The first 10 minutes: Mario Kart

BlimBlim
Thursday, April 10, 2008 | 5:59 PM
23 comments

Wii

Mario Kart for the Wii was released today in Japan, and as usual now our friend DjMizuhara took some time to record some videos. Let's start with the intro, followed by some gameplay, with more to come of course!
Update: Second video is up.
Update 2: Make that three, with another coming a bit later tonight.
Update 3: Fourth video online !

Téléchargement

Commented on 2008-04-10 13:35:52

Hmmm. I see it's still entirely down to luck and what powerups you get. You managed to finish second on both races despite spending the first 20 seconds in the first race either stationary or going backwards. MK has always done my head in through the sheer frustration of outracing everyone the whole time and getting blue shelled on the line. And nothing's changed. No sale, methinks.

In reply to

Viginti_Tres

Commented on 2008-04-10 13:38:34

lol, looks fun. How are the controls?

In reply to

PlumbDrumb

Commented on 2008-04-10 13:48:00 In reply to Zomoniac

Posted by Zomoniac

really?
I had a helluva time getting through the Mario Kart DS 150cc grand prix.
You have to do really well to keep opening up new courses (B grade or better).

Granted, the games seem to ramp pretty hard, going from easy as hell, to "What the Hell!?".

In reply to

nepton

Commented on 2008-04-10 13:54:33

I got this game, the european version. I'm playing with a GameCube Controller and it's great fun! Much better than Double Dash, in my opinion. :)

Especially like the bikes!

In reply to

blinx01

Commented on 2008-04-10 14:08:39

I've got this as well.
For those asking how the Wii-mote controlling is, it's usable although not the best method. For example, when you have tight corners or moments where you need precise control, the Wii-mote is no good as one little turn and you could go flying out of control.
The sad thing is that Nintendo have done it so you can only do trcisk using the Wii-mote control, which essentially forces you to use it even though the game isn't all that suited to it.
As for the actual game, I feel it's very similar to Double Dash although the graphics are a real let down and possibily worse than Double Dash on the GC. If you can look past that, it's a fun multi-player experience.
I'd give it 8.5/10.

In reply to

Dangerous

Commented on 2008-04-10 15:13:05

doesnt look as fun as double dash

In reply to

j0k3r

Commented on 2008-04-10 15:32:05

Been playing online all day! Great fun split screen online!

Need to play the single player to unlock some new characters! I see some people were racing using their Mii's! Do you have to complete the whole game to do that?

Posted by blinx01

As for the actual game, I feel it's very similar to Double Dash although the graphics are a real let down and possibily worse than Double Dash on the GC. If you can look past that, it's a fun multi-player experience.
I'd give it 8.5/10.

This looks better than Double Dash! I was playing it yesterday and this is much cleaner and less jaggy running 480p. Go back and play DD and see for yourself :)

In reply to

DJmizuhara

Commented on 2008-04-10 16:42:52

This is a quality game...but I hate the way you can be running in first with 1 lap to go and finish in 8th after being hit by every weapon under the sun in the space of 20 seconds.

And the Wii-remote and wheel have been left on the floor, playing with the wheel feels terrible, there isn't enough precision control, especially when doing long power slides.

Wavebird all the way for this game.

More videos on the way...

In reply to

WinterSnowblind

Commented on 2008-04-10 16:54:13

I quite enjoyed playing with the wheel, it's no where near as bad as many of the previews have made out. It's pretty similar to the cow racing game on Wii Play, but without having to tilt it forwards. It's no where near as accurate as a controller, but still a lot of fun to use.

Almost all of the courses are really great too, it's better than Double Dash for that reason alone. My favourite so far is the Koopa Tropper level, which is essentially a giant water slide :)

I won't give away any spoilers but besides from the criminal amount of baby characters, the character list is epic.

In reply to

Tinks

Commented on 2008-04-10 17:25:56 In reply to DJmizuhara

Posted by DJmizuhara

This is a quality game...but I hate the way you can be running in first with 1 lap to go and finish in 8th after being hit by every weapon under the sun in the space of 20 seconds.

That IS Mario Kart though

In reply to

DJmizuhara

Commented on 2008-04-10 17:51:31 In reply to Tinks

Posted by Tinks

That IS Mario Kart though

Yeah, I know and it's annoying...it's not fun at all when that happens, it just frustrates the player.

In reply to

GangStarr

Commented on 2008-04-10 17:58:16

it is fun with friends, remember playing Double Dash with 3 other mates......great fun, best multiplayer game ever made. but wont be getting this bcause i dont have(or want) a Wii

but yeah against the AI it can be a bit annoying.

In reply to

Jigen

Commented on 2008-04-10 18:05:03

I don't like the cheating AI in the videos I've seen at all. The SNES Mario Kart was very skill based, but this one seems further from skill than any Mario Kart so far. The results of races seem nearly random, but I guess that helps skill less non-gamers feel good when they win by chance.

