you understand how to properly use items. In fact, 'rubber banding' is a decent strategy... intentionally dropping back a few spaces to (with a little luck) grab an item that allows you to take a shortcut and gain some ground.

In Mario Kart 8, no matter what place I'm in, it always seems like I get the item I need the least. The Super Star has also been nerfed, so it's no longer effective for gaining ground (and it was one of the best items in MK7). Nor are mushrooms, since it seems everyone around you is also getting mushrooms.

Also, the fact that you can't hold an extra item means you can't effectively lay traps anymore. At least, not without risking a loss of several positions.

In the end, I feel they've taken a lot of the strategy out of Mario Kart. MK8 is a beautiful game, and I enjoy playing local matches against family and friends, but when it comes to online matches, I'd rather play MK7.
Click to expand...

Yeah MK7 is the better game between the two.

MK8 with the patch seemed a bit better, but there's still some balancing left to do.

Also no proper battle mode still makes a lot of us bitter.

I recently went back to play Sonic All Stars Racing Transformed, and that by far is still enjoyable after MK8.
 
If it had actual single-player content, it would be amazing. As it is, I'll never enjoy it anywhere near as much as something like F-Zero GX or even Sonic ASRT, as those games have a ton of enjoyable single-player challenges. Sort of ridiculous that the most popular racing series in the world doesn't have any of that. I do enjoy going through each of the cups, and beating the staff ghosts, but that doesn't take very long, and gets repetitive.
 
People who complain about the item balance in MK8 obviously haven't play MKW.

Good players wins 8 out of 10 times.
 
Azuran said:
People who complain about the item balance in MK8 obviously haven't play MKW.

Good players wins 8 out of 10 times.
Click to expand...

I've heard complaints that Mario Kart Wii is too luck based, item centric but its similar in Mario Kart 8 only there's less chances to get back where you were if hit with 1 or 2 bad items, very difficult to catchup unless the people ahead make basic mistakes on running the track which happens less the better rankings you start to play against.

For me i've noticed once you hit the 2nd or 3rd lap the placements of where you are is set in stone which makes it boring whereas Mario Kart Wii you had no idea what might happen and all the racers were kept quite close to each to each other because the further back you were, you were almost guaranteed to get better items and that seems more rare in Mario Kart 8
 
TheMagician said:
I'm praying that they fix the item balance with the upcoming DLC. Completely ruins online for me.
Click to expand...

They should add an omega stage mode like in Smash Bros. 3DS where there are no items and its just racing.

Does online racing have a 'no items' option ?
 
LegendofLex said:
There's an amusing irony to the fact that you're criticizing the game for adding more risk/reward elements (where there was little risk and all reward before), then criticizing the game for taking out strategic elements.
Click to expand...

Eh?

Plenty of risk during the next lap, if you forget where you laid all those banana peels!

Yes, I hate to admit I've fallen victim to my own traps on several occasions.

There's not much point in a race if all you need to do is get ahead of the pack in the first ten seconds and then hold a shell or banana behind yourself for the rest of the game. This is literally how most races I played in previous MKs went down if a blue shell wasn't involved
Click to expand...

Speaking of amusing ironies, you think MK8 is better at this? It's actually worse than MK7. At least in MK7, there was a fair chance I'd get the item I need to pass you cleanly or take you down. That chance is nearly non-existent in MK8, especially if there is any distance at all between first and second place.
 
Already left me and my friends "game roulette". Doesn't have the stayng power of the other titles. I dunno if this is because the weak roster, item balance, dull (IMO) new levels or what. Just isn't being played anymore...
 
Gaiaknight said:
what more would you like to see in terms of single player content for future mario kart games?
Click to expand...

How about a 200cc Cup, where the computer controlled characters are actually a challenge.

Nintendo is certainly capable of making challenging AI, as I've played against bots in online MK7 races where it took several races for me to realize they were bots.

A career mode and some RPG elements would also be appreciated.
 
TI82 said:
Already left me and my friends "game roulette". Doesn't have the stayng power of the other titles. I dunno if this is because the weak roster, item balance, dull (IMO) new levels or what. Just isn't being played anymore...
Click to expand...

same

hoping November DLC will shake it up and maybe another update to balance, not sure what it is about MK8, its fun, looks great but Guild Wars 2 fun (haven't played it in nearly a year).
 
Gaiaknight said:
what more would you like to see in terms of single player content for future mario kart games?
Click to expand...

I'd like to see mission mode from MKDS come back. I'd also like some kind of character-specific story mode, not unlike the classic mode in Smash, where you go through a sequence of different race or battle types against the CPU. Maybe there's a nice cut scene or unlock at the end. It doesn't need to be all that much, imo, but just something other than the same 4 track sequences you can choose from in Grand Prix.

I'd be open to what the person above me posted as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Mario Kart Wii Deluxe X is out...with 752 tracks
30
2K
spookyfish replied
Dolphin Gets Triforce support; weird Mario Kart games incoming
32
2K
IbizaPocholo replied
  • Poll
What game is better? Super Mario 3D World or Super Mario Wonder?
35
136
Osthyvel replied
Gamestop - Nintendo Switch Mario Kart World bundle ending production
29
1K
Gambit2483 replied
Mario Kart World was in development for 8 years
24
1K
Esppiral replied
Top Bottom