Right, so it is inevitable that for my next ramble, I write about the next big thing to hit the Wii.....Mario Kart.
You'll know from my postings in the other part of my blog my exact feelings on the whole MKDS setup......so it comes as quite a surprise to me that I seem to have changed my mind somewhat (thank you, thank you.....no applause necessary
).
I'll take this bit by bit.
The Controls (controllers listed separately below).
Right, so OK, I admit I was looking forward to this. After all, how could Nintendo fail to capitalise on the brilliance of MKDS?
Well, they've certainly mixed things up a bit by adding bikes. At first, a part of me rebelled at the thought of such a great franchise being ruined like DD was with such stupidities as switching drivers etc.......this actually
worsened once I tried the bikes.
To be fair, in hindsight I had started out unlocking the 50cc karts, so it was inevitable that once I graduated to 100cc bikes I'd find things a bit awkward (going up a class was the issue, not the bikes).
However, after having gotten used to them, I'm not looking back. I just now tried to go back to karts after going through 100cc on bikes and I just can't do it. To hell with red/yellow flames around prolonged corners, I'd rather have wheelies
.
Which moves me neatly onto the related topic of....
Tricks aka "getting some air".
I must admit, I really thought this would ruin it. I even desperately tried to
avoid doing them and stick to clean racing lines......which is when it hit me.....It's simply more FUN this way
.
I did some time trials and whereas, yes, only "clean line racing" with no tricks or skids can usually gain you a couple of tenths as c.f. playing "normally"....it simply doesn't "feel right" in this game. Hang on a sec.....whoa there Gaffer...back up......did I just say clean racing doesn't feel right
?
Well I can't explain it but this version of MK simply feels better and plays better when you're acting like Dave Mirra
.
I certainly think it's a major departure from MKDS...where clean line racing pays off...here it doesn't.
The Cheating B*****d A.I.
Again, you know how I hate this from previous posts, but I must say, once I started REALLY enjoying all the stunts and tricks and wheelies etc etc, I forgot about "GT style racing".
As such, the cheating A.I. doesn't bother me quite as much anymore.
I even don't mind the odd Blue Shell (or five
). This is definitely the most fun MK to date.
So having said that the A.I. is no better (in many respects I think it's
worsened.....never before could you go from plumb last to 1st place in under half a lap), why do I still not mind? Well I think Nintendo have deliberately curbed all attempts to allow people to race like it were an F1 meet, and have transplanted "having a laugh" into it's place......and imho it's all the more better for it.
Now yes, I know that
all the previous games were fun orientated, but you
could feasibly race differently quite well. I think this is the first time where that's made exceedingly difficult
......without stunts and skids, you'll likely end up not winning.
The Characters.
My long time fave has been Toad but he was supplanted by Dry Bones for the MKDS outing. Well, imagine my joy when I unlocked him today
.
However, even he has been superceded...by (drum roll) .......Baby Mario.
I think he's GREAT. I especially like his childish "neh neh n' neeeeeh neh" and "weeeeeeeeee" exclamations
.
I also love the fact that we can play as our Mii's - a genius stroke on Ninty's part and hopefully something we'll see in more games (like PES where your team can be composed of folks from your Mii parade
).
The Online and the Channel.
Well this is a given (that it would be great I mean). The only thing that can be improved is the addition of voice chat (Team Speak anyone?).
I also think the addition of a dedicated channel for the game is a great idea too. I'd like to see similar in some other games like the aforementioned PES '08 for instance.
The Controllers.
So we finally come to the whole point of the poll (a minor part of this post
). Knowing that I love how the game mechanics take more after MKDS than MKDD, I took to thinking about my ideal controller systems for it.
My order of preference is:
- 'Chuk/'Mote combo - the BEST by far imo
- NGC controller (wavebird/wired) - I like the chunky shoulder buttons
- Wii Wheel - not bad.....but still 3rd for me
- Classic Controller - really bad.....feels like I'm scrunching my hands together it's so tiny
What's your fave and why? Do you also agree with my sentiments about the FUN aspect?.......or has this outing let you down somehow? In short, is it Wii or Wee?
.
Mario Kart Wii or Wee? (...and what controller do you use?)
Brawl Code 4038 7441 9021
.
So I'm very happy with my wheel and actually it's brilliant to drift with! 
The thing I didn't expect was the superb online service! Absolutely brilliant! I'd be happy to pay for that, but the fact we have it for free is what makes this game really, really good.