I thought Mario Kart DS felt pretty good, especially when considering it was a handheld game, and the AI wasn't too rubberbandy in that one either. From the videos I've seen of this one the AI does stick right to your bottom, ready to pass you for any reason.

With the completely non-working online play of SSBB, I think I'll be passing on this game. Good thing GTA4 comes out around the same time, I won't even be tempted.

In reply to

DeadSaint

Commented on 2008-04-10 19:29:16

Allways felt this game gets worse with each version

In reply to

SimonM7

Commented on 2008-04-11 00:45:10 In reply to Jigen

Posted by Jigen

I don't like the cheating AI in the videos I've seen at all. The SNES Mario Kart was very skill based...

You, good sir, must be using some dark voodoo magic on yourself if you reckon SNES MK didn't cpu cheat to FUCK. :D

It'd pick one guy who was gonna rape you every time and you could tell from the first lap on the first race who that would be. :D

The only way to actually beat that character would be to assault him to no end with every vegetable you had and force him down the points ladder until you didn't have to worry. SNES MK is the epitome of CPU cheating, and admittedly it's part of its charm. :)

In reply to

Brandino

Commented on 2008-04-11 01:51:16 In reply to DJmizuhara

Posted by DJmizuhara

Yeah, I know and it's annoying...it's not fun at all when that happens, it just frustrates the player.

I agree completely, the SNES version required skill and timing and you would rarely see the lightning bolt being used in a race.

From the vids and from past experience with Double Dash it seems like the game is completely based on luck rather then skill which is a shame.

In reply to

newbielives

Commented on 2008-04-11 02:11:05

Is this what Gran Turismo 5 will look like when your really high?

In reply to

Jigen

Commented on 2008-04-11 03:20:57 In reply to SimonM7

Posted by SimonM7

As far as opponents the SNES version just chose a certain 'layout' where your opponents should place, Mario had Bowser as his 2nd place guy, Peach third I think. If in the first race Bowser placed poorly it would keep having whoever won 2nd last round try to do best. This is different from elastic AI. However the computer opponents all had specific weapons and they could get them at any time, but they weren't very strong, stuff like Yoshi's eggs, DK's banana peels, and Koopa Troopa's shells.

I never had to do anything of the sort when playing the SNES one back in the day, I beat the game completely on 150cc too.

I disagree it's part of the charm, only since the N64 one where they added shit like the spiky blue shells and AI racers casting lightning bolts when you're winning, and more recently being able to turn into a bullet bill did it became sort of a luck-to-win carebare game.

In reply to

[quote=SimonM7]You, good sir, must be using some dark voodoo magic on yourself if you reckon SNES MK didn't cpu cheat to FUCK. :D

It'd pick one guy who was gonna rape you every time and you could tell from the first lap on the first race who that would be. :D

The only way to actually beat that character would be to assault him to no end with every vegetable you had and force him down the points ladder until you didn't have to worry. SNES MK is the epitome of CPU cheating, and admittedly it's part of its charm. :)[/quote]

I never had to do anything of the sort when playing the SNES one back in the day, I beat the game completely on 150cc too.

I disagree it's part of the charm, only since the N64 one where they added shit like the spiky blue shells and AI racers casting lightning bolts when you're winning, and more recently being able to turn into a bullet bill did it became sort of a luck-to-win carebare game.

SimonM7

Commented on 2008-04-11 08:26:20 In reply to Jigen

Well I haven't been enjoying Mario Kart since then so I barely know anything about the later ones.

In reply to

rayko

Commented on 2008-04-11 10:20:13 In reply to newbielives

Posted by newbielives

Is this what Gran Turismo 5 will look like when your really high?

Mario Kart is a lot more fun than boring old Gran Turismo.

In reply to

Tinks

Commented on 2008-04-11 22:14:07

Mario Kart is all about skill are you serious? Skill and who is going to be the biggest douchebag to everyone really

In reply to

WinterSnowblind

Commented on 2008-04-11 23:53:30

The stunts actually add in a good level of skill to the game, I thought they were just going to be an annoying addition that would almost ruin the game, but they do actually work really great. The bikes especially, as they require you to do wheelies, which can be risky but are necessary to keep up with the faster karts.

There is still a degree of randomness in every race because of the powers but that's what makes it fun, but the game certainly isn't about sheer luck, otherwise how would you explain the fact the scoreboards have had the same top 10 racers on them the past few days? It's very possible for a skilled racer to come in 1st every single race online, even with the annoyin ratio of blue shells :)

In reply to

rayko

Commented on 2008-04-12 14:03:00

the best multiplayer game in the world!!! I haven´t had this much fun since a long time ago. The gameplay is amazing and today I am a happy Nintendo wii owner, because you can´t get "fun" games on any other systems because they all try to be too mature and games for 360 and PS3 always and I mean ALWAYS involve guns and grenades.

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The first 10 minutes: Mario Kart

Intro / Gameplay

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All comments (23)

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